Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 1.djvu/533

Rh innumerable swarms of flies. A fox, who was passing by, drew near; and good-naturedly offered to drive away the obnoxious insects. 'Let them alone, my friend,' said the boar; 'these flies are glutted, and unable to do me much further injury. But if they are driven off, others will supply their places, and at this rate, I shall not have a drop of blood left in my body.

The occasion of this noble proceeding is thus detailed. "Captivos ab Annibale interposita pactione nummorum receperat. Qui cum a senatu non præstarentur, misso in Urbem filio, fundum, quem unicum possidebat, vendidit, ejusque pretium Annibali protinus numeravit. Si ad calculos revocetur, parvum, utpote septem jugeribus, et hoc in Pupinia addictis, redactum: si animo erogantis, omni pecunia majus. Se enim patrimonii, quam patriam fidei, inopem esse maluit: eo quidem majore commendatione, quod proni studii certius indicium est supra vires niti, quam viribus ex facili uti. Alter enim quod potest, præstat: alter etiam plus quam potest." Valerius Maximus, Lib. iv. c. 8. Ex. 1.

The Fabius of whom this is told, is