News from Nowhere

TransmutationChapter 02 of 32

nophi lue mawha lokue

A Morning Bath

The narrator wakes hot under his bedclothes and finds winter replaced by an early summer morning. The river is clear, salmon nets wait along the bank, and a waterman rows him through a neighborhood whose workshops and smoke have vanished. Their first hard misunderstanding comes after the service: the narrator offers metal pieces, while the waterman sees old coins and cannot understand the expected payment. Phi keeps that mismatch concrete. The question word wia, how many, asks the quantity without importing money into the lexicon. Two riverside roots, shalumi (salmon) and pilomu (sycamore), recur beyond the scene. The waterman is ne kulo, Guide, the weaver ne selomi, Weaver, and the neighbor mentioned once ne keru, Bright.

Each block below carries four lines: the Phi sentence, its word-by-word gloss, a back-translation into English, and Morris's own original wording, so a reader can see exactly what the transmutation kept and what it changed.

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.

room hot PST be.

(The room was hot.)

morris: for it was hot

sileta keru to keru loa.

sun bright PST bright give.

(The sun gave bright light.)

morris: and the sun shining brightly.

thelao ha mu wakomi to nai.

CONS PROX zero surprise PST be.

(So this was no surprise.)

morris: and no wonder,

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 fast. I washed myself. I wrapped myself in my clothes hurriedly.)

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

whekai mia korua nuwi to ma nai.

CONTR 1SG heart clear PST NEG be.

(But my mind was not clear.)

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 that I was like one who had slept a very, 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 took it on assumption that I was in my own home's room. I did not see it.)

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 the dressing, I felt the room to be 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 loshi to nai.

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

(In the first moment, I became relieved, and the relief was a delight.)

morris: and my first feeling was a delicious relief

newai haowu nela moli howeli mia meraho to ka kelu.

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

(The fresh air and gentle breeze brought the relief.)

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.

(In the second moment, I began to gather my thoughts.)

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:

mua luera shero shila to nai. whekai nosa keloi nai.

LOC past night winter PST be. CONTR now summer be.

(Last night it was winter. But now it is summer.)

morris: for it was winter when I went to bed the last night, and now, ... it was summer,

whu sio luphore whano lo shiro wei mia ha to ka nila.

REL BESIDE river stand PL tree DAT 1SG PROX PST CAUS see.

(The trees that stand beside the river showed this to me.)

morris: by witness of the river-side trees,

mioru keru kelua to nai. kelua lue keloi thorui to ke nai.

beautiful bright morning PST be. morning ABL summer beginning PST INFER be.

(It was a beautiful, bright morning, seemingly from the beginning of summer.)

morris: a beautiful bright morning seemingly of early June.

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

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

(But the river stayed. The river quivered brightly under the sun, near its fullness.)

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 had not fallen 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 might have been, I could hardly have been aware of the 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 take a boat and swim in mid-river.)

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

mia tha mia ha we phoa tho to remo.

1SG DECL.COMP 1SG PROX ALSO 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 whu mia kolua miona so ho hekawi. sho to haolu.

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

("It seems very early," I said to myself, "but I daresay I shall find someone to carry me.")

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 wea lawe we to ma rato.

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

(But because I began to see that a landing-place was right in front of my house, I did not even turn 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 look like that 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 kau kamo lokue to wepu.

1SG ALL arrive place PST go.

(I went down to the landing-place.)

morris: Down I went on to it,

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

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

(Many boats were moored there, and the boats held no one.)

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 man lay on his 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.

(His boat looked strong and thick. It was built for bathers; that was very clear.)

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.

(He gave me a sign with his head, and spoke a good morning to me.)

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.

(He seemed like one who had 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 peeled off my clothes, he 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 could not help speaking.)

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.

("How clear the water is this morning!" I said.)

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.

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

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

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

("I have seen it mud-colored with my own eyes," I said, "even when the tide had fallen only near halfway.")

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.

(He said nothing in answer, but seemed to feel some astonishment.)

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.

(He held the boat steady in the tide; my clothes were off; and I jumped into the water without more waiting.)

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 sheraki.

1SG PL eye bridge PST search.

(My eyes 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 went under the water again, spluttering.)

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 made for the boat without turning aside.)

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 haolu tho to phaelo.

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

(Because this half-sight had tied my thoughts in a hard knot, I felt that I must speak to my waterman.)

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 it from the river's face, with the water still 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 by the climbing-steps he had let down.)

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.

(He held out his 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 he took up the oars and brought her head round 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.

("Neighbour," he said, "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, you find the water cold this morning.)

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

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

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

(Shall I carry you ashore at once? Or do you wish, before the morning meal, to go downstream?)

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

shia haolu lue mia remo ru phirae to nai. thelao mia shia to ru nila.

3SG speak ABL 1SG think INTS different PST be. CONS 1SG 3SG PST INTS see.

(His speech was so unlike anything I had expected that I stared at him.)

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.

("Please hold her a little," I answered. "I want to look about me a bit.")

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.

("All right," he said. "It's as pretty here, in its way, as at the elm-grounds.")

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.

(At this hour of the morning, everywhere is jolly.)

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.

(I'm glad you woke at the morning's very beginning: the sun has only just risen.)

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

luphonu mionaThe waterman

luphore kerime mia to wakomi. luphonu miona mia we to wakomi.

river shore 1SG PST surprise. boat person 1SG ALSO PST surprise.

(The river banks had astonished me; my waterman astonished me no less.)

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 him 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.

(He was a handsome young fellow.)

morris: He was a handsome young fellow,

shia menoa kire loshi nela phena to nai.

3SG face shape joyful COORD kind PST be.

(The expression of his face was peculiarly pleasant and friendly.)

morris: with a peculiarly pleasant and friendly look about his eyes,

ha menoa kire wei mia mua ra thimu ru newu to nai. whekai pheo teku thimu mia ha to sano.

PROX face shape DAT 1SG LOC DIST time INTS new PST be. CONTR POST short time 1SG PROX PST know.

(That expression was quite new to me then; but before long I came to know it well.)

morris: an expression which was quite new to me then, though I soon became familiar with it.

sheno shia whila nuko to nai. shia hisae mirulo welisha to nai.

ADD 3SG hair black PST be. 3SG skin berry color PST be.

(For the rest, his hair was dark and his skin berry-brown.)

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

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

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

(He was well-knit and strong, and his muscles plainly looked 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 or coarse about him, and he was as clean as might be.)

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.

(His dress was not like any modern work-a-day clothes I had seen.)

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

wethalu phea lue ru serao punoa thena to ke nai.

garment AS ABL INTS old society thing PST INFER be.

(It looked like a thing from a far older world.)

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 se lemi selomi to nai. mu piloe nia wethalu to nai.

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

(It was of dark blue cloth, simple enough, but finely woven, and without a stain on it.)

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.

(He wore a brown leather belt round his 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 se mioru kati to nai.

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

(I noticed that the belt's clasp was of steel that held flowing patterns, beautifully wrought.)

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

shia phea kema nela phiro limu miona to ke nai. shia wei siora luphonu riola to ke phoa.

3SG AS strong COORD elegant young person PST INFER be. 3SG DAT joy boat labor PST INFER do.

(In short, he seemed like some specially manly and refined young man playing waterman for the joy of it.)

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.

(And I concluded that this was the case.)

morris: and I concluded that this was the case.

lo shalumi meraThe salmon-nets

mia tha mia na haolu tho to phaelo.

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

(I felt that I must make some conversation.)

morris: I felt that I must make some conversation;

mia mua ra kerime soli phelo wolea ruela to nila. lo ruela kau phialu to wepu.

1SG LOC DIST shore SOME light wood path PST see. PL path ALL water PST go.

(On the far bank I saw some light wooden ways running 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-engines stood at the landward end of them.)

morris: with windlasses at the landward end of them,

mia roe manuwe wea ra kiroa to loa. mia to haolu.

1SG INS hand TOWARD DIST sign PST give. 1SG PST speak.

(I pointed toward them and said--)

morris: and said,

lo miona roe ra lo thena hina phoa.

PL person INS DIST PL thing what do.

("What are they doing with those things here?")

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 great northern river, I should say that people were drawing the 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 hina po haolu.

CONTR LOC PROX place 1SG what POT speak.

(But here--what can I say?)

morris: but here--"

shia to seniku. shia to haolu.

3SG PST smile. 3SG PST speak.

(He 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.

("Of course: people draw the 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, one may take it there will 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 are not catching salmon with the nets all the time.)

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, "But 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 held my peace in my wonder.)

morris: but held my peace in my wonder,

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

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

(I turned my bewildered eyes eastward, looked at the bridge again, and thence at the shores of the river.)

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.

(And surely 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 stream, 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 how everything had utterly transformed since last night!)

morris: how all was changed from last night!

lo whu thumiro sepho sawa thena riola womu to ma manolu.

PL REL smoke send wash thing labor home PST NEG stay.

(The soap-works with their smoke-vomiting chimneys did not remain.)

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 engine-works did not remain; the heavy-metal works did not remain either.)

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 fastening metal or forceful hammer contact came down on the west wind.)

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

wao. repha.

wow. bridge.

(Then 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 had perhaps dreamed of such a bridge, but never seen such a 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 lo repha pai ha we to ma kamo.

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

(Even the most beautiful bridges I had known came nowhere near it.)

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

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

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

(It stood on stone arches, splendidly solid, and as graceful as they were strong.)

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 kethua ma wepu.

bridge SUFF tall PST be. PL boat BELOW bridge PST POT hard NEG go.

(It was high enough, too, for the river traffic to pass easily beneath it.)

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

leo repha moru sheloi kuewa loshi thiku womu to whano.

ABOVE bridge wall MANY strange joyful small home PST stand.

(Above the parapet rose quaint, delightful little buildings.)

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.

(On them stood many painted and gilded vanes and little spire-works.)

morris: beset with painted and gilded vanes and spirelets.

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

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

(The stone had weathered a little, but there was no smoke-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.

(In short, to me it was a wonder of a 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 sculler noticed my eager, astonished expression, and spoke as if in answer to 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 pretty bridge, isn't it?")

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

lo wea luphore thorui repha ru mo thiku nai. whekai ra lo repha sheo ha repha to la mo luwae nai.

PL TOWARD river beginning bridge INTS CMPR small be. CONTR DIST PL bridge THAN PROX bridge PST ATTEN CMPR graceful be.

(The upstream bridges are much smaller, but they are slightly more graceful than this one.)

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

lo wea luphore lumae repha sheo ha repha to la mo phiro nai.

PL TOWARD river end bridge THAN PROX bridge PST ATTEN CMPR elegant be.

(And the downstream ones are slightly more elegant than it.)

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 against my will, I found myself asking, "How many years has it 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.

("Oh, not very old," he said.)

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

repha phoe pai ta rei wi phoi ta torua se phae. lorima to po mo luera nai.

bridge ANT NEAR one eighty-one-group two nine-group one year PASS open. build PST POT CMPR past be.

(It was opened about a hundred years ago; the building may have been earlier.)

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 then, a rather plain timber bridge used to stand there.)

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

ha tawi mia phulae to ka tapu. mia phulae phea whu roe kira se tapu ponu to nai.

PROX count 1SG mouth PST CAUS close. 1SG mouth AS REL INS key PASS close door PST be.

(That count of years 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.

(For I saw that something had happened that could not be understood.)

morris: for I saw that something inexplicable had happened,

lu mia sheloi haolu. lo haolu phea lo sima mia so tiwa.

COND 1SG MANY speak. PL speak AS PL thread 1SG FUT tie.

(And that if I said much, the sayings would tie me up like threads.)

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 tried to look unconcerned, and glanced at the river's banks as if this were all a matter of course.)

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

mia tei whu lo sawa thena riola womu to whano lokue ha lo thena to nila.

1SG UNTIL REL PL wash thing labor home PST stand place PROX PL thing PST see.

(This is what I saw, up to where the soap-works 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 ru mioru lo womu to whano. lo womu mulu to nai. lo womu whalo ma nai.

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

(On both shores stood a line of very pretty houses, 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;

lo miona sheloi womu roe rulo mueri kerou to ki lorima. lo womu toru mueri to nai.

PL person MANY home INS red clay stone PST PFV build. PL home roof clay PST be.

(People had built most of them of red brick, and their roofs were of fired 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, above all, like places that give rest.)

morris: and looked, above all, comfortable,

lo womu phea lima thena to ke nai. lo womu phea whu lo menui miona lioru morae thena to ke nai.

PL home AS alive thing PST INFER be. PL home AS REL PL dwell person life sense thing PST INFER be.

(They seemed, so to say, alive, like things that sense the life of the people who dwell in them.)

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 kau luphore kerime to wepu.

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

(In front of them was one unbroken garden, running 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.

(In it the flowers were now blooming luxuriantly.)

morris: in which the flowers were now blooming luxuriantly,

lo peloru leo whu rato luphore loshi keloi whinu to sepho.

PL flower ABOVE REL turn river joyful summer smell PST send.

(They were sending delicious waves of summer scent over the eddying river.)

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

noe lo womu whalo lo shiro to rihe. sheloi shiro pilomu to nai.

BEHIND PL home large PL tree PST rise. MANY tree sycamore PST be.

(Behind the houses great trees rose, mostly sycamores.)

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

wea luphore lumae lo whalo shiro ru theru to whano.

TOWARD river end PL large tree INTS thick PST stand.

(Looking downstream, the big trees stood very thick.)

morris: so thick were the big trees;

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,

mia phea wei miso to theisa 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 loud 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, but as if to myself: "Well, I'm glad they have not built over the elm-grounds.")

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 slipped out of my mouth, and I blushed for my fatuity.)

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.

(My companion looked at me with a half-smile which I thought I understood.)

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, to hide my confusion, 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.

(He nodded, and brought her head round with one sharp stroke.)

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.

(And in a trice we were at the landing-place again.)

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.

(He jumped out and I followed him.)

morris: He jumped out and I followed him;

shia to hasi. ha mia to ma wakomi.

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

(He waited; and of course that did not surprise me.)

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

mia tha shia whu pheo pheloma kamo thena hasi tho to ho remo.

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

(For I took it as given that he was waiting for the thing that follows a service.)

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 kuewa phaelo mua mia to manolu. mia tha ha lo keluo thena wei ha miona loa po kanelu nai tho to phaelo.

CONTR strange feel LOC 1SG PST stay. 1SG DECL.COMP PROX PL metal thing DAT PROX person give POT err be DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST feel.

(Though a strange feeling stayed in me: that offering these metal pieces to this man might be a wrong step.)

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.

(He 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 don't quite 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? If so, it is close on the turn 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, and spoke with a breaking voice.)

morris: I blushed, and said, stammering,

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

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

("Please don't take it amiss; I mean no offence: but what ought I to 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.

(You see I am a stranger, and don't know your customs--or your coins.)

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.

(And therewith 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.

(As one does when journeying in a strange land.)

morris: as one does in a foreign country.

mia tha shioli nuko welisha to ki kelu tho to nila.

1SG DECL.COMP silver black color PST PFV become DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST see.

(And by the way, I saw that the silver had gone black.)

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.

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

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: well, after all, he is a waterman, and is considering what he may venture to take. So I assumed.)

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 mo thena to po loa.

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

(He seems such a nice fellow that I could well give him a little 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 shia sui ta sola wi philo mia po kulo pho to remo.

BECAUSE 3SG heart INTS sharp be 1SG INT.COMP 3SG DUR one DISJ two day 1SG POT guide INT.COMP.CLOSE PST think.

(Because his mind was so sharp, I wondered whether he could guide me for a day or two.)

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.

(Therewith my new friend said 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 done you a service; so you feel yourself bound to 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 special for me, I do not 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 ti hea.

1SG PROX custom PL speak PST REP 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 tha lo mia ha thela phoa tho ma sano.

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

(But pardon me for saying that it seems to us a difficult and roundabout custom; and we don't know how to manage 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. ha mia riola nai. mia wei theula miona ha ro phoa.

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

(And you see, I carry people over the water: this is my work, which I would do for anybody.)

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.

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

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

(And I hope you won't think me rude if I say I shouldn't know where to keep so many friendship-remembrances.)

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.

(And he laughed loud and merrily.)

morris: And he laughed loud and merrily,

ha nua riola loami pilu remo wei shia ru monelu nophi to ke nai.

PROX COM labor gift take think DAT 3SG INTS amused story PST INFER be.

(As if the idea of being given things for his work were a very funny tale.)

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 the man held mistaken thoughts, though his thinking seemed clear.)

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

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

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

(And since we were close to 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.

(However, he did not go on like a person holding mistaken thoughts.)

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

thia lo thiku keluo thena kuelo nai. whekai lo thena ru serao ma nai. theula thena lue ta newu luera thimu ke nai.

2SG PL small metal thing curious be. CONTR PL thing INTS old NEG be. UNIV thing ABL one new past time INFER be.

("As to your coins, they are curious, but not very old; they seem to be all of one recent age.")

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 might give them to some scantily-furnished memory-house.)

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

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

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

(Ours has enough of such things, besides many older ones, and many of those are beautiful.)

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

whekai ha lo thena ru mioru ma nai. wa thia nawo.

CONTR PROX PL thing INTS beautiful NEG be. Q 2SG agree.

(Whereas these are so thoroughly unbeautiful, aren't they?)

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

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

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

(We have one far older piece, with a man 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 se thesa kati to nai.

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

(And little great-cats and flower-shapes all along the boat's side, so delicately worked.)

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

shia roe la thoru seniku to haolu.

3SG INS ATTEN proud smile PST speak.

(He said, with something of a smirk--)

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 is a joy to me; this buckle here is an early piece of my making.")

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 sukima to phelu mia la nilua to nai. thelao shia haolu to reshi tapu. shia roe phena haoni to haolu.

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

(No doubt that fear made me look a little shy of him; so he broke off short, and said 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. mia peloma ma thueli.

CONTR 1SG DECL.COMP 1SG 2SG bored CAUS become DECL.COMP.CLOSE see. 1SG harmful NEG intend.

("But I see that I am boring you, and I ask your pardon.)

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.

(For, not to mince matters, I can tell that you are a stranger, and 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, that will not help you. You must drink it in by small draughts.)

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 world, then, since by good luck you found 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 ha li thia phena loami so nai. pai theula miona thia phea mia towe po kulo. sheloi miona thia sheo mia mo towe po kulo.

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

(Still, it will be a mere kindness on your part: 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 him.)

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

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

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

(And besides, if he held mistaken thoughts, I could easily get away from him. That was what I thought.)

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

thia loa ru phena nai. whekai ha kelomi wei mia kethua nai.

2SG give INTS kind be. CONTR PROX accept DAT 1SG hard be.

("It is a very kind offer, but it is difficult for me to accept it--")

morris: "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 ma kelomi. mia tha thia mia kulo tho so ma kelomi sho haolu tho to pa thueli.

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

(I was going to say: "If you will not accept the metal pieces, I will not accept you as my guide.")

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 his mistaken thinking back, so I changed my sentence.)

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 shall be taking you away from your work--or your amusement.")

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.

("Don't trouble about that: it will give me a lucky opening to do a good turn for a friend of mine.)

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.

(He wants to take my work here.)

morris: who wants to take my work here.

shia lue nitho selomi miona nai. ha wi riola shia to ki pushali.

3SG ABL north weave person be. PROX two labor 3SG PST PFV overload.

(He is a weaver from the north. These two labours have overloaded him.)

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.

PROX two labor LOC home interior be.

(Both are indoor work, you see.)

morris: both indoor work, you see;

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

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

(He is a close friend of mine, so he naturally came to me wanting outdoor work.)

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 think you can put up with me, please accept that I 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.

(He added presently:)

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 special friends of mine 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;

whekai whelina sholei thorui pheo sheloi philo so kamo.

CONTR grass gather beginning POST MANY day FUT arrive.

(But the beginning of the haymaking will only arrive after many days.)

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.

(And besides, you might come with me: you would see some very nice people, and could make notes of our ways 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 mo welao ruela po ma hekawi.

COND 2SG earth see want. 2SG CMPR good path POT NEG find.

(You could hardly find a better road, if you want to see the country.)

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

mia tha mia wei shia sha nemo sho na haolu tho to phaelo. shia to therua haolu.

1SG DECL.COMP 1SG DAT 3SG QUOT.COMP grateful QUOT.COMP.CLOSE NEC speak DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST feel. 3SG PST eager speak.

(I felt myself obliged to thank him, whatever might come of it; and he added 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.

("Well, then, that's settled. I will give my friend a call.)

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.

(He is living in the Guest House like you; and if he isn't up yet, he ought to be, on this fine 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."

ne selomiThe weaver

pheo thena shia lue kori tiwa thiku shioli howeli haoni keli to pilu. shia wi sola ta shao tiso loshi haoni to whesu.

POST thing 3SG ABL leather tie small silver wind voice device PST take. 3SG two DISJ one three-group sharp joyful voice PST blow.

(Therewith he took a small silver wind-voice instrument from his belt and blew two or three sharp but agreeable 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.

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

(And presently, from the house that stood on the site of my old dwelling, another young man came sauntering toward us.)

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

mia ha womu mo thena so shane.

1SG PROX home CMPR thing FUT tell.

(Of this house, more hereafter.)

morris: (of which more hereafter)

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 sculler friend was better-looking and more strongly made than he.)

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.

(He was sandy-haired, rather pale of face, and not stoutly built.)

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 his face was not wanting in that happy and friendly 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.

(As he came up toward us, smiling--)

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 must release my claim that his 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.

(His dress was of the same cut as the first man's, though somewhat gayer.)

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 se selomi to nai.

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

(The surcoat was pale green, and on the breast a blooming spray was worked 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 se kati to nai.

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

(His belt was of silver, worked fine as 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.

(He gave me good-day very civilly, and greeted his friend joyously--)

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.

("Well, Guide, what is it this morning?")

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

wa mia mia riola so pilu. sola wa mia thia riola so pilu.

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

(Am I to have my work, or rather your work?)

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.

("All right, Weaver," said my sculler. "You will drop into my place.)

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

lu ha riola thia pushali. ne keru we riola si sheraki. shia pai thia menui.

COND PROX labor 2SG overload. NAME keru ALSO labor IPFV search. 3SG NEAR 2SG dwell.

(And if this work overloads you, Bright is looking for a stroke of work, and he lives close by 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 shia kulo tho rinu. ha mua ha philo mia monelu so ka kelu.

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

(But see: this stranger wants me to guide him, and that will keep me amused 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 imagine I don't want to let that luck go; so you had better take to the boat at once.)

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 since in a few days we must be in the hayfields, I should not have kept hold of this work for long in any case.)

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 his hands with glee.)

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 turning to me, he said in a friendly 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, both you and friend Guide are lucky, and will have a good time today, as indeed I shall too.)

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.

(But you had both better come in with me at once and take some food; look out, or you will forget your dinner in your amusement.)

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 suppose you came into the Guest House last night, after I had gone to sleep?)

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 care for a long explanation that would have led to nothing.)

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.

What the transmutation changed

This chapter follows Morris almost line for line: waking, swim, boat journey, bridge, houses, failed payment, and the arrival of the weaver. The citations cover the chapter's wording while the back-translations show every substitution. Exact London place names and the year 2003 stay in those source lines. Phi reads the morning through the sun and seasons, so five o'clock becomes the sun just risen and June becomes summer's beginning.

The river brings two roots: shalumi (salmon) and pilomu (sycamore). Landing-stage, salmon-net, suspension bridge, red-brick house, and river traffic compose from existing words. The vanished engineer's and lead works stay as kinds of work rather than proper businesses. The bridge's age is relative in Phi, while Morris's exact date appears beside it.

Money is the chapter's central lexical refusal. The narrator expects compensation, offers small metal pieces, and asks wia, how many. Guide identifies the pieces as old coins and explains that work and gifts no longer form a transaction. The transmutation does not turn payment into generosity before the misunderstanding occurs; it lets the narrator's expectation make the scene awkward.

Morris repeatedly reaches for an asylum name and the opposition between mad and sane. Phi puts that prejudice in the narrator's inference rather than diagnosing either man. He searches for signs of phelira remo, mistaken thinking, fears that his own question may bring it back, then releases the claim when the two friends meet. The source's harsher categories remain visible in the citations. Guide, Weaver, and Bright are Phi-form names marked with ne. This retrofit coins no new word.