He [was] big! said the old frog, puffing her chest.
"Big, was he!" said the old Frog, puffing herself up.
1.6
“Borg ve hen?”
“Big like this?”
"Was he as big as this?"
1.7
“A! Ammorg!” agóner.
“O!, Bigger!” they shouted.
"Oh, much bigger!" they cried.
1.8
e·Gabor cwhestant1 en·ammos dín am.
The frog puffed her chest more.
The Frog puffed up still more.
1.9
“Ú-obul en·úan nad ammorg athar hen,” ebent.
“He could not be bigger beyond this,” she said.
"He could not have been bigger than this," she said.
1.10
Ach i·chebyr bîn il ebenner i ammorg en·úan ah e·gabor cwhestant1 en·ammos dín am ah am naden aranc.
But the little frogs all said that the monster was bigger and the old frog puffed his chest more and more until she burst.
But the little Frogs all declared that the monster was much, much bigger and the old Frog kept puffing herself out more and more until, all at once, she burst.
Pess: Avo ritho en·unadren.
Saying: Do not try the not-possible.
Motto: Do not attempt the impossible.
Notes: 1whesta-, v. “to puff” ⪤ ᴹQ. hwesta-, v. “to puff”
Glingad nell oh en·ieath nan e·Vuig
Back Translation: Hanging [a] bell around the neck of the Cat
Nigol ui Garas ‘lennast cened ress i ndorthast vidh rídhas.
[A] Mouse from the City traveled to see [a] relative who lived in the country.
A Town Mouse once visited a relative who lived in the country.
1.2
An nedhwad e·Nigol ui Rídhas sestant thrimp na na mbloss, sylch, nych, gu limig na nen ring an hoged cho1 den.
For lunch the Mouse from the Country set stalks of wheat, roots, and acorns, together with [a] small drop of cold water for drink before her.
For lunch the Country Mouse served wheat stalks, roots, and acorns, with a dash of cold water for drink.
1.3
e·Nigol ui Garas avant vo nenc dithin, nadhol tithen na sen a thithen na san, a moe leng dín tanant i avant vath thonnui air nad runnas2.
The Mouse from the City ate by (agent of) tiny bites, chewing [a] little of this and [a] little of that, and by (agent of) her manner indicated that she ate the basic food only to be polite.
The Town Mouse ate very sparingly, nibbling a little of this and a little of that, and by her manner making it very plain that she ate the simple food only to be polite.
1.4
Ab e·vâd i·mellyn ebenner an annas na lû, egos sennui e·Nigol ui Garas ebent oh e·guil dín viñ garas lo e·Nigol ui Rídhas lastast.
After the meal the friends spoke for [a] length of time, or rather the Mouse from the City spoke about her life in the city while the Mouse from the Country listened.
After the meal the friends had a long talk, or rather the Town Mouse talked about her life in the city while the Country Mouse listened.
1.5
To3 gaedast lored aedh laug viñ geilir4 ah olúrer vi dhîn a lhaugas5 naden amor.
Then they lay down to sleep in [a] cozy nest in the hedgerow and slept in silence and warmth until morning.
They then went to bed in a cozy nest in the hedgerow and slept in quiet and comfort until morning.
1.6
Lo lorol e·Nigol ui Rídhas olthant de Nigol ui Garas i aw il e·vaeras a mavras na ndorthad viñ garas i e·vellon dín ebent anden.
While sleeping the Mouse from the Country dreamed she [was a] Mouse from the City who had all the goodness and desires of living in a city that her friend said to her.
In her sleep the Country Mouse dreamed she was a Town Mouse with all the luxuries and delights of city life that her friend had described for her.
But the following day when the Mouse from the City asked the Mouse from the Country to travel to her home in the city, she [was] happy to say yes.
So the next day when the Town Mouse asked the Country Mouse to go home with her to the city, she gladly said yes.
1.8
Io odúler n’ e·mbarthan ias6 e·Nigol ui Garas dorthast, egíner boe hardh vin ham am maded lemmath7 na mbereth elvain.
When they came to the mansion where the Mouse from the City dwelled, they saw on the table in the chamber for eating [were] leavings of a marvelous feast.
When they reached the mansion in which the Town Mouse lived, they found on the table in the dining room the leavings of a very fine banquet.
1.9
Ho din vaith laich, phibingim8, besgyrn laich, chuir gaudol, î, maith rothagol i Nigol obul nauthad.
Before them [were] sweet foods and jams, sweet loaves sweet, and tasteful cheeses, indeed, the most luring foods could conceive.
There were sweetmeats and jellies, pastries, delicious cheeses, indeed, the most tempting foods that a Mouse can imagine.
1.10
Ach io e·Nigol ui Rídhas fair maded níth9 na mbesgyrn laich, lhassant vuiad vrui na muig a rhibad n’ e·fend.
But when the Mouse from the Country [was] ready to eat [a] small piece of sweet loaf, she heard [a] loud meowing of [a] cat and scratching at the door.
But just as the Country Mouse was about to nibble a dainty bit of pastry, she heard a Cat mew loudly and scratch at the door.
1.11
Mi ‘oe i·Nigyl onúrer na had na thoblad, ias6 eríther úvenol an annas na lû, thossui thuiad.
In great fear the Mice ran to a place of hiding, where they remained unmoving for [a] length of time, fearful to breath.
In great fear the Mice scurried to a hiding place, where they lay quite still for a long time, hardly daring to breathe.
1.12
Io na vedui verthast dammened n’ e·vereth, e·fend lediast vo rongas10 a bŷr minnasser vi am buidad e·hardh, lo e·Hû aphant.
When at last they dared to go back to the feast, the door opened by (agent of) haste and the servants entered to clean the table, while the Dog followed.
When at last they ventured back to the feast, the door opened suddenly and in came the servants to clear the table, followed by the House Dog.
1.13
e·Nigol ui Rídhasas air bediast11 geded e·bôg a rhostobas12 dín viñ gaew nan e·Nigol.
The Mouse of the Country only paused to get her bag and umbrella in the lair of the Mouse.
The Country Mouse stopped in the Town Mouse's den only long enough to pick up her carpet bag and umbrella.
1.14
“No den i hevig vaeras a math elvain i ú-hevin,” ebent lo rongast gwa, “ach vevin e·vath thonnui nín a chuithas thonnui midh Rídhas vi hîdh a beriad i dôl ‘u den.”
“Be it that you have goodness and marvelous food that I do not have,” she said while she hastened away, “but I like my basic food and basic life in the country in peace and protection that comes together with it.”
You may have luxuries and dainties that I have not," she said as she hurried away, "but I prefer my plain food and simple life in the country with the peace and security that go with it."
Pess: Ú-vaelig ‘u veriad ammaer athar vaelig vig ‘eo a naid i ú-hinnen.
Saying: Un-wealth together with protection [is] better beyond wealth among fear and things that [are] not known.
Motto: Poverty with security is better than plenty in the midst of fear and uncertainty.
Notes: 1ho, prep. “before, in front” (spatial only) ✶KʰĀ [author: Ellanto] 2runnas, n. “polite, politeness” from ᴺQ.
!rundiën. “smoothness; politeness” 3to, adv. “so, then” ⪤ Q. tá, adv. “then, [ᴹQ.] at that time [past]” [author: Elaran] 4ceilir, n. “hedgerow” from S.
cain. “hedge” + S. #lîrn. “line, [N.] row” 5laugas, n. “warmth” from ᴺS. [N.]
^laug
adj. “warm” + S., N. #-assuf. “abstract noun” 6ias, conj. “where (relative)” ⪤ Q.
yassë,
conj. “where [relative], in which place” [author: Unknown] 7lemmath, n. “left over food, leavings” from ᴹ✶
lebnā
“left behind” + ᴺS. [ᴱN.]
mathn. “food” 8pibingim, n. “jam, (lit.) berry-sticky-substance” ⪤ ᴺQ.
!piohimma,
n. “jam, (lit.) berry-sticky-substance” 9níthn. “piece, bit (of indeterminate size)” ⪤ ᴺQ.
!nihtan. “piece, bit, small part” 10rongas, n. “haste” derived from ᴺS. !ronga- ᴺS. v. “to hasten” + S. #-as, suf. “abstract noun” [author: Rínor] 11pedia-v. to stop, halt, pause – derived from √PUTyă
alternative to ᴺS.
!posta-,
v. “to stop, cease, leave off” 12rostobasn. “umbrella (lit.) rain roofing” S.
ross¹, n. “rain; spray, ⚠️spindrift, foam” + N.
tobas
“roofing, roof”
While eating, [a] greedy wolf swallowed [a] bone that blocked his throat.
A Wolf had been feasting too greedily, and a bone had stuck crosswise in his throat.
1.2
Ú-obul cared en·asg mened am egor dad, ah î ú-obul maded nad.
He could not make the bone go up or down, and indeed he could not eat [a] thing.
He could get it neither up nor down, and of course he could not eat a thing.
1.3
Î he leng2 na nast ‘aer an Draug velch.
Indeed this was [an] awful manner of being for [a] greedy Wolf.
Naturally that was an awful state of affairs for a greedy Wolf.
1.4
To3 rongast gwa n’ e·Nimlang.
So he hastened away to the Crane.
So away he hurried to the Crane.
1.5
He was sure that she, with her long neck and bill, would easily be able to reach the bone and pull it out.
1.6
"I will reward you very handsomely," said the Wolf, "if you pull that bone out for me."
1.7
The Crane, as you can imagine, was very uneasy about putting her head in a Wolf's throat.
1.8
But she was grasping in nature, so she did what the Wolf asked her to do.
1.9
When the Wolf felt that the bone was gone, he started to walk away.
1.10
"But what about my reward!" called the Crane anxiously.
1.11
"What!" snarled the Wolf, whirling around.
1.12
"Haven't you got it?
1.13
Isn't it enough that I let you take your head out of my mouth without snapping it off?"
Pess:
Saying:
Motto: Expect no reward for serving the wicked.
Notes: 1nimlang, n. “crane (lit.) “white-neck” derived from S. nim adj. “white” + S. lang n. “passage; neck, *throat” [author: Rínor] 2leng, n. “way, method, manner” ⪤ Q. lé¹, n. “way, method, manner” [author: Rínor] 3to, adv. “so, then” ⪤ Q.
tá,
adv. “then, [ᴹQ.] at that time [past]” [author: Elaran] 4
Then after sundown, when the rosy light fades from the sky and the shadows rise slowly through the wood, out she comes ruffling and blinking from the old hollow tree.
1.3
Now her weird "hoo-hoo-hoo-oo-oo" echoes through the quiet wood, and she begins her hunt for the bugs and beetles, frogs and mice she likes so well to eat.
1.4
Now there was a certain old Owl who had become very cross and hard to please as she grew older, especially if anything disturbed her daily slumbers.
1.5
One warm summer afternoon as she dozed away in her den in the old oak tree, a Grasshopper nearby began a joyous but very raspy song.
1.6
Out popped the old Owl's head from the opening in the tree that served her both for door and for window.
1.7
"Get away from here, sir," she said to the Grasshopper.
1.8
"Have you no manners? You should at least respect my age and leave me to sleep in quiet!"
1.9
But the Grasshopper answered saucily that he had as much right to his place in the sun as the Owl had to her place in the old oak.
1.10
Then he struck up a louder and still more rasping tune.
1.11
The wise old Owl knew quite well that it would do no good to argue with the Grasshopper, nor with anybody else for that matter.
1.12
Besides, her eyes were not sharp enough by day to permit her to punish the Grasshopper as he deserved.
1.13
So she laid aside all hard words and spoke very kindly to him.
1.14
"Well sir," she said, "if I must stay awake, I am going to settle right down to enjoy your singing.
1.15
Now that I think of it, I have a wonderful wine here, sent me from Olympus, of which I am told Apollo drinks before he sings to the high gods.
1.16
Please come up and taste this delicious drink with me. I know it will make you sing like Apollo himself."
1.17
Please come up and taste this delicious drink with me. I know it will make you sing like Apollo himself."
1.18
The foolish Grasshopper was taken in by the Owl's flattering words.
1.19
Up he jumped to the Owl's den, but as soon as he was near enough so the old Owl could see him clearly, she pounced upon him and ate him up.
Pess:
Saying:
Motto: Flattery is not a proof of true admiration. Do not let flattery throw you off your guard against an enemy.
Notes: 1 Reviewed on Vinyë Lambengolmor by Ellanto on 1/8/26.
§
Sindarin
Back Translation
Original
1.1
Nordh veleg ador ha cheleth ias1 Lisg fim óler.
[A] great oak stood along [a] brook where slender Reeds grew.
A Giant Oak stood near a brook in which grew some slender Reeds.
1.2
Io e·‘wae húdast, e·nordh veleg ador darlang a thalch, ah i·ñgelf doch dín alanner n’ ell.
When the wind blew, the great oak stood proud and upright, and its hundred branches stretched to [the] sky.
When the wind blew, the great Oak stood proudly upright with its hundred arms uplifted to the sky.
1.3
Ach i·lisg awórer eni ‘wae a lhinnanner lind dhem a nírol.
But the reeds yielded to the wind and sang [a] sad and sorrowful song.
But the Reeds bowed low in the wind and sang a sad and mournful song.
1.4
“Sevig gaeth an nornad,” ebent e·nordh.
“You have reason to complain,” said the oak.
"You have reason to complain," said the Oak.
1.5
“i·Whest robin i bresta balath e·nen ceiria gin loethad, lo im, nordh mbelaith, terin daer a thaug choe ‘waew vrui.”
“The littlest breeze that disturbs [the] surface of the water causes you to bend, while I, nordh mbelaith, terin daer a thaug choe ‘waew vrui.”
"The slightest breeze that ruffles the surface of the water makes you bow your heads, while I, the mighty Oak, stand upright and firm before the howling tempest."
1.6
“Av’ olo brestannen vo e·nast vín,” ebenner i·lisg.
“Don’t become troubled by (agent of) our being,” said the reeds.
"Do not worry about us," replied the Reeds.
1.7
“i·Ñgwae ú-geiriar charnas aphen.
“The winds do not cause harm to us.
"The winds do not harm us.
1.7a
Awóreb cho din, an ú-regib.
We yield before them, for we do not break.
We bow before them and so we do not break.
1.7b
Tauglog i·suil vo il e·vlaud a bellas gín.
You resisted the winds by (agent of) all your pride and strength.
You, in all your pride and strength, have so far resisted their blows.
1.7c
Ach dôl e·vethed.”
But the end [is] coming.”
But the end is coming."
1.8
Lo i·lisg ebenner, gwaew veleg ethul eph forod.
While the reeds spoke, [a] great storm came out of [the] north.
As the Reeds spoke a great hurricane rushed out of the north.
1.9
e·Nordh ador tarlang a dadhrant e·waew, lo i·lisg ‘warol loethasser chaug.
The oak stood proudly and opposed the storm, while the yielding reeds bent low.
The Oak stood proudly and fought against the storm, while the yielding Reeds bowed low.
Two Goats, frisking gayly on the rocky steeps of a mountain valley, chanced to meet, one on each side of a deep chasm through which poured a mighty mountain torrent.
1.2
The trunk of a fallen tree formed the only means of crossing the chasm, and on this not even two squirrels could have passed each other in safety.
1.3
The narrow path would have made the bravest tremble.
1.4
Not so our Goats.
1.5
Their pride would not permit either to stand aside for the other.
1.6
One set her foot on the log.
1.7
The other did likewise.
1.8
In the middle they met horn to horn.
1.9
Neither would give way, and so they both fell, to be swept away by the roaring torrent below.
Pess:
Saying:
Motto: It is better to yield than to come to misfortune through stubbornness.
“Rest, child, rest! Stop your crying, or I will give you to the wolf!”
"Hush, child, hush! Stop your crying, or I will give you to the Wolf!"
1.4
e·Dhraug nî ‘aedannen vo ach ‘ellannen ed e·dunc an haved vâd elvain, caedast nu chenneth lediannen, a chorast i vil luig han cavatha aen chên.
The wolf was surprised by (agent of) but delighted out of the chance to have a wonderful meal, he lay under [an] opened window, and he expected that in the moment he would receive [a] child.
Surprised but delighted at the prospect of so delicious a meal, the Wolf settled down under an open window, expecting every moment to have the child handed out to him.
1.5
Ach valthannen e·‘winig, ah e·dhraug erith il aur ah agof allad.
But agitated [was] the little one, and the wolf remained in the same place all day and received nothing.
But though the little one continued to fret, the Wolf waited all day in vain.
1.6
To1, sui uial anglennast, lhassant ‘lim en·emel ad2 lo achodh s’ e·chenneth al linnad n’ e·‘winig dín a lhorthad den.
Then, as twilight approached, he heard [the] voice [of] the mother again while she sat beside the window to sing to her baby and to put it to sleep.
Then, toward nightfall, he heard the Mother's voice again as she sat down near the window to sing and rock her baby to sleep.
1.7
“No chídheb, hên!
“Be peaceful, child!
"There, child, there!
1.7a
e·Dhraug ú-ñgedatha gin.
The wolf will not get you.
The Wolf shall not get you.
1.7b
Û, û!
No, no!
No, no!
1.7c
Adar dîr ah adar ndagatha den bi dôl nef gin!”
Father is watching and father will slay him if he comes near you!”
Daddy is watching and Daddy will kill him if he should come near!"
1.8
Mil luig han en·adar odul vi chent e·mbâr, ah e·dhraug othrast agor i·chui vo nored vaed.
In that moment, the father came into sight [of] the home, and the wolf narrowly escaped the dogs by (agent of) running skillfully.
Just then the Father came within sight of the home, and the Wolf was barely able to save himself from the Dogs by a clever bit of running.
Pess: Avo havo illad i lhassog.
Saying: Do not believe everything that you hear.
Motto: Do not believe everything that you hear.
Notes: 1to, adv. “so, then” ⪤ Q. tá, adv. “then, [ᴹQ.] at that time [past]” [author: Elaran] 2adadv. "again" ⪤ ᴹQ. ataadv. “again, *(lit.) a second time”
e·Limron1 ah e·Lim bîn
Back Translation: The Fisherman and the Little Fish
