Camel saw how well the Monkey’s performance was received that Camel decided to get up and copy it. Silly Camel did so poorly he was run off.
It is absurd to ape our betters.
Aesop For Children
At a great celebration in honor of King Lion, the Monkey was asked to dance for the company. His dancing was very clever indeed, and the animals were all highly pleased with his grace and lightness.
The praise that was showered on the Monkey made the Camel envious. He was very sure that he could dance quite as well as the Monkey, if not better, so he pushed his way into the crowd that was gathered around the Monkey, and rising on his hind legs, began to dance. But the big hulking Camel made himself very ridiculous as he kicked out his knotty legs and twisted his long clumsy neck. Besides, the animals found it hard to keep their toes from under his heavy hoofs.
At last, when one of his huge feet came within an inch of King Lion’s nose, the animals were so disgusted that they set upon the Camel in a rage and drove him out into the desert.
Shortly afterward, refreshments, consisting mostly of Camel’s hump and ribs, were served to the company.
Moral
Do not try to ape your betters.
Townsend version
The beasts of the forest gave a splendid entertainment at which the Monkey stood up and danced. Having vastly delighted the assembly, he sat down amidst universal applause. The Camel, envious of the praises bestowed on the Monkey and desiring to divert to himself the favor of the guests, proposed to stand up in his turn and dance for their amusement. He moved about in so utterly ridiculous a manner that the Beasts, in a fit of indignation, set upon him with clubs and drove him out of the assembly.
Moral
It is absurd to ape our betters.
Camelus et Simia
Simia olim in brutorum congressu saltabat, quae, cum plausus ab omnibus summasque laudes reportaret, camelus, invidia excitatus, in medium et ipse processit atque saltare coepit. Id ille cum valde incomposite atque inepte faceret, bruta animalia indignata fustibus abegerunt.
Moral
Eos omnino haec fabula carpit qui, invidia ducti, cum praestantioribus contendunt atque spe plurimum decipiuntur.
Perry #083
