Posted: 2/15/2013 12:08:20 AM EDT
[#13]
Quoted:
The sheep would much rather have the sheepdog cash in his fangs, spray paint himself white, and go, “Baa.”
Until the wolf shows up.
Then the entire flock tries desperately to hide behind one lonely sheepdog. (Lt. Col. Dave Grossman
Oviscanis
Book I - XVII. Ovis Canis et Lupus . (Perry 478)
Solent mendaces luere poenas malefici.
Calumniator ab ove cum peteret canis,
quem commendasse panem se contenderet,
lupus, citatus testis, non unum modo
deberi dixit, verum adfirmavit decem.
Ovis, damnata falso testimonio,
quod non debebat, solvit. Post paucos dies
bidens iacentem in fovea prospexit lupum.
'Haec' inquit 'merces fraudis a superis datur'.
The Sheep, the Dog, and the Wolf (trans. C. Smart)
Liars are liable to rue
The mischief they 're so prone to do.
The Sheep a Dog unjustly dunn'd
One loaf directly to refund,
Which he the Dog to the said Sheep
Had given in confidence to keep.
The Wolf was summoned, and he swore
It was not one, but ten or more.
The Sheep was therefore cast at law
To pay for things she never saw.
But, lo! ere many days ensued,
Dead in a ditch the Wolf she view'd:
"This, this," she cried, "is Heaven's decree
Of justice on a wretch like thee."
Thank you for that lovely poem. I serve my community and country truly, even those who think like you. I am sorry if you feel that those in your area do not.
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