Character Index | Proverb Index

The Camel and Jupiter

Townsend version

The camel, when he saw the Bull adorned with horns, envied him and wished that he himself could obtain the same honors. He went to Jupiter, and besought him to give him horns. Jupiter, vexed at his request because he was not satisfied with his size and strength of body, and desired yet more, not only refused to give him horns, but even deprived him of a portion of his ears.

L'Estrange version (A Camel Praying For Horns)

It stuck filthily in the camel's stomach, that bulls, stags, lions, bears, and the like, should be armed with horns, teeth, and claws, and that a creature of his size should be left naked and defenseless. Upon this thought he fell down upon his marybones, and begg'd of Jupiter to give him a pair of horns, but the request was so ridiculous that Jupiter, instead of horning him, order'd him to be cropt, and so punish'd him with the loss of his ears which nature had allow'd him, for being so unreasonable as to ask for horns, that Providence never intended him.

Moral

The bounties of heaven are in such manner distributed, that every living creature has its share; beside, that to desire things against nature, is effectually to blame the very author of nature it self.

Character Index | Proverb Index

Comments? Please use the contact page form.
Copyright © 2002 Tom Simondi, All Rights Reserved