THE EAGLE and the Beetle were at enmity together, and they destroyed one another’s nests. The Eagle gave the first provocation in seizing upon and in eating the young ones of the Beetle. The Beetle got by stealth at the Eagle’s eggs, and rolled them out of the nest, and followed the Eagle even into the presence of Jupiter. On the Eagle making his complaint, Jupiter ordered him to make his nest in his lap; and while Jupiter had the eggs in his lap, the Beetle came flying about him, and Jupiter rising up unawares, to drive him away from his head, threw down the eggs, and broke them.
ワシとカブトムシは互いに敵どうしで、相手の巣をこわし合っていた。先にしかけたのはワシのほうで、カブトムシの子どもたちを捕まえて食べてしまったのだ。カブトムシはこっそりワシの卵のところへ行って、卵を巣から転がり落とした。そしてワシが逃げても、ユピテルの御前にまでワシを追いかけていった。ワシが訴えると、ユピテルは自分のひざの上に巣をつくるよう命じた。ところがユピテルがひざの上に卵を抱いていると、カブトムシが飛んできてユピテルのまわりをぶんぶん飛び回った。ユピテルは頭のまわりからカブトムシを追い払おうと、うっかり立ち上がってしまい、卵を投げ落として割ってしまった。
The weak often revenge themselves on those who use them ill, even though they be more powerful.
弱い者でも、自分をひどい目にあわせた者には、たとえ相手がもっと強くても、しばしば仕返しをするものだ。