Jupiter invited all animals to his wedding. The tortoise was late with the excuse he was slow from home. From then on Jupiter made him carry his house.
A beggar may be as proud and as happy in a cottage, as a prince in a palace.
L’Estrange version
When the toy had once taken Jupiter in the head to enter into a state of matrimony, he resolv’d for the honour of his celestial lady, that the whole world should keep a festival upon the day of his marriage, and so invited all living creatures, tag-rag and bob-tail, to the solemnity of his wedding. They all came in very good time, saving only the tortoise. Jupiter told him ’twas ill done to make the company stay, and ask’d him, Why so late? Why truly, says the tortoise, I was at home, at my own house, my dearly beloved house, and home is home, let it be never so homely. Jupiter took it very ill at his hands, that he should think himself better in a ditch, then in a palace, and so he pass’d this judgment upon him; that since he would not be perswaded to come out of his house upon that occasion, he should never stir abroad again from that day forward, without his house upon his head.
Moral
There’s a retreat of sloth and affectation, as well as of choice and virtue; and a beggar may be as proud and as happy too in a cottage, as a prince in a palace.
Gherardo Image from 1480
Testudo et Iuppiter
Iuppiter, nuptias celebrans, animalia omnia convivio excipiebat. Cum vero sola testudo nimis sero adventasset, Iuppiter, tarditatis causam ignorans, testudinem rogavit quam ob rem cum ceteris ad epulum tempestive non convenisset. Illa autem respondit, “Dilecta domus, optima domus.” Deus, ira percitus, eam ad domum continuo suis humeris circumferendam damnavit.
Perry #106
