Phaedrus, Fab.3.17: Arbores in deorum tutela

Olim quas vellent esse in tutela sua,

Divi legerunt arbores. Quercus Iovi

Et myrtus Veneri placuit, Phoebo laurea,

Pinus Cybebae, populus celsa Herculi.

Minerva admirans, quare steriles sumerent

Interrogavit. Causam dixit Iuppiter:

Honorem fructu ne videamur vendere.

At mehercules narrabit quod quis voluerit,

Oliva nobis propter fructum est gratior.

Tunc sic deorum genitor atque hominum sator:

O nata, merito sapiens dicere omnibus!

Nisi utile est quod facimus, stulta est gloria.

Nihil agere quod non prosit fabella admonet.

(Translation into English, by Christopher Smart, 1913)

The gods took certain trees (th' affair

Was some time since) into their care.

The oak was best approved by Jove,

The myrtle by the queen of love;

The god of music and the day

Vouchsafed to patronise the bay;

The pine Cybele chanced to please,

And the tall poplar Hercules.

Minerva upon this inquired

Why they all barren trees admired ?

" The cause," says Jupiter, "is plain,

Lest we give honour up for gain.""

Let every one their fancy suit,

I choose the olive for its fruit.

"The sire of gods and men replies,

" Daughter, thou shalt be reckon'd wise

By all the world, and justly too;

For whatsover things we do,

If not a life of useful days,

How vain is all pretence to praise !

"Whate'er experiments you try,

Have some advantage in your eye.