Phaedrus 2.2: how a man can become bald.

I am not a iuvenis anymore, though in my dreams I am - or rather: I have some unspecified age, but younger than I actually am.  The following fable is a warning for those who are real young men.  As no animals appear in this fable, it is more an anecdote, but as the stress falls on the didactic example, it is a fable according to ancient ideas of literary classification.

A young man had two women as rivals for his love, one young and one old. Both start picking out his hair in order the make him resembling their respective age: the old woman dark hair, the young white. As often, we should not judge a fable for its logic: a young man having white hair and confusing plucking out his hair with caressing.

I have grey hair and only here and there other with a darker shade as a poor reminiscence of what the colour once was. A young woman would spend quite some time picking out my hair till I resemble more or less here age. Would I mind? Certainly not! Well Leo, keep dreaming.

Phaedrus 2.2. Anus Diligens Iuvenem, Item Puella.

A feminis utcumque spoliari viros,

ament, amentur, nempe exemplis discimus.

Aetatis mediae quendam mulier non rudis

tenebat, annos celans elegantia,

animosque eiusdem pulchra iuvenis ceperat.

ambae, videri dum volunt illi pares,

capillos homini legere coepere invicem.

qui se putaret fingi cura mulierum,

calvus repente factus est; nam funditus

canos puella, nigros anus evellerat.

diligo dilexi dilectum: to love

spolio: to rob

nempe: certainly

aetatis mediae with mulier

quendam (iuvenem, virum)

non rudis: i.e having experience

celo: to conceal

elegantia: i.e. by using make up

illi pares: equal to him (regarding their age)

lego: to pick out (as for the meaning `to read’: pick out letters. The German word for `to read’ is lesen (Dutch lezen). This word is in fact a loan translation of lego, as the original meaning of lesen is to pick out, gather.)

invicem: in turn

fingo finxi fictum: to touch (gently)

calvus: bald

repente: suddenly

funditus: completely

canus: white

evello evelli evolsum (evulsum):  to tear out

Translation by Christopher Smart (1913).

The Bald-pate Dupe

Fondling or fondled-any how-

(Examples of all times allow)

That men by women must be fleeced.

A dame, whose years were well increased,

But skill'd t' affect a youthful mien,

Was a staid husband's empress queen;

Who yet sequestered halt his heart

For a young damsel, brisk and smart.

They, while each wanted to attach

Themselves to him, and seem his match,

Began to tamper with his hair.

He, pleased with their officious care,

Was on a sudden made a coot;

For the young strumpet, branch and root,

Stripp'd of the hoary hairs his crown,

E'en as th' old cat grubb'd up the brown.