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Aesop's Fables: Avianus

#15. de grue et pavone. (Perry 294)

Threiciam volucrem fertur Iunonius ales
Communi sociam conteruisse cibo;
Namque inter varias fuerat discordia formas,
Magnaque de facili iurgia lite trahunt,
Quod sibi multimodo fulgerent membra decore,
Caeruleam facerent livida terga gruem;
Et simul erectae circumdans tegmina caudae,
Sparserat archamum sursus in astra iubar.
Illa licet nullo pennarum certet honore,
His tamen insultans vocibus usa datur:
Quamvis innumerus plumas variaverit ordo,
Mersus humi semper florida terga geris:
Ast ego deformi sublimis in aera penna,
Proxima sideribus numinibusque feror.

Latin text from Latin Library (Ad Fontes), based on Léopold Hervieux, Les fabulistes latins depuis le siècle d'Auguste jusqu'à la. fin du Moyen-Age (1893-1899); supplemented by Latin text at Bibliotheca Augustana. Avianus is included in the Loeb volume for Minor Latin Poets, vol. 2, with the Latin text and a facing English translation.