News from Nowhere

TranslationChapter 02 of 32

nophi lue mawha lokue

A Morning Bath

Morris's second chapter begins with a winter room turned summer overnight. The traveller swims in the Thames, studies a changed riverfront from a waterman's boat, and discovers that the coins in his pocket no longer explain what should happen after somebody has helped him. The translation keeps the complete chapter. Morris's place names and measurements stay exact in his lines, as do the narrator's assumptions about class and sanity and the waterman's amused account of work without payment.

Each block below carries four lines: the Phi sentence, its word-by-word gloss, an English rendering derived from the Phi, and Morris's own wording. The two English lines let the reader compare what the Phi says with what Morris wrote.

nowaeThe waking

mia to nowae.

1SG PST awaken.

(I woke.)

morris: Well, I awoke,

mia tha mia roe lo paloi lo nuwera wethamo to ki pesa tho to nila.

1SG DECL.COMP 1SG INS PL foot PL bed blanket PST PFV push DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST see.

(I saw that I had pushed the bed's blankets off with my feet.)

morris: and found that I had kicked my bedclothes off;

tholupi sukaro to nai. sileta keru to keru loa. thelao ha mu wakomi to nai.

room hot PST be. sun bright PST bright give. CONS PROX zero surprise PST be.

(The room was hot, and the sun shone brightly. This was no surprise.)

morris: and no wonder, for it was hot and the sun shining brightly.

mia to reshi rihe. mia miso to sawa. mia roe lo wethalu miso to reshi lomare.

1SG PST fast rise. 1SG REFL PST wash. 1SG INS PL garment REFL PST fast embrace.

(I rose quickly. I washed myself. I hurriedly wrapped myself in my clothes.)

morris: I jumped up and washed and hurried on my clothes,

whekai mia korua nuwi to ma nai. mia ru waeli to ma nai.

CONTR 1SG heart clear PST NEG be. 1SG INTS conscious PST NEG be.

(But my mind was hazy, and I was not fully awake.)

morris: but in a hazy and half-awake condition,

mia tha mia phea whu ru laeno thimu to ki nulae miona nai tho to phaelo.

1SG DECL.COMP 1SG AS REL INTS long time PST PFV sleep person be DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST feel.

(I felt like someone who had slept for a very long time.)

morris: as if I had slept for a long, long while,

mia nulae tupeka lue miso to ka po ma lepa.

1SG sleep burden ABL REFL PST CAUS POT NEG fall.

(I could not make the burden of sleep fall away from me.)

morris: and could not shake off the weight of slumber.

mia tha mia mua mia womu lokue nai tho to ho remo. mia ha to ma nila.

1SG DECL.COMP 1SG LOC 1SG home place be DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST ASSUM think. 1SG PROX PST NEG see.

(I assumed that I was in a room in my own home. I did not actually see that.)

morris: In fact, I rather took it for granted that I was at home in my own room than saw that it was so.

pheo wethalu lomare mia tha tholupi ru sukaro nai tho to phaelo.

POST garment embrace 1SG DECL.COMP room INTS hot be DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST feel.

(After I dressed, I felt that the room was very hot.)

morris: When I was dressed, I felt the place so hot

thelao mia mue tholupi nela mue womu to reshi wepu.

CONS 1SG OUT.OF room COORD OUT.OF home PST fast go.

(So I went quickly out of the room and out of the house.)

morris: that I made haste to get out of the room and out of the house;

mua nu ta shemu mia meraho to kelu. ha meraho ru nirelo to nai.

LOC ORD one moment 1SG relieved PST become. PROX relieved INTS pleasant PST be.

(At first I felt relieved, and the relief was very pleasant.)

morris: and my first feeling was a delicious relief

newai haowu nela nirelo howeli mia meraho to ka kelu.

fresh air COORD pleasant wind 1SG relieved PST CAUS become.

(The fresh air and pleasant breeze relieved me.)

morris: caused by the fresh air and pleasant breeze;

mua nu wi shemu mia lo remo to pa sholei.

LOC ORD two moment 1SG PL think PST INCH gather.

(A moment later, my thoughts began to come together.)

morris: my second, as I began to gather my wits together,

mia whuo masue waora to pa phaelo.

1SG WITHOUT measure wondrous PST INCH feel.

(I began to feel wonder without measure.)

morris: mere measureless wonder:

whau mia mua luera shero to pa nulae shila to nai.

SIMUL 1SG LOC past night PST INCH sleep winter PST be.

(When I went to sleep last night, it was winter.)

morris: for it was winter when I went to bed the last night,

whu sio luphore whano lo shiro wei mia ha to ka nila. whekai nosa keloi nai. mioru keru kelua to nai. kelua lue keloi thorui to ke nai.

REL BESIDE river stand PL tree DAT 1SG PROX PST CAUS see. CONTR now summer be. beautiful bright morning PST be. morning ABL summer beginning PST INFER be.

(The trees beside the river showed me this. But now it was summer. It was a beautiful, bright morning, apparently at the beginning of summer.)

morris: and now, by witness of the river-side trees, it was summer, a beautiful bright morning seemingly of early June.

whekai luphore to manolu. luphore phou sileta to keru tiripe. lunisa pai pheno to nai.

CONTR river PST stay. river BELOW sun PST bright quiver. tide NEAR full PST be.

(But the river remained. It quivered brightly beneath the sun, and the tide was nearly full.)

morris: However, there was still the Thames sparkling under the sun, and near high water,

mia mua luera shero tha luphore phou lunei keru tiripe tho to ki hi nila.

1SG LOC past night DECL.COMP river BELOW moon bright quiver DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST PFV DIR see.

(Last night I had seen, with my own eyes, the river quivering brightly under the moon.)

morris: as last night I had seen it gleaming under the moon.

luphonuThe boat

tupeka lue mia to ki ma lepa.

burden ABL 1SG PST PFV NEG fall.

(The burden still had not fallen away from me.)

morris: I had by no means shaken off the feeling of oppression,

mia mua theula lokue ha lokue ru selua to po ma nai.

1SG LOC UNIV place PROX place INTS aware PST POT NEG be.

(Wherever I was, I could not have been fully aware of this place.)

morris: and wherever I might have been should scarce have been quite conscious of the place;

thelao ha mu wakomi to nai. shai luphore menoa se sano nai mia remo tiwa to phaelo.

CONS PROX zero surprise PST be. CONC river face PASS know be 1SG think tie PST feel.

(So this was no surprise: although the river's face was known, I felt my thoughts in a tangle.)

morris: so it was no wonder that I felt rather puzzled in despite of the familiar face of the Thames.

mia we wiloru nela kuewa to phaelo.

1SG ALSO dizziness COORD strange PST feel.

(I also felt dizziness and strangeness.)

morris: Withal I felt dizzy and queer;

mia tha lo miona sheloi shemu luphonu pilu nela mua luphore kesho wishe tho to halemu.

1SG DECL.COMP PL person MANY moment boat take COORD LOC river middle swim DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST remember.

(I remembered that people often took a boat and swam in mid-river.)

morris: and remembering that people often got a boat and had a swim in mid-stream,

mia tha mia we ha phoa tho to remo.

1SG DECL.COMP 1SG ALSO PROX do DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST think.

(I thought that I would do the same.)

morris: I thought I would do no less.

mia wei miso sha kelua ru thorui ke nai. whekai mia mua mia thueli lokue whu mia kolua miona so ho hekawi. sho to haolu.

1SG DAT REFL QUOT.COMP morning INTS beginning INFER be. CONTR 1SG LOC 1SG intend place REL 1SG carry person FUT ASSUM find. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(I said to myself, "It seems very early, but I assume I shall find someone to carry me at the place I intend to reach.")

morris: It seems very early, quoth I to myself, but I daresay I shall find someone at Biffin's to take me.

whekai lao mia tha kamo lokue neo mia womu nai tho to pa nila mia mua mia thueli lokue to ma kamo sola wea lawe we to ma rato.

CONTR BECAUSE 1SG DECL.COMP arrive place FRONT 1SG home be DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST INCH see 1SG LOC 1SG intend place PST NEG arrive DISJ TOWARD left ALSO PST NEG turn.

(But because I began to see that a landing-place stood right in front of my house, I neither reached my intended place nor even turned to my left.)

morris: However, I didn't get as far as Biffin's, or even turn to my left thitherward, because just then I began to see that there was a landing-stage right before me in front of my house:

mia phewani mua ha lokue kamo lokue to ki lorima. whekai ha phea ra thena to ke ma nai.

1SG neighbor LOC PROX place arrive place PST PFV build. CONTR PROX AS DIST thing PST INFER NEG be.

(My neighbor had built a landing-place at this spot, but somehow this did not seem to be the same thing.)

morris: in fact, on the place where my next-door neighbour had rigged one up, though somehow it didn't look like that either.

mia wea mulu kau kamo lokue to wepu.

1SG TOWARD low ALL arrive place PST go.

(I went down to the landing-place.)

morris: Down I went on to it,

sheloi luphonu mua ha to se tiwa. lo luphonu mu miona to phelu.

MANY boat LOC PROX PST PASS tie. PL boat zero person PST hold.

(Many boats were moored there, and they were empty.)

morris: and sure enough among the empty boats moored to it

thoa lo luphonu ta miona nia lo rewa to ruemi.

AMONG PL boat one person ON PL oar PST lie down.

(Among the boats, one person lay on their oars.)

morris: lay a man on his sculls

shia luphonu kema nela theru to ke nai. luphonu wei lo wishe miona to se lorima. ha ru nuwi to nai.

3SG boat strong COORD thick PST INFER be. boat DAT PL swim person PST PASS build. PROX INTS clear PST be.

(Their boat looked strong and thick. It was clearly built for swimmers.)

morris: in a solid-looking tub of a boat clearly meant for bathers.

shia roe koma wei mia kiroa to loa. shia wei mia welao kelua to haolu.

3SG INS head DAT 1SG sign PST give. 3SG DAT 1SG good morning PST speak.

(They nodded to me and wished me good morning.)

morris: He nodded to me, and bade me good-morning

shia phea whu mia hasi miona to ke nai.

3SG AS REL 1SG wait person PST INFER be.

(They seemed to have been waiting for me.)

morris: as if he expected me,

thelao mia whuo haolu muo luphonu to tupi.

CONS 1SG WITHOUT speak INTO boat PST jump.

(So I jumped into the boat without a word.)

morris: so I jumped in without any words,

shia sui mia wethalu leiro roe lo rewa to maeli wepu.

3SG DUR 1SG garment release INS PL oar PST quiet go.

(While I undressed, they rowed quietly away.)

morris: and he paddled away quietly as I peeled for my swim.

sui lo mia wepu mia muo phialu to nila. mia to na haolu.

DUR PL 1SG go 1SG INTO water PST see. 1SG PST NEC speak.

(As we went, I looked into the water. I had to speak.)

morris: As we went, I looked down on the water, and couldn't help saying--

mia sha phialu mua ha kelua ru nuwi nai. sho to haolu.

1SG QUOT.COMP water LOC PROX morning INTS clear be. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(I said, "The water is very clear this morning.")

morris: "How clear the water is this morning!"

shia sha wa phialu nuwi nai. mia ha to ma morae. sho to haolu.

3SG QUOT.COMP Q water clear be. 1SG PROX PST NEG sense. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(They said, "Is it? I did not notice.")

morris: "Is it?" said he; "I didn't notice it.

thia sano. rihe lunisa theula thimu luphore la theru ka kelu.

2SG know. rise tide UNIV time river ATTEN thick CAUS become.

(You know. The rising tide always makes the river a little thick.)

morris: You know the flood-tide always thickens it a bit."

mia sha nuo. lu lunisa pai kesho lepa. mia luphore muphia welisha we to ki hi nila. sho to haolu.

1SG QUOT.COMP um. COND tide NEAR middle fall. 1SG river mud color ALSO PST PFV DIR see. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(I said, "Hm. Even when the tide has fallen nearly halfway, I have seen the river mud-colored with my own eyes.")

morris: "H'm," said I, "I have seen it pretty muddy even at half-ebb."

shia mu thena to haolu. whekai shia wakomi to ke phaelo.

3SG zero thing PST speak. CONTR 3SG surprise PST INFER feel.

(They said nothing in answer, but seemed astonished.)

morris: He said nothing in answer, but seemed rather astonished;

shia mua lunisa luphonu to ka manolu. mia wethalu to ki leiro. mia whuo hasi muo phialu to tupi.

3SG LOC tide boat PST CAUS stay. 1SG garment PST PFV release. 1SG WITHOUT wait INTO water PST jump.

(They held the boat steady in the tide. My clothes were off, and I jumped into the water without waiting any longer.)

morris: and as he now lay just stemming the tide, and I had my clothes off, I jumped in without more ado.

lunisa keeps the tide present through its changing phases. rihe lunisa, the rising tide, carries Morris's flood-tide; the later fall gives the ebb, and the boat stays directly in the tide rather than in a generic flow. The waterman's boat is judged by eye throughout, and ke marks every one of those judgments: solid-looking, seemed to expect me, seemed astonished; against them the narrator's one hard piece of evidence, the muddy Thames of his own century, carries hi, seen with his own eyes. His compulsion to speak is na, necessity: "couldn't help saying" is what the obligation particle is for. Mud-color, muphia welisha, composes by the color rule that gives Phi gray and orange.

wisheThe swim

pheo mia koma leo phialu we rihe mia wea lunisa to rato.

POST 1SG head ABOVE water ALSO rise 1SG TOWARD tide PST turn.

(When my head rose above the water again, I turned toward the tide.)

morris: Of course when I had my head above water again I turned towards the tide,

mia lo mirae repha to woeli sheraki.

1SG PL eye bridge PST natural search.

(My eyes naturally searched for the bridge.)

morris: and my eyes naturally sought for the bridge,

whu mia nila mia ru to wakomi. thelao mia wishe to sahu.

REL 1SG see 1SG INTS PST surprise. CONS 1SG swim PST forget.

(What I saw astonished me so utterly that I forgot to swim.)

morris: and so utterly astonished was I by what I saw, that I forgot to strike out,

mia phou phialu we to lepa. mia to kehota.

1SG BELOW water ALSO PST fall. 1SG PST cough.

(I fell beneath the water again and coughed.)

morris: and went spluttering under water again,

pheo mia we rihe mia wea luphonu whuo rato to wepu.

POST 1SG ALSO rise 1SG TOWARD boat WITHOUT turn PST go.

(When I came up again, I went towards the boat without turning.)

morris: and when I came up made straight for the boat;

lao ha kesho nila mia lo remo ru to ki tiwa mia tha mia wei luphonu miona na thilou tho to phaelo.

BECAUSE PROX middle see 1SG PL think INTS PST PFV tie 1SG DECL.COMP 1SG DAT boat person NEC inquire DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST feel.

(Because this partial glimpse had thoroughly tangled my thoughts, I felt that I had to question the boat worker.)

morris: for I felt that I must ask some questions of my waterman, so bewildering had been the half-sight I had seen

mia lue luphore menoa ha to nila. phialu mua lo mirae to si manolu.

1SG ABL river face PROX PST see. water LOC PL eye PST IPFV stay.

(I had seen this from the river's face while water still remained in my eyes.)

morris: from the face of the river with the water hardly out of my eyes;

whekai mua ha thimu nulae tupeka nela wiloru lue mia to ki lepa. mia ru waeli to nai. mia korua nuwi to nai.

CONTR LOC PROX time sleep burden COORD dizziness ABL 1SG PST PFV fall. 1SG INTS conscious PST be. 1SG heart clear PST be.

(But by this time the burden of sleep and the dizziness had fallen from me: I was wide awake, and my mind was clear.)

morris: though by this time I was quit of the slumbrous and dizzy feeling, and was wide-awake and clear-headed.

mia roe whu shia to ki ka lepa lo kalei thena muo luphonu to kalei.

1SG INS REL 3SG PST PFV CAUS fall PL climb thing INTO boat PST climb.

(I climbed into the boat using the steps they had lowered.)

morris: As I got in up the steps which he had lowered,

lila mia naphe shia manuwe to sepho.

PURP 1SG help 3SG hand PST send.

(They held out a hand to help me.)

morris: and he held out his hand to help me,

lo mia wea luphore thorui to reshi lupho.

PL 1SG TOWARD river beginning PST fast float.

(We went drifting speedily upstream.)

morris: we went drifting speedily up towards Chiswick;

whekai shia lo rewa to pilu. shia luphonu we to ka rato.

CONTR 3SG PL oar PST take. 3SG boat ALSO PST CAUS turn.

(But now they picked up the oars and turned the boat around again.)

morris: but now he caught up the sculls and brought her head round again,

shia sha kona phewani. teku wishe to nai. sho to haolu.

3SG QUOT.COMP VOC neighbor. short swim PST be. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(They said, "Neighbour, that was a short swim.")

morris: and said--"A short swim, neighbour;

whekai thia pheo thia laniru mua ha kelua tha phialu pelui nai tho po phaelo.

CONTR 2SG POST 2SG journey LOC PROX morning DECL.COMP water cold be DECL.COMP.CLOSE POT feel.

(But perhaps, after your journey, the water feels cold to you this morning.)

morris: but perhaps you find the water cold this morning, after your journey.

wa mia thia nosa kau kerime kolua sola thia phoe kelua nurome wea luphore lumae wepu rinu.

Q 1SG 2SG now ALL shore carry DISJ 2SG ANT morning meal TOWARD river end go want.

(Shall I carry you ashore now, or would you like to go downstream before breakfast?)

morris: Shall I put you ashore at once, or would you like to go down to Putney before breakfast?"

mia tha mia womu muila luphonu miona phirae kire so haolu tho to ho remo. thelao mia shia to ru nila.

1SG DECL.COMP 1SG home earth boat person different shape FUT speak DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST ASSUM think. CONS 1SG 3SG PST INTS see.

(I had assumed that a boat worker from my homeland would speak differently, so I stared at them.)

morris: He spoke in a way so unlike what I should have expected from a Hammersmith waterman, that I stared at him,

mia sha pi no luphonu ka teku manolu. mia tha mia roa mia teku nila tho rinu. sho to haolu.

1SG QUOT.COMP POL IMP boat CAUS short stay. 1SG DECL.COMP 1SG AROUND 1SG short see DECL.COMP.CLOSE want. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(I answered, "Please hold the boat still for a moment. I want to look around.")

morris: as I answered, "Please to hold her a little; I want to look about me a bit."

shia sha lia. ha lokue phea ra welamu lokue mioru nai. sho to haolu.

3SG QUOT.COMP yes. PROX place AS DIST elm place beautiful be. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(They said, "Yes. This place is beautiful, like that elm-place.")

morris: "All right," he said; "it's no less pretty in its way here than it is off Barn Elms;

mua ha kelua thimu theula lokue loshi nai.

LOC PROX morning time UNIV place joyful be.

(Everywhere is joyful at this time of morning.)

morris: it's jolly everywhere this time in the morning.

thia mua kelua thorui to nowae. mia siora phaelo. sileta li nosa ki rihe.

2SG LOC morning beginning PST awaken. 1SG joy feel. sun RESTR now PFV rise.

(You woke at the beginning of morning, and I am glad. The sun has only just risen.)

morris: I'm glad you got up early; it's barely five o'clock yet."

luphonu mionaThe waterman

lu mia roe luphore lo kerime nila to wakomi. luphonu miona mia we to wakomi. wi wakomi kolo to nai.

COND 1SG INS river PL shore see PST surprise. boat person 1SG ALSO PST surprise. two surprise equal PST be.

(If seeing the riverbanks had astonished me, the boat worker astonished me too. The two surprises were equal.)

morris: If I was astonished with my sight of the river banks, I was no less astonished at my waterman,

nosa mia roe nuwi koma nela lo nuwi mirae shia to po nila.

now 1SG INS clear head COORD PL clear eye 3SG PST POT see.

(Now I could look at them with a clear head and clear eyes.)

morris: now that I had time to look at him and see him with my head and eyes clear.

shia mioru limu miona to nai.

3SG beautiful young person PST be.

(They were a beautiful young person.)

morris: He was a handsome young fellow,

phirae nirelo nela phena menoa kire mua shia lo mirae to nai. ha menoa kire wei mia mua ra thimu ru newu to nai. whekai pheo teku thimu mia ha to sano.

different pleasant COORD kind face shape LOC 3SG PL eye PST be. PROX face shape DAT 1SG LOC DIST time INTS new PST be. CONTR POST short time 1SG PROX PST know.

(Their eyes held an unusually pleasant and kind expression. It was entirely new to me then, but I soon came to know it well.)

morris: with a peculiarly pleasant and friendly look about his eyes,--an expression which was quite new to me then, though I soon became familiar with it.

sheno shia whila nuelo to nai. shia hisae nuelo mureli to nai.

ADD 3SG hair dark PST be. 3SG skin dark brown PST be.

(They also had dark hair and dark-brown skin.)

morris: For the rest, he was dark-haired and berry-brown of skin,

shia keruko nela kema to nai. shia lo kuroi phea whu ro kema roke thena to ke nai.

3SG sturdy COORD strong PST be. 3SG PL muscle AS REL HAB strong move thing PST INFER be.

(They were sturdy and strong. Their muscles seemed accustomed to vigorous movement.)

morris: well-knit and strong, and obviously used to exercising his muscles,

whekai mu keloa thena mua shia to nai. shia ru hiso to nai.

CONTR zero rough thing LOC 3SG PST be. 3SG INTS clean PST be.

(But there was nothing rough about them, and they were very clean.)

morris: but with nothing rough or coarse about him, and clean as might be.

shia wethalu phea whu mia to ki nila lo nosa riola wethalu to ma nai.

3SG garment AS REL 1SG PST PFV see PL now labor garment PST NEG be.

(Their clothing was unlike any modern work clothing I had seen.)

morris: His dress was not like any modern work-a-day clothes I had seen,

mua ru serao punoa lioru kire ha wethalu ru theali to po nai.

LOC INTS old society life shape PROX garment INTS fitting PST POT be.

(This garment could have fit very well into an image of life in a much older society.)

morris: but would have served very well as a costume for a picture of fourteenth century life:

wethalu nuko shilu to nai. wethalu siloma to nai. whekai wethalu to se lemi selomi. mu piloe nia wethalu to nai.

garment black blue PST be. garment simple PST be. CONTR garment PST PASS thin weave. zero spot ON garment PST be.

(The garment was dark blue and simple, but finely woven and spotless.)

morris: it was of dark blue cloth, simple enough, but of fine web, and without a stain on it.

shia roa kesho mureli kori tiwa to phelu.

3SG AROUND middle brown leather tie PST hold.

(They wore a brown leather belt around their waist.)

morris: He had a brown leather belt round his waist,

mia tha tiwa tapu teshilo nai tho to morae. teshilo lo selu kire to phelu. teshilo to se mioru kati.

1SG DECL.COMP tie close steel be DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST sense. steel PL flow shape PST hold. steel PST PASS beautiful cut.

(I noticed the belt's steel clasp. It held flowing shapes, beautifully cut.)

morris: and I noticed that its clasp was of damascened steel beautifully wrought.

shia phea whu mua raelu punoa noa nai ru kema nela phiro limu miona to ke nai. shia wei siora luphonu riola to ke phoa.

3SG AS REL LOC tall society position be INTS strong COORD elegant young person PST INFER be. 3SG DAT joy boat labor PST INFER do.

(They seemed to be a very strong, elegant young person of high social position. It seemed that they did boat work for joy.)

morris: In short, he seemed to be like some specially manly and refined young gentleman, playing waterman for a spree,

mia tha ha shewo nai tho to ke remo.

1SG DECL.COMP PROX true be DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST INFER think.

(I concluded that this was true.)

morris: and I concluded that this was the case.

lo shalumi meraThe salmon-nets

mia tha mia na thorelu tho to phaelo.

1SG DECL.COMP 1SG NEC converse DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST feel.

(I felt that I had to talk.)

morris: I felt that I must make some conversation;

mia wea ra roe manuwe kiroa to loa. mua ra kerime soli phelo wolea ruela to nila. lo ruela kau phialu to wepu.

1SG TOWARD DIST INS hand sign PST give. LOC DIST shore SOME light wood path PST see. PL path ALL water PST go.

(I pointed to the far bank. There I saw some light wooden paths that ran down to the water.)

morris: so I pointed to the Surrey bank, where I noticed some light plank stages running down the foreshore,

lo rato keli mua ruela lumae sio muila to whano.

PL turn device LOC path end BESIDE earth PST stand.

(Turning devices stood at their landward ends.)

morris: with windlasses at the landward end of them,

mia to haolu.

1SG PST speak.

(I said:)

morris: and said,

lo miona roe ra lo thena hina phoa.

PL person INS DIST PL thing what do.

("What do people do with those things?")

morris: "What are they doing with those things here?

lu he lo mia mua ra nitho luphore nai. mia tha lo miona roe ra lo thena shalumi mera natu tho haolu.

COND IRR PL 1SG LOC DIST north river be. 1SG DECL.COMP PL person INS DIST PL thing salmon net pull DECL.COMP.CLOSE speak.

(If we were on that northern river, I would say that people were pulling salmon nets with them.)

morris: If we were on the Tay, I should have said that they were for drawing the salmon nets;

whekai mua ha lokue mia to te haolu.

CONTR LOC PROX place 1SG PST CESS speak.

(But here I stopped speaking.)

morris: but here--"

shia to seniku. shia to haolu.

3SG PST smile. 3SG PST speak.

(They smiled and said:)

morris: "Well," said he, smiling,

lia. lo miona roe ra lo thena shalumi mera natu.

yes. PL person INS DIST PL thing salmon net pull.

("Yes. People pull salmon nets with those things.")

morris: "of course that is what they _are_ for.

mua whu shalumi nai lokue shalumi mera ho nai.

LOC REL salmon be place salmon net ASSUM be.

(Where there are salmon, there are likely to be salmon nets.)

morris: Where there are salmon, there are likely to be salmon-nets,

mua ha luphore sola ra luphore.

LOC PROX river DISJ DIST river.

(In this river or that one.)

morris: Tay or Thames;

whekai lo miona roe lo mera theula thimu shalumi ma kawepa.

CONTR PL person INS PL net UNIV time salmon NEG catch.

(But people do not always catch salmon with the nets.)

morris: but of course they are not always in use;

lo mia mua meluna theula philo shalumi ma rinu.

PL 1SG LOC season UNIV day salmon NEG want.

(We don't want salmon every day of the season.)

morris: we don't want salmon _every_ day of the season."

rephaThe bridge

mia tha mia sha wa ha whu mia sano luphore nai. sho haolu tho to thueli.

1SG DECL.COMP 1SG QUOT.COMP Q PROX REL 1SG know river be. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE speak DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST intend.

(I was going to say, "Is this the river I know?")

morris: I was going to say, "But is this the Thames?"

whekai mia mua waora to maeli manolu.

CONTR 1SG LOC wondrous PST quiet stay.

(But I remained quiet in my wonder.)

morris: but held my peace in my wonder,

whau mia remo tiwa to phaelo mia wea sileta thorui lo mirae to rato. mia repha we to nila. pheo thena mia luphore lo kerime to nila.

SIMUL 1SG think tie PST feel 1SG TOWARD sun beginning PL eye PST turn. 1SG bridge ALSO PST see. POST thing 1SG river PL shore PST see.

(While my thoughts felt tangled, I turned my eyes eastward. I looked at the bridge again, then at the riverbanks.)

morris: and turned my bewildered eyes eastward to look at the bridge again, and thence to the shores of the London river;

whu mia wakomi thena henoi to nai.

REL 1SG surprise thing ENOUGH PST be.

(There was enough to astonish me.)

morris: and surely there was enough to astonish me.

thue luphore repha to whano. nia lo kerime lo womu to whano.

THROUGH river bridge PST stand. ON PL shore PL home PST stand.

(A bridge stood across the river, and houses stood on its banks.)

morris: For though there was a bridge across the stream and houses on its banks,

whekai theula thena lue luera shero to ki ru moluki.

CONTR UNIV thing ABL past night PST PFV INTS transform.

(But everything had utterly changed since last night.)

morris: how all was changed from last night!

lo sawa thena riola womu to ma manolu. lo womu lo thumiro sepho ruela to phelu.

PL wash thing labor home PST NEG stay. PL home PL smoke send path PST hold.

(The workshops for washing things were gone. Their buildings had paths that sent out smoke.)

morris: The soap-works with their smoke-vomiting chimneys were gone;

lo keli riola womu to ma manolu. lo tumoa keluo riola womu we to ma manolu.

PL device labor home PST NEG stay. PL heavy metal labor home ALSO PST NEG stay.

(The machine workshops were gone. The heavy-metal workshops were gone too.)

morris: the engineer's works gone; the lead-works gone;

keluo tiwa shonuwa nela roe toka kema palo shonuwa nua sileta lumae howeli to ma kamo.

metal tie sound COORD INS hammer strong touch sound COM sun end wind PST NEG arrive.

(No sound of metal being fastened or hammers making hard contact came on the west wind.)

morris: and no sound of rivetting and hammering came down the west wind from Thorneycroft's.

wao. repha.

wow. bridge.

(Wow. The bridge.)

morris: Then the bridge!

mia phea ha repha to ki po whemura. whekai mia phea ha repha mue whu lo kolai phelu shelu mawha thimu to ki nila.

1SG AS PROX bridge PST PFV POT dream. CONTR 1SG AS PROX bridge OUT.OF REL PL pigment hold book NONE time PST PFV see.

(I might have dreamed of such a bridge, but I had never seen one outside a painted book.)

morris: I had perhaps dreamed of such a bridge, but never seen such an one out of an illuminated manuscript;

whu mia sano ru mioru repha pai we ha to ma kamo.

REL 1SG know INTS beautiful bridge NEAR ALSO PROX PST NEG arrive.

(Even a very beautiful bridge I knew did not come close to it.)

morris: for not even the Ponte Vecchio at Florence came anywhere near it.

repha nia sheloi kerou toreku to whano. lo toreku ru kema nela ru luwae to nai.

bridge ON MANY stone arch PST stand. PL arch INTS strong COORD INTS graceful PST be.

(It stood on stone arches that were very strong and very graceful.)

morris: It was of stone arches, splendidly solid, and as graceful as they were strong;

repha pe raelu to nai. lo luphonu phou repha to po helu wepu.

bridge SUFF tall PST be. PL boat BELOW bridge PST POT smooth go.

(The bridge was high enough for boats to pass smoothly beneath it.)

morris: high enough also to let ordinary river traffic through easily.

leo repha moru sheloi kuewa wiero thiku womu to whano.

ABOVE bridge wall MANY strange imaginative small home PST stand.

(Many strange, fanciful little buildings stood on the wall above the bridge.)

morris: Over the parapet showed quaint and fanciful little buildings,

mia tha lo thena wei loa nela pilu womu nai tho to ho remo.

1SG DECL.COMP PL thing DAT give COORD take home be DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST ASSUM think.

(I supposed them to be houses for giving and taking.)

morris: which I supposed to be booths or shops,

nia lo womu sheloi whu kolai nela solai phelu rato keli nela thiku raelu lorima to whano.

ON PL home MANY REL pigment COORD gold hold turn device COORD small tall build PST stand.

(Many turning devices covered with pigment and gold stood on the buildings, along with little tall structures.)

morris: beset with painted and gilded vanes and spirelets.

kerou to ki la rohemi. whekai mu hureki thumiro piloe nia kerou to nai.

stone PST PFV ATTEN wear down. CONTR zero dirty smoke spot ON stone PST be.

(The stone had weathered a little, but there was no dirty soot-stain on it.)

morris: The stone was a little weathered, but showed no marks of the grimy sootiness

mua whu mia sano whalo silawo nia theula serao womu thumiro piloe to ro nai.

LOC REL 1SG know large village ON UNIV old home smoke spot PST HAB be.

(In the great city I knew, smoke-stains were the rule on every old building.)

morris: which I was used to on every London building more than a year old.

wei mia ha waora repha to nai.

DAT 1SG PROX wondrous bridge PST be.

(To me, this was a wondrous bridge.)

morris: In short, to me a wonder of a bridge.

rewa miona mia therua wakomi menoa kire to morae. shia phea whu mia lo remo hea miona to haolu.

oar person 1SG eager surprise face shape PST sense. 3SG AS REL 1SG PL think hear person PST speak.

(The rower noticed my eager, astonished expression and spoke as though they had heard my thoughts:)

morris: The sculler noted my eager astonished look, and said, as if in answer to my thoughts--

lia. repha mioru nai. wa thia nawo.

yes. bridge beautiful be. Q 2SG agree.

("Yes, it is a beautiful bridge, isn't it?")

morris: "Yes, it _is_ a pretty bridge, isn't it?

lo wea luphore thorui repha sheo ha repha mo thiku nai. ha ponalu phirae ru whalo nai. whekai ra lo repha sheo ha repha mo luwae po ma nai.

PL TOWARD river beginning bridge THAN PROX bridge CMPR small be. PROX size different INTS large be. CONTR DIST PL bridge THAN PROX bridge CMPR graceful POT NEG be.

(The upstream bridges are much smaller than this one, but they could be no more graceful than this bridge.)

morris: Even the up-stream bridges, which are so much smaller, are scarcely daintier,

lo wea luphore lumae repha sheo ha repha mo thunoa nela phiro po ma nai.

PL TOWARD river end bridge THAN PROX bridge CMPR dignified COORD elegant POT NEG be.

(The downstream bridges could be no more dignified or elegant than this one.)

morris: and the down-stream ones are scarcely more dignified and stately."

mia pai whuo miso rinu to haolu. mia sha repha wia torua to ki whano. sho to haolu.

1SG NEAR WITHOUT REFL want PST speak. 1SG QUOT.COMP bridge how many year PST PFV stand. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(Almost unwillingly, I spoke. I asked, "How many years has the bridge stood?")

morris: I found myself saying, almost against my will, "How old is it?"

shia sha repha ru serao ma nai. sho to haolu.

3SG QUOT.COMP bridge INTS old NEG be. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(They said, "The bridge is not very old.")

morris: "Oh, not very old," he said;

mua ra torua repha to se phae. mua ra torua repha to se po lorima.

LOC DIST year bridge PST PASS open. LOC DIST year bridge PST PASS POT build.

(The bridge was opened in that year. It may have been built then too.)

morris: "it was built or at least opened, in 2003.

phoe ra thimu mua ra lokue wemo wolea repha to ro whano.

ANT DIST time LOC DIST place plain wood bridge PST HAB stand.

(Before that time, a plain wooden bridge used to stand there.)

morris: There used to be a rather plain timber bridge before then."

ra torua mia phulae to ka tapu. mia phulae phea whu roe kira se tapu ponu to nai.

DIST year 1SG mouth PST CAUS close. 1SG mouth AS REL INS key PASS close door PST be.

(That year shut my mouth: it was like a door a key had closed.)

morris: The date shut my mouth as if a key had been turned in a padlock fixed to my lips;

mia tha whu se po ma shelomu thena to ki kelu tho to nila.

1SG DECL.COMP REL PASS POT NEG understand thing PST PFV become DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST see.

(I saw that something had become impossible to understand.)

morris: for I saw that something inexplicable had happened,

lu mia sheloi haolu. mia nua lo wiso thilou nua lo tiwa ruela lonae muo wile so se welotu.

COND 1SG MANY speak. 1SG COM PL RECP inquire COM PL tie path respond INTO play FUT PASS mix.

(If I said much, I would become mixed up in a game of questions crossing one another and answers following tangled paths.)

morris: and that if I said much, I should be mixed up in a game of cross questions and crooked answers.

thelao mia miso nuloe to ka nila. mia phea keno luphore lo kerime to nila.

CONS 1SG REFL content PST CAUS see. 1SG AS custom river PL shore PST see.

(So I made myself look content and looked at the riverbanks as though this were customary.)

morris: So I tried to look unconcerned, and to glance in a matter-of-course way at the banks of the river,

whekai mia tei repha to nila. mia pheo repha la wuero lokue to nila. mia tei whu lo sawa thena riola womu to whano lokue to nila.

CONTR 1SG UNTIL bridge PST see. 1SG POST bridge ATTEN far place PST see. 1SG UNTIL REL PL wash thing labor home PST stand place PST see.

(Yet I looked all the way to the bridge, a little beyond it, and as far as the place where the workshops for washing things had stood.)

morris: though this is what I saw up to the bridge and a little beyond; say as far as the site of the soap-works.

lo womu nela thepaluThe houses and the garden

nia wi kerime lo womu wi sima to whano. lo womu ru mioru to nai. lo womu mulu to nai. lo womu whalo ma nai.

ON two shore PL home two thread PST stand. PL home INTS beautiful PST be. PL home low PST be. PL home large NEG be.

(On the two shores stood two lines of houses. The houses were very beautiful, low, and not large.)

morris: Both shores had a line of very pretty houses, low and not large,

lo womu lue luphore thiku wuero to whano.

PL home ABL river small far PST stand.

(They stood back a little way from the river.)

morris: standing back a little way from the river;

pai theula womu roe rulo mueri kerou to ki se lorima. lo womu toru mueri to nai.

NEAR UNIV home INS red clay stone PST PFV PASS build. PL home roof clay PST be.

(Most of the houses had been built of red brick, and their roofs were clay.)

morris: they were mostly built of red brick and roofed with tiles,

lo womu phea whu therilu loa lokue to ke nai.

PL home AS REL rest give place PST INFER be.

(The houses looked like places that give rest.)

morris: and looked, above all, comfortable,

lo womu phea lima thena to ke nai. lo womu nua lo menui miona lioru koru to ke nai.

PL home AS alive thing PST INFER be. PL home COM PL dwell person life harmonious PST INFER be.

(They seemed alive and in harmony with the lives of their inhabitants.)

morris: and as if they were, so to say, alive, and sympathetic with the life of the dwellers in them.

neo lo womu ta whuo pukate thepalu to nai. thepalu wea mulu kau luphore kerime to wepu.

FRONT PL home one WITHOUT break garden PST be. garden TOWARD low ALL river shore PST go.

(One unbroken garden lay in front of them and ran down to the water's edge.)

morris: There was a continuous garden in front of them, going down to the water's edge,

mua thepalu lo peloru nosa to ru sheloa.

LOC garden PL flower now PST INTS bloom.

(The flowers in it were now in full bloom.)

morris: in which the flowers were now blooming luxuriantly,

luphore to rato. lo peloru lo nirelo keloi whinu to sepho. lo whinu leo luphore phea lo morilu to selu.

river PST turn. PL flower PL pleasant summer smell PST send. PL smell ABOVE river AS PL wave PST flow.

(The river turned. The flowers sent out pleasant summer scents, and they flowed over the river like waves.)

morris: and sending delicious waves of summer scent over the eddying stream.

mia tha noe lo womu whalo lo shiro to rihe tho to hi nila. sheloi shiro pilomu to nai.

1SG DECL.COMP BEHIND PL home large PL tree PST rise DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST DIR see. MANY tree sycamore PST be.

(I saw for myself that great trees rose behind the houses. Many were sycamores.)

morris: Behind the houses, I could see great trees rising, mostly planes,

thelao luphore phea whu shelira kerime phelu thelomi to ke nai.

CONS river AS REL forest shore hold lake PST INFER be.

(So the reaches of the river seemed like a lake with a forest shore.)

morris: and looking down the water there were the reaches towards Putney almost as if they were a lake with a forest shore,

wea luphore lumae lo whalo shiro ru theru to whano.

TOWARD river end PL large tree INTS thick PST stand.

(Downstream, the large trees stood densely together.)

morris: so thick were the big trees;

mia phea wei miso to hewasu haolu. mia sha mia tha lo miona leo ra welamu lokue to ma lorima tho siora phaelo. sho to haolu.

1SG AS DAT REFL PST audible speak. 1SG QUOT.COMP 1SG DECL.COMP PL person ABOVE DIST elm place PST NEG build DECL.COMP.CLOSE joy feel. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(I said aloud, as if to myself, "I am glad they have not built over that elm-place.")

morris: and I said aloud, but as if to myself-- "Well, I'm glad that they have not built over Barn Elms."

lo haolu mue mia phulae to lepa. lao mia tawimo to nai mia menoa rulo to kelu.

PL speak OUT.OF 1SG mouth PST fall. BECAUSE 1SG foolish PST be 1SG face red PST become.

(The words fell out of my mouth. Because I had been foolish, my face turned red.)

morris: I blushed for my fatuity as the words slipped out of my mouth,

mia keloe roe kesho seniku mia to nila. mia tha mia ha seniku shelomu tho to remo.

1SG companion INS middle smile 1SG PST see. 1SG DECL.COMP 1SG PROX smile understand DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST think.

(I saw my companion with a half-smile, and I thought I understood it.)

morris: and my companion looked at me with a half smile which I thought I understood;

thelao lila lo miona mia remo tiwa ma nila mia to haolu.

CONS PURP PL person 1SG think tie NEG see 1SG PST speak.

(So that the others would not see my tangled thoughts, I spoke:)

morris: so to hide my confusion I said,

pi no mia nosa kau kerime kolua. mia kelua nurome rinu.

POL IMP 1SG now ALL shore carry. 1SG morning meal want.

("Please take me ashore now: I want to get my breakfast.")

morris: "Please take me ashore now: I want to get my breakfast."

wiaHow many

shia roe koma kiroa to loa. shia roe ta reshi rewa pesa luphonu to ka rato.

3SG INS head sign PST give. 3SG INS one fast oar push boat PST CAUS turn.

(They nodded and turned the boat with one quick push of the oar.)

morris: He nodded, and brought her head round with a sharp stroke,

pheo teku shemu lo mia mua kamo lokue we to nai.

POST short moment PL 1SG LOC arrive place ALSO PST be.

(A moment later, we were back at the landing-place.)

morris: and in a trice we were at the landing-stage again.

shia mue luphonu to tupi. mia noe shia to wepu.

3SG OUT.OF boat PST jump. 1SG BEHIND 3SG PST go.

(They jumped out, and I followed them.)

morris: He jumped out and I followed him;

shia to hasi. ha mia to ma wakomi.

3SG PST wait. PROX 1SG PST NEG surprise.

(They waited. This did not surprise me.)

morris: and of course I was not surprised to see him wait,

mia tha shia whu pheo wei punoa miona pheloma na kamo thena hasi tho to ho remo.

1SG DECL.COMP 3SG REL POST DAT society person serve NEC arrive thing wait DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST ASSUM think.

(I assumed that they were waiting for whatever must follow service to another member of society.)

morris: as if for the inevitable after-piece that follows the doing of a service to a fellow-citizen.

thelao mia muo wethalu manuwe to sepho. mia sha wia. sho to haolu.

CONS 1SG INTO garment hand PST send. 1SG QUOT.COMP how many. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(So I put my hand into my garment, and said, "How many?")

morris: So I put my hand into my waistcoat-pocket, and said, "How much?"

whekai mia luroi to nai. mia tha lu mia lo thiku keluo thena wei whu mua raelu punoa noa nai miona loa. mia po kanelu tho to phaelo.

CONTR 1SG nervous PST be. 1SG DECL.COMP COND 1SG PL small metal thing DAT REL LOC tall society position be person give. 1SG POT err DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST feel.

(Still, I was uneasy. I felt that if I offered the little metal pieces to a person of high social position, I might be making a mistake.)

morris: though still with the uncomfortable feeling that perhaps I was offering money to a gentleman.

shia menoa remo tiwa to ka nila. shia to haolu.

3SG face think tie PST CAUS see. 3SG PST speak.

(They looked puzzled and said:)

morris: He looked puzzled, and said,

wia. mia whu thia haolu thena po ma shelomu.

how many. 1SG REL 2SG speak thing POT NEG understand.

("How many? I cannot understand what you are asking about.")

morris: "How much? I don't quite understand what you are asking about.

wa thia lunisa haolu. lunisa nosa pai rato nai.

Q 2SG tide speak. tide now NEAR turn be.

(Do you mean the tide? It is close to turning now.)

morris: Do you mean the tide? If so, it is close on the turn now."

mia menoa rulo to kelu. mia roe pukate haoni to haolu.

1SG face red PST become. 1SG INS break voice PST speak.

(I blushed. My voice broke as I spoke.)

morris: I blushed, and said, stammering,

pi mia mua wei thia thilou peloma ma thueli. whekai mia wei thia hina na loa.

POL 1SG LOC DAT 2SG inquire harmful NEG intend. CONTR 1SG DAT 2SG what NEC give.

("I mean no harm by my question, please. But what must I give you?")

morris: "Please don't take it amiss if I ask you; I mean no offence: but what ought I to pay you?

mia kuewa miona nai. mia thia lo keno ma sano. mia thia lo thiku keluo thena we ma sano.

1SG strange person be. 1SG 2SG PL custom NEG know. 1SG 2SG PL small metal thing ALSO NEG know.

(I am a stranger. I do not know your customs, nor do I know your little metal pieces.)

morris: You see I am a stranger, and don't know your customs--or your coins."

pheo thena mia mue wethalu manuwe pheno lo thiku keluo thena to pilu.

POST thing 1SG OUT.OF garment hand full PL small metal thing PST take.

(Then I took a handful of the little metal pieces out of my garment.)

morris: And therewith I took a handful of money out of my pocket,

mia phea whu mua kuewa muila laniru miona to phoa.

1SG AS REL LOC strange earth journey person PST do.

(I did what a traveller in a strange land does.)

morris: as one does in a foreign country.

mia tha shioli nua haowu to ki moluki tho to hi nila. shioli phea nuko moeli to nai.

1SG DECL.COMP silver COM air PST PFV transform DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST DIR see. silver AS black hearth PST be.

(I saw for myself that the silver had changed through contact with air. It looked like a black hearth.)

morris: And by the way, I saw that the silver had oxydised, and was like a blackleaded stove in colour.

shia remo tiwa to si ke phaelo. whekai shia peloma to ma phaelo. shia lo thiku keluo thena to kuelo nila.

3SG think tie PST IPFV INFER feel. CONTR 3SG harmful PST NEG feel. 3SG PL small metal thing PST curious see.

(They still seemed puzzled, but not hurt. They looked curiously at the little metal pieces.)

morris: He still seemed puzzled, but not at all offended; and he looked at the coins with some curiosity.

mia tha shia shewo luphonu miona nai tho to remo. shia whu shia po pilu thena to remo. mia ha to ho remo.

1SG DECL.COMP 3SG true boat person be DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST think. 3SG REL 3SG POT take thing PST think. 1SG PROX PST ASSUM think.

(I thought they really were a boat worker and were considering what they might take. That was my assumption.)

morris: I thought, Well after all, he _is_ a waterman, and is considering what he may venture to take.

shia phena miona ke nai. thelao mia wei shia soli mo thena loa to rinu.

3SG kind person INFER be. CONS 1SG DAT 3SG SOME CMPR thing give PST want.

(They seemed kind, so I wanted to give them something more.)

morris: He seems such a nice fellow that I'm sure I don't grudge him a little over-payment.

lao shia korua ru tiso nai mia pha lu mia wei shia lo thiku keluo thena loa. shia sui ta sola wi philo mia kulo po kelomi pho to remo.

BECAUSE 3SG heart INTS sharp be 1SG INT.COMP COND 1SG DAT 3SG PL small metal thing give. 3SG DUR one DISJ two day 1SG guide POT accept INT.COMP.CLOSE PST think.

(Because their mind was so sharp, I wondered whether, if I gave them the little metal pieces, they might agree to guide me for one or two days.)

morris: I wonder, by the way, whether I couldn't hire him as a guide for a day or two, since he is so intelligent.

pheo thena mia newu melu roe nulo remo to haolu.

POST thing 1SG new friend INS deep think PST speak.

(My new friend then spoke thoughtfully:)

morris: Therewith my new friend said thoughtfully:

mia tha mia thia remo sano tho remo.

1SG DECL.COMP 1SG 2SG think know DECL.COMP.CLOSE think.

("I think I know what you mean.")

morris: "I think I know what you mean.

thia tha mia thia to pheloma tho remo. thelao thia tha thia wei mia thena na loa tho phaelo.

2SG DECL.COMP 1SG 2SG PST serve DECL.COMP.CLOSE think. CONS 2SG DECL.COMP 2SG DAT 1SG thing NEC give DECL.COMP.CLOSE feel.

(You think that I have served you, so you feel that you must give me something.)

morris: You think that I have done you a service; so you feel yourself bound to give me something

lu phewani wei mia phirae thena to ki ma phoa. whekai mia wei phewani ra thena ro ma loa.

COND neighbor DAT 1SG different thing PST PFV NEG do. CONTR 1SG DAT neighbor DIST thing HAB NEG give.

(If a neighbour has not done something unusual for me, I do not ordinarily give them such a thing.)

morris: which I am not to give to a neighbour, unless he has done something special for me.

mia ha keno lo haolu to hea.

1SG PROX custom PL speak PST hear.

(I have heard talk of this kind of custom.)

morris: I have heard of this kind of thing;

pi ha keno wei lo mia kethua nela phea tiwa ruela keno ke nai. lo mia pha lo mia ha thela phoa pho ma sano.

POL PROX custom DAT PL 1SG hard COORD AS tie path custom INFER be. PL 1SG INT.COMP PL 1SG PROX how do INT.COMP.CLOSE NEG know.

(Please understand that this custom seems difficult to us, like a tangled path. We do not know how to follow it.)

morris: but pardon me for saying, that it seems to us a troublesome and roundabout custom; and we don't know how to manage it.

mia thue phialu miona kolua. mia lo miona roa phialu we kolua. ha mia riola nai. mia wei theula miona ha ro phoa.

1SG THROUGH water person carry. 1SG PL person AROUND water ALSO carry. PROX 1SG labor be. 1SG DAT UNIV person PROX HAB do.

(I carry people across the water and around it. This is my work, and I do it for anyone.)

morris: And you see this ferrying and giving people casts about the water is my _business_, which I would do for anybody;

lu mia nua riola lo loami pilu. lo miona ha ru kuewa so nila.

COND 1SG COM labor PL gift take. PL person PROX INTS strange FUT see.

(If I took gifts along with the work, people would see that as very strange.)

morris: so to take gifts in connection with it would look very queer.

lu sheno ta miona wei mia thena loa. wi miona so po loa. pheo thena lo mo miona so po loa.

COND ADD one person DAT 1SG thing give. two person FUT POT give. POST thing PL CMPR person FUT POT give.

(Besides, if one person gave me something, a second might, and then more might, and so on.)

morris: Besides, if one person gave me something, then another might, and another, and so on;

mia pha mia kua sheloi melu halemu thena phelu pho so ma sano. su thia tha mia keloa nai tho ma remo.

1SG INT.COMP 1SG where MANY friend remember thing hold INT.COMP.CLOSE FUT NEG know. OPT 2SG DECL.COMP 1SG rough be DECL.COMP.CLOSE NEG think.

(I would not know where to keep so many remembrances of friendship. Please do not think me rude.)

morris: and I hope you won't think me rude if I say that I shouldn't know where to stow away so many mementos of friendship."

shia to theisa hola. shia siora to phaelo.

3SG PST loud laugh. 3SG joy PST feel.

(They laughed loudly and joyfully.)

morris: And he laughed loud and merrily,

ha nua riola loami pilu remo shia ru monelu to ka kelu.

PROX COM labor gift take think 3SG INTS amused PST CAUS become.

(The thought of accepting gifts alongside their work had thoroughly amused them.)

morris: as if the idea of being paid for his work was a very funny joke.

mia sukima to pa phaelo. mia tha ha miona phelira remo phelu tho to remo. shai shia nuwi remo phelu to ke nai.

1SG fear PST INCH feel. 1SG DECL.COMP PROX person mistaken think hold DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST think. CONC 3SG clear think hold PST INFER be.

(I began to fear that this person held mistaken thoughts, although they seemed to think clearly.)

morris: I confess I began to be afraid that the man was mad, though he looked sane enough;

lao lo mia sio nulo reshi luphore to nai mia tha mia welao wishe miona nai tho to siora remo.

BECAUSE PL 1SG BESIDE deep fast river PST be 1SG DECL.COMP 1SG good swim person be DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST joy think.

(Since we were beside a deep, swift river, I was rather glad to think that I was a good swimmer.)

morris: and I was rather glad to think that I was a good swimmer, since we were so close to a deep swift stream.

whekai shia phea whu phelira remo phelu miona to ma haolu.

CONTR 3SG AS REL mistaken think hold person PST NEG speak.

(But they did not speak like someone whose thinking was mistaken.)

morris: However, he went on by no means like a madman:

thia lo thiku keluo thena kuewa nai. whekai lo thena ru serao ma nai. theula thena lue ta luera karami miona thimu ke nai.

2SG PL small metal thing strange be. CONTR PL thing INTS old NEG be. UNIV thing ABL one past authority person time INFER be.

("Your little metal pieces are strange, but they are not very old. They seem to come from one past ruler's time.")

morris: "As to your coins, they are curious, but not very old; they seem to be all of the reign of Victoria;

thia lo thena wei whu phina thena phelu halemu womu po loa.

2SG PL thing DAT REL FEW thing hold remember home POT give.

(You could give them to a memory-house that holds few things.)

morris: you might give them to some scantily-furnished museum.

lo mia halemu womu ra henoi thena phelu. halemu womu sheloi mo serao thena we phelu. ra sheloi thena mioru nai.

PL 1SG remember home DIST ENOUGH thing hold. remember home MANY CMPR old thing ALSO hold. DIST MANY thing beautiful be.

(Our memory-house holds enough of those things. It also holds many older things, and many of them are beautiful.)

morris: Ours has enough of such coins, besides a fair number of earlier ones, many of which are beautiful,

whekai ha lue newu luera thimu lo thena ru mioru ma nai. wa thia nawo.

CONTR PROX ABL new past time PL thing INTS beautiful NEG be. Q 2SG agree.

("But these pieces from the recent past are not beautiful at all, are they?")

morris: whereas these nineteenth century ones are so beastly ugly, ain't they?

lo mia ta ru serao thena phelu. nia thena ta serao karami miona mua luphonu whano.

PL 1SG one INTS old thing hold. ON thing one old authority person LOC boat stand.

("We have one very old piece, with an old ruler standing in a ship upon it.")

morris: We have a piece of Edward III., with the king in a ship,

sio luphonu moru lo thiku whalo misheko nela lo peloru kire whano. theula to se thesa kati.

BESIDE boat wall PL small large cat COORD PL flower shape stand. UNIV PST PASS careful cut.

(Small great-cats and flower shapes stood beside the boat's wall. They were all carefully cut.)

morris: and little leopards and fleurs-de-lys all along the gunwale, so delicately worked.

shia sha thia nila. sho roe la thoru seniku to haolu.

3SG QUOT.COMP 2SG see. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE INS ATTEN proud smile PST speak.

(They said with a slightly proud smile, "You see.")

morris: You see," he said, with something of a smirk,

roe solai nela lo lemi keluo riola wei mia loshi nai. ha tapu mia limu pilewa nai.

INS gold COORD PL thin metal labor DAT 1SG joyful be. PROX close 1SG young make be.

("Working in gold and fine metals brings me joy. This clasp is one of the first things I made.")

morris: "I am fond of working in gold and fine metals; this buckle here is an early piece of mine."

kuloThe guide

lao mia ra whamoi to phelu mia la nilua to nai. thelao shia haolu to reshi tapu. shia roe phena haoni to haolu.

BECAUSE 1SG DIST doubt PST hold 1SG ATTEN shy PST be. CONS 3SG speak PST fast close. 3SG INS kind voice PST speak.

(The doubt made me look a little shy of them. So they quickly broke off and spoke in a kind voice.)

morris: No doubt I looked a little shy of him under the influence of that doubt as to his sanity. So he broke off short, and said in a kind voice:

whekai mia tha mia thia moshaki ka kelu tho nila. soa.

CONTR 1SG DECL.COMP 1SG 2SG bored CAUS become DECL.COMP.CLOSE see. sorry.

("But I see that I am boring you. I am sorry.")

morris: "But I see that I am boring you, and I ask your pardon.

mia tha thia kuewa miona nai tho ke sano. thia lue ru phirae lokue na kamo.

1SG DECL.COMP 2SG strange person be DECL.COMP.CLOSE INFER know. 2SG ABL INTS different place NEC arrive.

(I can tell that you are a stranger. You must come from a very different place.)

morris: For, not to mince matters, I can tell that you _are_ a stranger, and must come from a place very unlike England.

lu mia nosa wei thia ha lokue theula sano loa. ha thia so ma naphe. thia ha roe lo thiku phanoi na milau.

COND 1SG now DAT 2SG PROX place UNIV know give. PROX 2SG FUT NEG help. 2SG PROX INS PL small portion NEC drink.

(If I give you all the knowledge of this place now, it will not help you. You must drink it in small portions.)

morris: But also it is clear that it won't do to overdose you with information about this place, and that you had best suck it in little by little.

lu thia tha mia whu wei thia lo mia newu punoa ka nila miona kelu tho kelomi. sheno lao thia lue soleha mia nu ta to hekawi ha wei mia ru phena so nai.

COND 2SG DECL.COMP 1SG REL DAT 2SG PL 1SG new society CAUS see person become DECL.COMP.CLOSE accept. ADD BECAUSE 2SG ABL luck 1SG ORD one PST find PROX DAT 1SG INTS kind FUT be.

(If you accept me as the person who shows you our new society, then, since you happened to find me first, that will be very kind to me.)

morris: Further, I should take it as very kind in you if you would allow me to be the showman of our new world to you, since you have stumbled on me first.

whekai li ha thia phena loami so nai. pai theula miona thia phea mia towe po kulo. sheloi miona thia sheo mia mo towe po kulo.

CONTR RESTR PROX 2SG kind gift FUT be. NEAR UNIV person 2SG AS 1SG well POT guide. MANY person 2SG THAN 1SG CMPR well POT guide.

(Still, this will only be a kind gift from you: almost anyone could guide you as well as I, and many could guide you better.)

morris: Though indeed it will be a mere kindness on your part, for almost anybody would make as good a guide, and many much better."

mu phelira remo kiroa mua shia to ke nai.

zero mistaken think sign LOC 3SG PST INFER be.

(There seemed to be no sign of mistaken thinking in them.)

morris: There certainly seemed no flavour in him of Colney Hatch;

lu sheno shia phelira remo phelu. mia phei shia wepu kethua so ma nai. mia ha to remo.

COND ADD 3SG mistaken think hold. 1SG AWAY 3SG go hard FUT NEG be. 1SG PROX PST think.

(Besides, if they held mistaken thoughts, it would not be hard for me to get away from them. That was my thought.)

morris: and besides I thought I could easily shake him off if it turned out that he really was mad;

thelao mia sha thia loa ru phena nai. whekai ha kelomi wei mia kethua nai. sho to haolu. mia to te haolu.

CONS 1SG QUOT.COMP 2SG give INTS kind be. CONTR PROX accept DAT 1SG hard be. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak. 1SG PST CESS speak.

(So I said, "It is a very kind offer, but it is difficult for me to accept." Then I stopped speaking.)

morris: so I said: "It is a very kind offer, but it is difficult for me to accept it, unless--"

mia tha mia sha lu thia lo thiku keluo thena phea whu theali nai kelomi. mia tha thia mia kulo tho so kelomi. sho haolu tho to pa thueli.

1SG DECL.COMP 1SG QUOT.COMP COND 2SG PL small metal thing AS REL fitting be accept. 1SG DECL.COMP 2SG 1SG guide DECL.COMP.CLOSE FUT accept. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE speak DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST INCH intend.

(I was going to say, "If you accept the little metal pieces as fitting, I will accept your guidance.")

morris: I was going to say, Unless you will let me pay you properly;

whekai mia tha mia shia phelira remo so ka turema tho sukima to phaelo. mia haolu to moluki.

CONTR 1SG DECL.COMP 1SG 3SG mistaken think FUT CAUS return DECL.COMP.CLOSE fear PST feel. 1SG speak PST transform.

(But I feared that I might bring their mistaken thinking back, so I changed what I was saying.)

morris: but fearing to stir up Colney Hatch again, I changed the sentence into,

mia tha mia thia lue riola sola lue siora natu tho sukima phaelo.

1SG DECL.COMP 1SG 2SG ABL labor DISJ ABL joy pull DECL.COMP.CLOSE fear feel.

("I fear I would take you away from your work, or from your joy.")

morris: "I fear I shall be taking you away from your work--or your amusement."

ra mu thena nai. lao ha wei mia soleha so loa mia wei ta melu welao thena po phoa.

DIST zero thing be. BECAUSE PROX DAT 1SG luck FUT give 1SG DAT one friend good thing POT do.

("That is nothing. This will give me the good fortune to do a friend some good.)

morris: "O," he said, "don't trouble about that, because it will give me an opportunity of doing a good turn to a friend of mine,

ra melu mua ha lokue mia riola pilu rinu.

DIST friend LOC PROX place 1SG labor take want.

(That friend wants to take my work here.)

morris: who wants to take my work here.

shia lue nitho selomi miona nai. selomi riola nela tawi remo riola shia to ki pushali.

3SG ABL north weave person be. weave labor COORD count think labor 3SG PST PFV overload.

(They are a weaver from the north. Weaving and the work of number-thought have overloaded them.)

morris: He is a weaver from Yorkshire, who has rather overdone himself between his weaving and his mathematics,

ha wi riola mua womu muwi nai. thia nila.

PROX two labor LOC home interior be. 2SG see.

(Both are indoor work, you see.)

morris: both indoor work, you see;

shia mia melu nai. lo mia nolami ru kema nai. thelao shia mua mia to woeli kamo. shia mue womu riola rinu.

3SG 1SG friend be. PL 1SG bond INTS strong be. CONS 3SG LOC 1SG PST natural arrive. 3SG OUT.OF home labor want.

(They are my friend, and our bond is very strong. So they naturally came to me wanting work outside the home.)

morris: and being a great friend of mine, he naturally came to me to get him some outdoor work.

lu thia mia po kelomi. pi no tha mia thia kulo tho kelomi.

COND 2SG 1SG POT accept. POL IMP DECL.COMP 1SG 2SG guide DECL.COMP.CLOSE accept.

(If you can accept me, please let me guide you.)

morris: If you think you can put up with me, pray take me as your guide."

pheo teku shemu shia we to haolu.

POST short moment 3SG ALSO PST speak.

(A moment later, they added:)

morris: He added presently:

shewo nai. mia tha mia wei whelina sholei wea luphore thorui kau soli phirae melu wepu tho to ki seru.

true be. 1SG DECL.COMP 1SG DAT grass gather TOWARD river beginning ALL SOME different friend go DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST PFV commit.

("It is true that I have promised to go upstream to some other friends for the hay harvest.)

morris: "It is true that I have promised to go up-stream to some special friends of mine, for the hay-harvest;

pheo sheloi philo lo melu miso wei lo mia so ki thilonu.

POST MANY day PL friend REFL DAT PL 1SG FUT PFV prepare.

(After many days, the friends will have made themselves ready for us.)

morris: but they won't be ready for us for more than a week:

sheno thia nua mia po wepu. thia soli ru phena miona so nila. thia mua ra muila lo mia keno we po thekiro.

ADD 2SG COM 1SG POT go. 2SG SOME INTS kind person FUT see. 2SG LOC DIST earth PL 1SG custom ALSO POT write.

(You might also come with me. You would see some very kind people, and you could write down our customs in that country.)

morris: and besides, you might go with me, you know, and see some very nice people, besides making notes of our ways in Oxfordshire.

lu thia muila nila rinu. thia sheo ha phoa mo welao phoa po ma hekawi.

COND 2SG earth see want. 2SG THAN PROX do CMPR good do POT NEG find.

(If you want to see the country, you could not find anything better to do.)

morris: You could hardly do better if you want to see the country."

shai wheli thena so po kelu mia tha mia wei shia sha nemo. sho na haolu tho to phaelo. shia to therua haolu.

CONC ANY thing FUT POT become 1SG DECL.COMP 1SG DAT 3SG QUOT.COMP grateful. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE NEC speak DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST feel. 3SG PST eager speak.

(Whatever might happen, I felt that I had to thank them. They spoke eagerly:)

morris: I felt myself obliged to thank him, whatever might come of it; and he added eagerly:

thelao lo mia ki nawo. mia wei melu kiroa so sepho.

CONS PL 1SG PFV agree. 1SG DAT friend sign FUT send.

("Then we have agreed. I will send a sign to my friend.)

morris: "Well, then, that's settled. I will give my friend a call;

shia phea thia mua phemi womu menui. lu shia si nulae. shia mua ha mioru keloi kelua na nowae.

3SG AS 2SG LOC guest home dwell. COND 3SG IPFV sleep. 3SG LOC PROX beautiful summer morning NEC awaken.

(They are living in the Guest House like you. If they are still asleep, they ought to wake on this beautiful summer morning.)

morris: he is living in the Guest House like you, and if he isn't up yet, he ought to be this fine summer morning."

selomi mionaThe weaver

shia lue kori tiwa thiku shioli howeli haoni keli to pilu. shia wi sola ta shao theisa nirelo haoni to whesu.

3SG ABL leather tie small silver wind voice device PST take. 3SG two DISJ one three-group loud pleasant voice PST blow.

(They took a small silver wind-voice instrument from their belt and blew two or three loud, pleasant notes.)

morris: Therewith he took a little silver bugle-horn from his girdle and blew two or three sharp but agreeable notes on it;

pheo teku shemu lue whu mua mia serao womu lokue whano womu phirae limu miona wea lo mia to moli thalo. mia ha womu mo thena so shane.

POST short moment ABL REL LOC 1SG old home place stand home different young person TOWARD PL 1SG PST gentle walk. 1SG PROX home CMPR thing FUT tell.

(A moment later, another young person walked gently towards us from the house on the site of my old home. I shall say more about that house later.)

morris: and presently from the house which stood on the site of my old dwelling (of which more hereafter) another young man came sauntering towards us.

mia rewa melu sheo shia mo mioru nela mo kema to nai.

1SG oar friend THAN 3SG CMPR beautiful COORD CMPR strong PST be.

(My rowing friend was more beautiful and stronger than the newcomer.)

morris: He was not so well-looking or so strongly made as my sculler friend,

shia whila kirua welisha to nai. shia menoa thiku welisha to nai. shia theru ma nai.

3SG hair sand color PST be. 3SG face small color PST be. 3SG thick NEG be.

(They had sand-colored hair and a pale face, and they were not thickset.)

morris: being sandy-haired, rather pale, and not stout-built;

whekai ra loshi nela phena menoa kire mua shia menoa we to nai.

CONTR DIST joyful COORD kind face shape LOC 3SG face ALSO PST be.

(But their face also held that joyful, kind expression.)

morris: but his face was not wanting in that happy and friendly expression which I had noticed in his friend.

shia wea lo mia to kamo. shia to seniku.

3SG TOWARD PL 1SG PST arrive. 3SG PST smile.

(They came towards us with a smile.)

morris: As he came up smiling towards us,

mia roe siora tha mia tha shia remo phelira nai tho sherewa na leiro tho to nila.

1SG INS joy DECL.COMP 1SG DECL.COMP 3SG think mistaken be DECL.COMP.CLOSE claim NEC release DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST see.

(I saw with pleasure that I had to release my claim that their thinking was mistaken.)

morris: I saw with pleasure that I must give up the Colney Hatch theory as to the waterman,

lao wi whu phelira remo phelu miona neo nuwi remo miona phea ha mawha thimu phoa.

BECAUSE two REL mistaken think hold person FRONT clear think person AS PROX NONE time do.

(For two people who held mistaken thoughts would never act like this before a clear-minded person.)

morris: for no two madmen ever behaved as they did before a sane man.

shia wethalu kire phea rewa miona wethalu kire to nai. whekai wethalu mo keru welisha to nai.

3SG garment shape AS oar person garment shape PST be. CONTR garment CMPR bright color PST be.

(Their clothing had the same shape as the rower's, but it was brighter.)

morris: His dress also was of the same cut as the first man's, though somewhat gayer,

leo wethalu whilo liro to nai. nia pharoe roe solai sima sheloa loremi kire to se selomi.

ABOVE garment white green PST be. ON chest INS gold thread bloom branch shape PST PASS weave.

(The outer garment was pale green. A flowering branch was woven across the chest in gold thread.)

morris: the surcoat being light green with a golden spray embroidered on the breast,

shia tiwa shioli to nai. shioli phea lo lemi sima to se kati.

3SG tie silver PST be. silver AS PL thin thread PST PASS cut.

(Their belt was silver. The metal was cut into forms like thin threads.)

morris: and his belt being of filagree silver-work.

shia wei mia ru phena welao philo to haolu. shia wei miso melu to siora haolu.

3SG DAT 1SG INTS kind good day PST speak. 3SG DAT REFL friend PST joy speak.

(They greeted me very kindly and wished me a good day. They greeted their friend joyfully and said:)

morris: He gave me good-day very civilly, and greeting his friend joyously, said:

kona ne kulo. mua ha kelua hina nai.

VOC NAME kulo. LOC PROX morning what be.

("Guide, what is happening this morning?")

morris: "Well, Dick, what is it this morning?

wa mia mia riola sola thia riola so pilu.

Q 1SG 1SG labor DISJ 2SG labor FUT take.

(Will I take my work, or yours?)

morris: Am I to have my work, or rather your work?

mia mua luera shero tha lila lo mia lo shalu kawepa lo mia wea luphore thorui wepu tho to whemura.

1SG LOC past night DECL.COMP PURP PL 1SG PL fish catch PL 1SG TOWARD river beginning go DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST dream.

(I dreamed last night that we went towards the river's beginning in order to catch fish.)

morris: I dreamed last night that we were off up the river fishing."

shia sha lia. kona ne selomi. thia muo mia riola so lepa. sho to haolu.

3SG QUOT.COMP yes. VOC NAME selomi. 2SG INTO 1SG labor FUT fall. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(The rower said, "Yes, Weaver. You will step into my work.")

morris: "All right, Bob," said my sculler; "you will drop into my place,

lu ha riola thia pushali. phirae miona we riola si sheraki. shia pai thia menui.

COND PROX labor 2SG overload. different person ALSO labor IPFV search. 3SG NEAR 2SG dwell.

(If this work overloads you, another person is also looking for work, and they live near you.)

morris: and if you find it too much, there is George Brightling on the look out for a stroke of work, and he lives close handy to you.

no nila. ha kuewa miona tha mia roa lo mia muila shia kulo tho rinu. ha mua ha philo mia monelu so ka kelu.

IMP see. PROX strange person DECL.COMP 1SG AROUND PL 1SG earth 3SG guide DECL.COMP.CLOSE want. PROX LOC PROX day 1SG amused FUT CAUS become.

(Look: this stranger wants me to guide them around our land, and that will amuse me today.)

morris: But see, here is a stranger who is willing to amuse me to-day by taking me as his guide about our country-side,

thia tha mia ha soleha leiro ma rinu tho po remo. no thelao nosa kau luphonu wepu.

2SG DECL.COMP 1SG PROX luck release NEG want DECL.COMP.CLOSE POT think. IMP CONS now ALL boat go.

(You may think that I do not want to let this luck go. So go to the boat now.)

morris: and you may imagine I don't want to lose the opportunity; so you had better take to the boat at once.

whekai lao pheo phina philo lo mia mua lo whelina pelowa na nai mia ha riola laeno thimu so ma phelu.

CONTR BECAUSE POST FEW day PL 1SG LOC PL grass meadow NEC be 1SG PROX labor long time FUT NEG hold.

(But because we must be in the hay meadows in a few days, I will not keep this work for long.)

morris: But in any case I shouldn't have kept you out of it for long, since I am due in the hay-fields in a few days."

newu miona lo manuwe wiso to rohi. shia siora to phaelo.

new person PL hand RECP PST rub. 3SG joy PST feel.

(The newcomer rubbed their hands with joy.)

morris: The newcomer rubbed his hands with glee,

whekai shia wea mia to rato. shia roe phena haoni to haolu.

CONTR 3SG TOWARD 1SG PST turn. 3SG INS kind voice PST speak.

(But they turned to me and spoke in a kind voice:)

morris: but turning to me, said in a friendly voice:

kona phewani. thia nela melu ne kulo soleha phelu. lo thia mua ha philo welao thimu so phelu. mia we so phelu.

VOC neighbor. 2SG COORD friend NAME kulo luck hold. PL 2SG LOC PROX day good time FUT hold. 1SG ALSO FUT hold.

("Neighbour, you and my friend Guide are fortunate. You will both have a good time today, and so will I.")

morris: "Neighbour, both you and friend Dick are lucky, and will have a good time to-day, as indeed I shall too.

no lo thia nosa nua mia muo womu wepu. no soli nuora pilu. teo. lo thia mua siora nurome po sahu.

IMP PL 2SG now COM 1SG INTO home go. IMP SOME food take. watch out. PL 2SG LOC joy meal POT forget.

(Come into the house with me now, both of you, and take some food. Take care, or you may forget the meal while you are enjoying yourselves.)

morris: But you had better both come in with me at once and get something to eat, lest you should forget your dinner in your amusement.

mia tha thia pheo mia nulae mua luera shero muo phemi womu kamo tho ho remo.

1SG DECL.COMP 2SG POST 1SG sleep LOC past night INTO guest home arrive DECL.COMP.CLOSE ASSUM think.

(I assume you came into the Guest House last night after I had fallen asleep.)

morris: I suppose you came into the Guest House after I had gone to bed last night?"

mia roe koma kiroa to loa. mia laeno whu kau mu thena wepu haolu to ma rinu.

1SG INS head sign PST give. 1SG long REL ALL zero thing go speak PST NEG want.

(I nodded. I did not want a long speech that would lead nowhere.)

morris: I nodded, not caring to enter into a long explanation which would have led to nothing,

sheno mua shewo mua ha thimu mia ha nophi miso to pa ma theomi.

ADD LOC true LOC PROX time 1SG PROX story REFL PST INCH NEG trust.

(And in truth, by this time I had myself begun to doubt the story.)

morris: and which in truth by this time I should have begun to doubt myself.

lo mia ta shao himo wea phemi womu ponu to rato.

PL 1SG one three-group HUM.CLF TOWARD guest home door PST turn.

(And we all three turned toward the door of the Guest House.)

morris: And we all three turned toward the door of the Guest House.

Translation limits

The Phi follows every event and claim in Morris's chapter: the muddled waking, the swim, the bridge, the houses, the failed attempt to pay, and the two friends changing places at the boat. Some source details remain exact beside the Phi because their identity belongs to Morris's record rather than to a translated root.

Source detailPhi treatment
Thames, Biffin's, Chiswick, Putney, Barn Elms, Hammersmith, London, Yorkshire, and OxfordshirePhi keeps the relations needed in each sentence, such as the known river, the intended place, upstream, downstream, the elm-place, the home country, the northern region, and that country. Morris's lines preserve the exact local names.
Early June, five o'clock, 2003, the fourteenth and nineteenth centuries, and more than a weekPhi gives summer's beginning, the newly risen sun, the stated year, an older society, the recent past, and many days. The adjacent source lines retain the conventional calendar and clock values.
Ponte Vecchio, Thorneycroft's, Victoria, Edward III, and Colney HatchPhi describes the known beautiful bridge, the vanished industrial sound, one past ruler's time, an old ruler in a ship, and the narrator's claim of mistaken thinking. The source supplies each historical identity.
Money, coins, payment, over-payment, and hiringThe metal pieces stay visible. wia asks how many, while giving, service, gifts, and the proposed exchange for guidance carry the misunderstanding without adding a monetary root.
Salmon, plane trees, industrial works, and the bugleshalumi names salmon, and pilomu uses the source-aware tree entry whose exact species remains with Morris. The works compose from their materials and acts; the bugle is a small silver wind-voice instrument.
Gentleman, king, mad, and saneThe narrator sees high social position and a past ruler, then makes claims about mistaken or clear thinking. These are his perceptions and inferences; Morris's sharper social labels remain beside them.

No new root is required. The room, workload, craft, authority, doubt, and river infrastructure draw on optional vocabulary from six modules: Household, Accessibility, Systems, Work, Commons, and Philosophical Reasoning. The payment scene stays awkward because neither speaker understands the other's ordinary next step, and translation has no business rescuing either of them from it.