Translation by VL user Chaered in 2025. Translation somewhat loose. First posted on VL, on 2025-07-21; not reviewed yet.
Audio recordings to accompany the text.
Click the tengwar text to view/hide the romanized text. Click the romanized text to view the translation. Click the translation to hide it again. Refresh page to reset everything.
Also available as a 🖵wide screen version.
【1】 Restassë laireo ressë, salquecápo lápeánë, quingaila ar lirila yallë alaranyes.
► In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content.
【2】 Pímótar mennë arë, colila ampolliénen þirpë orio ya tulyeánes i haustanna.
► An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.
【3】 “Maro ú tulilyë nyatë onyë”, i salquecápo equë, “minomë mótië ar rúmië tallë?”
► "Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that way?"
【4】 “Alyeän hosta mat na hrívë”, i pímótar equë, “ar orin lye carë imma.”
► "I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the same."
【5】 “Maro riþë hrívë?” i salquecápo equë; “Sí saminquë lio mat.”
;
► "Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; "we have got plenty of food at present."
【6】 Mal i pímótar mennë menyanna ar cacarranë mólerya.
► But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil.
【7】 Yá hrívë tullë, i salquecápo pennë mat, ar túvë insë qualin saicenen,
► When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger,
¶ lan cennë i pímótari ilya ressë ósatilë ori ar erdi i haurallon yai hostaniéneltë ter lairë.
► while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer.
【8】 Tá i salquecápo sintë:
► Then the Grasshopper knew:
¶ aryë ná, sorë ferya na rí sangiéno.
► It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.
—generated by quettali version 0.30.42