I think that I found the inspiration for Shift and Puzzle:
Metiri se quemque decet propriisque iuvari
laudibus, alterius nec bona ferre sibi,
ne detracta gravem faciant miracula risum,
coeperit in solitis cum remanere modis.
exuvias asinas defuncti forte leonis
repperit et spoliis induit ora novis.
apavitque suis incongrua tegmina membris
et miserum tanto pressit honore caput.
ast ubi terribilis mimo circumstetit horror
pigraque praesumptus venit in ossa vigor,
mitibus ille feris communia pabula calcans
turbabat pavidas per sua rura boves.
rusticus hunc magna postquam deprendit ab aure,
correptum stimulis verberibusque domat;
et simul abstracto denudans corpore tergo
increpat his miserum vocibus ille pecus;
'fortisan ignotos imitato murmure fallas;
at mihi, qui quondam, semper asellus eris.
Let each man measure himself by his own merits
and be pleased to bear his own praises, not the good of another,
nor let him provoke a grim smile by beginning to act in borrowed
marvels--let him stay in his wonted ways.
It happened an ass discovered a dead lion's skin
and clothed his visage with the new spoils
and fitted the ill-matched skin to his limbs and
debased the head which was so honored.
Yet when he stood in the midst of (the cattle) a horrible
terror fell and assumed vigor came into his bones.
He stepping on the fodder common to beasts drove
the frightened cows through their own fields.
But here a farmer sized him by the ear--caught, he subdues him with
goads and blows and at the same time baring the skin on his back
he rebukes the wretched animals in these words:
"Perhaps the unknowing you might deceive with an imitated roar,
but to to me, as you were, you shall always be a little ass!"
