Folk Tale

The Ass and Priests of Cybele

Translated From

Asinus et Galli

AuthorPhaedrus
Book TitleFabulae Aesopiae
Publication Date41
LanguageLatin

Other Translations / Adaptations

Text titleLanguageAuthorPublication Date
L'Ane et les Prêtres de CybèleFrench__
AuthorC. Smart
Book TitleThe Fables of Phaedrus
Publication Date1887
LanguageEnglish
OriginItaly

The luckless wretch that's born to woe Must all his life affliction know- And harder still, his cruel fate Will on his very ashes wait, Cybele's priests, in quest of bread, An Ass about the village led, With things for sale from door to door; Till work'd and beaten more and more, At length, when the poor creature died, They made them drums out of his hide. Then question'd "how it came to pass They thus could serve ther darling Ass ?" The answer was, " He thought of peace In death, and that his toils would cease; But see his mis'ry knows no bounds, Still with our blows his back resounds."


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