Greek Reading: 74

One fable below comes from Bryce's First Greek Reader (that is the last one from Bryce), and the other comes from A Greek Reader by Peter Bullions, both of which are available at the Internet Archive.

You'll find the stories below, first in Greek, then segmented, and then interwoven with English; the title is linked to the Internet Archive page.

Λέων καὶ ὄνος 

Λέων καὶ ὄνος κοινωνίαn θέμενοι, ἐξῆλθον ἐπὶ θήραν· γενομένων δὲ αὐτῶν κατά τι σπήλαιον, ἐν ᾧ αἶγες ἄγριαι, ὁ μὲν λέων πρὸ τοῦ στoμίου στάς, ἐξιούσας τὰς αἶγας συνελάμβανεν· ὁ δὲ ὄνος ἔνδον εἰσελθὼν ἐνήλατο αὐταῖς, καὶ ὠγκᾶτο ἐκφοβεῖν βουλόμενος· τοῦ δὲ λέοντος τὰς πλείστας συλλαβόντος, ἐξελθὼν ἐκεῖνος ἐπυνθάνετο αὐτοῦ εἰ γενναίως ἠγωνίσατο, καὶ τὰς αἶγας ἐξεδίωξεν· ὁ δὲ εἶπεν, Ἀλλ' εὖ ἴσθι ὅτι κἀγὼ ἄν σε ἐφοβήθην, εἰ μὴ ᾔδειν σε ὄνον ὄντα.

Λέων καὶ ὄνος

κοινωνίαn θέμενοι, 

ἐξῆλθον ἐπὶ θήραν· 

γενομένων δὲ αὐτῶν 

κατά τι σπήλαιον, 

ἐν ᾧ αἶγες ἄγριαι, 

ὁ μὲν λέων 

πρὸ τοῦ στoμίου στάς, 

ἐξιούσας τὰς αἶγας 

συνελάμβανεν· 

ὁ δὲ ὄνος 

ἔνδον εἰσελθὼν 

ἐνήλατο αὐταῖς, 

καὶ ὠγκᾶτο ἐκφοβεῖν βουλόμενος· 

τοῦ δὲ λέοντος 

τὰς πλείστας συλλαβόντος, 

ἐξελθὼν ἐκεῖνος 

ἐπυνθάνετο αὐτοῦ 

εἰ γενναίως ἠγωνίσατο, 

καὶ τὰς αἶγας ἐξεδίωξεν· 

ὁ δὲ εἶπεν, 

Ἀλλ' εὖ ἴσθι ὅτι 

κἀγὼ ἄν σε ἐφοβήθην, 

εἰ μὴ ᾔδειν 

σε ὄνον ὄντα.

Λέων καὶ ὄνος  ...  A lion and a donkey

κοινωνίαn θέμενοι  ...  formed a partnership, 

ἐξῆλθον ἐπὶ θήραν  ...  and went out hunting,

γενομένων δὲ αὐτῶν  ...  and they came

κατά τι σπήλαιον  ...  upon a cave

ἐν ᾧ αἶγες ἄγριαι  ...  in which there were wild goats.

ὁ μὲν λέων  ...  The lion

πρὸ τοῦ στoμίου στάς  ...  stood at the mouth of the cave, 

συνελάμβανεν τὰς αἶγας ...  and seized the goats

ἐξιούσας  ...  as they were coming out.

ὁ δὲ ὄνος  ...  The donkey

ἔνδον εἰσελθὼν  ...  went inside 

ἐνήλατο αὐταῖς  ... and rushed upon the goats

καὶ ὠγκᾶτο  ...  and he brayed

ἐκφοβεῖν βουλόμενος  ...  wanted to scare them. 

τοῦ δὲ λέοντος  ...  When the lion

τὰς πλείστας συλλαβόντος  ...  had seized most of them,

ἐξελθὼν ἐκεῖνος  ...  the donkey came out

ἐπυνθάνετο αὐτοῦ  ...  and asked the lion

εἰ γενναίως ἠγωνίσατο  ...  if he had fought nobly

καὶ τὰς αἶγας ἐξεδίωξεν  ...  persecuting the goats.

ὁ δὲ εἶπεν  ...  And the lion said,

Ἀλλ' εὖ ἴσθι ὅτι  ...  Know well that

κἀγὼ ἄν σε ἐφοβήθην  ...  I too would have been afraid, 

εἰ μὴ ᾔδειν  ...  if I didn't know

σε ὄνον ὄντα  ...  you are a donkey.

illustration by Winter

Κύνες λιμώττουσαι

Κύνες λιμώττουσαι, ὡς ἐθεάσαντο ἔν τινι ποταμῷ βύρσας βρεχομένας, μὴ δυνάμεναι αὐτῶν ἐφικέσθαι, συνέθεντο ἀλλήλαις ὅπως πρῶτον τὸ ὕδωρ ἐκπίωσιν, καὶ εἶθ’ οὕτως ἐπὶ τὰς βύρσας παραγένωνται. Συνέϐη δὲ αὐταῖς πιούσαις πριν διαρραγῆναι ἤ τῶν βυρσῶν ἐφικέσθαι.

Κύνες λιμώττουσαι, 

ὡς ἐθεάσαντο ἔν τινι ποταμῷ 

βύρσας βρεχομένας, 

μὴ δυνάμεναι αὐτῶν ἐφικέσθαι, 

συνέθεντο ἀλλήλαις 

ὅπως πρῶτον τὸ ὕδωρ ἐκπίωσιν, 

καὶ εἶθ’ οὕτως ἐπὶ τὰς βύρσας παραγένωνται. 

Συνέβη δὲ αὐταῖς πιούσαις 

πριν διαρραγῆναι 

ἤ τῶν βυρσῶν ἐφικέσθαι.

Κύνες λιμώττουσαι  ...  Some dogs were famished, 

ὡς ἐθεάσαντο ἔν τινι ποταμῷ  ...  and they saw in a river 

βύρσας βρεχομένας  ...  some hides that were soaking, 

μὴ δυνάμεναι αὐτῶν ἐφικέσθαι  ... but not being able reach them, 

συνέθεντο ἀλλήλαις  ...  they agreed 

ὅπως πρῶτον τὸ ὕδωρ ἐκπίωσιν ...  to drink up the water first, 

καὶ εἶθ’ οὕτως παραγένωνται  ... and then they'd come

ἐπὶ τὰς βύρσας   ...  to the hides. 

Συνέβη δὲ αὐταῖς  ...  What happened to them

πιούσαις  ...  was that they drank

πριν διαρραγῆναι  ...  and burst before

ἤ τῶν βυρσῶν ἐφικέσθαι  ...  they got to the hides.

illustration by Weir

And here's a random proverb and a random LOLCat too:

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Greek Reading: 73

The fable below comes from Bryce's First Greek Reader, which is available at the Internet Archive. I'm surprised not to have seen this fable in the other readers; this is the first time we've had this famous fable.

You'll find the story below, first in Greek, then segmented, and then interwoven with English; the title is linked to the Internet Archive page.

Κόραξ καὶ ἀλώπηξ

Κόραξ, κρέας ἁπρασας, ἐπί τινος δένδρου ἐκάθισεν· ἀλώπηξ δὲ τοῦτον ἰδοῦσα, καὶ βουληθεῖσα περιγενέσθαι τοῦ κρέατος, στᾶσα κάτωθεν ἐπῄνει αὐτόν, ὡς εὐμεγεθὲς καὶ καλὸν ὄρνεον καὶ θηρευτικὸν καὶ εὔμορφον· καὶ λέγουσα, Ὅτι ἥρμοζέ σοι βασιλέα εἶναι ὀρνέων, εἰ καὶ φωνητiκὸς ὑπῆρχες· ἀλλ' ὦ τοῖον ὄρνεον, καὶ ἄλαλον ὑπάρχεις· Ὁ δὲ κόραξ, ἀκούσας ταῦτα, καὶ χαυνωθεὶς τοῖς ἐπαίνοις, ῥίψας τὸ κρέας, μεγάλως ἐεκεκράγει· ἡ δ' ἀλώπηξ, δραμοῦσα καὶ λαβοῦσα τὸ κρέας, ἔφη πρὸς αὐτόν· Ἔχεις, κόραξ, ἅπαντα, νοῦς δέ τοι λείπει.

Κόραξ, κρέας ἁπρασας, 

ἐπί τινος δένδρου ἐκάθισεν· 

ἀλώπηξ δὲ τοῦτον ἰδοῦσα, 

καὶ βουληθεῖσα 

περιγενέσθαι τοῦ κρέατος, 

στᾶσα κάτωθεν 

ἐπῄνει αὐτόν, 

ὡς εὐμεγεθὲς καὶ καλὸν ὄρνεον 

καὶ θηρευτικὸν καὶ εὔμορφον· 

καὶ λέγουσα, 

Ὅτι ἥρμοζέ σοι 

βασιλέα εἶναι ὀρνέων, 

εἰ καὶ φωνητiκὸς ὑπῆρχες· 

ἀλλ' ὦ τοῖον ὄρνεον, 

καὶ ἄλαλον ὑπάρχεις· 

Ὁ δὲ κόραξ, 

ἀκούσας ταῦτα, 

καὶ χαυνωθεὶς τοῖς ἐπαίνοις, 

ῥίψας τὸ κρέας, 

μεγάλως ἐεκεκράγει· 

ἡ δ' ἀλώπηξ, 

δραμοῦσα 

καὶ λαβοῦσα τὸ κρέας, 

ἔφη πρὸς αὐτόν· 

Ἔχεις, κόραξ, ἅπαντα, 

νοῦς δέ τοι λείπει.

Κόραξ  ...  A crow 

κρέας ἁπρασας  ...  snatched some meat

ἐκάθισεν  ...  and settled down 

ἐπί τινος δένδρου  ...  on a tree. 

ἀλώπηξ δὲ  ...  A fox 

τοῦτον ἰδοῦσα  ...  saw the crow, 

καὶ βουληθεῖσα  ...  and wanted 

περιγενέσθαι τοῦ κρέατος  ...  obtain that meat, 

στᾶσα κάτωθεν  ...  so she stood below the crow 

ἐπῄνει αὐτόν  ...  and praised the crow

ὡς εὐμεγεθὲς καὶ καλὸν ὄρνεον  ...  as a great, beautiful bird 

καὶ θηρευτικὸν καὶ εὔμορφον  ...  and a hunter, and handsome,

καὶ λέγουσα ὅτι  ...  and she said that

ἥρμοζέ σοι  ...  "It suited you

βασιλέα εἶναι ὀρνέων  ...  to be king of the birds, 

εἰ καὶ φωνητiκὸς ὑπῆρχες  ...  if you were also able to speak.

ἀλλ' ὦ τοῖον ὄρνεον  ...  but oh, such a fine bird you are,

καὶ ἄλαλον ὑπάρχεις  ...  but you are unable to speak."

Ὁ δὲ κόραξ  ...  And the crow,

ἀκούσας ταῦτα  ...  when he heard these things 

καὶ χαυνωθεὶς  ...  and opened his mouth

τοῖς ἐπαίνοις  ...  at these flatteries,

ῥίψας τὸ κρέας  ...  he dropped the meat

μεγάλως ἐεκεκράγει  ...  squawking loudly.

ἡ δ' ἀλώπηξ  ...  And the fox

δραμοῦσα  ...  ran up

καὶ λαβοῦσα τὸ κρέας  ...  and grabbed the meat,

ἔφη πρὸς αὐτόν  ...  and she said to the crow

Ἔχεις, κόραξ, ἅπαντα  ...  Crow, you have everything

νοῦς δέ τοι λείπει  ...  but your mind has forsaken you."

In another Greek prose version (recorded by Chambry), this is what the fox says to the crow in the end: it's about φρένες instead of νοῦς.

Ὦ κόραξ  ...  O crow,

καὶ φρένας εἰ εἶχες  ...  if you had wits, 

οὐδὲν ἂν ἐδέησας  ...  you'd have everything you need

εἰς τὸ πάντων σε βασιλεῦσαι  ...  to rule over everybody.

illustration by Heighway

And here's a random proverb and a random LOLCat too:

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Greek Reading: 72

The fables below come from Bryce's First Greek Reader, while the joke comes from Abbott's Easy Greek Reader, both of which are available at the Internet Archive. (This is the last of the jokes from Abbott; I hope I can find another reader that has more of these jokes!)

You'll find the fables and joke below, first in Greek, then segmented, and then interwoven with English. The titles are linked to the Internet Archive page.

Ἀλώπηξ καὶ κεφαλή

Ἀλώπηξ εἰς οἰκίαν ἐλθοῦσα ὑποκριτοῦ καὶ ἕκαστα τῶν αὐτοῦ σκευῶν διερευνωμένη, εὗρε καὶ κεφαλὴν μορμολυκείου εὐφυῶς κατεσκευασμένην, ἣν καὶ ἀναλαβοῦσα ταῖς χερσὶν ἔφη· Ὢ οἵα κεφαλή, καὶ ἔγκεφαλον οὐκ ἔχει.

Ἀλώπηξ εἰς οἰκίαν ἐλθοῦσα ὑποκριτοῦ 

καὶ ἕκαστα τῶν αὐτοῦ σκευῶν διερευνωμένη, 

εὗρε καὶ κεφαλὴν μορμολυκείου 

εὐφυῶς κατεσκευασμένην, 

ἣν καὶ ἀναλαβοῦσα ταῖς χερσὶν ἔφη· 

Ὢ οἵα κεφαλή, 

καὶ ἔγκεφαλον οὐκ ἔχει.

Ἀλώπηξ ἐλθοῦσα  ...  A fox went into

εἰς οἰκίαν ὑποκριτοῦ  ...  the house of an actor 

καὶ διερευνωμένη  ...  and examined

ἕκαστα τῶν αὐτοῦ σκευῶν  ...  all of his goods; 

εὗρε καὶ  ...  the fox also found

κεφαλὴν μορμολυκείου  ...  a comic mask, 

εὐφυῶς κατεσκευασμένην  ...  beautifully crafted,

ἣν καὶ ἀναλαβοῦσα  ...  which she picked up 

ταῖς χερσὶν  ...  in her paws 

ἔφη  ...  and said, 

Ὢ οἵα κεφαλή  ...  Oh, such a head! 

καὶ ἔγκεφαλον οὐκ ἔχει  ...  Yet it has no brains.

illustration by Tenniel

Λύκος καὶ γέρανος 

Λύκου λαιμῷ ὀστέον ἐπεπήγει· ὁ δὲ γεράνῳ μισθὸν παρέξειν εἶπεν, εἰ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὑτῆς ἐπιβαλοῦσα τὸ ὀστοῦν ἐκ τοῦ λαιμοῦ αὐτοῦ ἐκβάλοι· ἡ δ’ τοῦτ' ἐκβαλοῦσα, δολιχόδειρος οὖσα, τὸν μισθὸν ἐπεζήτει ὅστις γελάσας, καὶ τοὺς ὀδόντας θήξας, Ἀρκεῖ σοι μισθός, ἔφη, τοῦτο καὶ μόνον ὅτι ἐκ λύκου στόματος καὶ ὀδόντων ἐξεῖλες κάρα σῶον μηδὲν παθοῦσα.

Λύκου λαιμῷ 

ὀστέον ἐπεπήγει· 

ὁ δὲ 

γεράνῳ μισθὸν παρέξειν εἶπεν, 

εἰ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὑτῆς ἐπιβαλοῦσα 

τὸ ὀστοῦν ἐκ τοῦ λαιμοῦ αὐτοῦ ἐκβάλοι· 

ἡ δ’ τοῦτ' ἐκβαλοῦσα, 

δολιχόδειρος οὖσα, 

τὸν μισθὸν ἐπεζήτει 

ὅστις γελάσας, 

καὶ τοὺς ὀδόντας θήξας, 

Ἀρκεῖ σοι μισθός, ἔφη, 

τοῦτο καὶ μόνον 

ὅτι ἐκ λύκου στόματος καὶ ὀδόντων 

ἐξεῖλες κάρα σῶον 

μηδὲν παθοῦσα.

ὀστέον ἐπεπήγει  ...  A bone had gotten stuck

λύκου λαιμῷ  ...  in the throat of a wolf,

ὁ δὲ γεράνῳ εἶπεν  ...  and he told a crane

μισθὸν παρέξειν  ...  that he would pay a reward, 

εἰ ἐπιβαλοῦσα  ...  if she would insert

τὴν κεφαλὴν αὑτῆς  ...  her head 

τὸ ὀστοῦν ἐκβάλοι  ...  and dislodge the bone

ἐκ τοῦ λαιμοῦ αὐτοῦ  ...  from his throat.

ἡ δ’ τοῦτ' ἐκβαλοῦσα  ...  She dislodged it,

δολιχόδειρος οὖσα  ...  being long-necked,

τὸν μισθὸν ἐπεζήτει  ...  and requested her reward

ὅστις γελάσας  ...  but the wolf laughed,

καὶ τοὺς ὀδόντας θήξας  ...  grinding his teeth,

ἔφη  ... and said,

μισθός τοῦτο  ... This reward

καὶ μόνον   ...  and this alone

ἀρκεῖ σοι  ....  is enough for you:

ὅτι ἐκ λύκου στόματος  ...  that from the wolf's mouth 

καὶ ὀδόντων  ...  and teeth

ἐξεῖλες κάρα  ...  you pulled out your head 

σῶον  ...  safe and sound, 

μηδὲν παθοῦσα  ...  not having suffered harm.

illustration from 1485

Ὀκνηρὸς υἱός 

Ὀκνηρῷ υἱῷ ἐκέλευσεν ὃ πατὴρ εἰς τὸν γείτονα ἀπελθεῖν καὶ χρήσασθαι ἀξίνην. ὁ δὲ ἔφη, οὐ δίδωσι. τοῦ δὲ πατρὸς ἐπιμένοντος, ἀπεκρίνατο, ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ γείτων, καὶ ἀξίνην οὐκ ἔχω.

Ὀκνηρῷ υἱῷ 

ἐκέλευσεν ὃ πατὴρ 

εἰς τὸν γείτονα ἀπελθεῖν 

καὶ χρήσασθαι ἀξίνην. 

ὁ δὲ ἔφη, 

οὐ δίδωσι. 

τοῦ δὲ πατρὸς ἐπιμένοντος, 

ἀπεκρίνατο, 

ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ γείτων, 

καὶ ἀξίνην οὐκ ἔχω.

ἐκέλευσεν ὃ πατὴρ  ...  A father ordered 

ὀκνηρῷ υἱῷ  ...  his lazy son

εἰς τὸν γείτονα ἀπελθεῖν  ...  to go to the neighbor 

καὶ χρήσασθαι ἀξίνην  ...  and borrow an axe.

ὁ δὲ ἔφη  ...  The son said,

οὐ δίδωσι  ...  "No axe to give."

τοῦ δὲ πατρὸς ἐπιμένοντος  ...  The father persisted, 

ἀπεκρίνατο  ...  and the son replied,

ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ γείτων  ...  I am your neighbor,

καὶ ἀξίνην οὐκ ἔχω  ...  And I've got not axe.

And here's a random proverb and a random LOLCat too:

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Greek Reading: 71

The fables below come from Bryce's First Greek Reader, while the joke comes from Abbott's Easy Greek Reader, both of which are available at the Internet Archive. 

You'll find the fables and joke below, first in Greek, then segmented, and then interwoven with English. The titles are linked to the Internet Archive page.

Τέττιξ καὶ μύρμηκες

(another version)

Χειμῶνος ὥραι, τῶν σίτων βραχέντων, οἱ μύρμηκες ἔψυχον, τέττιξ δὲ λιμώττων ἤιτει αὐτοὺς τροφήν. Οἱ δὲ μύρμηκες εἶπον αὐτῷ· Διὰ τί τὸ θέρος οὐ συνῆγες τροφήν; Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· Οὐκ ἐσχόλαζον, ἀλλ᾿ ᾖδον μουσικῶς. Οἱ δὲ γελάσαντες εἶπον· Ἀλλ᾿ εἰ θέρους ὥραις ηὔλεις, χειμῶνος ὀρχοῦ.

Χειμῶνος ὥραι, 

τῶν σίτων βραχέντων, 

οἱ μύρμηκες ἔψυχον, 

τέττιξ δὲ λιμώττων 

ἤιτει αὐτοὺς τροφήν. 

Οἱ δὲ μύρμηκες εἶπον αὐτῷ· 

Διὰ τί τὸ θέρος 

οὐ συνῆγες τροφήν; 

Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· 

Οὐκ ἐσχόλαζον, 

ἀλλ᾿ ᾖδον μουσικῶς. 

Οἱ δὲ γελάσαντες εἶπον· 

Ἀλλ᾿ εἰ θέρους ὥραις ηὔλεις, 

χειμῶνος ὀρχοῦ.

Χειμῶνος ὥραι  ...  During winter time,

τῶν σίτων βραχέντων  ...  when food ran short, 

οἱ μύρμηκες ἔψυχον  ...  the ants were drying (their food). 

τέττιξ δὲ λιμώττων  ...  The grasshopper was starving

ἤιτει αὐτοὺς τροφήν  ...  and asked them for food. 

Οἱ δὲ μύρμηκες εἶπον αὐτῷ  ...  The ants asked him, 

Διὰ τί τὸ θέρος  ...  Why, during the summer, 

οὐ συνῆγες τροφήν  ...  did you not gather food? 

Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν  ...  The grasshopper said, 

Οὐκ ἐσχόλαζον  ...  I was not lazy! 

ἀλλ᾿ ᾖδον μουσικῶς  ...  I made my music.

Οἱ δὲ γελάσαντες εἶπον  ...  The ants laughed and said,

Ἀλλ᾿ εἰ ηὔλεις  ...  If you serenaded 

θέρους ὥραις  ...  during the summertime,

χειμῶνος ὀρχοῦ  ...  now dance for the winter!

illustration by Rackham

Ὄνος καὶ κυνίδιον

Ἔχων τις κύνα Μελιταῖον καὶ ὄνον, διετέλει τῷ κυνὶ προσπαίζων· καὶ εἴ ποτε ἔξω δεῖπνον εἶχεν, εκόμιζέ τι αὐτῷ, καὶ προσιόντι παρέβαλεν· ὁ δὲ ὄνος ζηλώσας προσέδραμεν αὐτός, καὶ σκιρτῶν ἐλάκτισε τὸν δεσπότην. Καὶ οὗτος ἀγανακτήσας ἐκέλευσε παίοντα αὐτὸν ἀπαγαγεῖν πρὸς τὸν μυλῶνα, καὶ τοῦτον δῆσαι.

Ἔχων τις κύνα Μελιταῖον  ...  A man had a Maltese dog 

καὶ ὄνον  ...  and a donkey.

διετέλει προσπαίζων  ...  He constantly played

τῷ κυνὶ  ... with the dog,

καὶ εἴ ποτε  ...  and whenever

ἔξω δεῖπνον εἶχεν  ...  he had dinner out, 

εκόμιζέ τι αὐτῷ  ...  he brought the dog something, 

καὶ παρέβαλεν  ...  and tossed it to him

προσιόντι  ...  when he came up to him.

ὁ δὲ ὄνος ζηλώσας  ...  The donkey was jealous 

προσέδραμεν αὐτός  ...  so he also ran up, 

καὶ σκιρτῶν  ...  and leaped 

ἐλάκτισε τὸν δεσπότην  ...  putting his feet on him. 

Καὶ οὗτος ἀγανακτήσας  ...  The man was angry 

ἐκέλευσε  ...  and ordered  

παίοντα αὐτὸν  ... that the donkey be beaten

ἀπαγαγεῖν  ...  and led away 

πρὸς τὸν μυλῶνα  ...  to the mill-house 

καὶ τοῦτον δῆσαι  ...  and to tie him up there.

Steinhowel illustration

Σιδώνιος σχολαστικός

Σιδώνιος σχολαστικὸς ἀπὸ πολλῶν μιλίων χωρίον ἔχων καὶ θέλων αὐτὸ ἐγγύτερον ποιῆσαι, ἑπτὰ κίονας μιλίων κατέστρεψεν.

Σιδώνιος σχολαστικὸς 

ἀπὸ πολλῶν μιλίων χωρίον ἔχων 

καὶ θέλων αὐτὸ ἐγγύτερον ποιῆσαι, 

ἑπτὰ κίονας μιλίων κατέστρεψεν.

Σιδώνιος σχολαστικὸς  ...  A Sidonian dunce

χωρίον ἔχων  ...  owned a piece of land 

ἀπὸ πολλῶν μιλίων  ...  many miles away, 

καὶ θέλων  ...  and he wanted 

αὐτὸ ἐγγύτερον ποιῆσαι  ...  to make it closer, 

κατέστρεψεν  ...  so he knocked down

ἑπτὰ κίονας μιλίων  ...  seven mile-markers.

And here's a random proverb and a random LOLCat too:

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Greek Reading: 70

The fables below come from Bryce's First Greek Reader, while the joke comes from Abbott's Easy Greek Reader, both of which are available at the Internet Archive. 

You'll find the fables and joke below, first in Greek, then segmented, and then interwoven with English. The titles are linked to the Internet Archive page.

Ἵππος καὶ ἔλαφος 

Ἵππος κατεῖχε λειμῶνα μόνος, ἐλθόντος δ᾽ ἐλάφου καὶ διαφθείροντος τὴν νομὴν βουλόμενος τιμωρήσασθαι τὸν ἔλαφον ἠρώτα τιν' ἄνθρωπον εἰ δύναιτο μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ κολάσαι τὸν ἔλαφον, ὁ δ᾽ ἔφησεν, ἐὰν λάβῃ χαλινὸν καὶ αὐτὸς ἀναβῇ ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν ἔχων ἀκόντια: συνομολογήσαντος δὲ καὶ ἀναβάντος ἀντὶ τοῦ τιμωρήσασθαι αὐτὸς ἐδούλευσεν ἤδη τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ. 

Ἵππος κατεῖχε λειμῶνα μόνος, 

ἐλθόντος δ᾽ ἐλάφου 

καὶ διαφθείροντος τὴν νομὴν 

βουλόμενος τιμωρήσασθαι τὸν ἔλαφον 

ἠρώτα τιν' ἄνθρωπον 

εἰ δύναιτο μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ κολάσαι τὸν ἔλαφον, 

ὁ δ᾽ ἔφησεν, 

ἐὰν λάβῃ χαλινὸν 

καὶ αὐτὸς ἀναβῇ ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν 

ἔχων ἀκόντια: 

συνομολογήσαντος δὲ 

καὶ ἀναβάντος ἀντὶ τοῦ τιμωρήσασθαι 

αὐτὸς ἐδούλευσεν ἤδη τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ. 

Ἵππος κατεῖχε  ...  A horse was master

λειμῶνα μόνος  ...  of a meadow all to himself

ἐλθόντος δ᾽ ἐλάφου  ...  but when a deer came 

καὶ διαφθείροντος τὴν νομὴν  ...  and wrecked the pasture 

βουλόμενος  ...  the horse wanted 

τιμωρήσασθαι τὸν ἔλαφον  ...  to get revenge on the deer 

ἠρώτα τιν' ἄνθρωπον  ...  and he asked a human being 

εἰ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ δύναιτο  ...  if with him he could

κολάσαι τὸν ἔλαφον  ...  punish the deer,

ὁ δ᾽ ἔφησεν  ...  the man said 

ἐὰν λάβῃ χαλινὸν  ...  if the horse would accept a bridle 

καὶ αὐτὸς ἀναβῇ ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν  ...  and let the man mount him 

ἔχων ἀκόντια  ...  while wielding his javelin: 

συνομολογήσαντος δὲ  ...  and when the horse agreed

καὶ ἀναβάντος  ...  and the man mounted him

ἀντὶ τοῦ τιμωρήσασθαι  ...  instead of getting revenge 

αὐτὸς ἐδούλευσεν ἤδη  ...  the horse was then a slave 

τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ  ...  to the man. 

illustration by Weir

Γεωργοῦ παῖς καὶ κοχλίαι

Γεωργοῦ παῖς ὤπτα κοχλίας· ἀκούσας δὲ αὐτῶν τρυζόντων, ἔφη, Ὦ κάκιστα ζῶα, τῶν οἰκιῶν ὑμῶν ἐμπιπραμένων, αὐτοὶ ᾄδετε;

Γεωργοῦ παῖς 

ὤπτα κοχλίας· 

ἀκούσας δὲ αὐτῶν 

τρυζόντων, 

ἔφη, 

Ὦ κάκιστα ζῶα, 

τῶν οἰκιῶν ὑμῶν ἐμπιπραμένων, 

αὐτοὶ ᾄδετε;

Γεωργοῦ παῖς  ...  A farmer's child

ὤπτα κοχλίας  ...  was roasting snails,

ἀκούσας δὲ αὐτῶν  ...  and when he heard them 

τρυζόντων  ...  sizzling, 

ἔφη  ...  he said, 

Ὦ κάκιστα ζῶα  ...  O wretched creatures, 

τῶν οἰκιῶν ὑμῶν ἐμπιπραμένων  ...  your homes are on fire,  

αὐτοὶ ᾄδετε  ...  and you're singing?

Medici Aesop

Δύσκολος ἰατρός 

Δυσκόλῳ ἰατρῷ προσελθών τις εἶπε· σοφιστὰ, ἀνακεῖσθαι οὐ δύναμαι, οὐδὲ ἑστάναι, ἀλλ' οὐδὲ καθῆσθαι. καὶ ὁ ἰατρὸς εἶπεν, οὐδὲν σοι λείπει ἢ κρεμασθῆναι.

Δυσκόλῳ ἰατρῷ 

προσελθών τις εἶπε· 

σοφιστὰ, 

ἀνακεῖσθαι οὐ δύναμαι, 

οὐδὲ ἑστάναι, 

ἀλλ' οὐδὲ καθῆσθαι. 

καὶ ὁ ἰατρὸς εἶπεν, 

οὐδὲν σοι λείπει 

ἢ κρεμασθῆναι.

προσελθών τις  ...  Someone went

δυσκόλῳ ἰατρῷ  ...  to a grumpy physician

εἶπε  ...  and said,

σοφιστὰ  ...  Doctor, 

ἀνακεῖσθαι οὐ δύναμαι  ...  I can't lie down, 

οὐδὲ ἑστάναι  ...  and I can't stand,

ἀλλ' οὐδὲ καθῆσθαι  ...  and I can't sit either.

καὶ ὁ ἰατρὸς εἶπεν  ...  And the physician said, 

οὐδὲν σοι λείπει  ...  Nothing left to do then

ἢ κρεμασθῆναι  ...  except hang yourself.

And here's a random proverb and a random LOLCat too:

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Greek Reading: 69

The fables below come from Bryce's First Greek Reader, while the joke comes from Abbott's Easy Greek Reader, both of which are available at the Internet Archive. 

You'll find the fables and joke below, first in Greek, then segmented, and then interwoven with English. The titles are linked to the Internet Archive page.

Ὄρνις καὶ χελιδών

Ὄρνις ὄφεως ὠὰ εὑροῦσα ἐπιμελῶς ἐκθερμάνασα ἐξεκόλαψε. Χελιδὼν δὲ θεασαμένη αὐτὴν ἔφη· ὦ ματαία, τί ταῦτα τρέφεις, ἅπερ αὐξηθέντα ἀπὸ σοῦ πρώτης τοῦ ἀδικεῖν ἄρξεται;

Ὄρνις 

ὄφεως ὠὰ εὑροῦσα 

ἐπιμελῶς ἐκθερμάνασα 

ἐξεκόλαψε. 

Χελιδὼν δὲ 

θεασαμένη αὐτὴν ἔφη· 

ὦ ματαία, 

τί ταῦτα τρέφεις, 

ἅπερ αὐξηθέντα 

ἀπὸ σοῦ πρώτης 

τοῦ ἀδικεῖν ἄρξεται;

Ὄρνις  ...  A chicken

ὄφεως ὠὰ εὑροῦσα  ...  found some snake eggs

ἐπιμελῶς ἐκθερμάνασα  ...  and decided to warm them 

ἐξεκόλαψε  ...  and hatch them. 

Χελιδὼν δὲ  ...  A swallow 

θεασαμένη αὐτὴν ἔφη  ...  saw her and said, 

ὦ ματαία  ...  You fool! 

τί ταῦτα τρέφεις  ...  Why are you nourishing creatures  

ἅπερ αὐξηθέντα  ...  who as soon as they are grown

τοῦ ἀδικεῖν ἄρξεται  ...  will start doing harm

ἀπὸ σοῦ πρώτης  ...  beginning with you!

17th-century Aesop illustration

Γέρων καὶ θάνατος 

(different version)

Γέρων ποτὲ ξύλα τεμὼν ἐξ ὄρους κἀπὶ τῶν ὤμων ἀράμενος, ἐπειδὴ πολλὴν ὁδὸν ἐπηχθισμένος ἐβάδισεν, ἀπειρηκὼς ἀπέθετό τε τὰ ξύλα, καὶ τὸν θάνατον ἐλθεῖν ἐπεκαλεῖτο. Τοῦ δὲ θανάτου εὐθὺς ἐπιστάντος, καὶ τὴν αἰτίαν πυνθανομένου, δ᾿ ἣν αὐτὸν καλοίη, ὁ γέρων ἔφη· ἵνα τὸν φόρτον τοῦτον ἄρας ἐπιθῇς μοι.

Γέρων ποτὲ 

ξύλα τεμὼν ἐξ ὄρους 

κἀπὶ τῶν ὤμων ἀράμενος, 

ἐπειδὴ πολλὴν ὁδὸν 

ἐπηχθισμένος ἐβάδισεν, 

ἀπειρηκὼς ἀπέθετό τε τὰ ξύλα, 

καὶ τὸν θάνατον ἐλθεῖν ἐπεκαλεῖτο. 

Τοῦ δὲ θανάτου εὐθὺς ἐπιστάντος, 

καὶ τὴν αἰτίαν πυνθανομένου, 

δ᾿ ἣν αὐτὸν καλοίη, 

ὁ γέρων ἔφη· 

ἵνα τὸν φόρτον τοῦτον ἄρας 

ἐπιθῇς μοι.

Γέρων ποτὲ  ...  There was once an old man

ξύλα τεμὼν  ...  who had cut wood  

ἐξ ὄρους  ...  from up on the mountain

καὶ ἀράμενος  ...  and was carrying the wood 

ἐπὶ τῶν ὤμων  ... upon his shoulders

ἐπειδὴ ἐβάδισεν  ...  and when he'd walked

πολλὴν ὁδὸν  ...  a long way

ἐπηχθισμένος  ...  burdened with the wood,

ἀπειρηκὼς  ...  he gave up,  

ἀπέθετό τε τὰ ξύλα  ...  and put the wood down, 

καὶ ἐπεκαλεῖτο  ...  and called out, 

τὸν θάνατον ἐλθεῖν  ...  for Death to come. 

εὐθὺς  ...  All of a sudden

τοῦ δὲ θανάτου ἐπιστάντος  ...  Death stood there 

καὶ πυνθανομένου  ...  and asked

τὴν αἰτίαν  ...  the reason why

δ᾿ ἣν αὐτὸν καλοίη  ...  he had summoned him. 

ὁ γέρων ἔφη  ...  The old man said, 

ἵνα τὸν φόρτον τοῦτον ἄρας ...  To lift up this burden 

ἐπιθῇς μοι  ...  and put it back on my shoulders.

19th-century Aesop illustration

Ἀβδηρίτου στρουθίον

Ἀβδηρίτου στρουθίον ἀπέθανε. μετὰ οὖν χρόνον ἰδὼν στρουθοκάμηλον, εἶπεν, εἰ ἔζη τὸ στρουθίον μου, ἤδη ἂν τηλικοῦτον ὑπῆρχεν.

Ἀβδηρίτου στρουθίον 

ἀπέθανε. 

μετὰ οὖν χρόνον 

ἰδὼν στρουθοκάμηλον, 

εἶπεν, 

εἰ ἔζη τὸ στρουθίον μου, 

ἤδη ἂν τηλικοῦτον ὑπῆρχεν.

Ἀβδηρίτου στρουθίον  ...  A dunce's pet sparrow

ἀπέθανε  ...  died.

μετὰ οὖν χρόνον  ...  After a while 

ἰδὼν στρουθοκάμηλον  ...  he saw an ostrich, 

εἶπεν  ...  and said:

εἰ ἔζη τὸ στρουθίον μου  ...  If my sparrow had lived, 

ἤδη ἂν τηλικοῦτον ὑπῆρχεν  ...  he would be that size now!

(The word for ostrich in Greek is στρουθοκάμηλος, sparrow-camel.)

ostrich and leopard

And here's a random proverb and a random LOLCat too:

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The Cup of Diogenes

First Greek Reader, by A. H. Bryce. Internet Archive link. This is reading 14 in the Anecdotes section. There are brief notes for each story and also a vocabulary in the back of the book. This book contains Witticism of Hierocles, Anecdotes, Fables of Aesop, and Dialogues of Lucian.

Θεασάμενός ποτε παιδίον ταῖς χερσὶ πῖνον, Διογένης ἐξέρριψε τῆς πήρας τὴν κοτύλην, εἰπων, "Παιδίον με νενίκηκεν εὐτελείᾳ." Ἐξέβαλε δὲ καὶ τὸ τρυβίον, ὁμοίως παιδίον θεασάμενος, ἐπειδὴ κατέαξε τὸ σκεῦος, τῷ κοίλῳ ἄρτῳ τὴν φακῆν ὑποδεχόμενον.

Θεασάμενός ποτε
παιδίον
πῖνον
ταῖς χερσὶ,
Διογένης
ἐξέρριψε
τῆς πήρας
τὴν κοτύλην,
εἰπων,
"Παιδίον
νενίκηκεν με
εὐτελείᾳ."

Ἐξέβαλε δὲ
καὶ τὸ τρυβίον,
ὁμοίως θεασάμενος
παιδίον,
ἐπειδὴ κατέαξε τὸ σκεῦος,
ὑποδεχόμενον
τὴν φακῆν
τῷ κοίλῳ ἄρτῳ.

Having once observed

a child

Θεασάμενός ποτε
παιδίον 

drinking from his hands,

ταῖς χερσὶ
πῖνον, 

Diogenes discarded

Διογένης ἐξέρριψε 

the cup from his sack

τῆς πήρας
τὴν κοτύλην, 

saying

εἰπων, 

"The child

has beaten me in thrift."

"Παιδίον
με νενίκηκεν
εὐτελείᾳ." 

He also threw away

his bowl,

Ἐξέβαλε δὲ 
καὶ τὸ τρυβίον, 

likewise having observed

the child

ὁμοίως
παιδίον θεασάμενος, 

after he had broken

his container

ἐπειδὴ
κατέαξε τὸ σκεῦος, 

taking his lentil-stew

in a hollowed-out

piece of bread

τῷ κοίλῳ ἄρτῳ
τὴν φακῆν
ὑποδεχόμενον.

Diogenes Casting Away His Bowl