Lepus, Aquila et Scarabaeus

Lepus ab aquila pressus est.
Scarabaeum videns, rogat, "Aquila me premit! Serva me!"
Aquila, irata, ala percutit scarabaeum. Tunc leporem arripit et devorat.
Aquila avolat, et scarabaeus cum aquila avolat! Hoc modo scarabaeus aquilae nidum intrat, et ova eius devoluta dirumpit. 
Aquila adscendit ad Iovem et in dei genibus ova ponit, dicens, "O Iuppiter, ova mea custodi!"
Scarabaeus e stercore pilula facit, et, ascendens ad Iovem, pilulam in eius sinum demittit. 
Iuppiter surgit, volens stercus excutere, et ova cum pilula proiicit.
Aquila gemit, "Vae mihi! Ova mea dirupta sunt!"
Scarabaeus ridet, dicens, "Parvulus sum, sed potens: Leporis mors ulta est!"



Inspired by: Mille Fabulae et Una.
Notes: This story is Fable 690. Scarabaeus, Lepus, et Aquila, from the Eton Aesop textbook (Perry 3). I have simplified the story, making it easier to read. For an English version (not a translation), see: The Beetle and the Eagle. In the original story, Jupiter finally changes the time when eagles lay their eggs, switching it to a time when beetles are hibernating.

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