In villa Romana magnus hortus est. Hortus plenus est rosarum, liliorum, aliorumque florum. Arbor alta in medio horto stat, et circum arborem multa herba viridis crescit. Rufus, canis magnus et albus, sub arbore dormit. Sol calidus est, et omnia tranquilla sunt.
Felis nigra, quae prope villam habitat, murum horti ascendit. Felis circum spectat et in hortum salit. Silentio inter flores movetur. Subito Rufus olfactum accipit et oculos aperit. Latrat alte: “Bau! Quis es? Cur in horto meo es?” Felis timet et celeriter sub mensa marmorea currit.
Rufus surgit et post felem currit. Mensam movet, flores tangit, et in herba labitur. Felis e sub mensa salit et ad arborem currit. Rufus post eam currit. Felis in arborem ascendit et in ramo alto sedet. Rufus circum arborem currit et latrat: “Descende, o feles! Te capiam!”
Interea servus, nomine Publius, in hortum venit. Publius videt Rufum circum arborem currere et dicit: “Rufe, quid agis? Quare arborem vexas?” Rufus non audit; oculi eius in felem intenti sunt. Publius ridet et dicit: “Feles te vincit, Rufe!”
Subito serpens longus inter flores apparet. Publius stat et stupet. “O di immortales!” clamat. Rufus latrat et ad serpentem currit. Serpens corpus movet et sibilat, sed Rufus non timet. Canis dentes ostendit et alte latrat. Serpens in terram se convolvit et lente e horto exit. Publius exclamat: “Bonus canis es, Rufe! Felem fugere non potes, sed serpentem vicisti!”
Felis adhuc in arbore sedet et Rufum spectat. “Bene,” cogitat feles, “hic canis stultus est, sed audax.” Rufus arborem spectat et caudam movet. Publius, qui nunc ridet, Rufum ad ianuam horti vocat: “Veni, Rufe, satis ludis! Hora est cibum sumere.”
Rufus Publium sequitur, sed oculos suos in arborem vertit. Felis descendit lente, iterum in flores salit, et per murum effugit. Hortus iterum quietus est, sed Rufus, sub arbore iacens, vigilat. Si feles redibit, Rufus paratus erit!
In a Roman villa, there is a large garden. The garden is full of roses, lilies, and other flowers. A tall tree stands in the middle of the garden, and around the tree grows much green grass. Rufus, a large and white dog, sleeps under the tree. The sun is warm, and all is peaceful.
A black cat, which lives near the villa, climbs the wall of the garden. The cat looks around and jumps into the garden. Silently, it moves among the flowers. Suddenly, Rufus catches the scent and opens his eyes. He barks loudly: “Woof! Who are you? Why are you in my garden?” The cat is frightened and quickly runs under a marble table.
Rufus rises and runs after the cat. He moves the table, touches the flowers, and slips on the grass. The cat jumps out from under the table and runs to the tree. Rufus chases after it. The cat climbs the tree and sits on a high branch. Rufus runs around the tree and barks: “Come down, cat! I will catch you!”
Meanwhile, a servant named Publius comes into the garden. Publius sees Rufus running around the tree and says: “Rufus, what are you doing? Why are you troubling the tree?” Rufus does not listen; his eyes are fixed on the cat. Publius laughs and says: “The cat is defeating you, Rufus!”
Suddenly, a long snake appears among the flowers. Publius stands still in shock. “Oh immortal gods!” he shouts. Rufus barks and runs toward the snake. The snake moves its body and hisses, but Rufus is not afraid. The dog shows his teeth and barks loudly. The snake coils itself on the ground and slowly leaves the garden. Publius exclaims: “Good dog, Rufus! You cannot scare away the cat, but you have defeated the snake!”
The cat still sits in the tree and watches Rufus. “Well,” the cat thinks, “this dog is stupid, but brave.” Rufus looks at the tree and wags his tail. Publius, now laughing, calls Rufus to the garden gate: “Come, Rufus, enough playing! It is time to eat.”
Rufus follows Publius, but he keeps his eyes on the tree. The cat slowly climbs down, jumps again into the flowers, and escapes over the wall. The garden is peaceful again, but Rufus, lying under the tree, keeps watch. If the cat returns, Rufus will be ready!