A herdsman tending his flock in a forest lost a Bull-calf from the fold. After a long and fruitless search, he made a vow that, if he could only discover the thief who had stolen the Calf, he would offer a lamb in sacrifice to Hermes, Pan, and the Guardian Deities of the forest. Not long afterwards, as he ascended a small hillock, he saw at its foot a Lion feeding on the Calf. Terrified at the sight, he lifted his eyes and his hands to heaven, and said: "Just now I vowed to offer a lamb to the Guardian Deities of the forest if I could only find out who had robbed me; but now that I have discovered the thief, I would willingly add a full-grown Bull to the Calf I have lost, if I may only secure my own escape from him in safety."
一个牧羊人给牛喂草时发现丢了一头小公牛，那可是其中最好的一头牛。他立刻出去找牛，可是哪里都找不到，便发下誓言，只要让他发现偷牛的贼，他就会杀一头小牛供奉朱庇特。牧人继续去找他的牛，走着走着来到一个灌木丛中，他忽然看见一只狮子正在津津有味地吃着那头丢失的小公牛。他吓呆了，立刻举起双手向上天祈求说：“伟大的朱庇特，刚才我曾立誓，如果捉到贼，愿意献上一头小牛供奉你；但是现在，如果我可以安全脱离狮口，我愿意再奉献一头成熟强壮的牛。