by Chaered
Fables attributed to Aesop, the famous ancient Greek storyteller. Translated by various VL users in 2025-2026, from the collection at read.gov/aesop (in public domain).
Quentar ó eques.
Stories with a motto.
by Chaered
First posted on VL, on 2025-12-12. Analysis posted to submissions/Aesops:
. The Sindarin translation is by
, retrieved 2026-04-25.
Note: The author does not wish that this Quenya text be used to train AI.
Motto: Do not attempt the impossible.
Also available in Sindarin at:
Quáci ar Mundo
--
Mundo tullë liscëa lónonna na yulë. Lan mittanes lungo ar vasca mina nén, maldes vinya Quácë loxonna.
I enwina Quácë ron xarnë i vinya ar maquentë hestyain ya tullunë hyen.
“Anhöa ulundo,” equë mo teo, “pantë nunna hassenna yána talyanen min!”
“Höa, ma nánes!” equë i enwina Quácë, pultaila insë föanen. “Ma nánes sindë höa?”
“A, lai anhöa epë ta!” holtuneltë.
I Quácë pultanë insë enta föanen.
“Únë ecë sen ná anhöa epë si,” eques. Mal ilyë nícë Quáci eccanner í ulundo nánë ambë, ambë höa ar i enwina Quácë cacarranë pulta insë esta ambë ar ambë tenna, vercálavë, urvanes.
--
Eques: Vá þurë únat.
The Frogs & the Ox
--
An Ox came down to a reedy pool to drink. As he splashed heavily into the water, he crushed a young Frog into the mud.
The old Frog soon missed the little one and asked his brothers and sisters what had become of him.
"A great big monster," said one of them, "stepped on little brother with one of his huge feet!"
"Big, was he!" said the old Frog, puffing herself up. "Was he as big as this?"
"Oh, much bigger!" they cried.
The Frog puffed up still more.
"He could not have been bigger than this," she said. 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.
--
Motto: Do not attempt the impossible.
Himya Indyel i Miuinna
--
I Nyarrinci néya carner yomenië þantiën panwë na eterúna intë cottoltallo, i Miuë. Annún merneltë tuvë lé istiën yá túlanes, itan uva ten lúmë hónoriën. É, maunë carë ma, pan oialë tandë þóreáneltë napparyar i hraië veryaneltë etemenë haustantallo auressë hya lómessë.
Lanquentes linë panwi, mal namneltë alla illio faren mára. Teldavë anvinya Nyarrincë tolunë ar equë:
“Samin panwë ya nemë lai eripsinwa, mal istan i nauvas túrë.
I rëa carda ya möa men carë ná nutë indyel os i Miuiva lango. Yá hlaruvalvë i indyel hyalë, tá istuvalvë ú-pusto i cottolva túla.”
Lio aitanë ilyë Nyarrinci i uiéneltë nauya taitë panwë fai. Mal endessë alariënto pá almelta, enwina Nyarrincë oronyë ar equë:
“Quetuvan í vinya Nyarrincio panwë ná arya. Mal ányë carë min maquetta: Man nutuva i indyel i Miuissë?”
--
Eques: Quetië i möa carë ná alavéla ve carië.
Belling the Cat
--
The Mice once called a meeting to decide on a plan to free themselves of their enemy, the Cat. At least they wished to find some way of knowing when she was coming, so they might have time to run away. Indeed, something had to be done, for they lived in such constant fear of her claws that they hardly dared stir from their dens by night or day.
Many plans were discussed, but none of them was thought good enough. At last a very young Mouse got up and said:
"I have a plan that seems very simple, but I know it will be successful.
All we have to do is to hang a bell about the Cat's neck. When we hear the bell ringing we will know immediately that our enemy is coming."
All the Mice were much surprised that they had not thought of such a plan before. But in the midst of the rejoicing over their good fortune, an old Mouse arose and said:
"I will say that the plan of the young Mouse is very good. But let me ask one question: Who will bell the Cat?"
--
Motto: It is one thing to say that something should be done, but quite a different matter to do it.
Itsincë ar Mundo
--
Itsincë villë or salquenor, ó laca vussië tallë titta veollo, ar harunë Mundo rasseo mentessë. Epeni sériénes ter þenna lúmë, feryanes viluë. Mal nó lonyes, mences i Mundon avatyarë sen yuhtiërya hyeo rassë ve andorië.
“É alaryalyë i loianyel sí,” eques.
“Sama ui valda nin,” hanquentë i Mundo. “É, únen ista i engelyë tassë.”
--
Eques: Lillumë valdalmë hendulmassë ambë epë yandë armaróva hendussë.
Eques: Sívë níca i indo, tambë höa i imbalatë.
The Gnat & the Bull
--
A Gnat flew over the meadow with much buzzing for so small a creature and settled on the tip of one of the horns of a Bull. After he had rested a short time, he made ready to fly away. But before he left he begged the Bull's pardon for having used his horn for a resting place.
"You must be very glad to have me go now," he said.
"It's all the same to me," replied the Bull. "I did not even know you were there."
--
Motto: We are often of greater importance in our own eyes than in the eyes of our neighbor.
Motto: The smaller the mind the greater the conceit.
Mapalin
--
Ranyar atta, pataila endaureo árissë, þurnë i hala panta-latila aldo seriën.
Lan cainettë cenila ama imbë i fastimë lassi, cennettë i nánes mapalin.
“Tandë alwara ná mapalíni!” equë mo.
“Uis yavë aima, ar rië tupis hún lasselínen.”
“Úhantaula veot!” equë óma mapalinello.
“Cainestë ringa halanyassë, ananta quetilyë i nanyë alwara!
Sillë úhantaulavë, a Manwë, atani cavir almeltar!”
--
Eques: Aryë almelmar hrín anhantencë.
The plane tree
--
Two Travellers, walking in the noonday sun, sought the shade of a widespreading tree to rest.
As they lay looking up among the pleasant leaves, they saw that it was a Plane Tree.
"How useless is the Plane!" said one of them.
"It bears no fruit whatever, and only serves to litter the ground with leaves."
"Ungrateful creatures!" said a voice from the Plane Tree.
"You lie here in my cooling shade, and yet you say I am useless!
Thus ungratefully, O Jupiter, do men receive their blessings!"
--
Motto: Our best blessings are often the least appreciated.
Naicot
--
Naico atta, i cápanë alasseávë oron imbiláto ondovë aiculissen, omennë ecestanen, min ilya permessë núra ciryo ter ya ullë túra ascara oron sírë. Lantanwa aldo pulco nánë i rëa men laniën i cirya, ar sissë éta peccuvo atta uiévanë vanya sitwë arë tatwë varnavë. I náha tiën encë tyarë arverya papë. Mal ú san sinu Naicot. Valatetta é lávë alatwen varë men etwen.
Sitwë sestanë talya rambessë. Tatwë carnë imma. Endessë omennettë rasset rassetsë. Alatwë varnë men, epetai yúyu lanantettë, ar mapanë tu i rávëa sírë nún.
--
Eques: Varië ná aryë epë taryalangonen útulma.
The Two Goats
--
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. 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. The narrow path would have made the bravest tremble. Not so our Goats. Their pride would not permit either to stand aside for the other.
One set her foot on the log. The other did likewise. In the middle they met horn to horn. Neither would give way, and so they both fell, to be swept away by the roaring torrent below.
--
Motto: It is better to yield than to come to misfortune through stubbornness.
Hróva Carcapolca ar Rusco
--
Hróva Carcapolca maicateánë carcaryat ricítë anat aldo tolbo, yá Rusco mennë arë. Sí i Rusco vorë þurnë ecesta na yaita armaroryar. Etta carnes höa ettanië, ostirila vequi tírelëa, ve þoryaila halda cotto. Mal i Carcapolca cacarranë mólerya.
“Maro cáralyë ta?” maquentë i Rusco teldavë ó reo. “Ui ëa aiana raxë ya cenin.”
“Nása,” hanquentë i Carcapolca, “mal yá raxë tulë, penë lúmë sítë mólen. Mauva carmanyant ná feryat yuhtiën tá, hyaqui cainúvan saro.
--
Eques: Návë ferya ohtan ná arya carvanda rainen.
The Wild Boar & the Fox
--
A Wild Boar was sharpening his tusks busily against the stump of a tree, when a Fox happened by. Now the Fox was always looking for a chance to make fun of his neighbors. So he made a great show of looking anxiously about, as if in fear of some hidden enemy. But the Boar kept right on with his work.
"Why are you doing that?" asked the Fox at last with a grin. "There isn't any danger that I can see."
"True enough," replied the Boar, "but when danger does come there will not be time for such work as this. My weapons will have to be ready for use then, or I shall suffer for it."
--
Motto: Preparedness for war is the best guarantee of peace.
Ñarmo mámo helmassë
--
Únë ecë Ñarmon ñetë fárëa matta, i Emerrion tírelénen. Mal uma lómessë túves mámo helma etehatina yo etsenina. I neuna ressë, mi i helma, i Ñarmo patanë mina nesselë i Mámaron. Rongo vinya Eulë hilyeánë hye ar lintië tulyanesses nahtiënna.
Tana þinyessë i Ñarmo mittanë i mámalinna ó i lamnarë. Mal tullunë í Emerro mernes máma-salpa imya þinyessë, lempes cirma ar mennes mámalinna. Tassë i minya ye nampes ar qualtanes nánë i Ñarmo.
--
Eques: Ulcarindo lillumë cavë harnalë véra cuptalénen.
The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
--
A certain Wolf could not get enough to eat because of the watchfulness of the Shepherds. But one night he found a sheep skin that had been cast aside and forgotten. The next day, dressed in the skin, the Wolf strolled into the pasture with the Sheep. Soon a little Lamb was following him about and was quickly led away to slaughter.
That evening the Wolf entered the fold with the flock. But it happened that the Shepherd took a fancy for mutton broth that very evening, and, picking up a knife, went to the fold. There the first he laid hands on and killed was the Wolf.
--
Motto: The evil doer often comes to harm through his own deceit.
Pímótar ar Cucua
--
Cucua cennë Pímótar lanta mina nellë. I Pímótar lustavë nannë aniën i ráva, ar ofelmello, i Cucua lanantë þardeo lassë arëa ara hye. Himila i lassë ve vanwa ciryallo ciryamo rácina tyulmassë, i Pímótar luntë varna hrestanna.
Ron cato, i Pímótar cennë nér feryaila qualta i Cucua sarnamen. Mal poica yá hantes i sar, i Pímótar nasantë se talbossë, itan i ñwalma carnë se loita mehterya, ar i captaina Cucua villë varnassenna palan tauressë.
--
Eques: Nilda áþë allumë ná sarrerië.
The Ant & the Dove
--
A Dove saw an Ant fall into a brook. The Ant struggled in vain to reach the bank, and in pity, the Dove dropped a blade of straw close beside it. Clinging to the straw like a shipwrecked sailor to a broken spar, the Ant floated safely to shore.
Soon after, the Ant saw a man getting ready to kill the Dove with a stone. But just as he cast the stone, the Ant stung him in the heel, so that the pain made him miss his aim, and the startled Dove flew to safety in a distant wood.
--
Motto: A kindness is never wasted.
Vinya Falliantë ar Amilya
--
“Maro aiandë patatyë permenna tallë?” equë Amil Falliantë yondoryan. “Illumë möa tyen pata téravë ener, piretyainen ricinë ara.”
“Á tana nin yallë pata, emya,” hanquentë i vinya Falliantë canwahimya, “Merin parë.”
Epetai i enwina Falliantë ririncë pata téravë ompa. Mal polles pata rië permenna, ve yondorya. Ar yá néves ricë pireryainen ara, loipantes ar lanantes nengwiryanna.
--
Eques: Vályë quetë hyanain yallë carë, laqui elyë caraitë mai.
The Young Crab & His Mother
--
"Why in the world do you walk sideways like that?" said a Mother Crab to her son. "You should always walk straight forward with your toes turned out."
"Show me how to walk, mother dear," answered the little Crab obediently, "I want to learn."
So the old Crab tried and tried to walk straight forward. But she could walk sideways only, like her son. And when she wanted to turn her toes out she tripped and fell on her nose.
--
Motto: Do not tell others how to act unless you can set a good example.
Rauro ar Pellopë
--
Umaurë lan Rauro páteánë valatëa ter tauressë tië, ar i celvar taliénen varner sen, Pellopë holtunë yaiwë yá mennes arë.
I Rauro fellë rúþeo íta. Mal yá quernes carya ar cennes ye quétiénë, patanes enera rua. É uiúvanes laita i aut éta palpenen raccaryaron.
--
Eques: Vá urþa aucello quettain. Á úcimë tai.
The Lion & the Ass
--
One day as the Lion walked proudly down a forest aisle, and the animals respectfully made way for him, an Ass brayed a scornful remark as he passed.
The Lion felt a flash of anger. But when he turned his head and saw who had spoken, he walked quietly on. He would not honor the fool with even so much as a stroke of his claws.
--
Motto: Do not resent the remarks of a fool. Ignore them.
Pímótari ar Salquecápo
--
Quelleo aurëa ressë Pímótarion nossë móteánë lauca árissë, parahtaila i orir yo cáriénë haura ter lairë, yá saicelëa Salquecápo, ó cunganderya nu rancurya, tullë ar nucuvila inquë matto ma.
“Mana!” holtunë i Pímótari ëandenen, “ma uiël hosta aima hríven? Mana Ambaressë cáranelyë ter quanna lairë?”
“Pennen lúmë na hosta mat,” miunë i Salquecápo; “Nánen tallë caraitë lindiénen i nó sintenyes lairë nánë vanwa.”
I Pímótari almoronyer uhtiénen.
“Lindaila, ma nánelyë?” holtuneltë. “Lai mai; sí á lilta!” Ar querneltë cattanta i Salquecáponna ar cacarraneltë mólenta.
--
Eques: Eä lúmë mólen ar lúmë tyalmen.
The Ants & the Grasshopper
--
One bright day in late autumn a family of Ants were bustling about in the warm sunshine, drying out the grain they had stored up during the summer, when a starving Grasshopper, his fiddle under his arm, came up and humbly begged for a bite to eat.
"What!" cried the Ants in surprise, "haven't you stored anything away for the winter? What in the world were you doing all last summer?"
"I didn't have time to store up any food," whined the Grasshopper; "I was so busy making music that before I knew it the summer was gone."
The Ants shrugged their shoulders in disgust.
"Making music, were you?" they cried. "Very well; now dance!" And they turned their backs on the Grasshopper and went on with their work.
--
Motto: There's a time for work and a time for play.
Hollo ar Mírë
--
Hollo caraitë nyáþanë ar sápanë rimbi tuviën ma matiën insen ar nosseryan, yá ecestanen túves mirwa mírë ya öamorya róviénë.
“Aiya!” equë i Hollo. “Tancavë nalyë ammirwa ar issë ye róvë lye cé antauva laca meter tuvë lye. Mal inyen, cé ciluvan erinqua findori epë ilyë míri Ambaressë.”
--
Eques: Mirwa nat penë mirma sen ye ui ista mirta sa.
The Cock & the Jewel
--
A Cock was busily scratching and scraping about to find something to eat for himself and his family, when he happened to turn up a precious jewel that had been lost by its owner.
"Aha!" said the Cock. "No doubt you are very costly and he who lost you would give a great deal to find you. But as for me, I would choose a single grain of barleycorn before all the jewels in the world."
--
Motto: Precious things are without value to those who cannot prize them.
Ñarmo ar Máma
--
Harnaniénë Ñarmo mahtalë ó Morco.
Únes polë levë ar únë ecë sen farta saicerya ar soiciërya.
Máma mennë arëavë muinassianna, ar i Ñarmo holtunë sen.
“Mecin i tulyalyë nin yulda neno,” inques, “nai antauvas nin fárëa poldorë itan polin ñetë imnin uma ronda mat.”
“Ronda mat!” equë i Máma.
“Ta tëa inyë, intyan. Quíta tulyauvan lyen yulda, rië alyauvas licitanya nunna hlunculyassë. Vá quetë nin pá yulda!”
--
Eques: Olco imnetyalë analiquistëa.
The Wolf & the Sheep
--
A Wolf had been hurt in a fight with a Bear.
He was unable to move and could not satisfy his hunger and thirst.
A Sheep passed by near his hiding place, and the Wolf called to him.
"Please fetch me a drink of water," he begged, "that might give me strength enough so I can get me some solid food."
"Solid food!" said the Sheep.
"That means me, I suppose. If I should bring you a drink, it would only serve to wash me down your throat. Don't talk to me about a drink!"
--
Motto: A knave's hypocrisy is easily seen through.
Rusco ar Rauro
--
Tullunë i anvinya Rusco, ye allumë fai céniénë Rauro, omennë min i tauressë. Er cen faranyë tall' en i Rusco hónornë langë lintië i anarëa muinassenna.
I attëa lussë yá i Rusco cennë i Rauro séres ca alda tiriën se ter þenwa nó hlicë öa. Mal i nelya lussë, i Rusco mennë veryavë tenna i Rauro ar quentë calaina, “alla lyen, enwina.”
--
Eques: Sitina carë þunga.
Eques: Anda istië úro fanta ven raxerya.
The Fox & the Lion
--
A very young Fox, who had never before seen a Lion, happened to meet one in the forest. A single look was enough to send the Fox off at top speed for the nearest hiding place.
The second time the Fox saw the Lion he stopped behind a tree to look at him a moment before slinking away. But the third time, the Fox went boldly up to the Lion and, without turning a hair, said, "Hello, there, old top."
--
Motto: Familiarity breeds contempt.
Motto: Acquaintance with evil blinds us to its dangers.
Röar yo Rusco
--
Umë Röar túver Rauro helma ar yesenter ascarávë ripta sa nelcintainen. Ecestanen Rusco cennë te ar landë yaiwenen.
“Quíta tana Rauro nánë coina,” eques, “nai nánes analavéla quenta. Appaniévaneltë yandë raccaryar nár maicë epë nelceldar.”
--
Eques: Atalantëava lahië ná aþcárima ta nattírima.
The Dogs & the Fox
--
Some Dogs found the skin of a Lion and furiously began to tear it with their teeth. A Fox chanced to see them and laughed scornfully.
"If that Lion had been alive," he said, "it would have been a very different story. He would have made you feel how much sharper his claws are than your teeth."
--
Motto: It is easy and also contemptible to kick a man that is down.
I ván ar i maltaina ohtë
--
Engë Restassë Laulemo ye aunë i arelmendëa ván ye polë a-sana, pan ilaurë yá tulles i haustanna, i ván nostaniénë vanima, rilya, maltaina ohtë.
I Restassë Laulemo collë i ohti mancanómenna ar ron yesentë ola herenya. Mal apa ú anda lúmë, róves cólema pá i ván, pan hye antanë sen rië er maltaina ohtë ilya ressë. Únes ola herenya faren lintië.
Tá umaurë, epeni telyanes notita telperya, tenna tullë sen i polles hosta ilyë maltainë ohti imallumë nahtalénen i ván ar ciriénen hye láta. Mal yá i carda nánë carina, únes tuvë erinqua maltaina ohtë, ar mírë ványa nánë qualin.
--
Eques: Intë i öar laca yestantë amba, ar san rovintë ilqua ya öaltë.
The Goose & the Golden Egg
--
There was once a Countryman who possessed the most wonderful Goose you can imagine, for every day when he visited the nest, the Goose had laid a beautiful, glittering, golden egg.
The Countryman took the eggs to market and soon began to get rich. But it was not long before he grew impatient with the Goose because she gave him only a single golden egg a day. He was not getting rich fast enough.
Then one day, after he had finished counting his money, the idea came to him that he could get all the golden eggs at once by killing the Goose and cutting it open. But when the deed was done, not a single golden egg did he find, and his precious Goose was dead.
--
Motto: Those who have plenty want more and so lose all they have.
Hlaiwa Arasso
--
Arasso óliénë hlaiwa. Sámes rië fárëa poldorë na hosta umalca matta ar tuvë quilda taurelanta, yassë caines horiën tenna entulúvanë poldorerya. I Celvar hlasser pá i Arasso hlívë ar tuller maquetë pá senderya. Aþahanyë, illi maitë náner, ar rávavë vasser i matta Arassova; ar ve intiévalyë, i Arasso ron quallë saicenen.
Eques: Mára manië valda alla laqui márë cardar otuler.
The Sick Stag
--
A Stag had fallen sick. He had just strength enough to gather some food and find a quiet clearing in the woods, where he lay down to wait until his strength should return. The Animals heard about the Stag's illness and came to ask after his health. Of course, they were all hungry, and helped themselves freely to the Stag's food; and as you would expect, the Stag soon starved to death.
Motto: Good will is worth nothing unless it is accompanied by good acts.
Naicemerro ar Naico
--
Naico misintë öa i lamnarello, úþahtaina umbonen nellassio. I Naicemerro rincë holtuë sen nanwenë, mal lustavë. Únes lascarë sen. Tá nampes sar ar hantes sa, ar rances i Naicova rassë.
I Naicemerro þoronyes.
“Vá nyarë i herun,” inques i Naicon.
“Ú,” equë i Naico, “tana rácina rassë nyaruva nemesteávë!”
--
Eques: Olcë cardar úvar reþë muinë.
The Goatherd & the Goat
--
A Goat strayed away from the flock, tempted by a patch of clover. The Goatherd tried to call it back, but in vain. It would not obey him. Then he picked up a stone and threw it, breaking the Goat's horn.
The Goatherd was frightened.
"Do not tell the master," he begged the Goat.
"No," said the Goat, "that broken horn can speak for itself!"
--
Motto: Wicked deeds will not stay hid.
© 2026, Chaered
This work is licensed under the CC-BY-SA 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA.