|||
Proudly that puppy with meat of the sweetest variety ambles
By on the bridge. But he stops when he sees in the stream underneath him
Choicer- and daintier-looking sweet meat in the mouth of another.
Snarling at once, he drops lunch (and it floats out to sea for the meanest
Jowls). Then he lunges to swipe from the other dog’s maw, and he splashes
Into his watery twin with a yelp. So deceived by his greed and
Semblances, now he bites air while his slack-jawed reflection turns hangdog.
Ore cibum portans catulus dum spectat in undis,
Apparet liquido praedae melioris imago:
Dum speciosa diu damna admiratur, et alte
Ad latices inhiat, cadit imo vortice praeceps
Ore cibus, nec non simulacrum corripit una.
Occupat ille avidus deceptis faucibus umbram;
Illudit species, ac dentibus aera mordet.
