A aged, pampered Battle Horse was sent to work for a Miller. Work was tedious and asked the Miller why his fate had changed but was told to accept his lot.
Fortune has its ups and downs.
An aging Battle Horse was sent to work in a mill instead of going out to battle. While grinding, he bewailed his change of fortune. “When campaigning before, I was groomed and pampered. I cannot understand why the mill is supposed to be so much better than the battle.” The Miller responded: “Stop harping on what has past. It is the common fate of all to question the ups and downs of fortune.”
Townsend version (The Charger and The Miller)
A Charger, feeling the infirmities of age, was sent to work in a mill instead of going out to battle. But when he was compelled to grind instead of serving in the wars, he bewailed his change of fortune and called to mind his former state, saying, “Ah! Miller, I had indeed to go campaigning before, but I was barbed from counter to tail, and a man went along to groom me; and now I cannot understand what ailed me to prefer the mill before the battle.” “Forbear,” said the Miller to him, “harping on what was of yore, for it is the common fate of mortals to question the ups and downs of fortune.”
Equus Circensis Molae Iugatus
Equus senior fuit quondam molendae farinae venumdatus. Molae iugatus vesperam misellus totam atque ideo suspirans, “Cursibus,” inquit, “ex qualibus quales in gyros propter farinulas compellor.”
Moral
Ne superbias nimium prae iuvenilis vigoris ferocia; multis senectus inter labores consumpta fuit.
Equus et Pistor
Equus, senectute depressus, molam pro bello elegit. Ubi cum molere belligerandi loco cogeretur, praesentem lugens fortunam, prioris non immemor, “Mei quidem,” inquit, “O pistor, ante in bello erat usus, ornatusque circumcirca, opera mea hominibus locata; eos sequebar. At nunc nescio quid passus, pistrinum capesso pro pugna.” Cui pistor “Cessa,” inquit, “memorare pristina.”
Moral
Fortuna utramque in partem hominum res mutare novit.