Schleicher's fable

[Artaxes]

English
On a hill, a sheep that had no wool saw horses, one of them pulling a heavy wagon, one carrying a big load, and one carrying a man quickly. The sheep said to the horses: "My heart pains me, seeing a man driving horses". The horses said: "Listen, sheep, our hearts pain us when we see this: a man, the master, makes the wool of the sheep into a warm garment for himself. And the sheep has no wool". Having heard this, the sheep fled into the plain.

Polish
Na wzgórzu owca, która nie miała wełny, zobaczyła konie; jeden ciągnął ciężki wóz, drugi dźwigał wielki ładunek, a trzeci wiózł szybko człowieka. Owca rzekła do koni: „Serce mnie boli, widząc, co człowiek nakazuje robić koniom”. Konie odpowiedziały: „Słuchaj, owco, serca nas bolą, kiedy widzimy, jak człowiek, pan, zabiera twoją wełnę na płaszcz dla samego siebie. I owca nie ma wełny”. Usłyszawszy to, owca pobiegła przez równinę.

Proto-Indo-European (Schleicher's version)

Avis, jasmin varnā na ā ast, dadarka akvams, tam, vāgham garum vaghantam, tam, bhāram magham, tam, manum āku bharantam. Avis akvabhjams ā vavakat: kard aghnutai mai vidanti manum akvams agantam. Akvāsas ā vavakant: krudhi avai, kard aghnutai vividvant-svas: manus patis varnām avisāms karnauti svabhjam gharmam vastram avibhjams ka varnā na asti. Tat kukruvants avis agram ā bhugat.

Proto-Indo-European (Lehmann's and Zgusta's version)

Gʷərēi owis, kʷesjo wl̥hnā ne ēst, eḱwōns espeḱet, oinom ghe gʷr̥um woǵhom weǵhontm̥, oinomkʷe meǵam bhorom, oinomkʷe ǵhm̥enm̥ ōḱu bherontm̥. Owis nu eḱwobh(j)os (eḱwomos) ewewkʷet: "Ḱēr aghnutoi moi eḱwōns aǵontm̥ nerm̥ widn̥tei". Eḱwōs tu ewewkʷont: "Ḱludhi, owei, ḱēr ghe aghnutoi n̥smei widn̥tbh(j)os (widn̥tmos): nēr, potis, owiōm r̥ wl̥hnām sebhi gʷhermom westrom kʷrn̥euti. Neǵhi owiōm wl̥hnā esti". Tod ḱeḱluwōs owis aǵrom ebhuget.

Proto-Indo-European (Kortlandt's version)

ʕʷeuis iosmi ʕuelʔn neʔst ʔekuns ʔe 'dērkt, tom 'gʷrʕeum uogom ugentm, tom m'geʕm borom, tom dgmenm ʔoʔku brentm. ʔe uēukʷt ʕʷeuis ʔkumus: kʷntske ʔmoi kērt ʕnerm ui'denti ʔekuns ʕ'gentm. ʔe ueukʷnt ʔkeus: kludi ʕʷuei, kʷntske nsmi kērt ui'dntsu: ʕnēr potis ʕʷuiom ʕulʔenm subi gʷormom uestrom kʷrneuti, ʕʷuimus kʷe ʕuelʔn neʔsti. To'd kekluus ʕʷeuis ʕe'grom ʔe bēu'gd.

Degaspregos

Bergose owos kweos wulnom ne habit ekwomi weidakwit; oinos wegakwantas wogom gwaram, oinos berakwantas megam gwarom, oinoskwe gwigei berakwantas wirom. Owosatoi ekwobisi dikit: "Kerdos meosos meom kormat, weidakwantam wirom agerakwantam ekwomi." Tanose ekwosi dikit: "Audoi, owote, meosoi kerdosi meomi kormobat, hwanose meosi weidakwobat kom: Wiros, aryos, wulnopsis owosoi westrom perekaiam deigasobat. E owokisi wulnopro esat nos." Audakwintas kom, owos agroto bugit.

Aryanas

Aviş Reiväşpa ah Älşom Açvai äidnuna; praive Rata bara dirgarnö, alye Lüga arya akalcänö i traite Jöma äjarnö aoçu. Aviş Açvamoi uhäpäna: "Çardan me dalara äidaotna kai Jömas Açvamoi parati äçara. Açvai adäpänös: "Çlevu ,Aviş, Çardai üş dalaran äidaot kai Jömas, Racas, Älşom ti Äsantüşpe haso xedara. I Aviş Älşom ne şexa." Öno paçlevaotna Aviş Ayakaçt padraxna.

Aryanas in IPA

[ɑviʂ reivæʂpɑ ɑx ælʂom ɑçvɑi æidnunɑ; prɑive rɑtɑ bɑrɑ dirɡɑnɵ, ɑlje lʉɡɑ ɑrjɑ ɑkɑlʝænɵ i trɑite ʐɵmɑ æʐɑrnɵ ɑoçu. ɑviʂ ɑçvɑmoi uxæpænɑ : "çɑrdɑn me dɑlɑrɑ æidɑotnɑ kɑi ʐɵmɑs ɑçvɑmoi pɑrɑti æçɑrɑ. ɑçvɑi ɑdæpænɵs : "çlevu, ɑviʂ, çɑrdɑi ʉʂ dɑlɑrɑn æidɑot kɑi ʐɵmɑs, rɑʝɑs, ælʂom ti æsɑntʉʂpe xɑso ɣedɑrɑ. i ɑviʂ ælʂom ne ʂeɣɑ." ɵno pɑçlevɑotnɑ ɑviʂ ɑjɑkɑçt pɑdrɑɣnɑ.]

[Ossicone]

Inyauk: Nahlúhaf naxfáʔafanaajarlísanim rúnyaalak nahíʔiunaahi, nahí'inaim túlatnahimarataja átsakalana, nahí'inair mínukatatat xúnalana, wa nahí'inair ínyakaja xúnpiratalana. Nahfá'afanim bírisialak jí'iunaikat ir «itxpápatxik hápijaax ir ínyakir í'iunaat ah.» Jíʔiunaim bírisialak ir «tsapúsar fá'afanim utxpápautxik hápijaah ir nahínaknahirakikia pírana lísantafá'afanat ífarinaaxármatahi. Wa ifá'afanir jarlísanat ah.» Ifá'afanik ímikalak jítsauraja wa txákalak wásanikat.

Gloss/IPA:
On a hill, a sheep that had no wool saw horses,
nax-'lux-af nax-'faʔafan-na-jar-'lisan-im 'ruɲa-al-ak nax-'iʔiuna-axi. 
IDF-hill-ON IDF-sheep-ADJ-NO-wool-AGT see-PST-END IDF-horse.pl-RST

one of them pulling a heavy wagon,
nax-íʔina-im túlat-na-ximarat-aja áʦak-al-ana
IDF-horse-AGT wagon-ADJ-heavy-OBJ pull-PST-CNT

one carrying a big load,
nax-íʔina-ir mínuk-atat-at ʃún-al-ana
IDF-horse-PSR load-AUG-PSD carry-PST-CNT

and one carrying a man quickly.
wa nax-íʔina-ir ínak-aja ʃún-pirat-al-ana.
and IDF-horse-PSR people-OBJ carry-RPD-PST-CNT

The sheep said to the horses:
nax-fáʔafan-im bírisi-al-ak i-íʔiuna-ikat ir
IDF-sheep-AGT say-PST-END DEF-horse.pl-DST <RC

“My heart pains me, seeing a man driving horses".
“iʧ-pápaʧ-ik xápija-aʃ ir iɲak-ir íʔiuna-at” ax.
my-heart-TKR pain-IN <RC person-PSR horse.pl-PSD RC>>

The horses said:
i-íʔiuna-im bírisi-al-ak ir
DEF-horse.pl-AGT say-PST-END <RC

"Listen, sheep, our hearts pain us when we see this:
“ʦa-púsar fáʔafan-im uʧ-pápauʧ-ik xápija-aʃ ir
IMP-listen sheep-AGT our-heart.pl-TKR pain-IN <RC

a man, the master, makes the wool of the sheep into a warm garment for himself.
nax-inak-na-xírak-ik-ia pír-ana lísan-ta-fáʔafan-at ífarin-na-ʃármat-axi.
IDF-person-ADJ-owner-TKR-BEN take-CNT wool-PSN-sheep-PSD clothing-ADJ-warm-RST.

And the sheep has no wool"
wa i-fáʔafan-ir jar-lísan-at” ax.
and DEF-sheep-PSR NO-wool-PSD RC>>

Having heard this, the sheep fled into the plain.
i-fáʔafan-ik ímik-al-ak i-íʦaur-aja wa ʧák-al-ak wásan-ikat
DEF-sheep-TKR hear-PST-END DEF-word.pl-OBJ and run-PST-END plain-DST

EDIT: Forgot quotations. Oops.
EDIT 2: Replaced with revised Inyauk.

[Khemehekis]

Kankonian:

Ash *emuku thakala az anen nos suzu emen laishas mos met phrutzen hakoupa burk mui met eshenen gra dom mui met eshenen wiri ghoshi we. Thakala oyezen ad laishas: "Ohos na is soerzas is mos emas wiri trethas laishas". Laishas oyezen: "Baizartet, zha thakala! Ohas na wir soerzas wir av wir emas ham: Wiri zash ghagham hamias suzu na thakala pai ab na vwetz titel ad zhiis. Mui thakala anas nos suzu". Theshen id ham, thakala rakharten pai yetzisi.

on hill sheep that have+PAST no wool see+PAST horse+PLURAL while one_of_them pull+PAST wagon heavy and one_of_them carry+PAST load big and one_of_them carry+PAST man quick -ly. sheep say+PAST to horse+PLURAL "soul of me pain+PRESENT me while see+PRESENT man drive+PRESENT horse+PLURAL". horse+PLURAL say+PAST "listen+IMPERATIVE VOCATIVE sheep! soul+PLURAL of us pain+PRESENT us when we see+PRESENT this: man APPOSITIVE master make+PRESENT wool of sheep into unit of clothing warm for self+him. and sheep have+PRESENT no wool". hear+PAST done_to this sheep escape+PAST into grassland.

[LetoAtreides]

Yoketian:

Kha'as čhitta holkopu can ya'ak phecan tho'kha: tas ki'i tūle si'wehu lōqaqha, ki'i pot tūleyeru hučakha, ki'i waya ašawkha nāhekha. Ya'ak mu phecnan thukha: "Arašul kōtha tas phecan šo'qe waya atho' " Phecen thukha: "Oritē ya'kā! Mirašulen kōtha tas mirentho': win māolla way ya'ak eholko yeq maraw atharpina or samna ki'imco, ya'ak holkopu canco". Tīna orit ya'ak mu oču'utta noppakha.

On hill-OBL wool-no have sheep horse-ACC-PL see-PAST: whne one-of-them heavy wagon-ACC pull-PAST, one-of them big load-ACC carry-PAST, one-of-them man-ACC be-quick-PAST drive-PAST. Sheep to horse-OBL-PL say-PAST: "my-soul pain when horse-ACC-PL ride man-ACC I-see" Horse-PL say-PAST: hear-IMP sheep-VOC! Our-souls pain when we-it-see: As master-OBL man sheep its-wool into warm clothing-OBL for self-OBL make-DUR, sheep wool-no have-DUR. This hear sheep to plain-OBL fleed-PAST.

[abi]

Quick question, does this story mean anything? Is it supposed to have some sort of "message" or advice within it, or is it just some made up story to demonstrate how PIE would sound and feel like? The ending just feels, abstract and nonsensical to me.// :-(

[Ossicone]

I assume it means sheep are dumb and like getting eaten by wolves. Also, horses are gossips. j/k

[Colzie]

Bonus points for picking out cognate forms (Rudan is Indo-European).

Rudan:
Aśveliyi ye iviśt pu alan trústun nit jiki yukusás vaze
IND-hill-DAT at IND-sheep REL DEF wool-ACC not have.PF.3s IND-horse-ACC.pl see-PF-3s

yase ixizi krazi vixátanit, imirrtú grezú pirátanit, yag kut aniri kiki
IND wagon-DAT heavy-DAT pull-PTCP-ACC-3s.n IND-load-DAT large-DAT carry-PTCP-ACC-3s.n and DEM-3s.ACC.n IND-man-DAT quickly

Alviśt alukuspís “kruzinnu mit naca, aniri alukuspís dukśatiś vazátaŋu” vup kife.
DEF-sheep DEF-horse-DAT.pl heart-my me pain.3s.MID IND-man-DAT DEF-horse-DAT.pl drive-PTCP-DAT-3s.m see-PTCP-ACC-1s quotative say-PF.3s

Alukussus “Krispe, viśt yi, kruzisnarr nasit nicésa, kut vazátanas”
DEF-horse-pl listen-IMP sheep vocative heart-pl-1p us pain-3p.MID this see-PTCP-ACC-1p

”Aniri, alpizmizi, alan truśtun alviśtas aśisitri sit sul davátiyiś”
IND-man-DAT DEF-master-DAT DEF wool-ACC DEF-sheep-GEN IND-garment-DAT REF.DAT for make-PTCP-DAT-3s.m

”Yag alviśt alan trústun kisi nit” vup vipro
and DEF-sheep DEF wool-ACC have.3s not quotative say-PF.3p

Kut krasustani, alviśt aligran parre.
this hear-PTCP.PF-ACC-3s.f DEF-sheep DEF-field-ACC flee-PF.3s

[Utlandr]

Wistra Gutisk
Auhmistin, lamb us-wullái sahw aihwam, ains þáim þinsands kaurus wagns, ains farjands mikils kauriþa, jah ain farjands manna sniumudo. Sa lamb kwaþ du aihwam: “Hairto meins gaurjai mek, saihwands manna dreibands aihwam”. Sa aihwam kwaþ: “Haus, lamb, hairtam unsar guarjand unsis miþþanei þis: manna, sa frauja, deigiþ wullái lambis in paidái warms faur is silba. Jah lamb aihuþ ni wulla”. Habands fanþ þis, sa lamb þláuh ana-auja.

[Sankon]

English/Siaru:

On a hill, a sheep that had no wool saw horses, one of them pulling a heavy wagon, one carrying a big load, and one carrying a man quickly. The sheep said to the horses: "My heart pains me, seeing a man driving horses". The horses said: "Listen, sheep, our hearts pain us when we see this: a man, the master, makes the wool of the sheep into a warm garment for himself. And the sheep has no wool". Having heard this, the sheep fled into the plain.

O mvaha si naeied eaibiení mvaɫórungang ngangapráz ongo o maha ngaembré ongapuinúngang, ongo o maha ngahmarí ongapuinúngang, ongo o zeníd cire ongapuinúngang, ptiasei mantóy. O mvaha ngangapázoy, “Buru maing mai ogihi, kway o zeníd ngangapráz ongapung ptiaseieming.” buc. O ngangapraz, “Mvaha, gohoroudo, buburu mieng mie ogihieg kway ongo o ugac zen o mavaháung o mvaɫor oer ol uhu mevbí oaminúung ptiaseae. Hau o mvaha mvaɫórung naeii eaibiení.” O mvaha el inzéumey ohoróuas mang udbud.

Gloss:

O ma-vaha si naei-i-ed e-aibiení mvaɫór-ung-ang nga-ngapráz ongo o maha ngaembré o-ngapuinú-ung-ang, ongo o maha ngahmarí o-ngapuinú-ung-ang, ongo e zen cire o-ngapuinú-ung-ang, ptiase-i-∅ mantó-oy
a PL-sheep REL neg-TEL-3s.IRR GER-see.OBL wool-LOC-REL PL-horse.OBL one a heavy wagon.OBL GER-pull-LOC-REL one a big load-OBL GER-carry-LOC-REL, see-TEL-3.s hill-LOC

O mvaha nga-ngapáz-oy, “Buru maing mai ogi-hi-∅, kway e zenúd nga-ngapráz o-ngáp-ung ptiase-i-em-ing.” buc-∅-∅
the sheep PL-horse-ILL “heart I.LOC I.OBL pain-MID.TEL-3s when a man PL-horse.OBL GER-drive-LOC see-TEL-1s-REL” say-TEL.VOL-3s

O nga-ngapraz, “mvaha, go-horou-do, buburu mieng mie ogi-hu-eg kway ongo o ugac zen o mavahá-ung o mvaɫor oer ol uhu mevbí oaminu-∅-∅-ung ptiase-∅-ae.
the Pl-horse “sheep, IMP-listen-2s.IMP, hearts at us us pain-MID.TEL-3p when that the master man the sheep-LOC the wool 3s.IL a warm garment make-TEL.VOL-3s-REL see-TEL.VOL-3p

hau o mvaha mvaɫór-ung naei-i-∅ e-aibiení.”
and the sheep wool-LOC neg-TEL-3s GER-have.OBL

O mvaha el inzéum-ey o-horou-as mang udbu-d-∅.
the sheep the plain-IL GER-see-EL that flee-ATEL.VOL-3s

Literal Translation:

A sheep that not having wool horses one a heavy wagon pulling, one a big load carrying, one a man quick carrying, saw to hill. The sheep to horses “Heart at me me pains, when a man horses driving seeing.” says. The horses “Sheep, listen, hearts at us pain when that the master man the sheep the wool a warm garment make see.' And the sheep at wool not having." The sheep to the plain from seeing flee.

[ABC]

Nolikan
Ecanam, to la kumaļo tis dar jiya ubadoļ linate: ļakil šuhad ohruhob ohrato si ļakil pod šuhadan apato si ļakil mij šubam apato. Jiyal ubaje kur carata: „Ne pilac jego, mijil ubadak osturo dar linen.” Ubadoļ haģe zahlata: „Kumri, ya jiya, wi pilacak jego, kuril lineļak: podwidam mijil kumaļoha nis ģet uxtelax xot. Si jiyaha la kumaļo tis.” Jiya kuril kumrate, ahno šolmiš colilato.

Gloss
Hill-LOC, 3sg.GEN no wool exist.PRS.3 REL sheep horse-ERG.PL see-PST.3: one-ERG heavy wagon pull-PST.3 and one-ERG big load carry-PST.3 and one-ERG man fast-LOC carry-PST.3. Sheep-ERG horse-DAT.PL this speak-PST.3: "my heart hurt.PRS.3, man-ERG horse-PL drive.PRS.3 REL see.PRS.1sg." Horse.ERG.PL that answer.PST.3: "Listen-IMP, VOC sheep, 1pl.INCL.GEN heart.PL hurt.PRS.3, this-ERG see.PRS.1pl.INCL: lord-LOC man-ERG wool-GEN warm own clothing make.PRS.3. And sheep-GEN no wool exist.PRS.3" Sheep this-ERG hear.PST.3, so plain-DAT flee-PST.3

Bonus points for picking out cognate forms (Rudan is Indo-European).

aśveliyi - Sanskrit aśva 'female horse'
nit - Russian niet 'no'
kut - Latin quod 'this'
mit - English me
nasit - Russian nas 'us'

[Prinsessa]

nasit - Russian nas 'us'

Quod?

[ABC]

Perhaps I was misled by Nolikan kur 'this'.

[Lao Kou]

Géarthnuns

Se nggarhaths lé, feg lé fü míngkadsüt wéböth sho, söik skatsöich tel:
[sɛ 'ŋ.ga'Xaθs 'le, fɛg 'le fy miŋ'kadsyt 'ʋebøθ ʃo, søjk 'skatsøjtʃ 'tɛl]
INDEF sheep-NOM AUX.PAST, REL-NOM.NEG AUX.PAST INDEF.NEG wool-ACC.NEG have PTCL, INDEF.PL horse-ACC.PL see
A sheep that had no wool saw horses:

söi sírets lé sí rhölsít vgülít hauviz, söi sírets lé sü gansaufíksüt jnégez, kfö söi sírets lé sö dhaubsöt azöna'u jnégez.
[søj 'siɾɛts 'le si 'Xølsit 'vgylit 'hɔvɪz, søj 'siɾɛts 'le sy 'ga.n.sɔ'fiksyt 'dʒnegɛz, kfø søj 'siɾɛts 'le sø 'ðɔbsøt azø'na.u 'dʒnegɛz]
INDEF one-NOM AUX.PAST INDEF wagon-ACC heavy-ACC pull, INDEF one-NOM AUX.PAST INDEF big.load-ACC carry, and INDEF one-NOM AUX.PAST INDEF man-ACC quick-ADV carry
one of them was pulling a heavy wagon, one was carrying a big load, and one was carrying a man quickly.

Che nggarhaths lé chöik skatsöil ngamath „Cha íans síten la höi söik skatsöich chau mbokekhalörsaut sö dhaubsös chau telalörsauv vízh.”
[tʃɛ 'ŋ.ga'Xaθs 'le tʃøjk 'skatsøjl 'ŋamaθ „tʃa 'jɑ̃s si'tɛn 'la høj søjk 'skatsøjtʃ tʃɔ 'm.bo'kɛxa'løɾsɔt sø 'ðɔbsøs tʃɔ 'tɛla'løɾsɔv 'viʒ]
DEF sheep-NOM AUX.PAST DEF.PL horse-DAT.PL say „DEF heart-NOM my-NOM AUX.PRES PTCL INDEF.PL horse-ACC.PL DEF drive.PRES.GER-ACC INDEF man-GEN DEF see.PRES.GER-LOC hurt”
The sheep said to the horses: "My heart pains me, seeing a man driving horses."

Chöik skatsöip lé ngamath „Hüdimshal, nggarhaths, chak íansap makhmalanap la, shtanö makhlama la che hengethset tel sho, vízh:
[tʃøjk 'skasøjp 'le 'ŋamaθ „'hydɪm'ʃal, 'ŋ.ga'Xaθs, tʃa 'jɑ̃sap 'maxma'lanap 'la, ʃta'nø max'lama 'la tʃɛ hɛ'ŋɛθsɛt 'tɛl ʃo, 'viʒ]
DEF.PL horse-NOM.PL AUX.PAST say „listen-IMP, sheep-NOM, DEF.PL heart-NOM.PL our-NOM.PL AUX.PRES, when 1PL-NOM AUX.PRES DEF this-ACC see PTCL, hurt
The horses said: "Listen, sheep, our hearts pain us when we see this:

sö dhaubs, zhvaurhebs chö, las sa ksönsat tengüdhaunat chü míngkaksün che nggarhathses dravnath, kfö ve nggarhags la fü míngkadsüt wéböth.”
[sø 'ðɔbs, ʒvɔ'Xɛbs tʃø, 'las sa 'ksœ̃sat 'tɛŋy'ðɔnat tʃy miŋ'kaksyn tʃɛ 'ŋ.ga'Xaθsɛs 'dɾavnaθ, kfø vɛ 'ŋ.ga'Xags 'la fy miŋ'kadsyt 'ʋebøθ]
INDEF man-NOM, master-NOM DEF, AUX.PRES.REFL INDEF garment-ACC warm-ACC DEF wool-INSTR DEF sheep-GEN make, and DEF.NEG sheep-NOM.NEG AUX.PRES INDEF.NEG wool-ACC.NEG have
a man, the master, makes the wool of the sheep into a warm garment for himself, and the sheep has no wool."

Che hengethset shalölöth, che nggarhaths lé chö nggíshabsöv rhpelköz.
[tʃɛ hɛ'ŋɛθsɛt 'shaløløθ, tʃɛ 'ŋ.ga'Xaθs 'le tʃø 'ŋ.gi'ʃabsøv 'Xpɛlkøz]
DEF this-ACC hear.PRESPRF.PTPL-NOM, DEF sheep-NOM AUX.PAST DEF plain-LOC flee
Having heard this, the sheep fled into the plain.

[atman]

Well, doesn't Schleicher's reconstructed PIE read suspiciously like bad Sanskrit?

As for the westernmost classical Indo-European conlang...

Atlantika

Owis hipeke

Owis eryunu bunar hipes evleshe, inon baran amashan helkenton, inon megalon forton ferenton, inonke azhron taqiyad ferenton.
Owis hipet efraze: "Alge karzha mit, vlepentit azhron hipes agenton".
Hipe efrazon: "Kluvar, owis! Algon karzhe met enta tin vlepeme: anar, kuryos, sis eryuf toshal termon qlamudon poye. Ke owis eryon deneqte".
Utor ekluvetor, owis dashtavaral efwegze.

sheep wool-without hill-LOC horse-ACC.PL PAST-see-3SG, one-ACC heavy-ACC wagon-ACC pull-PTCP-ACC, one-ACC big-ACC load-ACC carry-PTCP-ACC, one-ACC-and man-ACC speed-ADV carry-PTCP-ACC.
sheep horse-DAT.PL PAST-say-3SG: "hurt-3SG heart I-DAT, see-PTCP-DAT man-ACC horse-ACC.PL drive-PTCP-ACC".
horse-PL PAST-say-3PL: "hear-IMP, sheep! hurt-3PL heart-PL we-DAT when this-ACC see-1PL: man, owner, you-GEN wool-STR he-BENEF warm-ACC mantle-ACC make-3SG. and sheep wool-ACC not-have-3SG".
this-LOC PAST-hear-PTCP-LOC, sheep plain-LAT PAST-flee-3SG.

[Dormouse559]

Quick question, does this story mean anything? Is it supposed to have some sort of "message" or advice within it, or is it just some made up story to demonstrate how PIE would sound and feel like? The ending just feels, abstract and nonsensical to me.// :-(

I think the moral is "People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones." The sheep chastises the horses for letting humans subjugate them, but the horses point out that the sheep is doing the same thing. And I guess the sheep can't take criticism well, so it runs away.


And here's an attempt at French:

Sur une colline, un mouton qui n'avait pas de laine vit des chevaux, l'un qui tirait une charrette lourde, l'un qui portait une grande charge, et l'un qui portait vite un homme. Le mouton dit aux chevaux : « Il me fait peine de voir un homme conduire des chevaux ». Les chevaux dirent : « Écoute, mouton, il nous fait peine de voir cela : un homme, le maître, fait de la laine du mouton un vêtement chaud pour lui-même. Et le mouton n'a pas de laine ». Ayant entendu cela, le mouton fuit dans la plaine.

/syʁ yn kɔ.lin, œ̃ mu.tɔ̃ ki n‿a.vɛ pa də lɛn vi de ʃə.vo, l‿œ̃ ki ti.ʁɛ yn ʃa.ʁɛt lurd, l‿œ̃ ki pɔʁ.tɛ yn gʁɑ̃d ʃaʁʒ, e l‿œ̃ ki pɔʁ.tɛ vit œ̃.n‿ɔm. lə mu.tɔ̃ di.t‿o ʃə.vo : « il mə fɛ pɛn də vwaʁ œ̃.n‿ɔm kɔ̃.dɥiʁ de ʃə.vo ». le ʃə.vo diʁ : « e.kut, mu.tɔ̃, il nu fɛ pɛn də vwaʁ sə.la : œ̃.n‿ɔm, lə mɛtʁ, fɛ də la lɛn dy mu.tɔ̃ œ̃ vɛt.mɑ̃ ʃo puʁ lɥi.mɛm. e lə mu.tɔ̃ n‿a pa də lɛn ». ɛ.jɑ̃ ɑ̃.tɑ̃.dy sə.la, lə mu.tɔ̃ fɥi dɑ̃ la plɛn./

[prettydragoon]

Rireinutire

to vohi to eti:

ununopo vohi yakive: hatera ka tepe etimu neakive· to uso nañana ii temakemu· to ute pakuna ii vitakemu· to rutoti kavena ii vitakemu: vohi etikunaña sunokive hii saro mano sitana vuyakava karo ma etina nakuke kavemu neakava: etikuna sunokive hii vohi moeka': saro meno sitana vuyakava karo me neakava sikimu: kave hase vohino unupe kuma hovimu hunoha teñekava: ita vohi unumu omakaseva: sikimu mokiri vohi raketora kemakive:

Gloss:

Spoiler:

The sheep and the horses
to vohi to eti:
and goat.NOM and horse.NOM

There was a sheep that had no wool.
ununopo vohi yakive:
unu-nopo vohi ya-ki-ve
wool-less goat be-PST-HSY

On a hill, she saw horses,
hatera ka tepe etimu neakive·
hate-ra ka tepe eti-mu nea-ki-ve
hill-INE 3FS.NOM a.few horse-ACC see-PST-HSY

one of them pulling a heavy wagon,
to uso nañana ii temakemu·
to uso naña-na ii tema-ke-mu
and heavy wagon-PTV one pull-PRESP-ACC

one carrying a big load,
to ute pakuna ii vitakemu·
to ute paku-na ii vita-ke-mu
and big load-PTV one carry-PRESP-ACC

and one carrying a person quickly.
to rutoti kavena ii vitakemu:
to ruto-ti kave-na ii vita-ke-mu
and quick-ADV person-PTV one carry-PRESP-ACC

The sheep said to the horses:
vohi etikunaña sunokive hii
vohi etikunaña suno-ki-ve hii
goat horse-group-COM say-PST-HSY that

my heart pains me,
saro mano sitana vuyakava
saro mano sita-na vuya-ka-va
then 1S-GEN heart-PTV hurt-PRS-SENS

seeing a person driving horses.
karo ma etina nakuke kavemu neakava:
karo ma eti-na naku-ke kave-mu nea-ka-va
when.REL 1S.NOM horse-PTV drive-PRESP person-ACC see-PRS-SENS

The horses said:
etikuna sunokive hii
eti-kuna suno-ki-ve hii
horse-group say-PST-HSY that

listen, sheep,
vohi moeka':
vohi moe-ka-'
goat listen-PRS-IMP

our hearts pain us when we see this:
saro meno sitana vuyakava karo me neakava sikimu:
saro me-no sita-na vuya-ka-va karo me nea-ka-va siki-mu
then 1P-GEN heart-PTV hurt-PRS-SENS when.REL 1P.NOM see-PRS-SENS this-ACC

a person, the master, makes the wool of the sheep into a warm blanket for herself.
kave hase vohino unupe kuma hovimu hunoha teñekava:
kave hase vohi-no unu-pe kuma hovi-mu huno-ha teñe-ka-va
person master goat-GEN wool-EXESS warm blanket-ACC own-ADE make-PRS-SENS

And the sheep has no wool.
ita vohi unumu omakaseva:
ita vohi unu-mu oma-ka-se-va
and.then goat wool-ACC have-PRS-NEG-SENS

Having heard this,
sikimu mokiri
siki-mu mo-kiri
this-ACC hear-GER

the sheep fled into the plain.
vohi raketora kemakive:
vohi raketo-ra kema-ki-ve
goat plain-INE flee-PST-HSY

[Alessio]

English
On a hill, a sheep that had no wool saw horses, one of them pulling a heavy wagon, one carrying a big load, and one carrying a man quickly. The sheep said to the horses: "My heart pains me, seeing a man driving horses". The horses said: "Listen, sheep, our hearts pain us when we see this: a man, the master, makes the wool of the sheep into a warm garment for himself. And the sheep has no wool". Having heard this, the sheep fled into the plain.

Hecathver
Per şütramel, jit belantca on nĵe nuñim marcşings mirşim im cœlçiçdes, om og het en feregigim ævo böllen crœlças, het en hagariim ævo hœrg vritts, in het en hagariim ævo hunces, ferari. Iç belantca çalcim id cülçiçeđ has: "mer sinstiett zgriçët dam mirşët jit hunce on bringsiët cœlçiçdes". Id cœlçiçeđ çalcenen: "Rädiëest, belantca, lur sinstited zgriçter dam las mirşur aş: jit hunce, iç imriuguun, havarët iç marcşings belantcal dut hoqlacat uryr jirœzgis œşic seg. In na, daki nĵe nuñes marcşings."
Dau ruojim eş, iç belantca hærbalim endo camen ij zäilent.

Italiano
Su una collina, una pecora che non aveva lana vide dei cavalli, uno dei quali trainava un carro pesante, uno portava un grosso carico, ed uno portava velocemente un uomo. La pecora disse ai cavalli: "Il cuore mi duole, quando vedo un uomo condurre dei cavalli". I cavalli dissero: "Ascolta, pecora, i nostri cuori ci dolgono quando vediamo questo: un uomo, il Maestro, fa della lana della pecora un indumento caldo per sé stesso. E la pecora non ha lana". Avendo sentito ciò, la pecora scappò nella pianura.
(Italian is my mother tongue, still this fable has a so many particular expressions that can't be translated literally into ITA that I had a hard time getting a correct translation. There are still some expressions that an Italian teacher would mark as "odd".)

[Znex]

Quick question, does this story mean anything? Is it supposed to have some sort of "message" or advice within it, or is it just some made up story to demonstrate how PIE would sound and feel like? The ending just feels, abstract and nonsensical to me.// :-(

I think the moral is "People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones." The sheep chastises the horses for letting humans subjugate them, but the horses point out that the sheep is doing the same thing. And I guess the sheep can't take criticism well, so it runs away.

I agree with your interpretation; the story sounds very Aesopian to me.

Attic Greek:
μῆλον δεόμενον εἴρους ἐπ' ὄρους εἶδεν ἵππους, ἔρυόν τινα τῶν ἵππων βαρεῖαν ἀπήνην κἄλλον φέρον μάκρον φόρτον κἄλλον φέρον ἄνθρωπον ταχέως. τὸ μὲν μῆλον λέγει πρὸς τοὺς ἵππους Ἀνθρώπου οὕτως ἐλαύνοντος ἵππους, ἡ καρδία μου πατάττει με. οἱ δὲ ἵπποι λέγουσι Ἄκουε ὦ μῆλον· αἱ μὲν καρδίαι ἡμῶν πατάττουσιν ἡμᾶς ὅταν ὁρῶμεν δὲ τὸν ἄνθρωπον δεσπότην ποιούμενον τὰ οὗλα ἱμάτια τῷ τοῦ μήλου εἴρει ὥστε τὸ δὲ μῆλον εἴρους δεόμενον. τὸ δὲ ἀκηκοῦν μῆλον φεύγει εἰς τὸ πεδίον.

(I'll upload a gloss later)

[Lambuzhao]

The meaning is simple. Who has ears had better listen.

The horse pulling the wagon is the Balto-Slavic people.
The horse carrying the heavy load is the Germanic people.
The horse carrying the man swiftly is the Celtic people.

Quite possibly, the man represents the Indo-European language itself.

The sheep are the Tocharians, who fled into the (Eastern) Plain, never to be heard from again.

There was recently discovered a variant version of the Schleicher Fable, which gives new insight into the minds and travels of the Indo-Europeans. It was written in Linear A, on tablets of molybdochalcum, found in the mountains of the Islet of Hyparxos in the Aegean Sea.

In this alternate version, there were additional creatures. There was a wolf who menaced the swift horse, its jaws snapping at the horse’s feet. The wolf represented the Italic people. There were additionally three fast and faithful hounds that attended the man, and helped protect him from the wolf. These were the Albanian, Armenian and Greek peoples. Finally, there appeared a large, pig-like monster (Behemoth? Hippopotamus?) early on in the story, which tried to topple the wagon, and later attempted to ambush and swallow the three hounds. This beast represents the Hittite people.

Interestingly enough, the man is named in this version. He is called either *Weidas or *Widas (the syllabary is unclear here).

So mote it be.

[atman]

The meaning is simple. Who has ears had better listen.

The horse pulling the wagon is the Balto-Slavic people.
The horse carrying the heavy load is the Germanic people.
The horse carrying the man swiftly is the Celtic people...

. But you didn't find a role for the Indo-Iranic peoples...

Well, time for me to renew my club membership at the kʷékʷlos klan :

Proto-Indo-European (Atman's version, 2013)

h₃éwis h₁éḱwōskʷe

gʷrh₁éh₂i h₃éwis, yésyeh₂ey wĺh₂neh₂ né h₁ést, h₁éḱwons dedórḱe, tóm gʷérh₂om wóǵʰom wéǵʰontm, h₂élyom méǵoh₂m bʰórom, h₂élyomkʷe dʰǵʰémonm h₂oh₁ḱú bʰérontm. h₃éwis h₁éḱwobʰos h₁e wewkʷét: “ḱḗrd gláǵʰeti h₁moy widntéy dʰǵʰémonm h₁éḱwons h₂éǵontm”. h₁éḱwōs h₁e wewkʷénd: “ḱludʰí, h₃éwi! ḱḗrdes gláǵʰonti nōs widntbʰós tód: dʰǵʰémon, pótis, wĺh₂neh₂eh₁ h₃éwyoh₁om sébʰoy gʷʰérmom wéstrom kʷrnéwti, h₃éwibʰōskʷe wĺh₂neh₂ né h₁ésti”. tód ḱeḱluwṓs, h₃éwis h₂éǵrom h₁e bʰugét.