Section 32. Reynard⁠ Caught

A fox observed⁠ some fowls at roost, and wished to⁠ gain access to them by smooth speeches. “I have charming news⁠ to tell you,” he⁠ said. “The animals have concluded⁠ an agreement of universal peace with one another. Come down and celebrate⁠ with me this decree⁠.” An old cock, who was well on his guard, looked⁠ cautiously all around, and the fox, perceiving (S. 16, N. 4) this, inquired⁠ the reason. “I was only observing⁠ those two dogs which are coming this way⁠,” replied the cock. Reynard prepared⁠ to set off. “What⁠,” cried the cock, “have not the animals concluded an agreement of universal peace?” “Yes,” returned the fox, “but those dogs (S. 5, N. 2) perhaps have not yet⁠ heard of it (S. 4, N. 5, B).”—Anonymous.

Der überlistete Reineke (or Reinhard).

to observe = to see; at roost, auf ihrer Stange sitzen.

to — speeches, durch glatte Worte ihrer habhaft zu werden.

charming news = something pleasant. To render ‘you’ use the dat. of the persnl. pron. of the 2nd pers. pl. For the construction see App. § 7.

The words indicating the speaker, after a quotation, must be rendered in an inverted form (see App. § 13).

to conclude, ab´schließen, str. v. tr.; the agreement of universal peace, der allgemeine Friedensvertrag; to come down, herun´terkommen; supply the adv. also between the verb and the separable particle.

feiern.

Beschluß, m.

to look all around, sich nach allen Seiten um´sehen.

to inquire the reason, sich nach der Ursache erkundigen.

I was observing = I observed (beobachten). Which are coming = which come. The English compound forms of the verb with the auxiliary and the present participle, and of the verb ‘to do’ with the infinitive (I do come = I come. I did come = I came), must be rendered by the corresponding simple forms.

dieses Weges.

sich zum Davonlaufen bereit machen.

Wie.

‘not yet’, here noch nichts.