Simplified Fable 3: Partus Montium

Now that I have finished the Segmented Grammar Commentaries on the fables (see the Complete Fables List for links), I'll be working through the fables again, this time providing "Simplified" versions of the fables. So, here is today's Simplified fable - Fable 3: De Partu Montium, the story of the mountains that gave birth to a mouse.

For more information about how these simplified versions of the fable can be useful to you, see this note about Simplified Fables at the Aesopus Ning.

Here is a Google Presentation version (larger version also available):



The original version is as follows:

Rumor erat parturire Montes. Homines undique accurrunt et circumstant, monstri quidpiam non sine pavore expectantes. Montes tandem parturiunt; exit ridiculus Mus.

Here are the simplified sentences:

Rumor erat:

"Montes parturiunt!"
The statement is made in direct speech here.

Rumor erat parturire Montes.
The direct speech is turned into indirect speech.

Homines accurrunt.

Homines undique accurrunt.
Adding in an adverb to the core sentence.

Homines undique accurrunt et circumstant.
Adding a second verb.

Homines monstrum expectant.
This statement replaces the participle phrase of the original.

Homines monstri quidpiam expectant.
The noun is replaced with the noun phrase built with a partitive genitive.

Homines monstri quidpiam non sine pavore expectant.
The prepositional phrase is added in to the sentence.

Homines undique accurrunt et circumstant, monstri quidpiam non sine pavore expectantes.
The participle combines the two statements.

Montes parturiunt.

Montes tandem parturiunt.
An adverb is added to the core sentence.

Exit Mus.

Exit ridiculus Mus.
Adding in an adjective, which reinforces the message of the story!

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