You can find more Latin stories at Centum.LauraGibbs.net,
and more Tiny Tales at 100Words.LauraGibbs.net.
and more Tiny Tales at 100Words.LauraGibbs.net.
Vulpecula in foveam incidit.
Foveam evasit,
sed cauda detruncata est!
Cauda eius longa erat; nunc brevis.
Misera clamat,
"Vae mihi!
Cauda mea, quondam pulchra, nunc turpis est."
Sic gemens,
aliis vulpeculis occurrit et interrogat,
"Quo vaditis?"
Respondent,
"Ad leonis basilicam vadimus."
Vulpecula cuius cauda detruncata est dicit,
"Ego leonis basilicam nuper visitavi!
Mos novellus est:
omnes ferae detruncant caudas,
ut videtis:
caudam meam detruncavi!"
Aliae, caudam eius brevem admirantes, dicunt,
"Si leonis basilicae mos est,
nos quoque caudas detruncabimus!"
Ilico vulpeculae caudas suas detruncant.
Hoc videns,
vulpecula quae in foveam incidit ridet.
Solamen est socios in dolore habere,
etiamsi stultos.
Dictionary help:
ad — admirantes — aliae — aliis — basilicae — basilicam — brevem — brevis — cauda — caudam — caudas — clamat — cuius — detruncabimus — detruncant — detruncata — detruncavi — dicit — dicunt — dolore — ego — eius — erat — est — et — etiamsi — evasit — ferae — foveam — gemens — habere — hoc — ilico — in — incidit — interrogat — leonis — longa — mea — meam — mihi — misera — mos — nos — novellus — nunc — nuper — occurrit — omnes — pulchra — quae — quo — quondam — quoque — respondent — ridet — sed — si — sic — sine — socios — solamen — stultos — suas — turpis — ut — vadimus — vaditis — vae — videns — videtis — visitavi — vulpecula — vulpeculae — vulpeculis — vulpes
Here is the version of the fable in Mille Fabulae et Una:
Mille Fabulae et Una: 41. Vulpes Sine Cauda.
In foveam incidit vulpecula et inde, cauda detruncata, occurrit multis vulpeculis. Quas cum indignabunde conspexerat, inquit, “Fraterculi, quo vaditis?” “Ad leonis basilicam eundum est nobis,” respondebant. “Ad leonis basilicam?” inquit vulpes. “Profecto, ego ab ea nuperrime redii, et mos iamiam novellus est ut omnes ferae detruncent caudas.” Quibus auditis, illico detruncabant illae suas caudas. Quas cum vidit vulpes, irrisit et consolabatur se socios, si non periculi, saltem pudoris, creavisse. Solamen miseris est socios habuisse doloris.
And here is an English version of the fable. This is not a translation; it's another version of the same story in 100 English words.
100-Words: The Fox with a Short Tail
And here is an English version of the fable. This is not a translation; it's another version of the same story in 100 English words.
100-Words: The Fox with a Short Tail
A fox had gotten trapped in a snare, and lost his tail as a result.
He then ran into some other foxes. "My brothers, where are you going?" he asked.
"We're on our way to the lion's palace," they replied.
"The lion's palace? I was just there, which is where I learned about the latest fashion: short tails!"
When they heard this, the other foxes immediately cut off their tails too.
Then the fox burst out laughing, glad to have these partners in his misery. "They may not have shared my danger," he said, "but now they share my shame."
