The Tale of Peter Rabbit in Koine Greek 9781463242947

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The Tale of Peter Rabbit in Koine Greek

Gorgias Handbooks

51

Gorgias Handbooks provides students and scholars with reference books, textbooks and introductions to different topics or fields of study. In this series, Gorgias welcomes books that are able to communicate information, ideas and concepts effectively and concisely, with useful reference bibliographies for further study.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit in Koine Greek

Edited by Joey McCollum & Brent Niedergall

gp 2021

Gorgias Press LLC, 954 River Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA www.gorgiaspress.com Copyright © 2021 by Gorgias Press LLC

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise without the prior written permission of Gorgias Press LLC. ‫ܐ‬

1

2021

ISBN 978-1-4632-4264-0

ISSN 1935-6838

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A Cataloging-in-Publication Record is available from the Library of Congress. Printed in the United States of America

Introduction

When Beatrix Potter wrote The Tale of Peter Rabbit at the turn of the twentieth century, a Koine Greek translation of her work would never have crossed her mind. Almost no one writes anything, especially works of fiction, in the language of the New Testament anymore. Almost no one has for centuries. This is why students of Koine Greek are largely limited in their selection of reading material to the New Testament, Septuagint, and Apostolic Fathers. Take the perspective of a learner, not a scholar or exegete, and consider this question: wouldn’t it be nice if Greek students could immerse themselves more fully in the language? If students had access to a wide variety of reading materials, ancient and modern, they would have even more opportunities to read and learn how the language works. They might even read for pleasure. Beatrix Potter would surely have supported such an enterprise. Because of our purpose and intended audience, this translation is written in Koine style and only uses vocabulary found in the Greek New Testament and Septuagint (including the Apocrypha). Because students of biblical Greek typically learn all the words that appear in the New Testament fifty times and more, translational glosses for all words appearing fifty times and fewer are included at the bottom of each page. English equivalents for proper names are only given at their first occurrence in the book. We have also included an English translation of the Greek text in the back of the book. We thank Dr. John A. L. Lee for checking the Greek translation and contributing many improvements. v

Ὁ Μῦθος Πέτρου τοῦ Δασύποδος

1 Ἦσάν ποτε τέσσαρες1 δασύποδες2 μικροί.3 καὶ τὰ ὀνόματα αὐτῶν ἦν— Φλόψι4 καὶ Μόψι5 καὶ Ἐρίουρος6 καὶ Πέτρος.

1 2 3 4

5 Μόψι, Mopsy 6 Ἐρίουρος, Cotton-tail (an invented portmanteau combining ἐρίου, of wool and οὐρά, tail)

τέσσαρες, four δασύπους, rabbit μικρός, small Φλόψι, Flopsy

3

2 Καὶ κατῴκησαν1 ἐν χώματι2 ἄμμου3 σὺν τῇ μητρὶ αὐτῶν ὑπὸ ῥίζαν4 ἐλάτης5 μεγάλης σφόδρα.6 1 2 3

κατοικέω, to dwell χῶμα, mound ἄμμος, sand

4 5 6

4

ῥίζα, root ἐλάτη, silver fir σφόδρα, very

3 Ἐγένετο δὲ μιᾷ τῶν ἡμερῶν ἡ μήτηρ εἶπεν· νῦν, ἀγαπητοί μου, ἔξεστιν ὑμῖν ἐλθεῖν εἰς τὸν ἀγρὸν1 ἢ εἰς τὴν ῥύμην.2

οὐ δὲ ἐλεύσεσθε εἰς τὸν κῆπον3 τοῦ Μικγρέγορ.4 1 2

ἀγρός, field ῥύμη, lane

3 4

5

κῆπος, garden Μικγρέγορ, McGregor

4 Ὁ γὰρ πατήρ σου ἐκακοπάθησεν1 ἐκεῖ καὶ ἐπέφθη2 ἐν πέμματι3 ὑπὸ τῆς γυναικὸς τοῦ Μικγρέγορ. 1 2

κακοπαθέω, to suffer misfortune πέσσω, to bake

3

6

πέμμα, pastry

5 Βαδίσατε1 οὖν καὶ μὴ πονηρεύσησθε.2 δεῖ με ἐξελθεῖν. 1 2

βαδίζω, to go πονηρεύομαι, to do wrong

7

6 Καὶ λαβοῦσα κόφινον1 καὶ τὴν σκέπην2 αὐτῆς, διῆλθεν3 ἡ πρεσβύτερα τὸν δρυμὸν4 ἵνα ἴδῃ τὸν σιτοποιόν.5

καὶ ἠγόρασεν6 ἄρτον καὶ πέντε7 πέμματα8 μετὰ σταφίδων.9 1 2 3 4 5

κόφινος, basket σκέπη, covering διέρχομαι, to go through δρυμός, forest σιτοποιός, baker

6 7 8 9

8

ἀγοράζω, to buy πέντε, five πέμμα, pastry σταφίς, raisin

7 Ἀγαθοὶ δὲ ὄντες, Φλόψι καὶ Μόψι καὶ Ἐρίουρος ἐπῆλθον1 ἐπὶ τὴν ῥύμην2 ἵνα συναγάγωσιν ῥῶγας.3 1 2

ἐπέρχομαι, to go ῥύμη, lane

3

9

ῥώξ, berry

8 Ἀλλ’ ὁ Πέτρος ἦν ἀπειθὴς1 σφόδρα.2 καὶ ἔδραμεν3 πρὸς τὸν κῆπον4 τοῦ Μικγρέγορ καὶ παρεισέδυσεν5 ὑπὸ τὴν πύλην.6 1 2 3

ἀπειθής, disobedient σφόδρα, very τρέχω, to run

4 5 6

10

κῆπος, garden παρεισδύω, to sneak in πύλη, gate

9 Πρῶτον ἔφαγεν ἐκ τῶν πράσων1 καὶ τῶν κυάμων.2 εἶτα ἔφαγεν ἐκ τῶν λαχάνων.3 1 2

πράσον, leek κύαμος, bean

3

11

λάχανον, garden herb

10 Καὶ τότε τοῦ στομάχου1 αὐτοῦ ἀσθενοῦντος,2 ἦλθεν ἐκζητῆσαι3 κόριον.4 1 2

στόμαχος, stomach ἀσθενέω, to be sick

3 4

12

ἐκζητέω, to search for κόριον, coriander

11 Περιελθὼν1 δὲ σικυήρατον,2 ὑπήντησεν3 τῷ Μικγρέγορ αὐτῷ.



Καὶ κλινῶν4 ἐπὶ τὰ γόνατα5 καὶ τὰς χεῖρας, ἐφύτευεν6 Μικγρέγορ λάχανα.7 1 2 3 4

περιέρχομαι, to go around σικυήρατον, cucumber bed ὑπαντάω, to encounter κλίνω, to bend

5 6 7

13

γόνυ, knee φυτεύω, to plant λάχανον, garden herb

12 Ἀναπηδήσας1 δὲ κατεδίωξεν2 ὀπίσω3 Πέτρου. καὶ ἀνασείων4 πτύον5 καὶ κράζων λέγει· στῆθι κλέπτα.6 1 2 3

ἀναπηδάω, to jump up καταδιώκω, to pursue closely ὀπίσω, after, behind

4 5 6

14

ἀνασείω, to wave πτύον, fork-like shovel κλέπτης, thief

13 Ὁ δὲ Πέτρος ἐφοβήθη σφόδρα.1 καὶ περιέδραμεν2 πανταχοῦ3 ἐν τῷ κήπῳ4 ἐπελάθετο5 γὰρ τὴν ὁδὸν πρὸς τὴν πύλην.6 καὶ ἀπώλεσεν ἓν τῶν ὑποδημάτων7 αὐτοῦ ἐν μέσῳ τῶν λαχάνων8 καὶ τὸ ἕτερον ἐν μέσῳ τῶν τολύπων.9

1 2 3 4 5

σφόδρα, greatly περιτρέχω, to run around πανταχοῦ, everywhere κῆπος, garden ἐπιλανθάνομαι, to forget

6 7 8 9

15

πύλη, gate ὑπόδημα, shoe λάχανον, garden herb τολύπη, gourd

16

14 Καὶ ἀπολέσας αὐτὰ ἔδραμεν1 ἐπὶ τῶν τεσσάρων2 ποδῶν. καὶ ἔσπευσεν3 οὕτως ταχέως ὥστε διέφυγεν ἂν, οἶμαι,4 εἰ μὴ ἔδραμεν εἰς δίκτυον.5 καὶ κατείχετο6 ὑπὸ τῶν μεγάλων συνδέσμων ἐπὶ τοῦ χιτῶνος7 αὐτοῦ. ἦν γὰρ χιτὼν ὑακίνθινος8 ἔχων συνδέσμους9 χαλκοῦς, νέος10 σφόδρα.11 1 2 3 4 5 6

τρέχω, to run τέσσαρες, four σπεύδω, to hurry οἴομαι, to think δίκτυον, net κατέχω, to seize

7 8 9 10 11

17

χιτών, coat ὑακίνθινος, blue σύνδεσμος, fastener νέος, new σφόδρα, very

15 Καὶ ἐνόμιζεν1 ὁ νενεκρωμένον.2 καὶ μεγάλοις.



Πέτρος ἑαυτὸν ἤδη ἔκλαυσεν3 δάκρυσιν4

ἀκούοντα δέ τινα εὔσπλαγχνα5 στρουθία6 ἐπετάσθη7 πρὸς αὐτὸν μετὰ θορύβου8 μεγάλου. καὶ παρεκάλεσεν αὐτὸν ἵνα κραταιωθῇ.9 1 2 3 4

νομίζω, to consider νεκρόω, to put to death κλαίω, to weep δάκρυον, teardrop

5 6 7 8

18

εὔσπλαγχνος, compassionate στρουθίον, sparrow πέτομαι, to fly θόρυβος, excitement

16 Ἤγγισεν1 δὲ Μικγρέγορ μετὰ κοσκίνου,2 ζητῶν Πέτρον πιάσαι.3 Πέτρος δὲ ἀπέλυσεν ἑαυτόν, καταλιπὼν4 τὸν χιτῶνα5 αὐτοῦ. 1 2 3

κραταιόω, to strengthen ἐγγίζω, to approach κόσκινον, sieve

4 5 6

19

πιάζω, to catch καταλείπω, to leave behind χιτών, coat

17 Καὶ ἔσπευσεν1 εἰς τὸ ταμιεῖον2 καὶ εἰσεπήδησεν3 εἰς ὑδρίαν.4 ἀρεστὸν5 ἂν ἦν αὐτῷ κρυβῆναι6 ἐν αὐτῇ, ἀλλ’ ἦν ἤδη ὕδωρ πολὺ ἐν αὐτῇ. 1 2 3

σπεύδω, to hurry ταμιεῖον, storehouse εἰσπηδάω, to leap in

4 5 6

20

ὑδρία, water jar ἀρεστός, beautiful κρύπτω, to hide

18 Μικγρέγορ δὲ εἰδὼς ὅτι Πέτρος ἐν τῷ ταμιείῳ1 ἐστὶν καὶ νομίζων2 αὐτὸν ὑποκάτω3 ἀγγείου4 κρύπτεσθαι,5 ἤρξατο ἀναστρέφειν6 τὰ ἀγγεῖα ἐπιμελῶς,7 βλέπων ὐπὸ ἑκάστου. δόντος δὲ Πέτρου πταρμόν,8 Μικγρέγορ εὗρεν αὐτὸν εὐθέως.

1 2 3 4

ταμιεῖον, storehouse νομίζω, to consider ὑποκάτω, underneath ἀγγεῖον, jar

5 6 7 7

21

κρύπτω, to hide ἀναστρέφω, turn over ἐπιμελῶς, carefully πταρμός, sneeze

19 Καὶ ἐπεχείρησεν1 πατῆσαι2 ἐπὶ τὸν Πέτρον, ὁ δὲ ἔβαλεν ἑαυτὸν διὰ τῆς θυρίδος, ἀναστρέφων3 ἄλλα τρεῖς ἀγγεῖα. ἡ δὲ θυρὶς4 ἦν μικροτέρα5 τοῦ Μικγρέγορ, καὶ αὐτός, κεκοπιακὼς6 ἐκ τοῦ τρέχειν7 αὐτὸν ὀπίσω8 τοῦ Πέτρου, ἀπέστρεψεν9 εἰς τὸ ἔργον αὐτοῦ. 1 2 3 4 5

ἐπιχειρέω, to undertake πατέω, to trample ἀναστρέφω, turn over θυρίς, window μικρότερος, smaller

6 7 8 9

22

κοπιάω, to toil, to struggle τρέχω, to run ὀπίσω, after, behind ἀποστρέφω, to return

20 Ὁ δὲ Πέτρος ἐκάθισεν ἵνα καταπαύσῃ,1 ἐξέψυξεν2 γὰρ καὶ ἔτρεμεν3 ἀπὸ φόβου, καὶ οὐκ ᾔδει ἐν ποίᾳ ὁδῷ πορεύσεται. Ἔτι καὶ νῦν βεβρεγμένος4 ἦν ἀπὸ τοῦ καθίσαι ἐν τῇ ὑδρίᾳ.5 μετὰ δὲ μικρὸν χρόνον, περιεπατεῖ βραδέως6 καὶ περιεβλέπετο7 πανταχοῦ.8 1 2 3 4

καταπαύω, to rest ἐκψύχω, to be short of breath τρέμω, to tremble βρέχω, to wet

5 6 7 8

23

ὑδρία, water jar περιβλέπω, to look around βραδέως, slowly πανταχοῦ, everywhere

21 Καὶ εὖρεν θύραν1 ἐν τείχει,2 ἡ δὲ θύρα κεκλεισμένη3 ἦν, καὶ οὐκ ἦν αὐτῷ τόπος ὑπὸ τῆς θύρας ἵνα παρεισδυῇ4 ὑπ’ αὐτό. 1 2

θύρα, door τεῖχος, wall

3 4

24

κλείω, to lock παρεισδύω, to sneak in

22 Ἦν δὲ μῦς1 γεραιὰ2 εἰσερχομένη καὶ ἐξερχομένη ἐπὶ τῶν λίθων τοῦ βαθμοῦ,3 φέρουσα κυάμους4 πρὸς τοὺς οἰκείους5 αὐτῆς ἐν τῷ δρυμῷ.6 ὁ δὲ Πέτρος τὴν ὁδὸν ᾐτήσατο αὐτὴν πρὸς τὴν πύλην,7 αὐτὴ δὲ ἔχουσα κύαμον μέγαν ἐν τῷ στόματι οὐκ ἐδύνατο ἀποκριθῆναι, ἀλλ’ ἐσιώπα8 μόνον.



ὁ δὲ Πέτρος ἤρξατο κλαίειν.9 1 2 3 4 5

μῦς, mouse γεραιός, old βαθμός, threshold κύαμος, bean οἰκεῖος, belonging to a household

25

6 7 8 9

δρυμός, forest πύλη, gate σιωπάω, to keep silent κλαίω, to weep

26

23 Τότε ἐζήτει ὁδὸν εὐθεῖαν διὰ τοῦ κήπου,1 πλεῖον δὲ ἠπορεῖτο.2 καὶ ἦλθεν πρὸς τὴν λίμνην3 ὅπου Μικγρέγορ εἰώθει4 γεμίζειν5 τὰς ὑδρίας6 αὐτοῦ ὕδατος. ἦν δὲ ἐκεῖ αἴλουρος7 λευκὴ8 ἐπιβλέπουσα9 ἐπὶ τοὺς ἰχθύας. καὶ ἦν καθημένη ἐν πολλῇ ἡσυχίᾳ,10 πολλοῖς δὲ χρόνοις ἐξέτεινεν11 τὴν οὐρὰν12 ὡς ζῶσαν. ἔδοξεν οὖν τῷ Πέτρῳ ἀπελθεῖν καὶ μὴ λαλῆσαι πρὸς αὐτήν· ἤκουσεν γὰρ περὶ τοὺς αἰλούρους ἀπὸ Βενιαμὶν13 τοῦ ἀνεψιοῦ14 αὐτοῦ.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

κῆπος, garden ἀπορέω, to perplex λίμνη, lake ἔθω, to be accustomed γεμίζω, to fill up ὑδρία, water jar αἴλουρος, cat

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

27

λευκός, white ἐπιβλέπω, to look upon ἡσυχία, silence ἐκτείνω, to stretch out οὐρά, tail Βενιαμίν, Benjamin ἀνεψιός, cousin

24 Καὶ πάλιν ἐστράφη1 εἰς τὸ ταμιεῖον,2 εὐθέως δὲ λίαν3 ἐγγὺς4 αὐτοῦ ἤκουσεν φωνὴν σκάπτοντος.5 Πέτρος οὖν ἔσπευσεν6 δραμεῖν7 ὑποκάτω8 βάτου.9 1 2 3 4 5

στρέφω, to turn ταμιεῖον, storehouse λίαν, very ἐγγύς, near σκάπτω, to hoe

6 7 8 9

28

σπεύδω, to hurry τρέχω, to run ὑποκάτω, underneath βάτος, bush

25 Μετὰ δὲ τοῦτον ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἕν, καὶ Πέτρος ἐξελθὼν ἀνέβη ἐπὶ πορεῖον1 καὶ περιέβλεψεν.2 καὶ ἰδού, Μικγρέγορ ἔσκαπτεν τὸν ἀγρὸν3 τῶν πράσων.4 εἶδεν ὁ Πέτρος τὸν νῶτον5 τοῦ Μικγρέγορ μόνον, καὶ τὴν πύλην6 ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ.

1 2 3

πορεῖον, cart περιβλέπω, to look around ἀγρός, field

4 5 6

29

πράσον, leek νῶτος, back πύλη, gate

26 Καὶ καταβὰς ὁ Πέτρος ἀπὸ τοῦ πορεῖου1 ἐν σιγῇ,2 ἔτρεχεν3 ἐξ ὅλης τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ ἐν ὁδῷ εὐθείᾳ ὀπίσω4 βάτου5 ῥωγῶν6 μελάνων.7 κατενόησεν8 δὲ αὐτὸν Μικγρέγορ ἐν τῇ γωνίᾳ,9 τοῦτο δὲ οὐκ ἔμελεν10 Πέτρῳ. παρεισέδυσεν11 ὑπὸ τὴν πύλην,12 καὶ νῦν ἦν σῷος13 ἐν τῷ δρυμῷ14 ἔξω τοῦ κήπου.15

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

πορεῖον, cart σιγή, silence τρέχω, to run ὀπίσω, after, behind βάτος, bush ῥώξ, berry μέλας, black κατανοέω, to notice

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

30

γωνία, corner μέλω, to matter παρεισδύω, to sneak in πύλη, gate σῷος, safe δρυμός, forest κῆπος, garden

31

27 Μικγρέγορ δὲ ἐκρέμασεν1 τὸν μικρὸν χιτῶνα2 καὶ τὰ ὑποδήματα3 τοῦ φοβῆσαι τοὺς κόρακας.

1 2

κρεμάννυμι, to hang χιτῶν, coat

3

32

ὑπόδημα, shoe



ὁ δὲ Πέτρος οὐκ ἐπαύσατο4 τρέχων5 καὶ οὐκ ἐπέβλεψεν6 εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω7 ἕως οὗ ἦλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ μεγάλῃ ἐλάτῃ.8 4 5 6

παύω, to stop τρέχω, to run ἐπιβλέπω, to look upon

7 8

33

ὀπίσω, after, behind ἐλάτη, silver fir

28 Καὶ Πέτρος, κεκοπιακὼς1 ἐκ τῆς ὁδοιπορίας,2 κατέπεσεν3 ἐπὶ τὴν ἄμμον4 μαλακὴν5 ἐπὶ τοῦ ἐδάφους6 τοῦ οἴκου καὶ ἐκάμμυσεν7 τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς. ἡ δὲ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ περιεσπᾶτο8 περὶ πολλὴν διακονίαν.9 ἰδοῦσα δὲ τὸν Πέτρον ἔλεγεν ἐν ἑαυτῇ· τί ἐποίησεν τοῖς ἱματίοις αὐτοῦ; δὶς10 τῶν δύο σαββάτων ἀπώλεσεν ὁ Πέτρος τὸν μικρὸν χιτῶνα11 καὶ τὰ ὑποδήματα12 αὐτοῦ.

1 2 3 4 5 6

κοπιάω, to toil, to struggle ὁδοιπορία, journey καταπίπτω, to fall down ἄμμος, sand μαλακός, soft ἔδαφος, floor

7 8 9 10 11 12

34

καμμύω, to close the eyes περισπάω, to distract διακονία, service, preparation δίς, twice χιτῶν, coat ὑπόδημα, shoe

35

29 Λυποῦμαι1 εἰπὼν ὅτι ὁ Πέτρος ἠρρώστει2 διὰ τῆς ἑσπέρας.3 ἡ οὖν μήτηρ αὐτοῦ ἤγαγεν αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν κοίτην4 καὶ ποιήσασα πόμα5 θερμὸν6 ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ, λέγουσα· πίε ἐξ αὐτοῦ πρὸ τοῦ σε καθεύδειν.7 1 2 3 4

λυπέω, to grieve ἀρρωστέω, to be unwell ἑσπέρα, evening κοίτη, bed

5 6 7

36

πόμα, drink θερμός, warm καθεύδω, to sleep

37

30 Περὶ δὲ Φλόψι καὶ Μόψι καὶ Ἐριούρου, οὗτοι ἐποίησαν δεῖπνον1 ἄρτου καὶ γάλακτος2 καὶ ῥωγῶν3 μελάνων.4 1 2

δεῖπνον, dinner γάλα, milk

3 4

38

ῥώξ, berry μέλας, black

31

τέλος.1

1

τέλος, end

39

Appendix English Translation

1 Once upon a time there were four little rabbits. And their names were—Flopsy and Mopsy and CottonTail and Peter. 2 And they dwelled in a mound of sand with their mother under the root of a very large fir tree. 3 And one day mother said, “Now my dears, you may go into the field and to the lane. But do not go into the garden of McGregor. 4 “Your father suffered misfortune there. And he was baked in a pastry by the wife of McGregor. 5 “Now go and do not do wrong. It is necessary for me to go out.” 6 And taking a basket and her covering, the elder went through the forest to see the baker. And she bought a loaf of bread and five cakes with raisins. 7 And being good, Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-Tail went to the lane to gather berries. 8 But Peter was very disobedient. And he ran to McGregor’s garden. And he snuck in under the gate. 9 First he ate some leeks and some beans. Then he ate some herbs. 10 And then, his stomach being sick, he went to search for coriander. 42

11 But going around a cucumber bed, he encountered McGregor himself. And bending upon his hands and knees, McGregor was planting garden herbs. 12 But jumping up he pursued closely after Peter. Waving a fork-like shovel and crying out he said, Stop thief. 13 And Peter was greatly afraid. He ran around everywhere in the garden, for he had forgotten the way to the gate. He lost one of his shoes among the garden herbs and the other among the gourds. 14 And after losing them, he ran on four feet. And he hurried so quickly that he might have escaped, I think, if he did not run into a net. And he was caught by the large fasteners on his coat. It was a blue coat with brass fasteners, very new. 15 And Peter considered himself as already dead. And he wept with large teardrops. But hearing his cries, some compassionate sparrows flew to him with great excitement. And they implored him that he might be strengthened. 16 But McGregor approached with a sieve, seeking to catch Peter. But Peter freed himself, leaving his coat behind. 17 And he hurried into the storehouse and leaped into 43

a water jar. It would have been beautiful for him to hide himself in it, but there was already much water in it. 18 Now McGregor, knowing that Peter was in the storehouse and supposing him to be hidden under a jar, began to overturn the jars carefully, looking under each. But when Peter sneezed, McGregor found him immediately. 19 And he tried to trample on Peter, but he threw himself through the window, overturning three other jars. Now the window was smaller than McGregor, and he, having grown weary from his running after Peter, returned to his work. 20 Then Peter sat down so that he might rest, for he was short of breath and trembling from fear, and he did not know in which way he should go. Even now he was wet from his having sat in the jar. But after a short time, he began walking around slowly and looking around everywhere. 21 And he found a door in a wall, but the door was locked, and there was not room for him under the door, that he might sneak into it. 22 Now there was an old mouse coming in and out on the stones of the threshold, carrying beans to her 44

family in the forest. So Peter asked her the way to the gate, but she, having a large bean in her mouth, could not answer, but only kept silent. Then Peter began to cry. 23 Then he began looking for a straight path through the garden, but he became perplexed all the more. And he came to the lake where McGregor would fill his water jars with water. Now a white cat was there looking upon the fish. And she was sitting in much silence, but many times she raised her tail as if it were living. Peter therefore thought it good to go away and not to speak to her; for he had heard about cats from his cousin Benjamin. 24 And he turned again towards the storehouse, but suddenly, very near him, he heard the sound of hoeing. So Peter hastened to run underneath a bush. 25 But after this not one thing happened, so Peter came out and climbed onto a cart and looked around. And behold, McGregor was hoeing the field of leeks! Peter saw only McGregor’s back, and the gate in front of him. 26 And Peter, having descended from the cart in silence, began running with all his might on a straight path behind a bush of blackberries. Now McGregor noticed him in the corner, but this didn’t matter to 45

Peter. He snuck underneath the gate, and now he was safe in the forest outside the garden. 27 Now McGregor hung the small coat and the shoes to frighten the ravens. But Peter did not stop running and did not look behind him until he came to his house in the big fir-tree. 28 And Peter, weary from the journey, fell down onto the soft sand on the floor of the house and closed his eyes. Now his mother was distracted with much preparation. But when she saw Peter, she began saying to herself, What did he do with his clothes? Twice in these two weeks Peter had lost his small coat and his shoes. 29 I am pained saying that Peter was ill during the evening. So his mother led him to his bed, and having made a warm drink, gave some to him, saying, Drink of it before you go to sleep. 30 But as for Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail, they made a dinner of bread and milk and blackberries. 31 [The] end.

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