Aesop 011: The Oak & the Reeds
Attribution
Translated into Quenya by Rínor in 2025. Reviewed for language by Chaered.
Notes
Translation by VL user Rínor in 2025. First posted on VL, on 2025-12-17; reviewed by VL user Chaered.
Note: The author does not wish that this Quenya text be used to train AI.
Motto: Better to yield when it is folly to resist, than to resist stubbornly and be destroyed.
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【1】 Norno ar Lisci
► The Oak & the Reeds
【2】 --
► --
【3】 Höa norno tarnë arë nellë yassë fimbi lisceli alder.
► A Giant Oak stood near a brook in which grew some slender Reeds.
¶ Yá i·súrë þurinyë, i·höa norno tarnë valateä ar téra, ar olbaryar tuxa racanter hellenna.
► When the wind blew, the great Oak stood proudly upright with its hundred arms uplifted to the sky.
¶ Apa i·lisci cúnaner i·súrissë ar lirner lumba ar naireä lírë.
► But the Reeds bowed low in the wind and sang a sad and mournful song.
【4】 “Samityë cahta nurya,” quentë i·norno.
► "You have reason to complain," said the Oak.
¶ “i·Arinica hwesta i peresta palmë i·neno tyarë tye cúna, lan imma melehta norno, tarin téra ar tulca opo i·hyataila vangwë.”
► "The slightest breeze that ruffles the surface of the water makes you bow your heads, while I, the mighty Oak, stand upright and firm before the howling tempest."
【5】 “Áva ñwarë os me,” quenter i·lisci.
► "Do not worry about us," replied the Reeds.
¶ “i·Súri ui sacë me.
► "The winds do not harm us.
¶ Cúnalmë opo tai ar tiër ú-racimmë.
► We bow before them and so we do not break.
¶ Nannetyë i·súrë illínen valatetya ar túretya.
► You, in all your pride and strength, have so far resisted their blows.
¶ Apa i·metta túla.”
► But the end is coming."
【6】 Lan i·lisci quenter, höa vangwë ettullë formello.
► As the Reeds spoke a great hurricane rushed out of the north.
¶ Höa norno tarnë valateávë ar nannë i·vangwë, lan i·varila lisci cúnaner tumna.
► The Oak stood proudly and fought against the storm, while the yielding Reeds bowed low.
¶ i·Súrë olanë valca, ar i·höa norno lanteä vercalavë, i·sulcar narceáner i·hunello, ar caines imíca i·naireä lisci.
► The wind redoubled in fury, and all at once the great tree fell, torn up by the roots, and lay among the pitying Reeds.
【7】 --
► --
【8】 Eques: Nás arya tyen varë yá nás auca nanya, tá nanya rondavë ar ná fehtaina.
► Motto: Better to yield when it is folly to resist, than to resist stubbornly and be destroyed.