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Aesop 025: The Hare & the Tortoise

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Attribution

Translated into Quenya by Chaered in 2026.

Notes

First posted on VL, on 2026-05-14; not reviewed yet. Analysis posted to submissions/Aesops: VL.

Motto: The race is not always to the swift.

Also potentially available in Sindarin at: Sindarin crash course

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【1】 Lopo ar Þandanasto

  

► The Hare & the Tortoise

【2】 --



► --

【3】 Lopo yaiteánë Þandanasto umaurë pan hye nánes tallë lenca.

         

► A Hare was making fun of the Tortoise one day for being so slow.

【4】 “Ma ailumë anyalyë aianna?” maquentes yaitaitë laliénen.

       

► "Do you ever get anywhere?" he asked with a mocking laugh.

【5】 “Náto,” hanquentë i Þandanasto, “ar anyanyë tanna ron epë ya quistalyë.

             

► "Yes," replied the Tortoise, "and I get there sooner than you think.

Noruvanyë olyë normessë an iltanuvanyes.”

     

► I'll run you a race and prove it."

【6】 I Lopo analaltaina ló tenna normeo anat i Þandanasto, mal so tyaliën þáquentes.

              

► The Hare was much amused at the idea of running a race with the Tortoise, but for the fun of the thing he agreed.

Epetai i Rusco, ye þáquétiénë ná námo, sarnë i hairië ar tentanë i noruvailant patuë.

                 

► So the Fox, who had consented to act as judge, marked the distance and started the runners off.

【7】 I Lopo nánë ron palan han cen, ar na carë i Þandanasto felë lai yallë yaitima nánë ricitarya norë anat Lopo, serunes ara i nortië na þenna lorë mennai i Þandanasto oroitúvanë.

                                  

► The Hare was soon far out of sight, and to make the Tortoise feel very deeply how ridiculous it was for him to try a race with a Hare, he lay down beside the course to take a nap until the Tortoise should catch up.

【8】 Hapallumë i Þandanasto cacarranë menë lenca mal voron, ar, apa lúmë, tulles xië i nómë yassë i Lopo lóranë.

                      

► The Tortoise meanwhile kept going slowly but steadily, and, after a time, passed the place where the Hare was sleeping.

Mal i Lopo ambë lornë assérinqua; ar yá teldavë eccuinunes, i Þandanasto nánë amna i mettassë.

                  

► But the Hare slept on very peacefully; and when at last he did wake up, the Tortoise was near the goal.

I Lopo sí hlintes ampolliëryanen, mal únes polë oroita i Þandanasto faren ron.

              

► The Hare now ran his swiftest, but he could not overtake the Tortoise in time.

【9】 --



► --

【10】 Eques: Normë ú illumë manya i linta.

        

► Motto: The race is not always to the swift.

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