A Latin Reader
25. Selfishness brings its Own Punishment
Asinus onustus sarcinīs ita equum adlocūtus est: “Levā mē aliquā parte oneris meī.” Sed ille asinī precēs repudiāvit. Paulō post asinus, labōre cōnsūmptus, in viā corruit et animam efflāvit. Tum agitātor omnēs sarcinās, quās asinus portāverat, atque īnsuper etiam pellem asinō dētractam, in equum imposuit. Ille priōrem superbiam ita dēplōrābat: “Ō mē miserum, nam parvulum onus in mē recipere nōlēbam, et nunc cōgor tantās sarcinās ferre, ūnā cum pelle comitis meī, cuius precēs tam superbē contempsī!”
onustus sarcinīs: laden with baggage.
aliquā parte: of some part, Ablative of Separation.
paulō post: a little later.
Perfect participle of cōnsūmō.
Ō mē miserum: O wretched me or How wretched I ami The Accusative of Exclamation.
From contemnō.