Desbillons: Gallus et Vultur

I've gotten behind on posting the Latin fables of Desbillons that Hector and I have been reading together (see this post for more info), so here is one of the poems that we've done:

9.23 Gallus et Vultur

Imperium late gentem in gallinaceam

Sibi asseruerat victo Gallus aemulo;

Hinc se superbus tollit ad culmen domus,

Suam ipse cantu celebret ut victoriam.

At Vultur audit, et advolans illum rapit.

Impune victor nullus insolens fuit.

Here is the poem written out in English prose order to help in reading:

Gallus sibi asseruerat imperium

late in gentem gallinaceam,

aemulo victo;

superbus,

se tollit hinc

ad culmen domus,

ut ipse celebret suam victoriam

cantu.

At Vultur audit 

et, advolans,

rapit illum.

Nullus victor

fuit insolens

impune.

This is a classic Aesop's fable; in the Perry index, it is number 281. It's usually an eagle that carries off the boasting victor, but I like the idea of it being a vulture as here in Desbillons' poem.

The meter is iambic, and here is some help with the meter (for more about iambic meter, see the post about Desbillons 1.1).

Imperi · um la · te gen · t~ in gal · lina · ceam

Sib~ as · serue · rat vic · to Gal · lus ae · mulo;

Hinc se · super · bus tol · lit ad · culmen · domus,

Su~ ip · se can · tu cele · bret ut · victo · riam.

At Vul · tur au · dit, et ad · volans · illum · rapit.

Impu · ne vic · tor nul · lus in · solens · fuit.

You can find illustrations for the fable here. Here is Tenniel's illustration:

Meanwhile, for more Desbillons, here are the other poems I've posted so far here at the blog. :-)