Simplified Fable 8: Vespertilio

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 8: De Avibus et Quadrupedibus, the story of the bat and his treachery during the war of the birds and the beasts.

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:

Avibus cum Bestiis asperrima pugna erat, utrimque spes, utrimque ingens metus, utrimque periculum, cum Vespertilio, relictis sociis, ad hostem defecit. Ad postremum vincunt Aves, duce et auspice Aquila. Transfugam vero Vespertilionem damnant, ut nunquam iterum inter Aves numeretur, nec amplius in luce videatur. Et haec causa est cur Vespertilio nunquam, nisi nocte, volat.

Here are the simplified sentences:

Pugna erat.

Aspera pugna erat.
The adjective is added in.

Asperrima pugna erat.
The adjective is made superlative, for emphasis.

Avibus cum Bestiis asperrima pugna erat.
The parties involved in the fight are now added in.

Avibus et Bestiis spes erat.

Utrimque spes erat.
The pronominal adverb replaces the nouns.

Utrimque metus erat.
A parallel statement.

Utrimque ingens metus erat.
An adjective is added in to the statement.

Utrimque erat periculum.
The final parallel statement.

Vespertilio socios suos reliquit.
An active statement.

Socii a Vespertilione relicti sunt.
Same statement made passive.

Vespertilio ad hostem defecit.

Vespertilio, relictis sociis, ad hostem defecit.
An ablative absolute combines the two statements.

Aquila Avium dux erat.
A statement with a single predicate.

Aquila Avium dux erat et auspex.
Now it is a compound predicate.

Aves vincunt.

Vincunt Aves, duce et auspice Aquila.
An ablative absolute combines the two statements.

Ad postremum vincunt Aves, duce et auspice Aquila.
A prepositional phrase expands the statement.

Aves dicunt:
The judgment of the birds can be expressed directly this way.

"Vespertilio, tu transfuga es!"

"Vespertilio, te damnamus!"

Aves transfugam Vespertilionem damnant.
The judgment of the birds is expressed indirectly.

Aves dicunt:
Another direct statement of the birds' judgment.

"Vespertilio, tu inter Aves non numeraberis!"

"Vespertilio, tu nunquam iterum inter Aves numeraberis!"
The adverbs expand on the statement.

"Tu in luce non videberis!"

"Tu amplius in luce non videberis!"
The adverb expands on the statement.

Transfugam Vespertilionem damnant, ut nunquam iterum inter Aves numeretur.
The judgment is now expressed as an ut clause.

Transfugam Vespertilionem damnant, ut nunquam iterum inter Aves numeretur, nec amplius in luce videatur.
It is a compound judgment.

Vespertilio nocte volat.

Vespertilio numquam, nisi nocte, volat.

Cur Vespertilio numquam, nisi nocte, volat?
There is a question.

Haec causa est!
The story itself answers the question.

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