Prevod

(In literature, too, the spirit of fellow-countrymanship often holds sway.) A gathering of various animals Had met to while away the time (For even beasts have social gatherings), And a thousand topics were discussed. They spoke of the different gifts 5 With which each animal is endowed: One praised the ant, another the dog; One the Bee, another the Parrot. “No,” said the Ostrich, “in my opinion There is no finer animal than the Dromedary.” 10 The Dromedary said: “I confess That only the Ostrich pleases me.” No one could guess what reason Led them both to show such curious taste. Could it be because both are so bulky? 15 Or because both have such long necks? Or because the Ostrich is rather simple, And the Dromedary not especially shrewd? Or because both of them are ugly? Or because each has a callus on its breast? 20 Or perhaps it might be… “It is none of those things,” The Fox broke in. “I have solved the riddle. Do you know why they praise Each other so highly? Because they are countrymen.”[3] Indeed, both were natives of Barbary; 25 And the Fox’s judgment was by no means So rash that one might not sometimes Pass the same judgment on certain men of letters.

[Note 3: Amor patriæ [ratione] valentior omni. (Ovid., Ex Ponto, epist. iii, book i.)]