Sunday, January 25, 2009

Simplified Fable 12: Pastoris Puer et Agricolae

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 12: De Pastoris Puero et Agricolis, the story of the boy who cried "Wolf!"

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:
Puer editiore prato Oves pascebat atque, per iocum, Lupum terque quaterque adesse clamitans, Agricolas undique exciebat. Illi, saepius illusi, dum auxilium imploranti non subveniunt, fiunt Oves praeda Lupo.
Here are the simplified sentences:

Puer oves pascebat.

Puer prato oves pascebat.
The ablative expands on the sentence.

Pratum editum est.
More information about the grass meadow.

Pratum editius est.
The comparative adjective emphasizes the quality: rather high.

Puer editiore prato oves pascebat.
Adding in the information about the grass meadow to the sentence.

Puer clamitat:

"Lupus adest!"
In the original, the boy's words are not reported directly.

Puer lupum adesse clamitat.
An indirect report of the boy's words.

Puer, per iocum, lupum adesse clamitat.
The prepositional phrase expands on the sentence.

Puer, per iocum, lupum terque quaterque adesse clamitat.
The compound adverbial phrase expands on the sentence.

Puer agricolas exciebat.

Puer agricolas undique exciebat.
The adverbial phrase expands on the sentence.

Puer, lupum adesse clamitans, agricolas undique exciebat.
The participle combines the two statements.

Puer agricolas illudebat.
An active statement.

Agricolae illusi sunt.
The statement is made passive.

Agricolae saepe illusi sunt.
The adverb expands on the sentence.

Agricolae saepius illusi sunt.
The comparative form of the adverb emphasizes the statement.

Puer auxilium implorat.
This is expressed with a participle in the original.

Agricolae Puero non subveniunt.
This is a dum clause in the original.

Agricolae Puero auxilium imploranti non subveniunt.
The participle combines the two sentences.

Agricolae, saepius illusi, Puero auxilium imploranti non subveniunt.
The participle allows a third statement to be added into the sentence.

Oves fiunt praeda lupo.

Dum Agricolae Puero auxilium imploranti non subveniunt, fiunt oves praeda lupo.
The dum clause combines the two statements.




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