| The Hare was once boasting {of
his speed} [Adverb to
"boasting"] {before the other animals.}
[Adverb
to "was boasting"]
"I have never yet been beaten," said he, "when I put forth
my full speed. I challenge any one here to
race {with me."}
[Adverb to "to race"]
The Tortoise said quietly, "I
accept your challenge."
"That is a good joke," said the
Hare; "I could dance
{round you} [Adverb to "could
dance"] all the way."
"Keep your boasting till
you've beaten," answered the
Tortoise. "Shall we race?"
So a course was fixed and a start
was made. The Hare
darted almost {out of sight} [Adverb
to "darted"] {at once,}
[Adverb to "darted"]
but soon stopped and, to show his contempt
{for the Tortoise,} [Adjective
to "contempt"] lay down to
have
a nap. The Tortoise plodded on and plodded on, and
when
the Hare awoke {from his nap,} [Adverb
to "awoke"] he saw
the Tortoise just {near the winning-post}
[Adjective
to
"Tortoise" Note #1]
and could not run up {in time} [Adverb
to "run
up"] to
save the race. Then said the Tortoise:
"Plodding wins the race."
|