TECUM HABITA.

LIVE ON YOUR OWN

Dapsilis ad mensas animalia cuncta vocarat
E terra, atque mari Iuppiter eximias.
Cuncta simul venére. epulo Testudo secundo
Venit eámque morae Iupiter increpuit.
Quaerenti caussas, ΟἸΚΟΣ ΦΊΛΟΣ ΟΙΚΟΣ ΑΡΙΣΤΟΣ
(Φησὶν) Ἐν οἴκῳ γὰρ βέλτιον ἐστὶ μένειν.
Tardigradam cocleam domiportam, sanguine cassam
Ex illa edixit Iuppiter esse die.
Admonet hoc sectanda gradu convivia tardo,
Atque domo propria dulcius esse nihil.
Πλαγκτοσύνης δ’οὒκ ἐστὶ κακώτερον ἄλλο βροτοῖσιν
Οἶκος προσφύγιον δ’ἀσφαλὲς ἐστὶ φίλος.

Jupiter called all the animals of land and sea to his fine and bountiful table. They all came together; but the tortoise came during the second course, and Jupiter was angry at him for his lateness. When asked why, he replied: “A DEAR HOUSE IS THE BEST HOUSE”, for it is better to stay at home. Jupiter proclaimed him from that day a slow-tredding, house-carrying snail; this story is a warning to pursue social life with a tardy step and that nothing is sweeter than one’s own home. For nothing is worse than wandering for mortals, and a dear house is a secure shelter.