A man complained of his fate; then Aesop, in order to console him, invented this story.
A ship was tossed about by a furious storm; among the passengers there were tears, and terror of dying; suddenly, the weather changes and clears up; the ship, now safe, begins to navigate driven by favorable winds, the sailors let themselves be transported by unbridled exultation. Then the helmsman, made wise by the dangers, said: "One must rejoice with measure and weep with moderation; all life is a mixture of joy and sorrow."
[ Cum de fortunis quidam quereretur suis,
Aesopus finxit consolandi gratia:
Vexata saevis navis tempestatibus,
Inter vectorum lacrimas et mortis metum
Faciem ad serenam subito ut mutatur dies,
Ferri secundis tuta coepit flatibus
Nimiaque nautas hilaritate extollere.
Factus periclis tum gubernator sophus:
«Parce gaudere oportet et sensim queri,
Totam aeque vitam miscet dolor et gaudium». ]
A ship was tossed about by a furious storm; among the passengers there were tears, and terror of dying; suddenly, the weather changes and clears up; the ship, now safe, begins to navigate driven by favorable winds, the sailors let themselves be transported by unbridled exultation. Then the helmsman, made wise by the dangers, said: "One must rejoice with measure and weep with moderation; all life is a mixture of joy and sorrow."
[ Cum de fortunis quidam quereretur suis,
Aesopus finxit consolandi gratia:
Vexata saevis navis tempestatibus,
Inter vectorum lacrimas et mortis metum
Faciem ad serenam subito ut mutatur dies,
Ferri secundis tuta coepit flatibus
Nimiaque nautas hilaritate extollere.
Factus periclis tum gubernator sophus:
«Parce gaudere oportet et sensim queri,
Totam aeque vitam miscet dolor et gaudium». ]
