Greek Reading: Fables 46

Today's fable comes from Abbott's Easy Greek Reader, and the jokes come from Colton's Greek Reader. Both books are available at the Internet Archive. 

So, here are the stories in Greek, then segmented, and then interwoven with English. The titles are linked to the Internet Archive page.

Γαλῆ

(Abbot titles this  fable"Cat" because the Greeks kepts weasels as mousers, much like we keep cats, but the fable is definitely not about a cat: it's about a weasel!)

Γαλῆ εἰσελθοῦσα εἰς χαλκέως ἐργαστήριον, τὴν ἐκεῖ κειμένην ῥίνην περιέλειχε. Συνέβη δὲ ἐκτριβομένης τῆς γλώσσης πολὺ αἷμα φέρεσθαι. Ἡ δὲ ἐτέρπετο, ὑπονοῦσά τι τοῦ σιδήρου ἀφαιρεῖσθαι, μέχρι παντελῶς ἀπέβαλε τὴν γλῶσσαν.

Γαλῆ εἰσελθοῦσα 

εἰς χαλκέως ἐργαστήριον, 

τὴν ἐκεῖ κειμένην ῥίνην 

περιέλειχε. 

Συνέβη δὲ 

ἐκτριβομένης τῆς γλώσσης 

πολὺ αἷμα φέρεσθαι. 

Ἡ δὲ ἐτέρπετο, 

ὑπονοῦσά 

τι τοῦ σιδήρου ἀφαιρεῖσθαι, 

μέχρι παντελῶς 

ἀπέβαλε τὴν γλῶσσαν.

Γαλῆ εἰσελθοῦσα  ... A weasel went into

εἰς χαλκέως ἐργαστήριον  ... a metalwork shop, 

περιέλειχε  ... and she licked all around

τὴν ῥίνην  ... an iron file 

ἐκεῖ κειμένην  ... that was lying there. 

Συνέβη δὲ  ... It happened that 

ἐκτριβομένης τῆς γλώσσης  ... as her tongue wore away

πολὺ αἷμα φέρεσθαι  ... lots of blood flowed. 

Ἡ δὲ ἐτέρπετο  ... She was delighted 

ὑπονοῦσά  ... supposing 

τι τοῦ σιδήρου ἀφαιρεῖσθαι  ... the blood came from the iron, 

μέχρι παντελῶς  ... until she completely 

ἀπέβαλε τὴν γλῶσσαν  ... wore away her tongue.

I don't have an illustration of the weasel and the file, but there is another version of this fable with a viper and a file, so here's one of those illustrations:

viper and file

Σχολαστικὸς καὶ οἶνος

Σχολαστικὸς ἀμιναῖαν ἔχων, ἐσφράγισεν αὐτήν. Τοῦ δὲ δούλου κάτωθεν τρήσαντος, καὶ τὸν οἶνον αἴροντος, ἐθαύμαζεν ὅτι, τῶν σημάντρων σώων ὄντων, ὁ οἶνος ἐλαττοῦτο. Ἕτερος δὲ εἶπεν, Ὅρα μὴ κάτωθεν ἀφῃρέθη. Ὁ δὲ, Ἀμαθέστατε, εἶπεν, οὐ τὸ κάτωθεν λείπει, ἀλλὰ τὸ ἄνωθεν μέρος.

Σχολαστικὸς 

ἀμιναῖαν ἔχων, 

ἐσφράγισεν αὐτήν. 

Τοῦ δὲ δούλου 

κάτωθεν τρήσαντος, 

καὶ τὸν οἶνον αἴροντος, 

ἐθαύμαζεν 

ὅτι τῶν σημάντρων 

σώων ὄντων, 

ὁ οἶνος ἐλαττοῦτο. 

Ἕτερος δὲ εἶπεν, 

Ὅρα μὴ κάτωθεν ἀφῃρέθη. 

Ὁ δὲ, 

Ἀμαθέστατε, εἶπεν, 

οὐ τὸ κάτωθεν λείπει, 

ἀλλὰ τὸ ἄνωθεν μέρος.

Σχολαστικὸς  ...  A dunce

ἀμιναῖαν ἔχων  ...  had some Falernian wine, 

ἐσφράγισεν αὐτήν  ...  and sealed it. 

Τοῦ δὲ δούλου  ...  One of the dunce's slaves 

κάτωθεν τρήσαντος  ...  made a hole in the bottom, 

καὶ τὸν οἶνον αἴροντος  ...  and took the wine. 

ἐθαύμαζεν  ...  The dunce was baffled

ὅτι τῶν σημάντρων  ...  since the jar seals 

σώων ὄντων  ...  were not broken, 

ὁ οἶνος ἐλαττοῦτο  ...  but the wine was going down. 

Ἕτερος δὲ εἶπεν  ...  Another man said, 

Ὅρα μὴ ἀφῃρέθη  ...  See if the wine isn't being taken

κάτωθεν  ...  from down below.

Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν  ...  And the dunce said, 

Ἀμαθέστατε,  ...  You idiot! 

οὐ τὸ κάτωθεν λείπει  ...  The wine is not missing below; 

ἀλλὰ τὸ ἄνωθεν μέρος  ...  it's the part on top that's gone.

ancient Greek wine jar

Σχολαστικοῦ υἱὸς

Σχολαστικοῦ υἱὸς, ὑπὸ τοῦ πατρὸς εἰς πόλεμον ἐκπεμπόμενος, ὑπέσχετο ἑνὸς τῶν ἐχθρῶν κεφαλὴν ἀγαγεῖν. Ὁ δὲ ἔφη· Εὔχομαι, καὶ χωρὶς κεφαλῆς σε ἐλθόντα, μόνον ὑγιῆ ὄντα ἰδεῖν καὶ εὐφρανθῆναι.

Σχολαστικοῦ υἱὸς, 

ὑπὸ τοῦ πατρὸς 

εἰς πόλεμον ἐκπεμπόμενος, 

ὑπέσχετο 

ἑνὸς τῶν ἐχθρῶν κεφαλὴν ἀγαγεῖν. 

Ὁ δὲ ἔφη· 

Εὔχομαι, 

καὶ χωρὶς κεφαλῆς σε ἐλθόντα, 

μόνον ὑγιῆ ὄντα ἰδεῖν 

καὶ εὐφρανθῆναι.

Σχολαστικοῦ υἱὸς  ...  The son of a dunce, 

εἰς πόλεμον ἐκπεμπόμενος  ...  sent off to war 

ὑπὸ τοῦ πατρὸς  ...  by his father,

ὑπέσχετο  ...  promised 

κεφαλὴν ἀγαγεῖν  ...  to bring back the head

ἑνὸς τῶν ἐχθρῶν  ...  of one of his enemies.

Ὁ δὲ ἔφη  ...  The dunce said, 

Εὔχομαι  ...  I hope that

ἰδεῖν καὶ εὐφρανθῆναι  ...  I can rejoice seeing

σε ἐλθόντα  ...  you come back

καὶ χωρὶς κεφαλῆς  ...  even without a head, 

μόνον ὑγιῆ ὄντα  ... so long as you are healthy.

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

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Reading: Fables 45

Today's fable and also the joke come from Colton's Greek Reader, which has notes for the stories and a vocabulary in the back; the book is available at the Internet Archive. 

So, here are the stories in Greek, then segmented, and then interwoven with English. The titles are linked to the Internet Archive page.

Μύρμηξ καὶ κάνθαρος 

Θέρους ὥρᾳ μύρμηξ, περιπατῶν κατὰ τὴν ἄρουραν, πυροὺς καὶ κριθὰς συνέλεγεν, ἀποθησαυριζόμενος ἑαυτῷ τροφὴν εἰς τὸν χειμῶνα. Κάνθρος δὲ τοῦτον θεασάμενος ἐθαύμασεν ὡς ἐπιπονώτατον, εἴγε παρ' αὐτὸν τὸν καιρὸν μοχθεῖ, παρ' ὃν τὰ ἄλλα ζῶα πόνων ἀφέμενα ἐν ῥᾳστώνῃ διάγουσιν. Ὁ δὲ τότε μὲν ἡσύχασεν. Ὕστερον δὲ, ὡς χειμὼν ἀνέστη, καὶ ἡ κόπρος ὕετο τῷ ὅμβρῳ κλυσθεῖσα, ἧκεν ὁ κάνθαρος πρὸς αὐτὸν λιμώττων, καὶ τροφῆς μεταλαβεῖν ἐδέετο. Ὁ δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἔφη· Ὦ κάνθαρε, ἀλλ' εἰ τότε ἐπόνεις, ὅτε με μοχθοῦντα ὠνείδιζες, οὐκ ἂν νῦν τροφῆς ἐπεδέου.

Θέρους ὥρᾳ μύρμηξ, 

περιπατῶν κατὰ τὴν ἄρουραν, 

πυροὺς καὶ κριθὰς συνέλεγεν, 

ἀποθησαυριζόμενος ἑαυτῷ τροφὴν 

εἰς τὸν χειμῶνα. 

Κάνθρος δὲ 

τοῦτον θεασάμενος 

ἐθαύμασεν 

ὡς ἐπιπονώτατον, 

εἴγε παρ' αὐτὸν τὸν καιρὸν 

μοχθεῖ, 

παρ' ὃν 

τὰ ἄλλα ζῶα 

πόνων ἀφέμενα 

ἐν ῥᾳστώνῃ διάγουσιν. 

Ὁ δὲ τότε μὲν ἡσύχασεν. 

Ὕστερον δὲ, 

ὡς χειμὼν ἀνέστη, 

καὶ ἡ κόπρος ὕετο 

τῷ ὅμβρῳ κλυσθεῖσα, 

ἧκεν ὁ κάνθαρος 

πρὸς αὐτὸν λιμώττων, 

καὶ τροφῆς μεταλαβεῖν ἐδέετο. 

Ὁ δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἔφη· 

Ὦ κάνθαρε, 

ἀλλ' εἰ τότε ἐπόνεις, 

ὅτε με μοχθοῦντα ὠνείδιζες, 

οὐκ ἂν νῦν τροφῆς ἐπεδέου.

Θέρους ὥρᾳ μύρμηξ  ...  During summertime, the ant

περιπατῶν κατὰ τὴν ἄρουραν  ...  going around the farm fields

πυροὺς καὶ κριθὰς συνέλεγεν  ...  gathered wheat and barley

ἀποθησαυριζόμενος ἑαυτῷ τροφὴν  ...  stored away food for himself 

εἰς τὸν χειμῶνα  ...  for winter. 

Κάνθρος δὲ  ...  But the beetle, 

τοῦτον θεασάμενος  ...  seeing the ant, 

ἐθαύμασεν  ...  was baffled

ὡς ἐπιπονώτατον  ...  at how incredibly hard-working he was, 

εἴγε παρ' αὐτὸν τὸν καιρὸν  ...  since during that time 

μοχθεῖ  ...  the ant toiled away,

παρ' ὃν  ...  while 

τὰ ἄλλα ζῶα  ...  the other animals 

πόνων ἀφέμενα  ...  set aside their work  

ἐν ῥᾳστώνῃ διάγουσιν  ...  passed the time in leisure. 

Ὁ δὲ τότε μὲν ἡσύχασεν  ...  So the beetle rested at that time, 

Ὕστερον δὲ  ...  but later,

ὡς χειμὼν ἀνέστη  ...  when winter came, 

καὶ ἡ κόπρος ὕετο  ...  and the dung washed away,

τῷ ὅμβρῳ κλυσθεῖσα  ...  drenched by the rain, 

ἧκεν ὁ κάνθαρος  ...  and the beetle came, 

λιμώττων  ... starving,

πρὸς αὐτὸν  ...  to the ant 

καὶ ἐδέετο  ...  and begged him

τροφῆς μεταλαβεῖν  ...  to share his food. 

Ὁ δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἔφη  ...  But he said to him, 

Ὦ κάνθαρε  ...  O Beetle, 

ἀλλ' εἰ τότε ἐπόνεις  ...  if you had labored back then, 

ὅτε με ὠνείδιζες  ...  when you reproached me

μοχθοῦντα  ...  while I was toiling away,

οὐκ ἂν νῦν τροφῆς ἐπεδέου  ...  you wouldn't lack food now.

Greco-Phoenician ring with scarab

Σχολαστικὸς καὶ τὰ βιβλία αὑτοῦ

Σχολαστικὸς ἀπορῶν δαπανημάτων τὰ βιβλία αὑτοῦ ἐπίπρασκε, καὶ γράφων πρὸς τὸν πατέρα ἔλεγε· Σύγχαιρε ἡμῖν, πάτερ· ἤδη γὰρ ἡμᾶς τὰ βιβλία τρέφει.

Σχολαστικὸς 

ἀπορῶν δαπανημάτων 

τὰ βιβλία αὑτοῦ ἐπίπρασκε, 

καὶ γράφων πρὸς τὸν πατέρα 

ἔλεγε· 

Σύγχαιρε ἡμῖν, πάτερ· 

ἤδη γὰρ ἡμᾶς τὰ βιβλία τρέφει.

Σχολαστικὸς  ...  The dunce,

ἀπορῶν δαπανημάτων  ...  being short of money, 

τὰ βιβλία αὑτοῦ ἐπίπρασκε  ...  sold his books, 

καὶ γράφων πρὸς τὸν πατέρα  ...  and wrote to his father, 

ἔλεγε  ...  saying, 

Σύγχαιρε ἡμῖν, πάτερ  ...  Congratulate us, Dad! 

ἤδη γὰρ τὰ βιβλία  ... Those books are finally

ἡμᾶς τρέφει  ... doing us some good!

(Greek τρέφει means nourish, sustain, educate)

teacher and student

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

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Reading: Fables 44

Today's fable and also the joke come from Colton's Greek Reader, which has notes for the stories and a vocabulary in the back; the book is available at the Internet Archive. 

So, here are the stories in Greek, then segmented, and then interwoven with English. The titles are linked to the Internet Archive page.

Χελώνη καὶ ἀετός 

Χελώνη θεασαμένη ἀετὸν πετόμενον, ἐπεθύμησε καὶ αὐτὴ πετάσαι. Προσελθοῦσα δὲ τοῦτον παρεκάλει, ἐφ' ᾧ βούλεται, μισθῷ διδάξαι αὐτήν. Τοῦ δὲ λέγοντος, ἀδύνατον εἶναι, καὶ ἔτι αὐτῆς ἐπικειμένης καὶ ἀξιούσης, ἄρας αὐτὴν, καὶ μετέωρος ἀρθεὶς ἀφῆκεν ἐπί τινος πέτρας, ὅθεν κατενεχθεῖσα διερράγη καὶ ἀπέθανεν.

Χελώνη 

θεασαμένη ἀετὸν πετόμενον, 

ἐπεθύμησε καὶ αὐτὴ πετάσαι. 

Προσελθοῦσα δὲ 

τοῦτον παρεκάλει

ἐφ' ᾧ βούλεται μισθῷ 

διδάξαι αὐτήν. 

Τοῦ δὲ λέγοντος

ἀδύνατον εἶναι, 

καὶ ἔτι αὐτῆς ἐπικειμένης 

καὶ ἀξιούσης, 

ἄρας αὐτὴν, 

καὶ μετέωρος ἀρθεὶς 

ἀφῆκεν ἐπί τινος πέτρας, 

ὅθεν κατενεχθεῖσα 

διερράγη 

καὶ ἀπέθανεν.

Χελώνη  ... A tortoise 

θεασαμένη ἀετὸν πετόμενον  ... saw an eagle flying 

ἐπεθύμησε καὶ αὐτὴ πετάσαι  ... and she too wanted to fly. 

Προσελθοῦσα δὲ  ... She approached (the eagle) 

τοῦτον παρεκάλει  ... and asked him

διδάξαι αὐτήν  ... to teach her

ἐφ' ᾧ βούλεται μισθῷ  ... at whatever fee he wanted.

Τοῦ δὲ λέγοντος  ... When he said

ἀδύνατον εἶναι  ... that it was impossible, 

καὶ ἔτι αὐτῆς ἐπικειμένης  ... she continued to press him 

καὶ ἀξιούσης  ... insisting she was worthy, 

ἄρας αὐτὴν  ... he lifted her up, 

καὶ μετέωρος ἀρθεὶς  ... carried her high in the air, 

ἀφῆκεν ἐπί τινος πέτρας  ...  and then dropped her on rock

ὅθεν κατενεχθεῖσα  ... whereupon she dropped down,

διερράγη καὶ ἀπέθανεν ... shattered and died. 

17th-century Aesop illustration

Σχολαστικὸς καὶ κουρεύς 

Σχολαστικὸς καὶ φαλακρὸς καὶ κουρεὺς, συνοδεύοντες, συνέθεντο πρὸς τέσσαρας ὥρας γρηγορῆσαι. Ἔλαχεν οὖν πρῶτον τῷ κουρεῖ. Ὁ δὲ μετεωριζόμενος, τὸν σχολαστικὸν κοιμώμενον ἐξύρεησε, καὶ τῶν ὡρῶν πληρωθεισῶν διύπνισεν. Ὁ δὲ, κνηθόμενος ἀφ' ὕπνου τὴν κεφαλὴν, καὶ εὑρὼν αὐτὴν ψιλὴν, ἔφη· Μέγα κάθαρμα ὁ κουρεύς· πλανηθεὶς γὰρ ἀντὶ ἐμοῦ τὸν φαλακρὸν διύπνισεν.

Σχολαστικὸς καὶ φαλακρὸς καὶ κουρεὺς, 

συνοδεύοντες, 

συνέθεντο 

πρὸς τέσσαρας ὥρας γρηγορῆσαι. 

Ἔλαχεν οὖν πρῶτον 

τῷ κουρεῖ. 

Ὁ δὲ μετεωριζόμενος, 

τὸν σχολαστικὸν κοιμώμενον 

ἐξύρεησε, 

καὶ τῶν ὡρῶν πληρωθεισῶν 

διύπνισεν. 

Ὁ δὲ, 

κνηθόμενος ἀφ' ὕπνου τὴν κεφαλὴν, 

καὶ εὑρὼν αὐτὴν ψιλὴν, 

ἔφη· 

Μέγα κάθαρμα 

ὁ κουρεύς· 

πλανηθεὶς γὰρ 

ἀντὶ ἐμοῦ 

τὸν φαλακρὸν διύπνισεν.

Σχολαστικὸς  ... A dunce, 

καὶ φαλακρὸς  ... a bald man, 

καὶ κουρεὺς  ... and a barber, 

συνοδεύοντες  ... were traveling together 

συνέθεντο γρηγορῆσαι  ... and agreed to keep watch

πρὸς τέσσαρας ὥρας  ... in four-hour shifts. 

Ἔλαχεν οὖν πρῶτον  ... The first lot fell 

τῷ κουρεῖ  ... to the barber. 

Ὁ δὲ μετεωριζόμενος  ... Being in high spirits, 

ἐξύρεησε  ... he shaved

τὸν σχολαστικὸν κοιμώμενον ... the sleeping dunce, 

καὶ τῶν ὡρῶν πληρωθεισῶν  ... and when the time was up 

διύπνισεν  ... he woke him. 

Ὁ δὲ  ἀφ' ὕπνου  ... And he, upon waking,

κνηθόμενος τὴν κεφαλὴν  ... scratched his head, 

καὶ εὑρὼν αὐτὴν ψιλὴν  ... and found it without hair. 

ἔφη  ... He said, 

Μέγα κάθαρμα  ... What a good-for-nothing 

ὁ κουρεύς  ... that barber is! 

πλανηθεὶς γὰρ  ... He got confused:

ἀντὶ ἐμοῦ  ... instead of waking me, 

τὸν φαλακρὸν διύπνισεν  ... he woke the bald man!

ancient Greek barber

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

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Reading: Fables 43

Today's fable and also the jokes come from Colton's Greek Reader, which has notes for the stories and a vocabulary in the back; the book is available at the Internet Archive. 

So, here are the stories in Greek, then segmented, and then interwoven with English. The titles are linked to the Internet Archive page.

Μύρμηξ καὶ τέττιξ

Ψύχος καὶ χειμὼν κατ' Ὀλύμπου· μύρμηξ δὲ πολλὰς συνάξας τροφὰς ἐν ἀμητοῖς, ἐν ἰδίοις οἴκοις ἀπέθηκε· τέττιξ δὲ ἐπὶ τρώγλης ἐνδύνας ἐξέπνεε τῇ πείνῃ, λιμῷ κατεχόμενος καὶ ψύχει πολλῷ. Ἐδέετο δὲ τοῦ μύρμκηος τροφῆς μεταδοῦναι, ὅπως καὶ αὐτὸς γευσάμενός τινος σωθείη. Ὁ μύρμηξ δὲ πρὸς αὐτον, Ποῦ, φησὶν, ἦς τῷ θέρει; πῶς δ' οὐ συνῆξας τροφὰς ἐν ἀμητῷ; Ὁ δὲ τέττιξ, Ἦιδον, καὶ ἔτερπον τοὺς ὁδοιποροῦντας. Ὁ δὲ μύρμηξ γέλωτι πολλῳ καταχέας ἔφη· Οὐκοῦν χειμῶνος ὀρχοῦ.

Ψύχος καὶ χειμὼν κατ' Ὀλύμπου· 

μύρμηξ δὲ 

πολλὰς συνάξας τροφὰς 

ἐν ἀμητοῖς, 

ἐν ἰδίοις οἴκοις ἀπέθηκε· 

τέττιξ δὲ 

ἐπὶ τρώγλης ἐνδύνας 

ἐξέπνεε τῇ πείνῃ, 

λιμῷ κατεχόμενος καὶ ψύχει πολλῷ. 

Ἐδέετο δὲ τοῦ μύρμκηος 

τροφῆς μεταδοῦναι, 

ὅπως καὶ αὐτὸς γευσάμενός τινος σωθείη. 

Ὁ μύρμηξ δὲ πρὸς αὐτον, 

Ποῦ, φησὶν, ἦς τῷ θέρει; 

πῶς δ' οὐ συνῆξας τροφὰς ἐν ἀμητῷ; 

Ὁ δὲ τέττιξ, 

ᾞδον, 

καὶ ἔτερπον τοὺς ὁδοιποροῦντας. 

Ὁ δὲ μύρμηξ 

γέλωτι πολλῳ καταχέας ἔφη· 

Οὐκοῦν χειμῶνος ὀρχοῦ.

Ψύχος καὶ χειμὼν  ...  Frost and winter storm 

κατ' Ὀλύμπου  ...  came down from Olympus, 

μύρμηξ δὲ  ...  but the ant 

πολλὰς συνάξας τροφὰς  ...  had gathered a lot of food 

ἐν ἀμητοῖς  ...  during the harvest, 

ἐν ἰδίοις οἴκοις ἀπέθηκε  ...  and stored it in his home, 

τέττιξ δὲ  ...  but the grasshopper

ἐπὶ τρώγλης ἐνδύνας  ...  squeezed into a hole

ἐξέπνεε τῇ πείνῃ  ...  was dying of hunger 

κατεχόμενος  ...  gripped by 

λιμῷ καὶ ψύχει πολλῷ  ...  severe famine and frost. 

Ἐδέετο δὲ τοῦ μύρμκηος  ...  He begged the ant

τροφῆς μεταδοῦναι  ...  to give him some food, 

γευσάμενός τινος  ...  having a taste of something

ὅπως καὶ αὐτὸς σωθείη  ...  he too could survive.

Ὁ μύρμηξ δὲ πρὸς αὐτον φησὶν  ...  The ant said to him, 

Ποῦ ἦς τῷ θέρει  ...  Where were you during the summer?

πῶς δ' οὐ συνῆξας τροφὰς  ...  How did you not gather food

ἐν ἀμητῷ  ...  during the harvest? 

Ὁ δὲ τέττιξ  ...  The grasshopper said, 

ᾞδον  ...  I was singing, 

καὶ ἔτερπον  ...  and I delighted  

τοὺς ὁδοιποροῦντας  ...  passersby. 

Ὁ δὲ μύρμηξ ἔφη ...  The ant said, 

γέλωτι πολλῳ καταχέας  ...  bursting with laughter, 

Οὐκοῦν χειμῶνος ὀρχοῦ  ...  So dance during the winter!

Grandville's illustration for La Fontaine

Σχολαστικὸς ἰατρῷ συναντήσας

Σχολαστικὸς, ἰατρῷ συναντήσας, Συγχώρησόν μοι, εἶπε, καὶ μή μοι μέμψῃ, ὅτι οὐκ ἐνόσησα.

Σχολαστικὸς, 

ἰατρῷ συναντήσας, 

Συγχώρησόν μοι, εἶπε, 

καὶ μή μοι μέμψῃ, 

ὅτι οὐκ ἐνόσησα.

Σχολαστικὸς  ...  A dunce 

ἰατρῷ συναντήσας  ...  ran into his doctor 

εἶπε  ...  and said,

Συγχώρησόν μοι  ...  Forgive me, 

καὶ μή μοι μέμψῃ  ...  and don't blame me; 

ὅτι οὐκ ἐνόσησα  ...  the fact is: I haven't been sick.

Σχολαστικὸς οἰκίαν πωλῶν

Σχολαστικὸς, οἰκίαν πωλῶν, λίθον ἀπ' αὐτῆς εἰς δεῖγμα περιέφερε.

Σχολαστικὸς, 

οἰκίαν πωλῶν, 

λίθον ἀπ' αὐτῆς 

εἰς δεῖγμα περιέφερε.

Σχολαστικὸς  ...  A dunce

οἰκίαν πωλῶν  ...  who was selling a house 

περιέφερε  ...  carried around  

λίθον ἀπ' αὐτῆς  ...  a stone from the house 

εἰς δεῖγμα  ...  as a sample.

another version:

Σχολαστικὸς ἰατρῷ συναντήσας ὑπὸ τοίχου ἐκρύβη. Τινὸς δὲ πυθομένου τὴν αἰτίαν, ἔφη· Καιρὸν ἔχω μὴ ἀσθενήσας, καὶ αἰχύνομαι εἰς ὄψιν ἐλθεῖν τοῦ ἰατροῦ.

Σχολαστικὸς 

ἰατρῷ συναντήσας 

ὑπὸ τοίχου ἐκρύβη. 

Τινὸς δὲ πυθομένου τὴν αἰτίαν

ἔφη· 

Καιρὸν ἔχω μὴ ἀσθενήσας, 

καὶ αἰχύνομαι 

εἰς ὄψιν ἐλθεῖν τοῦ ἰατροῦ.

Σχολαστικὸς  ... A dunce 

ἰατρῷ συναντήσας  ... running into his doctor 

ὑπὸ τοίχου ἐκρύβη  ... hid behind a wall. 

Τινὸς δὲ πυθομένου τὴν αἰτίαν  ... Someone asked why

ἔφη  ... and the dunce said,

Καιρὸν ἔχω ...  Things are going well for me,

μὴ ἀσθενήσας  ...  not having been sick, 

καὶ αἰχύνομαι  ... and I'm ashamed 

εἰς ὄψιν ἐλθεῖν τοῦ ἰατροῦ  ... for my doctor to see me.

ancient Greek physician

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

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Reading: Fables 42

Today's fable and also the joke come from Colton's Greek Reader, which has notes for the stories and a vocabulary in the back; the book is available at the Internet Archive. 

So, here are the stories in Greek, then segmented, and then interwoven with English. The titles are linked to the Internet Archive page.

Λύκος καὶ γραῦς 

Λύκος λιμώττων περιῄει ζητῶν ἑαυτῷ τροφήν. Γενόμενος δὲ κατά τινα τόπον, ἤκουσε παιδίου κλαυθμυρίζοντος, καὶ γραὸς ἀπειλουμένης, καὶ λεγούσης αὐτῷ. Παῦσαι τοῦ κλαίειν, μήπως τῇ ὥρᾳ ταύτῃ ἐπιδω σε τῷ λύκῳ. Οἰόμενος δὲ ὁ λύκος, ὅτι ἀληθεύει ἡ γραῦς, ἵστατο ἐπὶ πολλὴν ὥραν ἐκδεχόμενος. Ὡς δὲ ἑσπέρα κατέλαβεν, ἀκούει πάλιν τῆς γραὸς κολακευούσης τὸ παιδίον, καὶ λεγούσης αὐτῷ· Ἐὰν ἔλθῃ ἐνταῦθα ὁ λύκος, ὦ τέκνον, φονεύσομεν αὐτόν. Τούτων ἀκούσας ὁ λύκος, ὡς οὐδὲν τοῖς λόγοις ἀκόλουθον ἦν, ἀπηλλάττετο λέγων· Ἐν ταύτῃ τῇ ἐπαύλει ἄλλα μὲν λέγουσιν, ἄλλα δὲ ποιοῦσιν.

Λύκος λιμώττων περιῄει 

ζητῶν ἑαυτῷ τροφήν. 

Γενόμενος δὲ κατά τινα τόπον, 

ἤκουσε παιδίου κλαυθμυρίζοντος, 

καὶ γραὸς ἀπειλουμένης 

καὶ λεγούσης αὐτῷ. 

Παῦσαι τοῦ κλαίειν, 

μήπως τῇ ὥρᾳ ταύτῃ 

ἐπιδω σε τῷ λύκῳ. 

Οἰόμενος δὲ ὁ λύκος

ὅτι ἀληθεύει ἡ γραῦς, 

ἵστατο ἐπὶ πολλὴν ὥραν 

ἐκδεχόμενος. 

Ὡς δὲ ἑσπέρα κατέλαβεν, 

ἀκούει πάλιν τῆς γραὸς 

κολακευούσης τὸ παιδίον

καὶ λεγούσης αὐτῷ· 

Ἐὰν ἔλθῃ ἐνταῦθα ὁ λύκος, 

ὦ τέκνον, 

φονεύσομεν αὐτόν. 

Τούτων ἀκούσας ὁ λύκος, 

ὡς οὐδὲν τοῖς λόγοις ἀκόλουθον ἦν, 

ἀπηλλάττετο λέγων· 

Ἐν ταύτῃ τῇ ἐπαύλει 

ἄλλα μὲν λέγουσιν, 

ἄλλα δὲ ποιοῦσιν.

Λύκος λιμώττων περιῄει  ...  A hungry wolf prowled around

ζητῶν ἑαυτῷ τροφήν  ...  looking for something he could eat. 

Γενόμενος δὲ κατά τινα τόπον  ...  He came to a certain place

ἤκουσε παιδίου κλαυθμυρίζοντος  ...  and heard a an infant crying, 

καὶ γραὸς ἀπειλουμένης  ...  and an old woman threatening him

καὶ λεγούσης αὐτῷ  ...  and saying to him,

Παῦσαι τοῦ κλαίειν  ...  Stop that crying,

μήπως τῇ ὥρᾳ ταύτῃ  ...  or else at this very moment 

ἐπιδω σε τῷ λύκῳ  ...  I'll hand you over to the wolf. 

Οἰόμενος δὲ ὁ λύκος  ...  The wolf supposed

ὅτι ἀληθεύει ἡ γραῦς  ...  the old woman was telling the truth, 

ἵστατο ἐπὶ πολλὴν ὥραν  ...  and stood there a long time 

ἐκδεχόμενος  ...  expecting (to get the baby). 

Ὡς δὲ ἑσπέρα κατέλαβεν  ...  When evening came on, 

ἀκούει πάλιν τῆς γραὸς  ...  he heard the old woman again

κολακευούσης τὸ παιδίον  ...  now soothing the child

καὶ λεγούσης αὐτῷ  ...  and saying to him, 

Ἐὰν ἔλθῃ ἐνταῦθα ὁ λύκος  ...  If the wolf comes here, 

ὦ τέκνον  ...  my child, 

φονεύσομεν αὐτόν  ...  we'll kill him. 

Τούτων ἀκούσας ὁ λύκος  ...  When the wolf heard this, 

ὡς οὐδὲν  ...  there being nothing

τοῖς λόγοις ἀκόλουθον ἦν  ...  consistent about her words,

ἀπηλλάττετο λέγων  ...  he went away, saying, 

Ἐν ταύτῃ τῇ ἐπαύλει  ...  In this dwelling, 

ἄλλα μὲν λέγουσιν  ...  they say one thing, 

ἄλλα δὲ ποιοῦσιν  ...  and do another.

from Barlow's Aesop

Ἔμαθον ὅτι ἀπέθανες...

Σχολαστικὸς σχολαστικῷ συναντήσας εἶπεν· Ἔμαθον ὅτι ἀπέθανες· κἀκεῖνος, Ἀλλ' ὁρᾷς με ἔτι, ἔφη, ζῶντα. Καὶ ὁ σχολαστικὸς, Καὶ μὴν ὁ εἰπων μοι πολλῷ σου ἀξιοπιστότερος ὑπάρχει.

Σχολαστικὸς 

σχολαστικῷ συναντήσας 

εἶπεν· 

Ἔμαθον ὅτι ἀπέθανες· 

κἀκεῖνος, 

Ἀλλ' ὁρᾷς με ἔτι, ἔφη, ζῶντα. 

Καὶ ὁ σχολαστικὸς, 

Καὶ μὴν ὁ εἰπων μοι 

πολλῷ σου ἀξιοπιστότερος 

ὑπάρχει.

Σχολαστικὸς  ... One dunce

σχολαστικῷ συναντήσας  ... met another dunce 

εἶπεν  ... and said,

Ἔμαθον ὅτι ἀπέθανες  ... I heard you were dead! 

κἀκεῖνος ἔφη  ... And the other said,

Ἀλλ' ὁρᾷς με ἔτι ζῶντα  ... But you can see I'm still alive.

Καὶ ὁ σχολαστικὸς  ... And the dunce said,

Καὶ μὴν ὁ εἰπων μοι ὑπάρχει  ... But the one who told me is

πολλῷ σου ἀξιοπιστότερος  ... much more reliable than you. 

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

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Reading: Fables 41

Today's fable and also the joke come from Colton's Greek Reader, which has notes for the stories and a vocabulary in the back; the book is available at the Internet Archive. 

So, here are the stories in Greek, then segmented, and then interwoven with English. The titles are linked to the Internet Archive page.

Λέων καὶ ἀλώπηξ

(you saw another version of this story earlier)

Λέων γηράσας, καὶ μὴ δυνάμενος δι' ἀλκῆς ἑαυτῷ τροφὴν πόριζειν, ἔγνω δι' ἐπινοίας τοῦτο πρᾶξαι. Και δὴ παραγενόμενος εἴς τι σπήλαιον, καὶ ἐνταῦθα κατακλεισθεὶς, προσεποιεῖτο νοσεῖν χαλεπῶς. Καὶ οὕτω τὰ παραγενόμενα ἐπισκέψεως χάριν παντοῖα ζῶα συλλαμβάνων κατήσθιεν αὐτά. Πολλῶν δὲ θηρίων ἀναλωθέντων ὑπ' αὐτοῦ, ἀλώπηξ τὸ τέχνασμα αὐτοῦ συνιεῖσα καὶ γνοῦσα, παρεγένετο πρὸς αὐτὸν, καὶ στᾶσα ἔξωθεν καὶ ἄποθεν τοῦ σπηλαίου, ἀπυνθάνετο αὐτοῦ πῶς ἔχοι. Τούτου δὲ εἰπόντος, κακῶς, καὶ τὴν αἰτίαν ἐρωτῶντος, δὶ ἣν οὐ κάτεισι, καὶ οὐκ εἰσέρχεται ὧδε, ἡ ἀλώπηξ ἔφη· Ἀλλ' ἔγωγε εἰσῆλθον ἂν, εἰ μὴ ἑώρων πολλῶν εἰσιόντων ἴχνη, ἐξιόντων δὲ οὐδενός.

Λέων γηράσας, 

καὶ μὴ δυνάμενος δι' ἀλκῆς 

ἑαυτῷ τροφὴν πόριζειν, 

ἔγνω δι' ἐπινοίας τοῦτο πρᾶξαι. 

Και δὴ παραγενόμενος εἴς τι σπήλαιον, 

καὶ ἐνταῦθα κατακλεισθεὶς, 

προσεποιεῖτο νοσεῖν χαλεπῶς. 

Καὶ οὕτω 

τὰ παραγενόμενα ἐπισκέψεως 

χάριν παντοῖα 

ζῶα συλλαμβάνων 

κατήσθιεν αὐτά. 

Πολλῶν δὲ θηρίων 

ἀναλωθέντων ὑπ' αὐτοῦ, 

ἀλώπηξ 

τὸ τέχνασμα αὐτοῦ συνιεῖσα 

καὶ γνοῦσα, 

παρεγένετο πρὸς αὐτὸν, 

καὶ στᾶσα ἔξωθεν 

καὶ ἄποθεν τοῦ σπηλαίου, 

ἀπυνθάνετο αὐτοῦ πῶς ἔχοι. 

Τούτου δὲ εἰπόντος, 

κακῶς, 

καὶ τὴν αἰτίαν ἐρωτῶντος, 

δὶ ἣν οὐ κάτεισι

καὶ οὐκ εἰσέρχεται ὧδε, 

ἡ ἀλώπηξ ἔφη· 

Ἀλλ' ἔγωγε εἰσῆλθον ἂν, 

εἰ μὴ ἑώρων 

πολλῶν εἰσιόντων ἴχνη, 

ἐξιόντων δὲ οὐδενός.

Λέων γηράσας  ...  A lion had grown old 

καὶ μὴ δυνάμενος  ...  and was no longer able

ἑαυτῷ τροφὴν πόριζειν  ...  to get food for himself

δι' ἀλκῆς  ...  by means of strength

δι' ἐπινοίας  ...  so by means of intelligence 

ἔγνω τοῦτο πρᾶξαι  ...  he decided on this (plan), 

Και δὴ παραγενόμενος  ...  and going  

εἴς τι σπήλαιον  ...  into a cave, 

καὶ ἐνταῦθα κατακλεισθεὶς  ...  and shutting himself in, 

προσεποιεῖτο  ...  he pretended

νοσεῖν χαλεπῶς  ...  to be gravely ill. 

Καὶ οὕτω  ...  And thus 

τὰ παραγενόμενα παντοῖα ... when all sorts (of animals) came

ἐπισκέψεως χάριν  ...  for the sake of visiting 

ζῶα συλλαμβάνων  ...  he grabbed them alive 

κατήσθιεν αὐτά  ...  and devoured them. 

Πολλῶν δὲ θηρίων  ...  After many beasts 

ἀναλωθέντων ὑπ' αὐτοῦ  ...  were slain by the lion, 

ἀλώπηξ  ...  the fox 

συνιεῖσα  ... figured out

τὸ τέχνασμα αὐτοῦ  ...  the lion's deceit 

καὶ γνοῦσα  ...  and knew what to do: 

παρεγένετο πρὸς αὐτὸν  ...  she went to the lion, 

καὶ στᾶσα ἔξωθεν  ...  and stood outside 

καὶ ἄποθεν τοῦ σπηλαίου  ...  away from the cave, 

ἀπυνθάνετο αὐτοῦ  ...  and asked him 

πῶς ἔχοι  ...  how he was doing.

Τούτου δὲ εἰπόντος  ...  The lion said, 

κακῶς  ...  "Badly!" 

καὶ τὴν αἰτίαν ἐρωτῶντος  ...  and asked why

δὶ ἣν οὐ κάτεισι  ...  the fox didn't come down

καὶ οὐκ εἰσέρχεται ὧδε  ...  and enter the cave,

ἡ ἀλώπηξ ἔφη  ...  the fox said,

Ἀλλ' ἔγωγε εἰσῆλθον ἂν  ...  I'd certainly come in

εἰ μὴ ἑώρων  ...  if I didn't see

πολλῶν εἰσιόντων ἴχνη  ...  many tracks going in, 

ἐξιόντων δὲ οὐδενός  ...  and not one coming out.

The Fox and the Lion

Σχολαστικὸς ναυαγῶν

Σχολαστικὸς, εἰς χειμῶνα ναυαγῶν, καὶ τῶν συμπλεόντων ἑκάστου περιπλεκομένου σκεῦος πρὸς τὸ σωθῆναι, ἐκεῖνος μίαν τῶν ἀγηκυρῶν περιεπλέξατο.

Σχολαστικὸς, 

εἰς χειμῶνα ναυαγῶν, 

καὶ τῶν συμπλεόντων ἑκάστου 

περιπλεκομένου σκεῦος 

πρὸς τὸ σωθῆναι, 

ἐκεῖνος 

μίαν τῶν ἀγηκυρῶν περιεπλέξατο.

Σχολαστικὸς  ... A dunce

εἰς χειμῶνα ναυαγῶν  ... was on a ship sinking in a storm, 

καὶ ἑκάστου  ... and each one 

τῶν συμπλεόντων  ...  of his fellow passengers 

περιπλεκομένου   ... grabbed hold

σκεῦος  ...  of some piece of baggage

πρὸς τὸ σωθῆναι  ... to save themselves; 

ἐκεῖνος  ... the dunce 

μίαν τῶν ἀγηκυρῶν περιεπλέξατο  ... grabbed an anchor.

ancient stone anchor

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

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Reading: Fables 40

Today's fables and also the joke come from Colton's Greek Reader, which has notes for the stories and a vocabulary in the back; the book is available at the Internet Archive. 

So, here are the stories in Greek, then segmented, and then interwoven with English. The titles are linked to the Internet Archive page.

Βάτραχοι δύο

(this is another version of the fable of the two frogs that you saw before)

Βάτραχοι δύο ἐνέμοντο ἐν λίμνῃ. Ἐν ἡμέραις δὲ τοῦ θέρους ἐξηράνθη ἡ λίμνη, καὶ καταλείψαντες ἐκείνην, ἄλλην ἐπεζήτουν. Παραχρῆμα οὖν ἐνέτυχον φρέατι βαθεῖ. Εἶπε δὲ ὁ ἕτερος τῷ ἑτέρῳ· Συγκατέλθωμεν ἐνταῦθα, ὦ φίλε. Ὑπολαβὼν δὲ ὁ ἕτερος ἀντεῖπεν· Ἐὰν οὖν καὶ τὸ ἐνθάδε ὕδωρ ξηρανθῇ, πῶς δυνησόμεθα ἀνελθεῖν;

Βάτραχοι δύο 

ἐνέμοντο ἐν λίμνῃ. 

Ἐν ἡμέραις δὲ τοῦ θέρους 

ἐξηράνθη ἡ λίμνη, 

καὶ καταλείψαντες ἐκείνην, 

ἄλλην ἐπεζήτουν. 

Παραχρῆμα οὖν ἐνέτυχον 

φρέατι βαθεῖ. 

Εἶπε δὲ ὁ ἕτερος τῷ ἑτέρῳ· 

Συγκατέλθωμεν ἐνταῦθα, ὦ φίλε. 

Ὑπολαβὼν δὲ ὁ ἕτερος ἀντεῖπεν· 

Ἐὰν οὖν καὶ τὸ ἐνθάδε ὕδωρ ξηρανθῇ, 

πῶς δυνησόμεθα ἀνελθεῖν;

Βάτραχοι δύο  ...  Two frogs 

ἐνέμοντο ἐν λίμνῃ  ...  living in a pool. 

Ἐν ἡμέραις δὲ τοῦ θέρους  ...  In the days of summer 

ἐξηράνθη ἡ λίμνη  ...  the pool dried up, 

καὶ καταλείψαντες ἐκείνην  ...  and they left it behind, 

ἄλλην ἐπεζήτουν  ...  and sought another. 

Παραχρῆμα οὖν ἐνέτυχον  ...  Soon they came across 

φρέατι βαθεῖ  ...  a deep well. 

Εἶπε δὲ ὁ ἕτερος τῷ ἑτέρῳ  ...  One said to the other,

Συγκατέλθωμεν ἐνταῦθα  ...  Let's settle here, 

ὦ φίλε  ...  my friend! 

Ὑπολαβὼν δὲ ὁ ἕτερος  ...  The other replied

ἀντεῖπεν  ...  disagreeing, 

Ἐὰν οὖν καὶ τὸ ὕδωρ... And what if this water also

ἐνθάδε ξηρανθῇ  ...  dries up here:

πῶς δυνησόμεθα ἀνελθεῖν  ...  how will we be able to get out?

the two frogs

Δέλφαξ καὶ πρόβατα

Ἔν τινι ποίμνῃ προβάτων δέλφαξ εἰσελθὼν ἐνέμετο. Καὶ δή ποτε τοῦ ποιμένος συλλαμβάνοντος αὐτὸ, ἐκεκράγει τε καὶ ἀντέτεινε. Τῶν δὲ προβάτων αἰτιωμένων ἐπὶ τῷ βοᾷν, καὶ λεγόντων, Ἡμᾶς γὰρ συνεχῶς συλλαμβάνει, καὶ οὐ κράζομεν, ἔφη πρὸς ταῦτα· Ἀλλ' οὐχ ὁμοία γε τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ ἡ ἐμὴ σύλληψις· ὑμᾶς γὰρ ἢ διὰ τὰ ἔρια ἀγρεύει, ἢ διὰ τοὺς ἄρνας, ἐμὲ δὲ διὰ τὸ κρέας.

Ἔν τινι ποίμνῃ προβάτων 

δέλφαξ εἰσελθὼν ἐνέμετο. 

Καὶ δή ποτε 

τοῦ ποιμένος συλλαμβάνοντος αὐτὸ, 

ἐκεκράγει τε καὶ ἀντέτεινε. 

Τῶν δὲ προβάτων αἰτιωμένων 

ἐπὶ τῷ βοᾷν, 

καὶ λεγόντων, 

Ἡμᾶς γὰρ συνεχῶς συλλαμβάνει, 

καὶ οὐ κράζομεν, 

ἔφη πρὸς ταῦτα· 

Ἀλλ' οὐχ ὁμοία γε τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ 

ἡ ἐμὴ σύλληψις· 

ὑμᾶς γὰρ ἢ διὰ τὰ ἔρια ἀγρεύει, 

ἢ διὰ τοὺς ἄρνας, 

ἐμὲ δὲ διὰ τὸ κρέας.

δέλφαξ εἰσελθὼν  ...  A pig came into 

ἔν τινι ποίμνῃ προβάτων  ...  a flock of sheep

ἐνέμετο  ...  and lived with them.

Καὶ δή ποτε  ...  And then 

τοῦ ποιμένος  ...  when the shepherd

συλλαμβάνοντος αὐτὸ  ...  grabbed him, 

ἐκεκράγει τε  ...  he squealed 

καὶ ἀντέτεινε  ...  struggled. 

Τῶν δὲ προβάτων αἰτιωμένων  ...  The sheep rebuked

ἐπὶ τῷ βοᾷν  ...  for shouting,

καὶ λεγόντων  ...  and they said, 

Ἡμᾶς γὰρ συλλαμβάνει  ...  He seizes us

συνεχῶς  ...  frequently, 

καὶ οὐ κράζομεν  ...  and we don't cry out. 

ἔφη πρὸς ταῦτα  ...  The pig said to them, 

Ἀλλ' ἡ ἐμὴ σύλληψις  ...  When he grabs me

οὐχ ὁμοία γε τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ  ...  it's not at all like grabbing you.

ὑμᾶς γὰρ ἀγρεύει ...  For he catches you 

ἢ διὰ τὰ ἔρια  ...  either for your wool

ἢ διὰ τοὺς ἄρνας  ...  or for your lambs, 

ἐμὲ δὲ διὰ τὸ κρέας  ...  but he catches me for my flesh.

the fable of the pig

Σχολαστικὸς καὶ κόραξ

Σχολαστικὸς, μαθὼν ὅτι ὁ κόραξ ὑπὲρ τὰ διακόσια ἔτη ζῇ, ἀγοράσας κόρακα εἰς ἀπόπειραν ἔτρεφε.

Σχολαστικὸς, 

μαθὼν ὅτι 

ὁ κόραξ ὑπὲρ τὰ διακόσια ἔτη ζῇ, 

ἀγοράσας κόρακα 

εἰς ἀπόπειραν ἔτρεφε.

Σχολαστικὸς  ...  A dunce, 

μαθὼν ὅτι  ...  when he learned that

ὁ κόραξ ζῇ  ...  the crow lives

ὑπὲρ τὰ διακόσια ἔτη  ...  over two hundred years,

ἀγοράσας κόρακα ἔτρεφε ...  bought and raised a crow

εἰς ἀπόπειραν  ...  to see for himself.

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

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Reading: Fables 39

Today's fables and also the joke come from Colton's Greek Reader, which has notes for the stories and a vocabulary in the back; the book is available at the Internet Archive. 

So, here are the stories in Greek, then segmented, and then interwoven with English. The titles are linked to the Internet Archive page.

Ὄνος, ἀλεκτρυὼν καὶ λέων

Ἔν τινι ἐπαύλει ὄνος καὶ ἀλεκτρυὼν ἦσαν. Λέων δὲ λιμώττων, ὡς ἐθεάσατο τὸν ὄνον, οἷός τε ἦν, εἰσελθὼν ἤμελλε καταθοινήσασθαι. Περὶ δὲ τὸν ψόφον, ἀλεκτρυόνος φθεγξαμένου καταπτήξας, φασὶ γάρ τοὺς λέοντας πτύρεσθαι πρὸς τὰς τῶν ἀλεκτρυόνων φωνὰς, εἰς φυγὴν ἐτράπη. Καὶ ὁ ὄνος ἀναπτερωθεὶς κατ' αὐτοῦ, εἴγε ἀλεκτρυόνα ἐφοβήθη, ἐξῆλθεν ὡς ἀποδιώξων αὐτόν. Ὁ δὲ, ὡς μακρὰν ἐγένετο, κατέφαγεν αὐτόν.

Ἔν τινι ἐπαύλει 

ὄνος καὶ ἀλεκτρυὼν ἦσαν. 

Λέων δὲ λιμώττων, 

ὡς ἐθεάσατο τὸν ὄνον, 

οἷός τε ἦν, 

εἰσελθὼν 

ἤμελλε καταθοινήσασθαι. 

Περὶ δὲ τὸν ψόφον, 

ἀλεκτρυόνος φθεγξαμένου 

καταπτήξας, 

φασὶ γάρ 

τοὺς λέοντας πτύρεσθαι 

πρὸς τὰς τῶν ἀλεκτρυόνων φωνὰς, 

εἰς φυγὴν ἐτράπη. 

Καὶ ὁ ὄνος 

ἀναπτερωθεὶς κατ' αὐτοῦ, 

εἴγε ἀλεκτρυόνα ἐφοβήθη,

ἐξῆλθεν 

ὡς ἀποδιώξων αὐτόν. 

Ὁ δὲ, 

ὡς μακρὰν ἐγένετο, 

κατέφαγεν αὐτόν.

Ἔν τινι ἐπαύλει  ... On a farmstead 

ὄνος καὶ ἀλεκτρυὼν ἦσαν  ... there was a donkey and rooster. 

Λέων δὲ λιμώττων  ... A hungry lion 

ὡς ἐθεάσατο τὸν ὄνον  ... when he saw the donkey, 

οἷός τε ἦν εἰσελθὼν  ... and being as he was (a lion), he went in

ἤμελλε καταθοινήσασθαι  ... and planned to have a feast. 

Περὶ δὲ τὸν ψόφον  ... But because of the noise

ἀλεκτρυόνος φθεγξαμένου  ... of the rooster squawking,

καταπτήξας  ... the lion cowered — 

φασὶ γάρ  ... for they say

τοὺς λέοντας πτύρεσθαι  ... that lions are terrified  

πρὸς τὰς τῶν ἀλεκτρυόνων φωνὰς  ... by roosters crowing — 

εἰς φυγὴν ἐτράπη  ... he turned around to run. 

Καὶ ὁ ὄνος  ... And the donkey 

ἀναπτερωθεὶς κατ' αὐτοῦ  ... felt elated because of this,

εἴγε ἀλεκτρυόνα ἐφοβήθη  ... since the lion feared the rooster,

ἐξῆλθεν  ... and went out 

ὡς ἀποδιώξων αὐτόν  ... in pursuit of the lion. 

Ὁ δὲ  ... But the lion, 

ὡς μακρὰν ἐγένετο  ... when he was far (from the rooster),

κατέφαγεν αὐτόν  ... devoured the donkey.

Caldecott

Λαγωοί καὶ ἀλώπεκες 

Λαγωοί ποτε πολεμοῦντες ἀετοῖς, παρεκάλουν εἰς συμμαχίαν ἀλώπεκας. Αἱ δὲ ἔφασαν· Ἐβοηθήσαμεν ἂν ὑμῖν, εἰ μὴ εἴδειμεν, τίνες ἦτε καὶ τίσι πολεμεῖτε.

Λαγωοί ποτε 

πολεμοῦντες ἀετοῖς, 

παρεκάλουν εἰς συμμαχίαν ἀλώπεκας. 

Αἱ δὲ ἔφασαν· 

Ἐβοηθήσαμεν ἂν ὑμῖν, 

εἰ μὴ εἴδειμεν, 

τίνες ἦτε καὶ τίσι πολεμεῖτε.

Λαγωοί ποτε  ... The rabbits once upon a time

πολεμοῦντες ἀετοῖς  ... were at war with the eagles, 

παρεκάλουν ἀλώπεκας  ... and ordered the foxes

εἰς συμμαχίαν  ... to come fight as their allies. 

Αἱ δὲ ἔφασαν  ... But the foxes said, 

Ἐβοηθήσαμεν ἂν ὑμῖν  ... We'd come help you, 

εἰ μὴ εἴδειμεν  ... if we didn't know

τίνες ἦτε  ... who you are

καὶ τίσι πολεμεῖτε  ... and who you are fight against.

Medici Aesop

Σχολαστικὸς νοσοῦντα ἐπισκεπτόμενος

Σχολαστικὸς νοσοῦντα ἐπισκεπτόμενος ἠρώτα περὶ τῆς ἡγιείας· ὁ δὲ οὐκ ἠδύνατο ἀποκριθῆναι. Ὀργισθεὶς οὖν ἐξήλεγχεν. Ἐλπίζω κἀμὲ νοσήσαι, καὶ ἐλθόντι σοι μὴ ἀποκριθῆναι.

Σχολαστικὸς 

νοσοῦντα ἐπισκεπτόμενος 

ἠρώτα περὶ τῆς ἡγιείας· 

ὁ δὲ 

οὐκ ἠδύνατο ἀποκριθῆναι. 

Ὀργισθεὶς οὖν ἐξήλεγχεν. 

Ἐλπίζω κἀμὲ νοσήσαι, 

καὶ ἐλθόντι σοι 

μὴ ἀποκριθῆναι.

Σχολαστικὸς  ... A dunce 

νοσοῦντα ἐπισκεπτόμενος  ... looked in on a sick (friend) 

ἠρώτα περὶ τῆς ἡγιείας  ... and asked about his health.

ὁ δὲ  ... The (sick man) 

οὐκ ἠδύνατο ἀποκριθῆναι  ... was not able to answer. 

Ὀργισθεὶς οὖν  ...  So the dunce got angry 

ἐξήλεγχεν  ... and rebuked him, 

Ἐλπίζω κἀμὲ νοσήσαι  ... I hope I get sick too!

καὶ ἐλθόντι σοι  ... And when you come to see me,

μὴ ἀποκριθῆναι  ... I won't answer you!

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

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Reading: Fables 38

Today's fable and also the joke come from Colton's Greek Reader, which has notes for the stories and a vocabulary in the back; the book is available at the Internet Archive. 

So, here are the stories in Greek, then segmented, and then interwoven with English. The titles are linked to the Internet Archive page.

Ἀετός καὶ κολοιός 

Ἀετὸς καταπτὰς ἀπό τινος ἡψηλῆς πέτρας, ἥρπασεν ἄρνα. Κολοιὸς δὲ τοῦτον θεασάμενος, διὰ ζῆλον μιμησάμενος καθεὶς ἑαυτὸν μετὰ πολλοῦ τοῦ ῥοίζου, ἐπὶ κριὸν ἠνέχθη. Ἐμπαρέντων δὲ αὐτοῦ τῶν ὀνύχων ἐν τοῖς ἐκείνου μαλλοῖς, ἐξαρθῆναι μὴ δυνάμενος ἐπτερύσσετο ἕως οὗ ὁ ποιμὴν τὸ γεγονὸς αἰσθόμενος, προσδραμὼν ἀνελάβετο αὐτὸν, καὶ περικόψας αὐτοῦ τὸ ὀξύπτερα, ὡς ἑσπέρα κατέλαβε, τοῖς ἑαυτοῦ παισὶν ἐκόμισε. Τῶν δὲ πυνθανομένων, τί εἴη τὸ ὄρνεον, ἔφη· Ὡς μὲν ἐγὼ σαφὼς οἶδα, κολοιὸς, ὡς δὲ αὐτὸς βούλεται, ἀετός.

Ἀετὸς καταπτὰς 

ἀπό τινος ἡψηλῆς πέτρας, 

ἥρπασεν ἄρνα. 

Κολοιὸς δὲ 

τοῦτον θεασάμενος, 

διὰ ζῆλον μιμησάμενος 

καθεὶς ἑαυτὸν 

μετὰ πολλοῦ τοῦ ῥοίζου, 

ἐπὶ κριὸν ἠνέχθη. 

Ἐμπαρέντων δὲ 

αὐτοῦ τῶν ὀνύχων 

ἐν τοῖς ἐκείνου μαλλοῖς, 

ἐξαρθῆναι μὴ δυνάμενος 

ἐπτερύσσετο 

ἕως οὗ ὁ ποιμὴν 

τὸ γεγονὸς αἰσθόμενος, 

προσδραμὼν 

ἀνελάβετο αὐτὸν, 

καὶ περικόψας αὐτοῦ τὰ ὀξύπτερα, 

ὡς ἑσπέρα κατέλαβε, 

τοῖς ἑαυτοῦ παισὶν ἐκόμισε. 

Τῶν δὲ πυνθανομένων, 

τί εἴη τὸ ὄρνεον, 

ἔφη·

 Ὡς μὲν ἐγὼ σαφὼς οἶδα, 

κολοιὸς, 

ὡς δὲ αὐτὸς βούλεται, 

ἀετός. 

Ἀετὸς καταπτὰς  ... An eagle plunged

ἀπό τινος ἡψηλῆς πέτρας  ... from a lofty rock, 

ἥρπασεν ἄρνα  ... and seized a sheep. 

Κολοιὸς δὲ  ... A jackdaw 

τοῦτον θεασάμενος  ... saw this and, 

διὰ ζῆλον  ... feeling envious,

μιμησάμενος  ... he imitated (the eagle),

καθεὶς ἑαυτὸν  ... hurling himself down

μετὰ πολλοῦ τοῦ ῥοίζου  ... with a great whoosh

ἐπὶ κριὸν ἠνέχθη  ... and landed on a ram. 

αὐτοῦ τῶν ὀνύχων  ... The jackdaw's claws 

ἐμπαρέντων  ... dug into  

ἐν τοῖς ἐκείνου μαλλοῖς  ... the ram's wool; 

ἐξαρθῆναι μὴ δυνάμενος  ... unable to break free

ἐπτερύσσετο  ... he flapped his wings 

ἕως οὗ ὁ ποιμὴν  ... until a shepherd 

τὸ γεγονὸς αἰσθόμενος  ... realized what had happened, 

προσδραμὼν  ... and, running up, 

ἀνελάβετο αὐτὸν  ... he seized the jackdaw, 

καὶ περικόψας  ... and clipped short 

αὐτοῦ τὰ ὀξύπτερα  ... the jackdaw's wings. 

ὡς ἑσπέρα κατέλαβε  ...  As evening came on,

ἐκόμισε  ... he carried (the bird)

τοῖς ἑαυτοῦ παισὶν  ...  to his children.

Τῶν δὲ πυνθανομένων  ... When they asked, 

τί εἴη τὸ ὄρνεον  ... what kind of bird it was, 

ἔφη  ... he said

 Ὡς μὲν ἐγὼ σαφὼς οἶδα  ... As I know full well 

κολοιὸς  ... he's a jackdaw, 

ὡς δὲ αὐτὸς βούλεται  ... but as he wants (to think):

ἀετός  ... he's an eagle. 

illustration by Walter Crane

Σχολαστικὸς ναυαγεῖν μέλλων

Σχολαστικὸς, ναυαγεῖν μέλλων, πινακίδας ᾔτει, ἵνα διαθήκας γράφῃ. Τοὺς δὲ οἰκέτας ὁρῶν ἀλγοῦντας διὰ τὸν κίνδυνον, ἔφη· Μὴ λυπεῖσθε, ἐλευθερῶ γὰρ ὑμᾶς.

Σχολαστικὸς, 

ναυαγεῖν μέλλων, 

πινακίδας ᾔτει, 

ἵνα διαθήκας γράφῃ. 

Τοὺς δὲ οἰκέτας ὁρῶν 

ἀλγοῦντας διὰ τὸν κίνδυνον, 

ἔφη· 

Μὴ λυπεῖσθε,

 ἐλευθερῶ γὰρ ὑμᾶς.

Σχολαστικὸς  ...  A dunce, 

ναυαγεῖν μέλλων  ...  about to die in a shipwreck, 

πινακίδας ᾔτει  ...  asked for writing tablets, 

ἵνα διαθήκας γράφῃ  ...  to he could write his will. 

Τοὺς δὲ οἰκέτας ὁρῶν  ...  Seeing his house-slaves 

ἀλγοῦντας  ... in agony

διὰ τὸν κίνδυνον  ...  on account of the danger, 

ἔφη  ...  said, 

Μὴ λυπεῖσθε  ...  Don't feel bad!

 ἐλευθερῶ γὰρ ὑμᾶς  ...  I'm going to free you!

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

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Reading: Fables 37

Today's fable and also the joke is from Colton's Greek Reader, which has notes for the stories and a vocabulary in the back; the book is available at the Internet Archive. 

So, here are the stories in Greek, then segmented, and then interwoven with English. The titles are linked to the Internet Archive page.

Μύες καὶ γαλαί

Μυσὶ καὶ γαλαῖς πόλεμος ἦν· ἀεὶ δὲ οἱ μύες ἡττώμενοι, ἐπειδὴ συνῆλθον εἰς ταὐτὸν, ὑπέλαβον ὅτι διὰ ἀναρχίαν τοῦτο πάσχουσιν. Ὅθεν ἐπιλεξάμενοι ἑαυτῶν τινας, στρατηγοὺς ἐχειροτόνησαν. Οἱ δὲ βουλόμενοι ἐπισημότεροι τῶν ἄλλων εἶναι, κέρατα σκευάσαντες ἑαυτοῖς συνῆψαν. Ἐνστάσης δὲ τῆς μάχης,συνέβη πάντας τοὺς μύας ἡττηθῆναι. Οἱ μὲν οὖν ἄλλοι πάντες ῥᾳδίως εἰσέδυνον, οἱ δὲ στρατηγοὶ μὴ δυνάμενοι εἰσελθεῖν διὰ τὰ κέρατα αὐτῶν, συλλαμβανόμενοι κατησθίοντο.

Μυσὶ καὶ γαλαῖς πόλεμος ἦν· 

ἀεὶ δὲ οἱ μύες ἡττώμενοι, 

ἐπειδὴ συνῆλθον εἰς ταὐτὸν, 

ὑπέλαβον 

ὅτι διὰ ἀναρχίαν τοῦτο πάσχουσιν. 

Ὅθεν ἐπιλεξάμενοι 

ἑαυτῶν τινας στρατηγοὺς 

ἐχειροτόνησαν. 

Οἱ δὲ βουλόμενοι 

ἐπισημότεροι τῶν ἄλλων εἶναι, 

κέρατα σκευάσαντες 

ἑαυτοῖς συνῆψαν. 

Ἐνστάσης δὲ τῆς μάχης,

συνέβη 

πάντας τοὺς μύας ἡττηθῆναι. 

Οἱ μὲν οὖν ἄλλοι πάντες 

ῥᾳδίως εἰσέδυνον, 

οἱ δὲ στρατηγοὶ 

μὴ δυνάμενοι εἰσελθεῖν 

διὰ τὰ κέρατα αὐτῶν, 

συλλαμβανόμενοι κατησθίοντο.

Μυσὶ καὶ γαλαῖς πόλεμος ἦν  ... The mice and weasels were at war.

ἀεὶ δὲ οἱ μύες ἡττώμενοι  ... The mice always being weaker 

ἐπειδὴ συνῆλθον εἰς ταὐτὸν  ... when they went to (war) 

ὑπέλαβον  ... supposed 

ὅτι τοῦτο πάσχουσιν  ... that they were suffering in this way

διὰ ἀναρχίαν  ...  because of a lack of leadership.

Ὅθεν ἐπιλεξάμενοι  ...  So having thought this over,

ἐχειροτόνησαν  ... they elected

ἑαυτῶν τινας στρατηγοὺς  ...  some of the mice to be generals.

Οἱ δὲ βουλόμενοι  ... The generals wanted 

ἐπισημότεροι εἶναι  ... to be more distinguished 

τῶν ἄλλων  ...  than the others 

κέρατα σκευάσαντες  ... so they prepared horns

ἑαυτοῖς συνῆψαν  ... and attached them (to their heads). 

Ἐνστάσης δὲ τῆς μάχης  ... When the battle began,

συνέβη  ... it happened 

πάντας τοὺς μύας ἡττηθῆναι  ... that all the mice were defeated. 

Οἱ μὲν οὖν ἄλλοι πάντες  ... All the others

ῥᾳδίως εἰσέδυνον  ... easily entered (their holes)

οἱ δὲ στρατηγοὶ  ... but the generals 

μὴ δυνάμενοι εἰσελθεῖν  ... were not able to enter 

διὰ τὰ κέρατα αὐτῶν  ... on account of their horns, 

συλλαμβανόμενοι κατησθίοντο  ... so they were caught and eaten.

(illustration for La Fontaine)

Σχολαστικὸς καὶ φρέαρ

Σχολαστικὸς ἐν τῷ ἰδίῳ ἀγρῷ ἐξιὼν ἠρώτα πιεῖν ὕδωρ, εἰ καλὸν ἐν τῷ αὐτόθι φρέατι· τῶν δὲ φησάντων ὅτι καλὸν, καὶ γὰρ οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ ἐξ αὐτοῦ ἔπινον, Καὶ πηλίκους, ἔφη, εἶχον τραχήλους, ὅτι εἰς τοσοῦτον βάθος πίνειν ἠδύναντο.

φρέατι. τῶν δὲ φησάντων, ὅτι Καλόν· καὶ γὰρ καὶ οἱ γονεῖς σου ἐξ αὐτοῦ ἔπινον. Καὶ πηλίκους, ἔφη, εἶχον τραχήλους, ὅτι εἰς τοσοῦτον βάθος πίνειν ἐδύναντο.

Σχολαστικὸς 

ἐν τῷ ἰδίῳ ἀγρῷ ἐξιὼν 

ἠρώτα πιεῖν ὕδωρ, 

εἰ καλὸν ἐν τῷ αὐτόθι φρέατι· 

τῶν δὲ φησάντων ὅτι καλὸν, 

καὶ γὰρ οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ 

ἐξ αὐτοῦ ἔπινον, 

Καὶ πηλίκους, ἔφη, 

εἶχον τραχήλους, 

ὅτι εἰς τοσοῦτον βάθος 

πίνειν ἠδύναντο.

Σχολαστικὸς  ...  A dunce

ἐν τῷ ἰδίῳ ἀγρῷ ἐξιὼν  ...  went out into his own farm 

ἠρώτα πιεῖν ὕδωρ  ...  and wanted to drink some water, 

εἰ ἐν τῷ αὐτόθι φρέατι  ...  if the water there in the well

καλὸν  ...  was good.

τῶν δὲ φησάντων  ...  When the people said

ὅτι καλὸν  ...  that the water was good, 

καὶ γὰρ οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ  ...  and in fact his ancestors

ἐξ αὐτοῦ ἔπινον  ...  used to drink from the well, 

ἔφη  ...  the dunce said,

Καὶ πηλίκους τραχήλους  ...  What long necks 

εἶχον  ...  they must have had, 

ὅτι πίνειν ἠδύναντο  ...  since they were able to drink

εἰς τοσοῦτον βάθος  ...  from such a depth.

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

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Reading: Fables 36

Today's fable and also the joke is from Colton's Greek Reader, which has notes for the stories and a vocabulary in the back; the book is available at the Internet Archive. 

So, here are the stories in Greek, then segmented, and then interwoven with English. The titles are linked to the Internet Archive page.

Ἄνθρωπος καὶ Σάτυρος 

Ἄνθρωπός τις καὶ σάτυρος φιλίαν πρὸς ἀλλήλους ποιησάμενοι, ἐκάθισαν ἀμφότεροι τοῦ ἐσθίειν. Χειμῶνος δὲ καταλαβόντος, καὶ ψύχους γενομένου, ὁ ἄνθρωπος προσφέρων τὰς χεῖρας τῷ στόματι αὐτοῦ ἀπέπνει. Τοῦ δὲ σατύρου ἐπερωτήσαντος, Δι' ἣν αἰτίαν πράττεις τοῦτο, φίλε; ἔφη· Τὰς χεῖρας θερμαίνω ἐκ τοῦ κρύους. Μετὰ μικρὸν δὲ ἐδέσματος θερμοῦ προσενεχθέντος, ὁ ἄνθρωπος πάλιν ἐπιφέρων τῷ στόματι τὸ βρῶμα ἐφύσα τοῦτο. Πυνθανομένου δὲ πάλιν τοῦ σατύρου, Δι' ἣν αἰτίαν τοῦτο πάλιν πράττεις; ἔφη· Τὸ ἔδεσμα καταψύχω. Ὑπολαβὼν δὲ ἐκεῖνος ἔφη· Ἀλλ' ἔγωγε ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν ἀποτάσσομαί σου τῇ φιλίᾳ, ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ αὐτοῦ στόματος τὸ ψυχρὸν καὶ τὸ θερμὸν ἐξάγεις.

Ἄνθρωπός τις καὶ σάτυρος 

φιλίαν πρὸς ἀλλήλους ποιησάμενοι, 

ἐκάθισαν ἀμφότεροι τοῦ ἐσθίειν. 

Χειμῶνος δὲ καταλαβόντος, 

καὶ ψύχους γενομένου, 

ὁ ἄνθρωπος 

προσφέρων τὰς χεῖρας τῷ στόματι αὐτοῦ 

ἀπέπνει. 

Τοῦ δὲ σατύρου ἐπερωτήσαντος, 

Δι' ἣν αἰτίαν πράττεις τοῦτο, φίλε; 

ἔφη· 

Τὰς χεῖρας θερμαίνω 

ἐκ τοῦ κρύους. 

Μετὰ μικρὸν δὲ 

ἐδέσματος θερμοῦ προσενεχθέντος, 

ὁ ἄνθρωπος 

πάλιν ἐπιφέρων τῷ στόματι τὸ βρῶμα 

ἐφύσα τοῦτο. 

Πυνθανομένου δὲ πάλιν τοῦ σατύρου, 

Δι' ἣν αἰτίαν τοῦτο πάλιν πράττεις; 

ἔφη· 

Τὸ ἔδεσμα καταψύχω. 

Ὑπολαβὼν δὲ ἐκεῖνος ἔφη· 

Ἀλλ' ἔγωγε 

ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν 

ἀποτάσσομαί σου τῇ φιλίᾳ, 

ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ αὐτοῦ στόματος 

τὸ ψυχρὸν καὶ τὸ θερμὸν ἐξάγεις.

Ἄνθρωπός τις καὶ σάτυρος  ... A man and a satyr

φιλίαν ποιησάμενοι  ... had become friends

πρὸς ἀλλήλους  ... with one another;

ἐκάθισαν ἀμφότεροι  ...  they both sat down

τοῦ ἐσθίειν  ... to eat.

Χειμῶνος δὲ καταλαβόντος  ... Winter had come on 

καὶ ψύχους γενομένου  ... and it was cold; 

ὁ ἄνθρωπος  ... the man 

προσφέρων τὰς χεῖρας  ... brought his hands 

τῷ στόματι αὐτοῦ  ... to his mouth 

ἀπέπνει  ... and blew on them. 

Τοῦ δὲ σατύρου ἐπερωτήσαντος  ... The satyr asked: 

φίλε  ... My friend,

δι' ἣν αἰτίαν πράττεις τοῦτο;  ... why are you doing that?

ἔφη  ... The man said,

Τὰς χεῖρας θερμαίνω  ... I'm warming my hands 

ἐκ τοῦ κρύους  ... from the chill. 

Μετὰ μικρὸν δὲ  ... After a little while 

ἐδέσματος θερμοῦ προσενεχθέντος  ... hot food was served, 

ὁ ἄνθρωπος  ... and the man 

ἐπιφέρων τὸ βρῶμα  ... putting the food 

πάλιν τῷ στόματι  ... to his mouth again 

ἐφύσα τοῦτο  ... and puffed on it. 

Πυνθανομένου δὲ πάλιν τοῦ σατύρου  ... The satyr again asked, 

Δι' ἣν αἰτίαν τοῦτο πάλιν πράττεις; ... Why do you do that again?

ἔφη  ... The man said,

Τὸ ἔδεσμα καταψύχω  ... I'm cooling the food. 

Ὑπολαβὼν δὲ ἐκεῖνος ἔφη  ... The satyr said in reply:

Ἀλλ' ἔγωγε ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν  ... From now on I

ἀποτάσσομαί σου τῇ φιλίᾳ  ... renounce our friendship, 

ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ αὐτοῦ στόματος  ... because from the same mouth

ἐξάγεις τὸ ψυχρὸν καὶ τὸ θερμὸν ...  you blow both cold and hot.

The Man and the Satyr

Δίδυμοι ἀδελφοί

Διδύμων ἀδελφῶν εἷς ἐτελεύτησε. Σχολαστικὸς οὖν ἀπαντήσας τῷ ζῶντι ἠρώτα· Σὺ ἀπέθανες, ἢ ὁ ἀδελφός σου;

Διδύμων ἀδελφῶν εἷς ἐτελεύτησε. 

Σχολαστικὸς οὖν 

ἀπαντήσας τῷ ζῶντι 

ἠρώτα· 

Σὺ ἀπέθανες, 

ἢ ὁ ἀδελφός σου;

Διδύμων ἀδελφῶν  ... There were two twin brothers

εἷς ἐτελεύτησε  ... and one of them died.

Σχολαστικὸς οὖν  ... So when a dunce 

ἀπαντήσας τῷ ζῶντι  ... ran into the surviving brother 

ἠρώτα  ... he asked, 

Σὺ ἀπέθανες  ... Did you die, 

ἢ ὁ ἀδελφός σου;  ... or was it your brother?

Castor and Pollux

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

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Reading: Fables 35

Today's fable is from Colton's Greek Reader, which has notes for the stories and a vocabulary in the back; the book is available at the Internet Archive. The joke is from Rushbrooke's First Greek Reader, also at the Internet Archive and with a dictionary in the back.

So, here are the stories in Greek, then segmented, and then interwoven with English. The titles are linked to the Internet Archive page.

Ἀλώπηξ κόλουρος 

(fox with a cropped tail)

Ἀλώπηξ ὑπό τινος παγίδος τὴν οὐρὰν ἀποκοπεῖσα, ἐξ αἰσχύνης ἀβίωτον τὸν βίον ἡγεῖτο. Ἔγνω δὲ καὶ τὰς ἄλλας ἀλώπεκας εἰς τὸ αὐτὸ περιαγαγεῖν, ἵνα τῷ κοινῷ πάθει τὸ ἴδιον ἐλάττωμα συγκρύψῃ. Καὶ δὴ ἁπάσας ἀθροίσασα, παρῄνει αὐταῖς τὰς οὐρὰς ἀποκόπτειν, λέγουσα ὡς οὐκ ἀπρεπὲς τοῦτο μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ περισσὸν αὐταῖς προσήρτηται βάρος. Τούτων δέ τις ὑπολαβοῦσα, ἔφη· Ὦ φίλη, ἀλλ' εἴ σοι μὴ τοῦτο συνέφερεν, οὐκ ἂν ἡμῖν αὐτὸ συνεβούλευες.

Ἀλώπηξ 

ὑπό τινος παγίδος 

τὴν οὐρὰν ἀποκοπεῖσα, 

ἐξ αἰσχύνης 

ἀβίωτον τὸν βίον ἡγεῖτο. 

Ἔγνω δὲ 

καὶ τὰς ἄλλας ἀλώπεκας 

εἰς τὸ αὐτὸ περιαγαγεῖν, 

ἵνα τῷ κοινῷ πάθει 

τὸ ἴδιον ἐλάττωμα συγκρύψῃ. 

Καὶ δὴ ἁπάσας ἀθροίσασα, 

παρῄνει αὐταῖς 

τὰς οὐρὰς ἀποκόπτειν, 

λέγουσα ὡς 

οὐκ ἀπρεπὲς τοῦτο μόνον, 

ἀλλὰ καὶ περισσὸν αὐταῖς προσήρτηται βάρος. 

Τούτων δέ τις ὑπολαβοῦσα, 

ἔφη· 

Ὦ φίλη, 

ἀλλ' εἴ σοι μὴ τοῦτο συνέφερεν, 

οὐκ ἂν ἡμῖν αὐτὸ συνεβούλευες.

Ἀλώπηξ  ...  A fox

τὴν οὐρὰν ἀποκοπεῖσα  ...  had her tail cut off

ὑπό τινος παγίδος  ...  by a trap,

ἐξ αἰσχύνης  ...  and from shame 

ἀβίωτον τὸν βίον ἡγεῖτο  ...  lived a life not worth living. 

Ἔγνω δὲ περιαγαγεῖν  ...  She decided to lead

καὶ τὰς ἄλλας ἀλώπεκας  ...  the other foxes also 

εἰς τὸ αὐτὸ  ...  to the same, 

ἵνα συγκρύψῃ  ...  so that she could cover up 

τὸ ἴδιον ἐλάττωμα  ...  her own loss 

τῷ κοινῷ πάθει  ...  with a common misfortune.

Καὶ δὴ ἀθροίσασα  ...  And when she gathered together

ἁπάσας  ...  all the foxes,

παρῄνει αὐταῖς  ...  she advised them 

τὰς οὐρὰς ἀποκόπτειν  ...  to cut off their tails, 

λέγουσα ὡς  ...  saying that 

οὐκ μόνον  ...  not only was 

ἀπρεπὲς τοῦτο  ...  having a tail unbecoming, 

ἀλλὰ καὶ  ...  but also 

περισσὸν βάρος  ...  it was an added weight

αὐταῖς προσήρτηται  ...  attached to them. 

Τούτων δέ τις  ...  One of those foxes 

ὑπολαβοῦσα  ...  interrupted, 

ἔφη  ...  and said, 

ἀλλ' ὦ φίλη  ...  but, my dear, 

εἴ μὴ τοῦτο συνέφερεν  ...  if this was not advantageous

σοι  ...  to you,

οὐκ ἂν αὐτὸ συνεβούλευες  ...  you would not recommend it

ἡμῖν  ...  to us.

Medici Aesop

Κυμαῖος καὶ συκῆ

Κυμαῖός τις ἐπ' ὄνου παρὰ κῆπον ὠχεῖτο. ἰδὼν δὲ κλάδον συκῆς ὑπερέχοντα, σύκων ὡραίων πεπληρωμένον, ἐπελάβετο τοῦ κλάδου. Τοῦ δὲ ὄνου ὑπεκδραμόντος ἐπεκρεμάσθη, καὶ τοῦ γειτόνος ἐρωτήσαντος τί ἐκεῖ ποιεῖ κρεμάμενος, ἔλεγεν, Ἐκ τοῦ ὄνου πέπτωκα.

Κυμαῖός τις 

ἐπ' ὄνου 

παρὰ κῆπον ὠχεῖτο. 

ἰδὼν δὲ κλάδον συκῆς 

ὑπερέχοντα, 

σύκων ὡραίων πεπληρωμένον, 

ἐπελάβετο τοῦ κλάδου. 

Τοῦ δὲ ὄνου ὑπεκδραμόντος 

ἐπεκρεμάσθη, 

καὶ τοῦ γειτόνος ἐρωτήσαντος 

τί ἐκεῖ ποιεῖ 

κρεμάμενος, 

ἔλεγεν, 

Ἐκ τοῦ ὄνου πέπτωκα.

Κυμαῖός τις  ...  A certain fool (Cumaean)

ἐπ' ὄνου  ...  on a donkey 

παρὰ κῆπον ὠχεῖτο  ...  rode by a fig tree. 

ἰδὼν δὲ κλάδον συκῆς  ...  Seeing a branch of the fig tree

ὑπερέχοντα  ...  up above, 

σύκων ὡραίων πεπληρωμένον  ...  full of ripe figs, 

ἐπελάβετο τοῦ κλάδου  ...  he grabbed the branch. 

Τοῦ δὲ ὄνου  ... The donkey

ὑπεκδραμόντος  ...  backed out from under him,

ἐπεκρεμάσθη  ...  and the man was hanging there, 

καὶ τοῦ γειτόνος  ...  and his neighbor 

ἐρωτήσαντος  ...  asked 

τί ποιεῖ  ...  what he was doing 

ἐκεῖ κρεμάμενος  ...  hanging there; 

ἔλεγεν  ...  the fool said, 

Ἐκ τοῦ ὄνου πέπτωκα  ...  I fell off my donkey.

(This same story is told about Nasruddin; several of these ancient Greek jokes circulate later as Nasruddin jokes!)

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

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Reading: Fables 34

Today's fable is from Colton's Greek Reader, which has notes for the stories and a vocabulary in the back; the book is available at the Internet Archive. The joke is from Rushbrooke's First Greek Reader, also at the Internet Archive and with a dictionary in the back.

So, here are the stories in Greek, then segmented, and then interwoven with English. The titles are linked to the Internet Archive page.

Ἑρμῆς καὶ ἀγαλματοποιός

Ἑρμῆς, γηῶναι βουλόμενος ἐν τίνι τιμῇ παρ' ἀνθρώποις ἐστὶν, ἧκεν εἰς ἀγαλματοποιοῦ, ἑαυτὸν εἰκάσας ἀνθρώπῳ, καὶ θεασάμενος ἄγαλμα τοῦ Διὸς ἠρώτα, πόσου τις αὐτὸ πρίασθαι δύναται. Τοῦ δὲ εἰπόντος, Δραχμῆς, γελάσας, Πόσου τὸ τῆς Ἥρας; ἔφη. Εἰπόντος δὲ, Πλείονος, ἰδὼν καὶ τὸ ἑαυτοῦ ἄγαλμα, καὶ νομίσας, ὡς, ἐπειδὴ ἄγγελός ἐστι Θεῶν καὶ κερδῷος, πολὺν αὑτοῦ παρὰ τοῖς ἀνθρώποις εἶναι τὸν λόγον, ἤρετο περὶ αὐτοῦ. Ὁ δ' ἀγαλματοποιὸς ἔφη· Ἐὰν τούτους ὠνήσῃ, καὶ τοῦτον προσθήκην σοι δίδωμι.

Ἑρμῆς γηῶναι βουλόμενος 

ἐν τίνι τιμῇ 

παρ' ἀνθρώποις ἐστὶν, 

ἧκεν εἰς ἀγαλματοποιοῦ, 

ἑαυτὸν εἰκάσας ἀνθρώπῳ, 

καὶ θεασάμενος ἄγαλμα τοῦ Διὸς 

ἠρώτα, 

πόσου τις αὐτὸ πρίασθαι δύναται. 

Τοῦ δὲ εἰπόντος, 

Δραχμῆς, γελάσας, 

Πόσου τὸ τῆς Ἥρας; 

ἔφη. 

Εἰπόντος δὲ, 

Πλείονος, 

ἰδὼν καὶ τὸ ἑαυτοῦ ἄγαλμα, 

καὶ νομίσας, 

ὡς, ἐπειδὴ ἄγγελός ἐστι Θεῶν 

καὶ κερδῷος, 

πολὺν αὑτοῦ 

παρὰ τοῖς ἀνθρώποις 

εἶναι τὸν λόγον, 

ἤρετο περὶ αὐτοῦ. 

Ὁ δ' ἀγαλματοποιὸς ἔφη· 

Ἐὰν τούτους ὠνήσῃ, 

καὶ τοῦτον 

προσθήκην σοι δίδωμι.

Ἑρμῆς γηῶναι βουλόμενος  ...  Hermes wanted to know

ἐν τίνι τιμῇ ἐστὶν  ...  how he was valued

παρ' ἀνθρώποις  ...  by people, 

ἧκεν εἰς ἀγαλματοποιοῦ  ...  so he went to a sculptor

ἑαυτὸν εἰκάσας ἀνθρώπῳ  ...  and made himself look like a man.

καὶ θεασάμενος ἄγαλμα τοῦ Διὸς  ...  He saw a statue of Zeus

ἠρώτα  ...  and asked 

πόσου τις αὐτὸ πρίασθαι δύναται  ...  how much it cost.

Τοῦ δὲ εἰπόντος  ...  And the sculptor answered, 

Δραχμῆς ...  A drachma.

γελάσας ἔφη ...  And Hermes laughed and said, 

Πόσου τὸ τῆς Ἥρας  ...  how much for the statue of Hera?

Εἰπόντος δὲ  ...  And the statue-maker said, 

Πλείονος  ...  More.

ἰδὼν καὶ τὸ ἑαυτοῦ ἄγαλμα  ...  And he saw a statue of himself

καὶ νομίσας  ...  and thought, 

ὡς ἐπειδὴ ἄγγελός ἐστι Θεῶν  ...  as he was the gods' messenger 

καὶ κερδῷος  ...  and a bringer of profit, 

πολὺν αὑτοῦ εἶναι τὸν λόγον  ...  his would be reckoned highly

παρὰ τοῖς ἀνθρώποις  ...  by the people. 

ἤρετο περὶ αὐτοῦ  ...  He asked about it 

Ὁ δ' ἀγαλματοποιὸς ἔφη  ...  and the sculptor said,

Ἐὰν τούτους ὠνήσῃ  ...  If you buy those, 

σοι δίδωμι καὶ τοῦτον  ...  I'll give you this one too

προσθήκην  ... as an add-on.

Hermes and the Sculptor

Δύσκολὸς καὶ δοῦλος 

Δύσκολόν τινά τις ἐζήτει. ὁ δὲ ἀπεκρίνατο, Οὐκ εἰμὶ ὧδε. Τοῦ δὲ γελάσαντος καὶ εἰπόντος, Ψεύδει· τὴς γὰρ φωνῆς σου ἀκούω, εἶπεν, ὦ κάθαρμα, εἰ μὲν ὁ δοῦλός μου εἶπεν, ἐπίστευσας ἂν αὐτῷ· ἐγὼ δέ σοι οὐ φαίνομαι ἀξιοπιστότερος ἐκείνου εἶναι;

Δύσκολόν τινά 

τις ἐζήτει. 

ὁ δὲ ἀπεκρίνατο, 

Οὐκ εἰμὶ ὧδε. 

Τοῦ δὲ γελάσαντος 

καὶ εἰπόντος, 

Ψεύδει· 

τὴς γὰρ φωνῆς σου ἀκούω, 

εἶπεν, 

ὦ κάθαρμα, 

εἰ μὲν ὁ δοῦλός μου εἶπεν, 

ἐπίστευσας ἂν αὐτῷ· 

ἐγὼ δέ 

σοι οὐ φαίνομαι 

ἀξιοπιστότερος ἐκείνου εἶναι;

τις ἐζήτει  ...  Someone was looking

δύσκολόν τινά  ...  for a grouchy person.

ὁ δὲ ἀπεκρίνατο  ...  The grouch answered, 

Οὐκ εἰμὶ ὧδε  ...  I'm not here!

Τοῦ δὲ γελάσαντος  ...  The visitor laughed

καὶ εἰπόντος  ...  and said,

Ψεύδει  ...  You're lying,

τὴς γὰρ φωνῆς σου ἀκούω  ...  for I hear your voice. 

εἶπεν  ...  The grouch said,

ὦ κάθαρμα  ...  You scum, 

εἰ μὲν ὁ δοῦλός μου εἶπεν  ...  if my slave had said it, 

ἐπίστευσας ἂν αὐτῷ  ...  you'd have believed him. 

ἐγὼ δέ σοι οὐ φαίνομαι εἶναι  ...  Don't I seem to you to be

ἀξιοπιστότερος ἐκείνου  ...  more trustworthy than him?

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

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---