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Aesop's Fables: Avianus

#3. de cancris. (Perry 322)

Curva retro cedens dum fert vestigia cancer,
Hispida saxosis terra relisit aquis.
Hunc genetrix facili cupiens procedere gressu
Talibus alloquiis emonuisse datur:
Ne tibi transverso placeant haec devia, nate,
Rursus in obliquos neu velis ire pedes,
Sed nisu contenta ferens vestigia recto
Innocuos prono tramite siste gradus.
cui natus: faciam, si me praecesseris, inquit,
Rectaque monstrantem certior ipse sequar.
Nam stultum nimis est, cum tu pravissima temptes
Alterius censor si vitiosa notas.

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.