Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Simplified Fable 7: Pavo et Grus

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 7: De Pavone et Grue, the story of the debate between the peacock and the crane.

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:
Pavo et Grus foedus inter se ineunt unaque cenant. Inter cenandum, Pavo nobilitatem suam iactat, formosam ostentat caudam, Gruemque hospitem contemnit. Grus fatetur Pavonem formosiorem esse pennis; se tamen, cum vix tectis supervolitat Pavo, animoso volatu penetrare nubes.
Here are the simplified sentences:

Pavo et Grus foedus ineunt.

Pavo et Grus foedus inter se ineunt.
Adding the prepositional phrase to the sentence.

Pavo et Grus una cenant.

Pavo et Grus foedus inter se ineunt unaque cenant.
The conjunction -que combines the two sentences.

Pavo nobilitatem suam iactat.

Inter cenandum, Pavo nobilitatem suam iactat.
The gerund phrase is added to the sentence.

Pavo caudam ostentat.

Pavo formosam ostentat caudam.
The adjective is added in to the sentence.

Pavo Gruem contemnit.

Pavo Gruem hospitem contemnit.
The noun is added to the sentence, in apposition.

Inter cenandum, Pavo nobilitatem suam iactat, formosam ostentat caudam, Gruemque hospitem contemnit.
The conjunction -que combines the three statements.

Grus dicit:
The crane makes a statement in direct speech (the original has indirect speech).

"Tu, Pavo, formosus es."
A descriptive statement.

"Tu, Pavo, formosior es."
The statement is made into a comparison.

"Tu, Pavo, formosior es pennis."
The ablative is added to qualify the comparison.

Grus fatetur Pavonem formosiorem esse pennis.
The direct statement is made indirect.

Grus dicit:
More direct statement by the crane (indirect in the original).

"Pavo, vix tectis supervolitas."

"Ego nubes penetro."

"Ego animoso volatu nubes penetro."
The ablative phrase expands on the statement.

Grus fatetur se animoso volatu penetrare nubes.
The statement is made indirect.

Grus fatetur se animoso volatu penetrare nubes, cum vix tectis supervolitat Pavo.
The cum clause is added into the mix!

Grus fatetur Pavonem formosiorem esse pennis; se tamen, cum vix tectis supervolitat Pavo, animoso volatu penetrare nubes.
The tamen is able to coordinate the two different statements by the crane.




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