A
Lion
once
fell
{in love}{with a beautiful maiden} and
proposed
marriage {to
her parents}. /
The old people
did
not know
what
to say (Inf - Adjective
to "what"). /
They did not
like
to give their
daughter {to
the Lion}, / yet they
did
not
wish
to enrage the
King
{of Beasts}. /
{At last} the
father
said:
["We feel
highly
honouredNote #1
{by your Majesty's proposal},]
but [
you
see
[our
daughter
is
a tender young
thing,]]
and [we
fear
[that {in
the
vehemence} {of your affection}
you
might
possibly
do
her some
injury.]]
/ Might
I
venture
to suggest [that your
Majesty
should
have[CNE]
your claws removed
(Gerundive to "claws"Note #2),
and your
teeth extracted
(Gerundive to "teeth"Note #2) ],
/
then we would
gladly
consider
your
proposal
again." /
The
Lion
was
so much {in love} [that
he had[CNE]
his claws trimmed
(Gerundive to "claws"Note #2)
and
his big teeth taken
(Gerundive
to "teeth"Note #2)
out.] / But
[when he
came again
{to the parents}
{of the young girl}]
they simply
laughed
{in his face}, and
bade
him
do (Inf - DO of "bade"Note
# 3) his worst
(DO of "do"). /
Love
can
tame the
wildest./
|