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Aesop 003: Belling the Cat

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Translation by VL user Chaered in 2025. First posted on VL, on 2025-12-15; reviewed by VL user Laiqua.

Motto: It is one thing to say that something should be done, but quite a different matter to do it.

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No.	Quenya	Tengwar	Means
1	Indyel i Miuyen	  	Belling the Cat
2	--		--
3	I Nyarrinci néya carner yomenië þantiën panwë na eterúna intë cottoltallo, i Miuë.	              	The Mice once called a meeting to decide on a plan to free themselves of their enemy, the Cat.
	Annún merneltë tuvë lé istiën yá túlanes, itan uva ten lúmë hónoriën.	             	At least they wished to find some way of knowing when she was coming, so they might have time to run away.
	É, maunë carë ma, pan oialë tandë þóreáneltë napparyar i hraië veryaneltë etemenë haustantallo auressë hya lómessë.	                   	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.
4	Lanquentes linë panwi, mal namneltë alla illio faren mára.	          	Many plans were discussed, but none of them was thought good enough.
	Teldavë anwinya Nyarrincë tolunë ar equë:	      	At last a very young Mouse got up and said:
5	“Samin panwë ya nemë lai eripsinwa, mal istan i nauvas túrë.	            	"I have a plan that seems very simple, but I know it will be successful.
6	I reä carda ya möa men carë ná nutë indyel os i Miuiva lango.	              	All we have to do is to hang a bell about the Cat's neck.
	Yá hlaruvalvë i indyel hyalë, tá istuvalvë ú-pusto i cottolva túla.”	            	When we hear the bell ringing we will know immediately that our enemy is coming."
7	Lio aitanë ilyë Nyarrinci i uiéneltë nauya taitë panwë fai.	          	All the Mice were much surprised that they had not thought of such a plan before.
	Mal endessë alariënto pá almelta, enwina Nyarrincë oronyë ar equë:	           	But in the midst of the rejoicing over their good fortune, an old Mouse arose and said:
8	“Quetuvan í vinya Nyarrincio panwë ná arya.	       	"I will say that the plan of the young Mouse is very good.
	Mal ányë carë min maquetta: Man nutuva i indyel i Miuissë?”	           	But let me ask one question: Who will bell the Cat?"
9	--		--
10	Eques: Quetië i möa carë ná alavéla ve carië.	          	Motto: It is one thing to say that something should be done, but quite a different matter to do it.

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