Greek Reading: Fables 13

Today's stories are from Smith's Initia Graeca and Turner's Easy Latin and Greek Passages, both of which are available at the Internet Archive. You can use the linked titles to access the books; Smith's book has a dictionary in the back, and Turner has notes on the individual stories.

Here are the stories, presented in Greek, segmented, and then interwoven with English.

Ἵππος καὶ ὄνος 

Ἄνθρωπός τις εἶχεν ἵππον καὶ ὄνον. Ὁδευόντων δέ, ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ εἶπεν ὁ ὄνος τῷ ἵππῳ· ἆρον ἐκ τοῦ ἐμοῦ βάρους, εἰ θέλεις εἶναι με σῶν. Ὁ δὲ οὐκ ἐπείσθη· ὁ δὲ ὄνος πεσὼν ἐκ τοῦ κόπου ἐτελεύτησα. Τοῦ δὲ δεσπότου πάντα ἐπιθέντος αὐτῷ καὶ αὐτὴν τὴν τοῦ ὄνου δοράν, θρηνῶν ὁ ἵππος ἐβόα· οἰμοι τῷ παναθλίῳ, τί μοι συνέβη τῷ ταλαιπώρῳ· μὴ θελήσας γὰρ μικρὸν βάρος λαβεῖν, ἰδοὺ ἅπαντα βαστάζω, καὶ τὸ δέρμα.

Ἄνθρωπός τις 

εἶχεν ἵππον καὶ ὄνον. 

Ὁδευόντων δέ, 

ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ εἶπεν ὁ ὄνος τῷ ἵππῳ· 

ἆρον ἐκ τοῦ ἐμοῦ βάρους, 

εἰ θέλεις εἶναι με σῶν. 

Ὁ δὲ οὐκ ἐπείσθη· 

ὁ δὲ ὄνος 

πεσὼν ἐκ τοῦ κόπου 

ἐτελεύτησα. 

Τοῦ δὲ δεσπότου πάντα ἐπιθέντος αὐτῷ 

καὶ αὐτὴν τὴν τοῦ ὄνου δοράν, 

θρηνῶν ὁ ἵππος ἐβόα· 

οἰμοι τῷ παναθλίῳ, 

τί μοι συνέβη τῷ ταλαιπώρῳ· 

μὴ θελήσας γὰρ 

μικρὸν βάρος λαβεῖν, 

ἰδοὺ 

ἅπαντα βαστάζω, καὶ τὸ δέρμα.

Ἄνθρωπός τις  ...  A certain person

εἶχεν ἵππον καὶ ὄνον  ...  had a horse and a donkey. 

Ὁδευόντων δέ  ...  As they were making a journey, 

ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ  ...  along the way

εἶπεν ὁ ὄνος τῷ ἵππῳ  ...  the donkey said to the horse, 

ἆρον ἐκ τοῦ ἐμοῦ βάρους  ...  Take some of my load, 

εἰ θέλεις εἶναι με σῶν  ...  if you want me to survive. 

Ὁ δὲ οὐκ ἐπείσθη  ...  But (the horse) was not persuaded· 

ὁ δὲ ὄνος  ...  And the donkey, 

πεσὼν ἐκ τοῦ κόπου  ...  collapsing from the toil, 

ἐτελεύτησα ...  died. 

Τοῦ δὲ δεσπότου  ...  Their owner

πάντα ἐπιθέντος αὐτῷ  ...  put all (the burdens) on the horse

καὶ αὐτὴν τὴν τοῦ ὄνου δοράν  ...  including the donkey's skin, 

θρηνῶν ὁ ἵππος ἐβόα  ...  and the horse, wailing, shouted,  

οἰμοι τῷ παναθλίῳ  ...  Woe is me, completely wretched, 

τί μοι συνέβη τῷ ταλαιπώρῳ ... what's happened to miserable me?  

μὴ θελήσας γὰρ  ...  Because I did not want

μικρὸν βάρος λαβεῖν  ...  to accept a small burden, 

ἰδοὺ  ...  behold:

ἅπαντα βαστάζω  ...  I am carrying everything, 

καὶ τὸ δέρμα  ...  even the skin.

The Horse and the Donkey

Βάτραχοι δύο

Βάτραχοι δύο ξηρανθείσης τῆς λίμνης, ἐν ᾗ κατῴκουν περιῄεσαν ξητοῦντες ποῦ καταμεῖναι. καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς φρέαρ βαθὺ καὶ ἰδόντες τὸ ὕδωρ, ὁ μὲν εἷς συνεβούλευεν, ἵνα πηδήσωσι εὐθὺς κάτω· ὁ δ᾿ ἕτερος εἶπεν, Ἐὰν οὖν τοῦτο ξηρανθὴ, πῶς δυνησόμεθα ἀναβῆναι;

Βάτραχοι δύο  ...  Two frogs,

ξηρανθείσης τῆς λίμνης  ...  when the pool dried up 

ἐν ᾗ κατῴκουν  ...  where they lived,

περιῄεσαν  ...  they went around 

ξητοῦντες ποῦ καταμεῖναι  ...  looking where they could live. 

καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς φρέαρ βαθὺ  ...  And coming to a deep well 

καὶ ἰδόντες τὸ ὕδωρ  ...  and seeing the water, 

ὁ μὲν εἷς συνεβούλευεν  ...  one advised 

ἵνα πηδήσωσι εὐθὺς κάτω  ...  that they leap down right away, 

ὁ δ᾿ ἕτερος εἶπεν  ...  and the other said, 

Ἐὰν οὖν τοῦτο ξηρανθὴ  ...  If this were to dry up, 

πῶς δυνησόμεθα ἀναβῆναι  ...  how will we manage to get out?

The Two Frogs

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

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Reading: Fables 12

Today's stories are from Smith's Initia Graeca, available at the Internet Archive. You can use the linked titles to access the book, and it has a dictionary in the back.

Here are the stories, presented in Greek, segmented, and then interwoven with English.

Μύρμηξ καὶ περιστερά

Μύρμηξ διψήσας, κατελθὼν εἰς πηγήν, παρασυρεὶς ὑπὸ τοῦ ῥεύματος ἀπεπνίγετο. Περιστερὰ δὲ τοῦτο θεασαμένη κλῶνα δένδρου περιελοῦσα εἰς τὴν πηγὴν ἔρριψεν, ἐφ’ οὗ καὶ καθίσας ὁ μύρμηξ διεσώθη. Ἰξευτὴς δέ τις μετὰ τοῦτο τοὺς καλάμους συνθεὶς ἐπὶ τὸ τὴν περιστερὰν συλλαβεῖν ᾔει. Τοῦτο δ’ ὁ μύρμηξ ἑωρακὼς τὸν τοῦ ἰξευτοῦ πόδα ἔδακεν. Ὁ δὲ ἀλγήσας τούς τε καλάμους ἔρριψε καὶ τὴν περιστερὰν αὐτίκα φυγεῖν ἐποίησεν.

Μύρμηξ διψήσας, 

κατελθὼν εἰς πηγὴν, 

παρασυρεὶς ὑπὸ τοῦ ῥεύματος 

ἀπεπνίγετο. 

Περιστερὰ δὲ 

τοῦτο θεασαμένη, 

κλῶνα δένδρου περιελοῦσα 

εἰς τὴν πηγὴν ἔρριψεν, 

ἐφ' οὗ καὶ καθίσας 

ὁ μύρμηξ διεσώθη. 

Ἰξευτὴς δέ τις 

μετὰ τοῦτο 

τοὺς καλάμους συνθεὶς 

ἐπὶ τὸ τὴν περιστερὰν συλλαβεῖν ᾔει. 

Τοῦτο δὲ ὁ μύρμηξ ἑωρακὼς 

τὸν τοῦ ἰξευτοῦ πόδα ἔδακεν. 

Ὁ δὲ ἀλγήσας 

τούς τε καλάμους ἔρριψε 

καὶ τὴν περιστερὰν αὐτίκα φυγεῖν ἐποίησεν.

Μύρμηξ διψήσας  ... An ant, thirsty, 

κατελθὼν εἰς πηγὴν  ... went down to a spring; 

παρασυρεὶς ὑπὸ τοῦ ῥεύματος  ... swept away by the current, 

ἀπεπνίγετο  ... he was drowning. 

Περιστερὰ δὲ τοῦτο θεασαμένη  ... A dove saw this, 

κλῶνα δένδρου περιελοῦσα  ... grabbed a twig from a tree

εἰς τὴν πηγὴν ἔρριψεν  ... threw it into the spring, 

ἐφ' οὗ καὶ καθίσας  ...  and having sat on it,

ὁ μύρμηξ διεσώθη  ... the ant was saved. 

Ἰξευτὴς δέ τις μετὰ τοῦτο ᾔει  ...  after this a birdcatcher came,

τοὺς καλάμους συνθεὶς  ... arranged his (limed) reeds 

ἐπὶ τὸ τὴν περιστερὰν συλλαβεῖν  ...  to trap the dove.

Τοῦτο δὲ ὁ μύρμηξ ἑωρακὼς  ... The ant, seeing this, 

τὸν τοῦ ἰξευτοῦ πόδα ἔδακεν  ... bit the birdcatcher on the foot. 

Ὁ δὲ ἀλγήσας  ... In pain, 

τούς τε καλάμους ἔρριψε  ... he cast aside his reeds 

καὶ ἐποίησεν  ... and thus made

τὴν περιστερὰν αὐτίκα φυγεῖν  ... the dove fly off immediately.

The Ant and the Dove

Ἀηδὼν καὶ ἱέραξ

Ἀηδὼν ἐπί τινος ὑψηλῆς δρυὸς καθημένη κατὰ τὸ σύνηθες ᾖδεν· ἱέραξ δὲ αὐτὴν θεασάμενος, ὡς ἠπόρει τροφῆς, ἐπιπτὰς συνέλαβεν· ἡ δὲ μέλλουσα ἀναιρεῖσθαι ἐδέετο μεθεῖναι αὐτήν, λέγουσα, ὡς οὐχ ἱκανή ἐστιν ἱέρακος γαστέρα αὐτὴ πληρῶσαι· δεῖν δὲ αὐτόν, εἰ τροφῆς ἀπορεῖ, ἐπὶ τὰ μείζονα τῶν ὀρνέων τρέπεσθαι. Καὶ ὅς ὑποτυχὼν εἶπεν· ἀλλ' ἔγωγε ἀπόπληκτος ἂν εἴην, εἰ τὴν ἐν χερσὶν ἑτοίμην βορὰν ἀφεὶς τὰ μηδέπω φαινόμενα διώκοιμι.

Ἀηδὼν 

ἐπί τινος ὑψηλῆς δρυὸς καθημένη 

κατὰ τὸ σύνηθες ᾖδεν· 

ἱέραξ δὲ αὐτὴν θεασάμενος, 

ὡς ἠπόρει τροφῆς, 

ἐπιπτὰς συνέλαβεν· 

ἡ δὲ μέλλουσα ἀναιρεῖσθαι 

ἐδέετο μεθεῖναι αὐτήν, λέγουσα, 

ὡς οὐχ ἱκανή ἐστιν 

ἱέρακος γαστέρα αὐτὴ πληρῶσαι· 

δεῖν δὲ αὐτόν, 

εἰ τροφῆς ἀπορεῖ, 

ἐπὶ τὰ μείζονα τῶν ὀρνέων τρέπεσθαι. 

Καὶ ὅς ὑποτυχὼν εἶπεν· 

ἀλλ' ἔγωγε ἀπόπληκτος ἂν εἴην, 

εἰ τὴν ἐν χερσὶν ἑτοίμην βορὰν ἀφεὶς 

τὰ μηδέπω φαινόμενα διώκοιμι.

Ἀηδὼν  ...  A nightingale

ἐπί τινος ὑψηλῆς δρυὸς καθημένη  ...  settled on a high tree

κατὰ τὸ σύνηθες ᾖδεν  ...  was singing as usual· 

ἱέραξ δὲ αὐτὴν θεασάμενος  ...  but a hawk saw her, 

ὡς ἠπόρει τροφῆς  ...  as he was in need of food, 

ἐπιπτὰς συνέλαβεν  ...  flew up and grabbed her· 

ἡ δὲ μέλλουσα ἀναιρεῖσθαι  ...  she, about to be killed,

ἐδέετο μεθεῖναι αὐτήν, λέγουσα  ...  begged him to let her go, 

ὡς οὐχ ἱκανή ἐστιν αὐτὴ  ...  as she was not sufficient

ἱέρακος γαστέρα πληρῶσαι  ...  to fill a hawk's stomach;

εἰ τροφῆς ἀπορεῖ  ...  if he needed food, 

δεῖν δὲ αὐτόν τρέπεσθαι  ...  he should turn to

ἐπὶ τὰ μείζονα τῶν ὀρνέων  ...  the bigger birds. 

Καὶ ὅς ὑποτυχὼν εἶπεν  ...  And, interrupting, he said· 

ἀλλ' ἔγωγε ἀπόπληκτος ἂν εἴην  ...  but I would be struck dumb, 

εἰ ἀφεὶς  ...  If I let go

τὴν ἐν χερσὶν ἑτοίμην βορὰν   ...  ready meat in my hand

τὰ μηδέπω φαινόμενα διώκοιμι  ...  pursuing as yet invisible things.

Hawk and Nightingale

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

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Reading: Fables 11

Today's stories are from Smith's Initia Graeca, available at the Internet Archive. You can use the linked titles to access the book, and it has a dictionary in the back.

Here are the stories, presented in Greek, segmented, and then interwoven with English.

Νεβρός καὶ ἔλαφος

Νεβρός ποτε πρὸς τὸν ἔλαφον εἶπε· Πάτερ, σὺ καὶ μείζων καὶ θάσσων κυνῶν εἶ καὶ κέρατα πρὸς τούτοις μεγάλα φέρεις πρὸς ἄμυναν. τί δή ποτ' οὖν οὕτω τούτους φοβῇ; κἀκεῖνος γελῶν εἶπεν· ἀληθῆ μὲν ταῦτα φῂς, τέκνον, ἕν δ' οἶδα, ὡς, ἐπειδὰν κυνὸς ὑλακὴν ἀκούω, αὐτίκα πρὸς φυγὴν, οὐκ οἶδ' ὅπως ἐκφέρομαι.

Νεβρός ποτε 

πρὸς τὸν ἔλαφον εἶπε· 

Πάτερ, σὺ 

καὶ μείζων καὶ θάσσων κυνῶν εἶ 

καὶ κέρατα πρὸς τούτοις μεγάλα φέρεις 

πρὸς ἄμυναν. 

τί δή ποτ' οὖν οὕτω τούτους φοβῇ; 

κἀκεῖνος γελῶν εἶπεν· 

ἀληθῆ μὲν ταῦτα φῂς, τέκνον, 

ἕν δ' οἶδα, ὡς, 

ἐπειδὰν κυνὸς ὑλακὴν ἀκούω, 

αὐτίκα πρὸς φυγὴν, 

οὐκ οἶδ' ὅπως ἐκφέρομαι.

Νεβρός ποτε εἶπε  ...  A fawn once said

πρὸς τὸν ἔλαφον  ...  to a stag,

Πάτερ, σὺ εἶ  ...  Father, you are both

καὶ μείζων καὶ θάσσων  ...  both bigger and faster 

κυνῶν   ...  than the dogs

καὶ κέρατα μεγάλα φέρεις  ...  and you bear great horns 

πρὸς ἄμυναν πρὸς τούτοις  ...  for warding them off.

τί δή ποτ' οὖν   ...  So then why

οὕτω τούτους φοβῇ;   ...  are you so afraid of them?

κἀκεῖνος γελῶν εἶπεν·   ...  And he, laughing, said,

τέκνον, ἀληθῆ μὲν ταῦτα φῂς  ...  Son, you speak truly, 

ἕν δ' οἶδα,  ...  but I know one thing:  

ὡς ἐπειδὰν κυνὸς ὑλακὴν ἀκούω  ...  whenever I hear a dog's bark,

οὐκ οἶδ' ὅπως  ... — I don't know how (it happens) —

αὐτίκα ἐκφέρομαι πρὸς φυγὴν  ...  I rush away at once to escape.

Barlow's Aesop

Γεωργός καὶ παῖδες

Γεωργός τις, μέλλων καταλύειν τὸν βίον καὶ βουλόμενος τοὺς ἑαυτοῦ παῖδας πεῖραν λαβεῖν τῆς γεωργίας, προσκαλεσάμενος αὐτοὺς ἔφη· παῖδες ἐμοί, ἐγὼ μὲν ἤδη τοῦ βίου ὑπέξειμι, ὑμεῖς δ', ἅπερ ἐν τῇ ἀμπέλῳ μοι κέκρυπται, ζητήσαντες εὑρήσετε πάντα. Οἱ μὲν οὖν οἰηθέντες θησαυρὸν ἐκεῖ που κατορωρύχθαι πᾶσαν τὴν τῆς ἀμπέλου γῆν μετὰ τὴν ἀποβίωσιν τοῦ πατρὸς κατέσκαψαν· καὶ θησαυρῷ μὲν οὐ περιέτυχον, ἡ δὲ ἄμπελος καλῶς σκαφεῖσα πολλαπλασίονα τὸν καρπὸν ἀνέδωκεν.

Γεωργός τις, 

μέλλων καταλύειν τὸν βίον 

καὶ βουλόμενος 

τοὺς ἑαυτοῦ παῖδας 

πεῖραν λαβεῖν τῆς γεωργίας, 

προσκαλεσάμενος αὐτοὺς 

ἔφη· παῖδες ἐμοί, 

ἐγὼ μὲν 

ἤδη τοῦ βίου ὑπέξειμι, 

ὑμεῖς δ', 

ἅπερ 

ἐν τῇ ἀμπέλῳ μοι κέκρυπται, 

ζητήσαντες εὑρήσετε πάντα. 

Οἱ μὲν οὖν οἰηθέντες 

θησαυρὸν ἐκεῖ που κατορωρύχθαι 

πᾶσαν τὴν τῆς ἀμπέλου γῆν

μετὰ τὴν ἀποβίωσιν τοῦ πατρὸς 

κατέσκαψαν· 

καὶ θησαυρῷ μὲν οὐ περιέτυχον, 

ἡ δὲ ἄμπελος 

καλῶς σκαφεῖσα 

πολλαπλασίονα τὸν καρπὸν ἀνέδωκεν.

Γεωργός τις  ...  A certain farmer, 

μέλλων καταλύειν τὸν βίον  ...  about to leave this life

καὶ βουλόμενος  ...  and wanting

τοὺς ἑαυτοῦ παῖδας  ...  that his children

πεῖραν λαβεῖν τῆς γεωργίας  ...  would get farming experience, 

προσκαλεσάμενος αὐτοὺς  ...  summoned them;

ἔφη· παῖδες ἐμοί  ...  he said: My boys, 

ἐγὼ μὲν ἤδη τοῦ βίου ὑπέξειμι  ...  I'm now leaving this life, 

ὑμεῖς δ' ζητήσαντες εὑρήσετε  ...  but you, by seeking, will find

πάντα ἅπερ κέκρυπται  ... everything that is buried.

ἐν τῇ ἀμπέλῳ μοι  ...  in my vineyard.

Οἱ μὲν οὖν οἰηθέντες  ...  And so they, thinking that

θησαυρὸν ἐκεῖ που κατορωρύχθαι ...  treasure was buried there

κατέσκαψαν  ...  they dug up 

πᾶσαν τὴν τῆς ἀμπέλου γῆν ...  all the earth in the vineyard

μετὰ τὴν ἀποβίωσιν τοῦ πατρὸς  ...  after their father's demise,

καὶ θησαυρῷ μὲν οὐ περιέτυχον  ...  and they did not find a treasure, 

ἡ δὲ ἄμπελος  ...  but the vineyard, 

καλῶς σκαφεῖσα  ...  beautifully dug up,

τὸν καρπὸν ἀνέδωκεν πολλαπλασίονα  ...  gave fruit abundantly.

Medici Aesop

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

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Reading: Fables 10

Today's stories are from Smith's Initia Graeca, available at the Internet Archive. (There are just two stories today; I'm going to aim for around 100 words per post.) You can use the linked titles to access the book, and it has a dictionary in the back.

Here are the stories, presented in Greek, segmented, and then interwoven with English.

Ἄνθρωπός κατὰ τὸν ποταμὸν

Ἄνθρωπός τις φόνον ποιήσας ἐδιώκετο ὑπὸ τῶν συγγενῶν τοῦ φονευθέντος. Γενόμενος δὲ κατὰ τὸν ποταμὸν τὸν Νεῖλον, λέοντα ἰδὼν καὶ φοβηθεὶς ἀνέβη εἰς δένδρον. Εὗρε δὲ δράκοντα ἐπάνω τοῦ δένδρου, καὶ πάλιν τοῦτον φοβηθεὶς ἔρριψεν ἑαυτὸν εἰς τὸν ποταμόν. Ἐν δὲ τῷ ποταμῷ κροκόδειλος αὐτὸν κατεθοινήσατο.

Ἄνθρωπός τις 

φόνον ποιήσας 

ἐδιώκετο 

ὑπὸ τῶν συγγενῶν τοῦ φονευθέντος. 

Γενόμενος δὲ 

κατὰ τὸν ποταμὸν τὸν Νεῖλον, 

λέοντα ἰδὼν καὶ φοβηθεὶς 

ἀνέβη εἰς δένδρον. 

Εὗρε δὲ δράκοντα 

ἐπάνω τοῦ δένδρου, 

καὶ πάλιν τοῦτον φοβηθεὶς 

ἔρριψεν ἑαυτὸν 

εἰς τὸν ποταμόν. 

Ἐν δὲ τῷ ποταμῷ 

κροκόδειλος αὐτὸν κατεθοινήσατο.

Φόνον ποιήσας  ...  Having committed a murder

ἄνθρωπός τις ἐδιώκετο  ...  a man was being pursued

ὑπὸ τῶν συγγενῶν  ...  by the relatives

τοῦ φονευθέντος  ...  of the man he had murdered. 

Γενόμενος δὲ  ...  Having arrived

κατὰ τὸν ποταμὸν τὸν Νεῖλον  ...  at the river Nile, 

λέοντα ἰδὼν καὶ φοβηθεὶς  ...  he saw a lion and was afraid; 

ἀνέβη εἰς δένδρον  ...  he climbed up a tree. 

Εὗρε δὲ δράκοντα  ...  But he found a dragon 

ἐπάνω τοῦ δένδρου  ...  up in the tree, 

καὶ πάλιν τοῦτον φοβηθεὶς  ...  and he was afraid of that; 

ἔρριψεν ἑαυτὸν εἰς τὸν ποταμόν  ...  he jumped into the river 

Ἐν δὲ τῷ ποταμῷ  ...  And in the river 

κροκόδειλος αὐτὸν κατεθοινήσατο  ...  a crocodile feasted on him.

crocodile

Γυνὴ καὶ θεραπαινίδες

Γυνὴ χήρα φιλεργὸς θεραπαινίδας ἔχουσα, ταύτας εἰώθει νυκτὸς ἐγείρειν ἐπὶ τὰ ἔργα πρὸς τὰς τῶν ἀλεκτρυόνων ᾠδάς. Αἱ δὲ συνεχῶς τῷ πόνῳ ταλαιπωρούμεναι, ἔγνωσαν δεῖν τὸν ἐπὶ τῆς οἰκίας ἀποκτεῖναι ἀλεκτρυόνα, ὡς ἐκείνου νύκτωρ ἐξανιστάντος τὴν δέσποιναν. Συνέβη δ' αὐταῖς τοῦτο διαπραξαμέναις χαλεπωτέροις περιπεσεῖν τοῖς δεινοῖς. Ἡ γὰρ δεσπότις ἀγνοοῦσα τὴν τῶν ἀλεκτρυόνων ὥραν, ἐννυχώτερον ταύτας ἀνίστη.

Γυνὴ χήρα φιλεργὸς

θεραπαινίδας ἔχουσα, 

ταύτας εἰώθει νυκτὸς ἐγείρειν 

ἐπὶ τὰ ἔργα 

πρὸς τὰς τῶν ἀλεκτρυόνων ᾠδάς. 

Αἱ δὲ συνεχῶς 

τῷ πόνῳ ταλαιπωρούμεναι, 

ἔγνωσαν δεῖν 

τὸν ἐπὶ τῆς οἰκίας ἀποκτεῖναι ἀλεκτρυόνα, 

ὡς ἐκείνου νύκτωρ ἐξανιστάντος τὴν δέσποιναν. 

Συνέβη δ' αὐταῖς 

τοῦτο διαπραξαμέναις 

χαλεπωτέροις περιπεσεῖν τοῖς δεινοῖς. 

Ἡ γὰρ δεσπότις 

ἀγνοοῦσα τὴν τῶν ἀλεκτρυόνων ὥραν, 

ἐννυχώτερον ταύτας ἀνίστη.

Γυνὴ χήρα φιλεργὸς  ...  A hardworking widow woman

θεραπαινίδας ἔχουσα  ...  had some maids; 

ταύτας εἰώθει νυκτὸς ἐγείρειν  ...  she usually woke them at night 

ἐπὶ τὰ ἔργα  ...  for their duties

πρὸς τὰς τῶν ἀλεκτρυόνων ᾠδάς  ...  before cock-crow. 

Αἱ δὲ συνεχῶς ταλαιπωρούμεναι  ...  Suffering continuously

τῷ πόνῳ  ...  from the hard work, 

ἔγνωσαν δεῖν  ...  they decided that they had to 

ἀποκτεῖναι τὸν ἀλεκτρυόνα  ...  kill the rooster

ἐπὶ τῆς οἰκίας  ...  on the rooftop 

ὡς ἐκείνου ἐξανιστάντος  ...  since he was the one who roused

τὴν δέσποιναν  ...  the mistress

νύκτωρ  ...  at night. 

αὐταῖς διαπραξαμέναις τοῦτο  ...  after they had done this thing,

συνέβη δ'  ...  it happened that

περιπεσεῖν τοῖς δεινοῖς  ...  they met with troubles

χαλεπωτέροις  ...  that were even more burdensome,

ἡ γὰρ δεσπότις  ...  for the mistress, 

ἀγνοοῦσα ὥραν  ...  not knowing the hour

τὴν τῶν ἀλεκτρυόνων  ...  of the cockcrow, 

ἐννυχώτερον ταύτας ἀνίστη  ...  woke them deeper in the night.

The Woman and Her Maids

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

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Reading: Fables 9

Today's stories are from Smith's Initia Graeca, available at the Internet Archive. You can use the linked titles to access the book, and it has a dictionary in the back.

Here are the stories, presented in Greek, segmented, and then interwoven with English.

Πίθηκος καὶ κάμηλος

Ἐν συνόδῳ τῶν ἀλόγων ζώων πίθηκος ἀναστὰς ὠρχεῖτο. Σφόδρα δὲ αὐτοῦ εὐδοκιμοῦντος καὶ ὑπὸ πάντων ἐπισημαινομένου, κάμηλος φθονήσασα ἠβουλήθη τῶν αὐτῶν ἐφικέσθαι. Διόπερ ἐξαναστᾶσα ἐπειρᾶτο καὶ αὐτὴ ὀρχεῖσθαι· πολλὰ δὲ αὐτῆς ἄτοπα ποιησάσης, τὰ ζῶα ἀγανακτήσαντα, ῥοπάλοις αὐτὴν παίοντα ἐξήλασαν.

Ἐν συνόδῳ τῶν ἀλόγων ζώων 

πίθηκος 

ἀναστὰς ὠρχεῖτο. 

Σφόδρα δὲ αὐτοῦ εὐδοκιμοῦντος 

καὶ ὑπὸ πάντων ἐπισημαινομένου, 

κάμηλος 

φθονήσασα ἠβουλήθη 

τῶν αὐτῶν ἐφικέσθαι. 

Διόπερ 

ἐξαναστᾶσα ἐπειρᾶτο 

καὶ αὐτὴ ὀρχεῖσθαι· 

πολλὰ δὲ αὐτῆς ἄτοπα ποιησάσης, 

τὰ ζῶα 

ἀγανακτήσαντα

ῥοπάλοις αὐτὴν παίοντα ἐξήλασαν.

Ἐν συνόδῳ τῶν ἀλόγων ζώων  ...  in an assembly of dumb beasts

πίθηκος ἀναστὰς ὠρχεῖτο  ...  the ape stood up and danced.

Σφόδρα δὲ αὐτοῦ εὐδοκιμοῦντος  ...  He was well regarded

καὶ ὑπὸ πάντων ἐπισημαινομένου  ...  and applauded by all;

κάμηλος φθονήσασα  ...  the camel was jealous

ἠβουλήθη τῶν αὐτῶν ἐφικέσθαι  ...  and wanted to get the same.

Διόπερ ἐξαναστᾶσα ...  So she stood up

ἐπειρᾶτο καὶ αὐτὴ ὀρχεῖσθαι  ...  and also tried to dance;  

πολλὰ δὲ αὐτῆς ἄτοπα ποιησάσης  ...  when she did so very badly,

τὰ ζῶα ἀγανακτήσαντα  ...  the animals were irritated

αὐτὴν ἐξήλασαν  ...  and drove her away

ῥοπάλοις παίοντα  ...  beating her with clubs.

The Dancing Camel

Ἀλώπηξ καὶ λέων

Ἀλώπηξ μηδέποτε θεασαμένη λέοντα, ἐπειδὴ κατά τινα τύχην ὑπήντνσεν αὐτῷ, τὸ μὲν πρῶτον ἰδοῦσα αὐτὸν οὕτως ἐφοβήθη, ὡς μικροῦ καὶ ἀποθανεῖν. Ἐκ δευτέρου δὲ αὐτῷ περιτυχοῦσα ἐφοβήθη μὲν, ἀλλ' οὐχ ὡς τὸ πρότερον. Ἐκ τρίου δὲ θεασαμένη αὐτὸν οὕτως κατεθάρσησεν, ὡς καὶ προσελθοῦσα αὐτῷ διαλεχθῆναι.

Ἀλώπηξ 

μηδέποτε θεασαμένη λέοντα, 

ἐπειδὴ 

κατά τινα τύχην 

ὑπήντνσεν αὐτῷ, 

τὸ μὲν πρῶτον 

ἰδοῦσα αὐτὸν 

οὕτως ἐφοβήθη, 

ὡς μικροῦ καὶ ἀποθανεῖν. 

Ἐκ δευτέρου δὲ 

αὐτῷ περιτυχοῦσα 

ἐφοβήθη μὲν, 

ἀλλ' οὐχ ὡς τὸ πρότερον. 

Ἐκ τρίου δὲ 

θεασαμένη αὐτὸν 

οὕτως κατεθάρσησεν, 

ὡς καὶ προσελθοῦσα 

αὐτῷ διαλεχθῆναι.

Ἀλώπηξ  ...  A fox

μηδέποτε θεασαμένη λέοντα  ...  had never seen a lion; 

ἐπειδὴ κατά τινα τύχην  ...  when by chance 

ὑπήντνσεν αὐτῷ  ...  she encountered him

τὸ μὲν πρῶτον ἰδοῦσα αὐτὸν  ...  seeing him the first time

οὕτως ἐφοβήθη  ...  she was so terrified 

ὡς μικροῦ καὶ ἀποθανεῖν  ...  that she nearly died.

Ἐκ δευτέρου δὲ  ...  But the second time

αὐτῷ περιτυχοῦσα  ...  she happened upon him

ἐφοβήθη μὲν  ...  she was terrified, 

ἀλλ' οὐχ ὡς τὸ πρότερον  ...  but not like the first time. 

Ἐκ τρίου δὲ θεασαμένη αὐτὸν  ...  The third time she saw him

οὕτως κατεθάρσησεν  ...  she felt so confident 

ὡς καὶ προσελθοῦσα  ...  that she even went up to him

αὐτῷ διαλεχθῆναι  ...  to have a conversation.

Lion and Fox

Ὄνος καὶ ἀλώπηξ

Ὄνος ἐνδυσάμενος λέοντος δέρμα περιῄει ἐκφοβῶν τὰ ἄλογα ζῶα. Καὶ δὴ θεασάμενος ἀλώπεκα ἐπειρᾶτο καὶ ταύτην δεδίττεσθαι. Ἡ δέ, ἐτύγχανε γὰρ αὐτοῦ φθεγξαμένου προακηκουῖα, ἔφη πρὸς αὐτόν· ἀλλ' εὖ ἴσθι, ὡς καὶ ἐγὼ ἄν σε ἐφοβήθην, εἰμὴ ὀγκωμένου ἤκουσα.

Ὄνος 

ἐνδυσάμενος λέοντος δέρμα 

περιῄει ἐκφοβῶν τὰ ἄλογα ζῶα. 

Καὶ δὴ θεασάμενος ἀλώπεκα 

ἐπειρᾶτο καὶ ταύτην δεδίττεσθαι. 

Ἡ δέ, 

ἐτύγχανε γὰρ 

αὐτοῦ φθεγξαμένου προακηκουῖα, 

ἔφη πρὸς αὐτόν· 

ἀλλ' εὖ ἴσθι, 

ὡς καὶ ἐγὼ ἄν σε ἐφοβήθην, 

εἰμὴ ὀγκωμένου ἤκουσα.

Ὄνος  ...  A donkey

ἐνδυσάμενος λέοντος δέρμα  ...  having put on a lion skin

περιῄει  ...  walked around

ἐκφοβῶν τὰ ἄλογα ζῶα  ... scaring the dumb beasts. 

Καὶ δὴ θεασάμενος ἀλώπεκα  ...  And when he saw a fox

ἐπειρᾶτο καὶ ταύτην δεδίττεσθαι  ...  he tried to scare her too. 

Ἡ δέ ἐτύγχανε γὰρ προακηκουῖα  ...  But she happened to hear

αὐτοῦ φθεγξαμένου  ...  the donkey speaking, 

ἔφη πρὸς αὐτόν  ...  and said to him:

ἀλλ' εὖ ἴσθι  ...  Rest assured, 

ὡς καὶ ἐγὼ ἄν σε ἐφοβήθην  ...  I too would have been frightened

εἰμὴ ὀγκωμένου ἤκουσα  ...  if I had not heard you braying.

The Fox and the Donkey in the Lion Skin

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

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Reading: Fables 8

Today's stories are from Smith's Initia Graeca, available at the Internet Archive. You can use the linked titles to access the book, and it has a dictionary in the back.

Here are the stories, presented in Greek, segmented, and then interwoven with English.

Ἵππος καὶ ἱπποκόμος

Κριθὴν τὴν τοῦ ἵππου ἱπποκόμος κλέπτων καὶ πωλῶν τὸν ἵππον ἔτριβε καὶ ἐκτένιζε πάσας ἡμέρας. Ἕφη δὲ ὁ ἵππος· εἰ θέλεις ἀληθῶς καλὸν εἶναί με, τὴν κριθὴν τὴν τρέφουσαν μὴ πώλει.

Κριθὴν τὴν τοῦ ἵππου 

ἱπποκόμος 

κλέπτων καὶ πωλῶν 

τὸν ἵππον ἔτριβε 

καὶ εκτένιζε πάσας ἡμέρας. 

Ἕφη δὲ ὁ ἵππος· 

εἰ θέλεις ἀληθῶς 

καλὸν εἶναί με, 

τὴν κριθὴν τὴν τρέφουσαν 

μὴ πώλει.

ἱπποκόμος  ...  a groom,

κλέπτων καὶ πωλῶν  ...  stealing and selling

κριθὴν τὴν τοῦ ἵππου  ...  the horse's barley,

τὸν ἵππον ἔτριβε  ...  rubbed the horse

καὶ εκτένιζε πάσας ἡμέρας  ...  and curried (him) every day.

Ἕφη δὲ ὁ ἵππος  ...  But the horse said· 

εἰ θέλεις ἀληθῶς  ...  If you truly want

καλὸν εἶναί με  ...  me to be in good condition, 

μὴ πώλει  ...  stop selling

τὴν κριθὴν τὴν τρέφουσαν  ...  the barley that nourishes (me).

Horse and Groom

Μυῖαι

Ἔν τινι ταμιείῳ μέλιτος ἐκχυθέντος μυῖαι προσπτᾶσαι κατήσθιον· διὰ δὲ τὴν γλυκύτητα τοῦ καρποῦ οὐκ ἀφίσταντο. Ἐμπαγέντων δὲ αὐτῶν τῶν ποδῶν, ὡς οὐκ ἠδύναντο ἀναπτῆναι, ἀποπνιγόμεναι ἔφασαν· ἄθλιαι ἡμεῖς, αἳ διὰ βραχεῖαν ἡδονὴν ἀπολλύμεθα.

Ἔν τινι ταμιείῳ 

μέλιτος ἐκχυθέντος 

μυῖαι 

προσπτᾶσαι κατήσθιον· 

διὰ δὲ τὴν γλυκύτητα τοῦ καρποῦ 

οὐκ ἀφίσταντο. 

Ἐμπαγέντων δὲ αὐτῶν τῶν ποδῶν, 

ὡς οὐκ ἠδύναντο ἀναπτῆναι, 

ἀποπνιγόμεναι ἔφασαν· 

ἄθλιαι ἡμεῖς, 

αἳ 

διὰ βραχεῖαν ἡδονὴν 

ἀπολλύμεθα.

μυῖαι προσπτᾶσαι  ...  some flies flew up 

κατήσθιον  ...  (and) settled

ἔν τινι ταμιείῳ μέλιτος  ...   on a pot of honey

ἐκχυθέντος  ...  that had spilled out —  

διὰ δὲ τὴν γλυκύτητα   ...  on account of the sweetness

τοῦ καρποῦ   ...  of the produce (i.e. honey) 

οὐκ ἀφίσταντο  ...  they could not depart,

ἐμπαγέντων δὲ αὐτῶν τῶν ποδῶν  ...  their feet being entangled

ὡς οὐκ ἠδύναντο ἀναπτῆναι  ...  so they couldn't fly away.

ἀποπνιγόμεναι ἔφασαν  ...  choking, they said:  

ἄθλιαι ἡμεῖς  ...  wretched are we, 

αἳ ἀπολλύμεθα  ...  who are dying

διὰ βραχεῖαν ἡδονὴν  ...  because of a brief pleasure.

Flies and Honey

Γέρων καὶ Θάνατος

Γέρων ποτὲ ξύλα κόψας ταῦτα φέρων πολλὴν ὁδὸν ἐβάδιζε. Διὰ δὲ τὸν κόπον τῆς ὁδοῦ ἀποθέμενος τὸ φορτίον τὸν Θάνατον ἐπεκαλεῖτο. Τοῦ δὲ Θανάτου φανέντος καὶ πυθομένου, δι' ἣν αἰτίαν αὐτὸν παρακαλεῖται, ὁ γέρων ἔφη· ἵνα τὸ φορτίον ἄρῃς.

Γέρων ποτὲ 

ξύλα κόψας 

ταῦτα φέρων 

πολλὴν ὁδὸν ἐβάδιζε. 

Διὰ δὲ τὸν κόπον τῆς ὁδοῦ 

ἀποθέμενος τὸ φορτίον 

τὸν Θάνατον ἐπεκαλεῖτο. 

Τοῦ δὲ Θανάτου φανέντος 

καὶ πυθομένου 

δι' ἣν αἰτίαν αὐτὸν παρακαλεῖται, 

ὁ γέρων ἔφη· 

ἵνα τὸ φορτίον ἄρῃς.

Γέρων ποτὲ  ...  Once upon a time an old man,

ξύλα κόψας  ...   having cut some wood

ταῦτα φέρων  ...   (and) carrying it,

πολλὴν ὁδὸν ἐβάδιζε  ...  was walking a long way. 

Διὰ δὲ τὸν κόπον τῆς ὁδοῦ  ...   On account of the journey's toil

ἀποθέμενος τὸ φορτίον  ...   he put down his burden

τὸν Θάνατον ἐπεκαλεῖτο  ...  (and) called upon Death.

Τοῦ δὲ Θανάτου φανέντος  ...   When Death showed up

καὶ πυθομένου  ...   and asked

δι' ἣν αἰτίαν αὐτὸν παρακαλεῖται  ...  why he had summoned him, 

ὁ γέρων ἔφη  ...  the old man said:

ἵνα τὸ φορτίον ἄρῃς  ...  so that you would pick up the burden.

(i.e. pick it up to put it back on my shoulders)

Old Man and Death

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

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Reading: Fables 7

Today's stories are from Smith's Initia Graeca available at the Internet Archive. You can use the linked titles to access the book, and it has a dictionary in the back.

Here are the stories, presented in Greek, segmented, and then interwoven with English.

19 Πρόβατον κειρόμενον

Πρόβατον ἀφυῶς κειρόμενον πρὸς τοὺς κείροντας ἔφη· εἰ μὲν ἔρια ζητεῖτε, ἀνωτέρω τέμνετε· εἰ δὲ κρέως ἐπιθυμεῖτε, ἅπαξ με καταθύσατε, τοῦ κατὰ μικρὸν βασανίζειν ἀπαλλαξαντες.

Πρόβατον 

ἀφυῶς κειρόμενον 

πρὸς τοὺς κείροντας 

ἔφη· 

εἰ μὲν ἔρια ζητεῖτε, 

ἀνωτέρω τέμνετε·

εἰ δὲ κρέως ἐπιθυμεῖτε, 

ἅπαξ με καταθύσατε, 

τοῦ κατὰ μικρὸν βασανίζειν 

ἀπαλλαξαντες.

Πρόβατον  ...  A sheep,

ἀφυῶς κειρόμενον  ...  being unskillfully sheared,

ἔφη πρὸς τοὺς κείροντας  ...  said to the shearers,

"εἰ μὲν ἔρια ζητεῖτε  ...  If you are seeking wool,

ἀνωτέρω τέμνετε  ...  cut more high (= not so deep),

εἰ δὲ κρέως ἐπιθυμεῖτε  ...  but if you are wanting meat,

ἅπαξ με καταθύσατε  ...  kill me once and for all,

ἀπαλλαξαντες  ...  putting a stop

τοῦ κατὰ μικρὸν βασανίζειν  ...  to this bit-by-bit torture."

sheep being sheared

20 Ὄφις πατούμενος

Ὄφις ὑπὸ πολλῶν ἀνθρώπων πατούμενος τῷ Διὶ ἐνετύγχανε περὶ τούτου. Ὁ δὲ Ζεῦς πρὸς αὐτὸν εἶπεν· ἀλλ' εἰ τὸν πρότερον πατήσαντα ἔπληξας, οὐκ ἂν ὁ δεύτερος ἐπεχείρησε τοῦτο ποιῆσαι.

Ὄφις 

ὑπὸ πολλῶν ἀνθρώπων 

πατούμενος 

τῷ Διὶ ἐνετύγχανε 

περὶ τούτου.

Ὁ δὲ Ζεῦς 

πρὸς αὐτὸν εἶπεν· 

ἀλλ' εἰ τὸν πρότερον πατήσαντα 

ἔπληξας, 

οὐκ ἂν ὁ δεύτερος 

ἐπεχείρησε τοῦτο ποιῆσαι.

Ὄφις, πατούμενος  ...  A snake, stepped upon

ὑπὸ πολλῶν ἀνθρώπων  ...  by many people,

τῷ Διὶ ἐνετύγχανε  ...  made a petition to Zeus

περὶ τούτου  ...  about this.

Ὁ δὲ Ζεῦς πρὸς αὐτὸν εἶπεν  ...  Zeus said to him, 

"ἀλλ' εἰ ἔπληξας  ...  but it you had struck

τὸν πρότερον πατήσαντα  ...  the first person stepping (on you), 

ὁ δεύτερος  ...  the next man 

οὐκ ἂν ἐπεχείρησε  ...  wouldn't have dared

τοῦτο ποιῆσαι  ...   to do that."

Medici Aesop

21 Ἄρκτός καὶ ἀλώπηξ

Ἄρκτός τίς ποτε μεγάλως ἐκαυχᾶτο ὡς φιλανθρωπότατον πάντων ἐστὶ τῶν ζώων· φασὶ γὰρ ἄρκτον νεκρὸν μηδὲν βιβρώσκειν. Ἡ δὲ ἀλώπηξ ἀκούουσα ταῦτα ἐμειδίασε καὶ πρὸς αὐτὴν ἀντέφη· εἴθε τοὺς νεκροὺς ἤσθιες καὶ μὴ τοὺς ζῶντας.

Ἄρκτός τίς 

ποτε μεγάλως ἐκαυχᾶτο 

ὡς φιλανθρωπότατον 

πάντων ἐστὶ τῶν ζώων· 

φασὶ γὰρ 

ἄρκτον 

νεκρὸν μηδὲν βιβρώσκειν. 

Ἡ δὲ ἀλώπηξ 

ἀκούουσα ταῦτα 

ἐμειδίασε 

καὶ πρὸς αὐτὴν ἀντέφη· 

εἴθε τοὺς νεκροὺς ἤσθιες 

καὶ μὴ τοὺς ζῶντας.

Ἄρκτός τίς  ...  A bear

ποτε μεγάλως ἐκαυχᾶτο  ...  was once boasting loudly 

ὡς φιλανθρωπότατον ἐστὶ  ...  how she was the most man-loving 

πάντων τῶν ζώων  ...  of all the animals,

φασὶ γὰρ ἄρκτον  ...  for they say that a bear

νεκρὸν μηδὲν βιβρώσκειν  ...  won't eat a dead person.

Ἡ δὲ ἀλώπηξ ἐμειδίασε  ...  But the fox smiled

ἀκούουσα ταῦτα  ...  when she heard this

καὶ πρὸς αὐτὴν ἀντέφη  ...  and contradicted the bear, 

"εἴθε τοὺς νεκροὺς ἤσθιες  ...  If only you would eat dead men,

καὶ μὴ τοὺς ζῶντας  ...  and not the living."

The Fox and the Bear

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

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Reading: Fables 6

Today's stories are from Smith's Initia Graeca, available at the Internet Archive. You can use the linked titles to access the book, and it has a dictionary in the back.

Here are the stories, presented in Greek, segmented, and then interwoven with English.

16 Κάμηλος 

Κάμηλος ἀναγκαζομένη ὑπὸ ἰδίου δεσπότου ὀρχεῖσθαι εἶπεν· ἀλλ' οὐ μόνον ὀρχουμένη εἰμὶ ἄσχημος, ἀλλὰ καὶ περιπατοῦσα.

Κάμηλος 

ἀναγκαζομένη 

ὑπὸ ἰδίου δεσπότου 

ὀρχεῖσθαι 

εἶπεν· 

ἀλλ' οὐ μόνον 

ὀρχουμένη εἰμὶ ἄσχημος, 

ἀλλὰ καὶ περιπατοῦσα.

Κάμηλος  ...  A camel,

ἀναγκαζομένη ὀρχεῖσθαι  ...  compelled to dance

ὑπὸ ἰδίου δεσπότου  ...  by her owner,

εἶπεν  ...  said,

"ἀλλ' οὐ μόνον εἰμὶ   ...  But not only am I

ἄσχημος ὀρχουμένη  ...  ungainly when dancing,

ἀλλὰ καὶ περιπατοῦσα  ...  but even when walking."

The Camel (from a different fable than this one)

17 Πάρδαλις καὶ ἀλώπηξ

Στικτή ποτε πάρδαλις ἐκαυχᾶτο φορεῖν ἁπάντων ζῴων ποικιλωτέραν δέρριν. Πρὸς ἣν ἀλώπηξ εἶπεν· Ἐγώ σου τῆς δορᾶς κρείττονα καὶ ποικιλωτέραν γνώμην ἔχω.

Στικτή ποτε πάρδαλις 

ἐκαυχᾶτο φορεῖν 

ἁπάντων ζῴων 

ποικιλωτέραν δέρριν. 

Πρὸς ἣν ἀλώπηξ εἶπεν· 

Ἐγώ 

σου τῆς δορᾶς 

κρείττονα καὶ ποικιλωτέραν γνώμην 

ἔχω.

Στικτή ποτε πάρδαλις  ...  The spotted leopard once

ἐκαυχᾶτο φορεῖν  ...  was boasting that she had

ποικιλωτέραν δέρριν  ...  a more colorful skin

ἁπάντων ζῴων  ...  than all the animals.

Πρὸς ἣν ἀλώπηξ εἶπεν  ...  The fox said to her,

"Ἐγώ ἔχω γνώμην  ...  I have a brain

κρείττονα καὶ ποικιλωτέραν  ...  more powerful and colorful

σου τῆς δορᾶς  ...  than your pelt." 

Fox and Leopard

18 Ῥοιὰ, μηλέα καὶ βάτος

Ῥοιὰ καὶ μηλέα περὶ εὐκαρπίας ἤριζον. Πολλοῦ δὲ τοῦ νείκους ἀναφθέντος, βάτος ἐκ τοῦ πλησίον φραγμοῦ ἀκούσασα εἶπεν· ἀλλ', ὠ φίλαι, παυσώμεθά ποτε μαχόμεναι.

Ῥοιὰ καὶ μηλέα 

περὶ εὐκαρπίας ἤριζον. 

Πολλοῦ δὲ τοῦ νείκους 

ἀναφθέντος, 

βάτος 

ἐκ τοῦ πλησίον φραγμοῦ 

ἀκούσασα εἶπεν· 

ἀλλ', ὠ φίλαι, 

παυσώμεθά ποτε μαχόμεναι.

Ῥοιὰ καὶ μηλέα  ...  A pomegranate tree and an apple tree

περὶ εὐκαρπίας ἤριζον  ...  were disputing about fruitfulness.

Πολλοῦ δὲ τοῦ νείκους ἀναφθέντος  ...  A big dispute erupting,

βάτος, ἀκούσασα  ...  a bramble bush, listening 

ἐκ τοῦ πλησίον φραγμοῦ  ...  from a nearby hedge,

εἶπεν·  ...  said,

ἀλλ', ὠ φίλαι  ...  But, my dear ladies,

παυσώμεθά ποτε μαχόμεναι  ...  let's just stop this quarreling."

(No doubt if there was anything the fruit trees could agree about, it would be that the foolish bramble had no business butting in with her useless opinion, being fruitless!)

The Debate among the Trees

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

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Reading: Fables 5

Today's stories are from Rushbrooke's First Greek Reader and from Smith's Initia Graeca, both available at the Internet Archive. You can use the linked titles to access the book, and it has a dictionary in the back.

Here are the stories, presented in Greek, segmented, and then interwoven with English.

13. Δύο πῆραι

Αἴσωπος ἔφη δύο πήρας ἕκαστον ἡμῶν φέρειν, τὴν μὲν ἔμπροσθεν, τὴν δὲ ὄπισθεν. Καὶ εἰς μὲν τὴν ἔμπροσθεν ἀποτιθέναι ἡμᾶς τὰ τῶν ἄλλων ἁμαρτήματα, εἰς δὲ τὴν ὄπισθεν τὰ ἡμέτερα, διὸ οὐδὲ καθορῶμεν αὐτά.

Αἴσωπος ἔφη 

δύο πήρας 

ἕκαστον ἡμῶν φέρειν, 

τὴν μὲν ἔμπροσθεν, 

τὴν δὲ ὄπισθεν. 

Καὶ εἰς μὲν τὴν ἔμπροσθεν 

ἀποτιθέναι ἡμᾶς 

τὰ τῶν ἄλλων ἁμαρτήματα, 

εἰς δὲ τὴν ὄπισθεν 

τὰ ἡμέτερα, 

διὸ οὐδὲ καθορῶμεν αὐτά.

Αἴσωπος ἔφη  ...  Aesop said that 

ἕκαστον ἡμῶν φέρειν  ...  each of us carries 

δύο πήρας  ...  two sacks, 

τὴν μὲν ἔμπροσθεν  ...  one in front, 

τὴν δὲ ὄπισθεν  ...  and one behind. 

Καὶ εἰς μὲν τὴν ἔμπροσθεν  ...  And in the front sack 

ἀποτιθέναι ἡμᾶς  ...  we put 

τὰ τῶν ἄλλων ἁμαρτήματα  ...  other people's faults, 

εἰς δὲ τὴν ὄπισθεν  ...  and behind 

τὰ ἡμέτερα  ...  (we put) our ownn (faults); 

διὸ  ...  that's why 

οὐδὲ καθορῶμεν αὐτά  ...  we don't see them (our faults).

Our Faults and Others'

14 Κύων καὶ λαγωὸς

Κύων λαγωὸν διώξας ἐκράτησε· καὶ ποτὲ μὲν ἔδακνε, ποτὲ δὲ σαίνων προσέχαιρε καὶ ἐφίλει. Καὶ ὁ λαγωὸς εἶπεν· εἰ μὲν φίλοω εἶ, τί δάκνεις; εἰ δὲ ἐχθρός, τί σαίνεις οὐράν;

Κύων 

λαγωὸν διώξας 

ἐκράτησε· 

καὶ ποτὲ μὲν ἔδακνε, 

ποτὲ δὲ σαίνων 

προσέχαιρε καὶ ἐφίλει. 

Καὶ ὁ λαγωὸς εἶπεν· 

εἰ μὲν φίλος εἶ, 

τί δάκνεις; 

εἰ δὲ ἐχθρός, 

τί σαίνεις οὐράν;

Λαγωὸν διώξας  ...  having pursued a hare

κύων ἐκράτησε  ...  a dog caught (him)

καὶ ποτὲ μὲν ἔδακνε  ...  and sometimes (the dog) bit,

ποτὲ δὲ σαίνων  ...  and sometimes wagging (his) tail

προσέχαιρεκαὶ ἐφίλει   ...  (the dog) saluted and kissed (the hare).

Καὶ ὁ λαγωὸς εἶπεν  ...  And the hare said,

εἰ μὲν φίλος εἶ  ...  "If you are a friend,

τί δάκνεις  ...  why do you bite?

εἰ δὲ ἐχθρός  ...  If you are an enemy,

τί σαίνεις οὐράν  ...  why do you wag your tail?

The Dog and the Hare

15 Ἔχις καὶ ἀλώπηξ

Ἔχις ἐπὶ δέσμῃ ἀκανθῶν εἴς τινα ποταμὸν ἐφέρετο· ἀλώπηξ δὲ ὡς ἐθεάσατο αὐτόν, εἶπεν· ἄξιος τῆς νεὼς ὁ ναύκληρος.

Ἔχις 

ἐπὶ δέσμῃ ἀκανθῶν 

εἰς τινα ποταμὸν 

ἐφέρετο· 

ἀλώπηξ δὲ 

ὡς ἐθεάσατο αὐτόν, 

εἶπεν· 

ἄξιος τῆς νεὼς 

ὁ ναύκληρος.

Ἔχις ἐφέρετο  ...  A viper was being carried

ἐπὶ δέσμῃ ἀκανθῶν  ...  on a bundle of thornbushes

εἰς τινα ποταμὸν  ...  towards some river

ἀλώπηξ δὲ εἶπεν  ...  and a fox said

ὡς ἐθεάσατο αὐτόν  ...  when she saw him,

"ὁ ναύκληρος  ...  the skipper

ἄξιος τῆς νεὼς  ...  is worthy of his ship."

I don't have an illustration for this fable, but there is a viper called "spiny bush viper," shown here:

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

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---