Aesop 031: The Fisherman & the Little Fish
Attribution
Translated into Quenya by Rínor in 2025. Reviewed for language by Chaered.
Notes
Number 18 in the Perry Aesop index. See also Wikipedia. First posted on VL, on 2025-12-22.
Note: The author does not wish that this Quenya text be used to train AI.
Motto: A small gain is worth more than a large promise.
Also potentially available in Sindarin at: Sindarin crash course
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Alternative versions: English (literal).
【1】 i·Lingwimo ar i·Níca Lingwë
► The Fisherman & the Little Fish
【2】 --
► --
【3】 Penya lingwimo, i vornanë i·lingwinen i raines sámë ú-almë uma ressë ar rainë alla hequa lai níca lingwincë.
► A poor Fisherman, who lived on the fish he caught, had bad luck one day and caught nothing but a very small fry.
【4】 i·Lingwimo þellë sestaitas vircolcaryassë yá i·níca lingwë quentë:
► The Fisherman was about to put it in his basket when the little Fish said:
【5】 “Á órava nissë, Heru Lingwimo!
► "Please spare me, Mr. Fisherman!
¶ Nanyë níca, ar nanyë ú-valda faren lyen colitan marelyanna.
► I am so small it is not worth while to carry me home.
¶ Yá nauvan an·höa, oluvan i arya muleo lyen.”
► When I am bigger, I shall make you a much better meal."
【6】 Mal i·lingwimo lintië sesta i·lingwë vircolcaryassë.
► But the Fisherman quickly put the fish into his basket.
【7】 “Manen auca naiévan,” quentes, “lerya tye.
► "How foolish I should be," he said, "to throw you back.
¶ Aimanen níca natyë, natyë i arya tá allana.”
► However small you may be, you are better than nothing at all."
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【9】 Eques: Níca cambië ná valda enetya höa vanda.
► Motto: A small gain is worth more than a large promise.