News from Nowhere

TransmutationChapter 03 of 32

nophi lue mawha lokue

The Guest House and Breakfast Therein

The narrator steps indoors, and Morris brings the new society down to table height. A well-built hall opens into a garden; three young hosts greet the stranger as if he had returned from a long journey; breakfast arrives without ceremony; and a carved inscription stands behind the table where his own century would have seated rank. Bread, napa, and rose, perola, furnish the meal and garden. The narrator becomes ne phemi, Guest; the housekeeper is ne luwae, Graceful; and the golden dustman's joke-name is ne solai, Gold, over ne keruko, Sturdy. Morris sorts the hosts by sex. Phi describes the people, their clothes, and the narrator's attention without creating those person classes; the source citations leave the distinction visible.

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.

womuThe house

lila mia ha womu ru nila mia noe lo phirae miona teku thimu to manolu.

PURP 1SG PROX home INTS see 1SG BEHIND PL different person short time PST stay.

(So that I could have a real stare at this house, I stayed a little while behind the others.)

morris: I lingered a little behind the others to have a stare at this house,

phea whu mia wei thia to ki shane ha womu mua mia serao menui lokue to whano.

AS REL 1SG DAT 2SG PST PFV tell PROX home LOC 1SG old dwell place PST stand.

(As I have told you, this house stood on the place of my old dwelling.)

morris: which, as I have told you, stood on the site of my old dwelling.

womu thiku laeno to nai. lo toru tiso lumae phei ruela to rato.

home small long PST be. PL roof sharp end AWAY path PST turn.

(The building was longish, and its pointed roof-ends turned away from the road.)

morris: It was a longish building with its gable ends turned away from the road,

mua neo lo mia moru laeno lo wira to nai. lo wira kau mulu lokue to wepu. mua lo wira kerou sima kire to nai.

LOC FRONT PL 1SG wall long PL window PST be. PL window ALL low place PST go. LOC PL window stone thread shape PST be.

(In the wall that fronted us were long windows. They came down to a rather low place, and in them was stone thread-work.)

morris: and long traceried windows coming rather low down set in the wall that faced us.

lo miona roe rulo mueri kerou ha womu to ki ru mioru lorima. toru tumoa keluo to nai.

PL person INS red clay stone PROX home PST PFV INTS beautiful build. roof heavy metal PST be.

(People had built the house very handsomely of red clay-stone, and the roof was of the heavy metal.)

morris: It was very handsomely built of red brick with a lead roof;

leo lo wira roe whu se pharelo mueri lo miona kire laeno to wepu.

ABOVE PL window INS REL PASS cook clay PL person shape long PST go.

(High above the windows, person-shapes of baked clay ran in a long band.)

morris: and high up above the windows there ran a frieze of figure subjects in baked clay,

lo kire to se ru welao kealo. lo thena roe kema nela nuwi to se kire.

PL shape PST PASS INTS good create. PL thing INS strong COORD clear PST PASS shape.

(The shapes were very well made, and shaped with a strength and clarity.)

morris: very well executed, and designed with a force and directness

mia mua newu riola ha kema mawha thimu to ki morae.

1SG LOC new labor PROX strong NONE time PST PFV sense.

(I had never sensed this strength in modern work before.)

morris: which I had never noticed in modern work before.

mia lo kire thena to reshi miratu. mia lo thena to ru welao sano.

1SG PL shape thing PST fast recognize. 1SG PL thing PST INTS good know.

(I recognized the pictured things at once, and indeed I knew them very well.)

morris: The subjects I recognised at once, and indeed was very particularly familiar with them.

lona lokueThe hall

whekai lao pheo teku shemu lo mia muo womu to wepu mia mua ta shemu ha theula thena to nila.

CONTR BECAUSE POST short moment PL 1SG INTO home PST go 1SG LOC one moment PROX UNIV thing PST see.

(But because after a short moment we had gone indoors, I took all this in within one moment.)

morris: However, all this I took in in a minute; for we were presently within doors,

lo mia mua whalo lona lokue to whano. lo miona roe sheloi thiku helu kerou tomae to ki lorima. toru lo wolea tholau to ka nila.

PL 1SG LOC large meeting place PST stand. PL person INS MANY small smooth stone floor PST PFV build. roof PL wood bone PST CAUS see.

(We stood in a great hall. Its floor had been built of many small smooth stones, and the roof showed its wooden bones.)

morris: and standing in a hall with a floor of marble mosaic and an open timber roof.

mua whu lue luphore wuero phanoi mu wira to nai. whekai mua ra phanoi lo mulu kerou loriphi muo lo tholupi to kulo.

LOC REL ABL river far portion zero window PST be. CONTR LOC DIST portion PL low stone rainbow INTO PL room PST guide.

(In the part far from the river there were no windows; but there, low stone rainbows guided into rooms.)

morris: There were no windows on the side opposite to the river, but arches below leading into chambers,

thue ta loriphi mia thepalu thiku to nila. thepalu noe womu to nai.

THROUGH one rainbow 1SG garden small PST see. garden BEHIND home PST be.

(Through one of the rainbows I saw a little of a garden, which lay beyond the house.)

morris: one of which showed a glimpse of a garden beyond,

leo lo loriphi laeno moru phanoi sheloi keru kolai to phelu.

ABOVE PL rainbow long wall portion MANY bright pigment PST hold.

(Above the rainbows, a long stretch of wall held much gay pigment.)

morris: and above them a long space of wall gaily painted

mia tha lo miona nia wuloe mueri kolai to sepho tho to remo.

1SG DECL.COMP PL person ON soft clay pigment PST send DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST think.

(I thought the pigment had been laid onto soft clay.)

morris: (in fresco, I thought)

lo kire phea mue womu lo kire to nai.

PL shape AS OUT.OF home PL shape PST be.

(The shapes were like the shapes outside the house.)

morris: with similar subjects to those of the frieze outside;

theula thena mua ha lokue mioru to nai. lo miona roe heloi kema muralo ha lokue to kealo.

UNIV thing LOC PROX place beautiful PST be. PL person INS generous strong material PROX place PST create.

(Everything in this place was handsome, and it had been made of generous, strong material.)

morris: everything about the place was handsome and generously solid as to material;

lokue ru whalo to ma nai. lokue sheo whu mia sano lo whalo lona lokue to po mo thiku nai.

place INTS large PST NEG be. place THAN REL 1SG know PL large meeting place PST POT CMPR small be.

(The place was not very large; it was perhaps somewhat smaller than the great halls I had known.)

morris: and though it was not very large (somewhat smaller than Crosby Hall perhaps),

whekai miona mua ha lokue whu korua ka rihe tholu nela ralu ro phaelo.

CONTR person LOC PROX place REL heart CAUS rise space COORD free HAB feel.

(But in it a person feels that heart-lifting sense of space and freedom.)

morris: one felt in it that exhilarating sense of space and freedom

welao lorima theula thimu wei whu lo mirae ro pilu nela weshoru ma nai miona ha phaelo ro loa.

good build UNIV time DAT REL PL eye HAB take COORD anxious NEG be person PROX feel HAB give.

(Good building always gives this feeling to a person who habitually uses their eyes and is not anxious.)

morris: which satisfactory architecture always gives to an unanxious man who is in the habit of using his eyes.

ta shao himoThe three

mia tha ha loshi lokue phemi womu lona lokue nai tho to sano.

1SG DECL.COMP PROX joyful place guest home meeting place be DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST know.

(I knew this pleasant place to be the hall of the Guest House.)

morris: In this pleasant place, which of course I knew to be the hall of the Guest House,

mua ha lokue ta shao limu miona wea ha wea ra to si reshi roke.

LOC PROX place one three-group young person TOWARD PROX TOWARD DIST PST IPFV fast move.

(In it three young people were flitting here and there.)

morris: three young women were flitting to and fro.

ha ta shao himo phea whu mia mua ha waora kelua to ki nila lo miona to ma nai. thelao mia lo miona to ru thesa nila.

PROX one three-group HUM.CLF AS REL 1SG LOC PROX wondrous morning PST PFV see PL person PST NEG be. CONS 1SG PL person PST INTS careful see.

(These three were not like any I had yet seen on this morning of wonders, so I looked at them very attentively.)

morris: As they were the first of the sex I had seen on this eventful morning, I naturally looked at them very attentively,

lo thepalu nela lo lorima nela mia lo newu melu sheo lo miona to po ma mo welao nai.

PL garden COORD PL build COORD 1SG PL new friend THAN PL person PST POT NEG CMPR good be.

(And the gardens, the buildings, and my new friends could be no better than they.)

morris: and found them at least as good as the gardens, the architecture, and the male men.

mia lo miona wethalu we to thesa nila. wetha lo miona to moli lomare. sheloi thiku thena lo miona to ma tumoa lomare.

1SG PL person garment ALSO PST careful see. cloth PL person PST gentle embrace. MANY small thing PL person PST NEG heavy embrace.

(I also took careful note of their dress. Cloth wrapped them gently; no heap of small things wrapped them heavily.)

morris: As to their dress, which of course I took note of, I should say that they were decently veiled with drapery, and not bundled up with millinery;

wethalu lo miona phea lima miona to lomare. mu miona lo miona phea meipa pheno to ka kelu.

garment PL person AS alive person PST embrace. zero person PL person AS seat full PST CAUS become.

(Their garments clothed them like living people; no one had stuffed them full, the way a seat is stuffed.)

morris: that they were clothed like women, not upholstered like armchairs,

mua mia punoa sheloi miona phea meipa pheno ro kelu.

LOC 1SG society MANY person AS seat full HAB become.

(In my own world, many people habitually become as full-stuffed as seats.)

morris: as most women of our time are.

lo wethalu thei tholua punoa wethalu kire nela serao punoa siloma wethalu kire to whano. whekai ha nuwi to nai. lo wethalu noe ha kire sola ra kire to ma wepu.

PL garment BETWEEN ancient society garment shape COORD old society simple garment shape PST stand. CONTR PROX clear PST be. PL garment BEHIND PROX shape DISJ DIST shape PST NEG go.

(Their dress stood between an ancient world's garment-shape and the simpler garment-shape of a later old world; but this was clear: it walked behind neither shape.)

morris: In short, their dress was somewhat between that of the ancient classical costume and the simpler forms of the fourteenth century garments, though it was clearly not an imitation of either:

lo wetha phelo nela keru to nai. lo wetha wei meluna towe to nai.

PL cloth light COORD bright PST be. PL cloth DAT season well PST be.

(The cloths were light and gay, and well suited to the season.)

morris: the materials were light and gay to suit the season.

lo miona nila ru loshi thena to nai. lo miona menoa kire ru phena nela siora to nai.

PL person see INTS joyful thing PST be. PL person face shape INTS kind COORD joy PST be.

(Seeing them was a truly pleasant thing: the expression of their faces was so kind and happy.)

morris: As to the women themselves, it was pleasant indeed to see them, they were so kind and happy-looking in expression of face,

lo miona weloni kema nela mioru kire to nai. lo miona ru wolu nela kema to ke nai.

PL person body strong COORD beautiful shape PST be. PL person INTS healthy COORD strong PST INFER be.

(Their bodies were strong and beautifully shaped, and they looked thoroughly healthy and strong.)

morris: so shapely and well-knit of body, and thoroughly healthy-looking and strong.

theula mioru to nai. ta miona ru mioru to nai. shia menoa kire koru to nai.

UNIV beautiful PST be. one person INTS beautiful PST be. 3SG face shape harmonious PST be.

(All were comely; and one was very handsome, the shape of her face harmonious.)

morris: All were at least comely, and one of them very handsome and regular of feature.

lo miona whuo hasi wea lo mia to siora shua. mu nilua kire mua lo miona to nai.

PL person WITHOUT wait TOWARD PL 1SG PST joy come. zero shy shape LOC PL person PST be.

(They came toward us merrily and without waiting; there was no shape of shyness in them.)

morris: They came up to us at once merrily and without the least affectation of shyness,

theula ta shao himo mia manuwe to pilu. lo miona mia phea whu lue laeno laniru li nosa ki turema melu to nila.

UNIV one three-group HUM.CLF 1SG hand PST take. PL person 1SG AS REL ABL long journey RESTR now PFV return friend PST see.

(All three took my hand, and they saw me as a friend only now returned from a long journey.)

morris: and all three shook hands with me as if I were a friend newly come back from a long journey:

whekai lao mia mua luera shero wethalu to si lomare mia tha lo miona roe thilou mirae mia wethalu nila tho to na morae. sheno mia roa wethalu mawha thimu thesa to nai.

CONTR BECAUSE 1SG LOC past night garment PST IPFV embrace 1SG DECL.COMP PL person INS inquire eye 1SG garment see DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST NEC sense. ADD 1SG AROUND garment NONE time careful PST be.

(But because I was still wearing last night's clothes, I could not help sensing that they looked at my garments with inquiring eyes. Besides, I had never been careful about dress.)

morris: though I could not help noticing that they looked askance at my garments; for I had on my clothes of last night, and at the best was never a dressy person.

kelua nuromeThe breakfast

ne selomi ta sola wi phelui to loa. pheo thena lo miona wei lo mia to reshi riola.

NAME selomi one DISJ two word PST give. POST thing PL person DAT PL 1SG PST fast labor.

(Weaver gave a word or two, and thereupon they bustled about for us.)

morris: A word or two from Robert the weaver, and they bustled about on our behoof,

pheo teku shemu lo miona lo mia lo manuwe to pilu. lo miona lo mia kau whu mua lona lokue mo ko loshi phanoi whano wonepa to kulo.

POST short moment PL person PL 1SG PL hand PST take. PL person PL 1SG ALL REL LOC meeting place CMPR FOC joyful portion stand table PST guide.

(Presently they took us by the hands and guided us to a table standing in the pleasantest part of the hall.)

morris: and presently came and took us by the hands and led us to a table in the pleasantest corner of the hall,

mua ra wonepa lo mia kelua nurome to ki se welura.

LOC DIST table PL 1SG morning meal PST PFV PASS spread.

(On that table our breakfast had been spread for us.)

morris: where our breakfast was spread for us;

sui lo mia meilo ta miona thue ra lo tholupi mue lona lokue to reshi wepu.

DUR PL 1SG sit one person THROUGH DIST PL room OUT.OF meeting place PST fast go.

(As we sat down, one of them hurried out of the hall through those rooms.)

morris: and, as we sat down, one of them hurried out by the chambers aforesaid,

pheo teku shemu shia nua whalo perola sholei to turema.

POST short moment 3SG COM large rose gather PST return.

(In a little while she came back with a great gathering of roses.)

morris: and came back again in a little while with a great bunch of roses,

lo perola ponalu nela lo perola kirero lue whu mua ha lokue ro ruloi perola ru phirae to nai. whekai lo perola phea lue serao telo thepalu perola to nai.

PL rose size COORD PL rose quality ABL REL LOC PROX place HAB flourish rose INTS different PST be. CONTR PL rose AS ABL old farmer garden rose PST be.

(Their size and quality were very different from the roses that used to grow in this place, but they were very like roses from an old farm garden.)

morris: very different in size and quality to what Hammersmith had been wont to grow, but very like the produce of an old country garden.

shia lue ra muo nuora lokue to reshi wepu. shia nua whu se thesa kealo phielo noru to we turema.

3SG ABL DIST INTO food place PST fast go. 3SG COM REL PASS careful create glass bowl PST ALSO return.

(She hurried from there into the food-room, and came back once more with a glass bowl delicately made.)

morris: She hurried back thence into the buttery, and came back once more with a delicately made glass,

shia muo noru lo peloru to sepho. shia mua lo mia wonepa kesho noru to ka whano.

3SG INTO bowl PL flower PST send. 3SG LOC PL 1SG table middle bowl PST CAUS stand.

(She put the flowers into it, and set it standing in the midst of our table.)

morris: into which she put the flowers and set them down in the midst of our table.

whu we to ki rashelo phirae miona nua whalo lirowa to turema. nia lirowa sheloi rulo mirulo to nai. soli mirulo pai seroli to nai.

REL ALSO PST PFV run different person COM large leaf PST return. ON leaf MANY red berry PST be. SOME berry NEAR mature PST be.

(Another of them, who had also run off, came back with a great leaf; on it were heaped red berries, some of them only near their ripeness.)

morris: One of the others, who had run off also, then came back with a big cabbage-leaf filled with strawberries, some of them barely ripe,

sui shia nia wonepa lirowa ka whano shia sha ha nai. sho to haolu.

DUR 3SG ON table leaf CAUS stand 3SG QUOT.COMP PROX be. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(As she set the leaf on the table she said, "Here it is.")

morris: and said as she set them on the table, "There, now;

phoe mia to rihe mia ha to remo.

ANT 1SG PST rise 1SG PROX PST think.

(I thought of this before I got up this morning.)

morris: I thought of that before I got up this morning;

whekai kona ne kulo. mia tha ha kuewa miona muo thia luphonu kalei tho to nila. ha remo lue mia koma to lepa.

CONTR VOC NAME kulo. 1SG DECL.COMP PROX strange person INTO 2SG boat climb DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST see. PROX think ABL 1SG head PST fall.

(But, Guide, I watched this stranger climbing into your boat, and the thought fell out of my head.)

morris: but looking at the stranger here getting into your boat, Dick, put it out of my head;

thelao mia neo theula nuko pelori to ma kamo.

CONS 1SG FRONT UNIV black bird PST NEG arrive.

(So I did not arrive before all the blackbirds.)

morris: so that I was not before _all_ the blackbirds:

whekai ha phina mirulo phea whu thia mua ha kelua mua theula lokue po hekawi mirulo welao nai.

CONTR PROX FEW berry AS REL 2SG LOC PROX morning LOC UNIV place POT find berry good be.

(Still, these few are as good as any berries you could find anywhere this morning.)

morris: however, there are a few about as good as you will get them anywhere in Hammersmith this morning.

ne selomi shia koma to phena palo. lo mia kelua nurome to pa nuola.

NAME selomi 3SG head PST kind touch. PL 1SG morning meal PST INCH eat.

(Weaver patted her head kindly, and we fell to on our breakfast.)

morris: Robert patted her on the head in a friendly manner; and we fell to on our breakfast,

nurome siloma to nai. whekai nuora to se ru thesa pharelo. lo miona roe sheloi thesa nia wonepa nuora to ki ka whano.

meal simple PST be. CONTR food PST PASS INTS careful cook. PL person INS MANY careful ON table food PST PFV CAUS stand.

(The meal was simple enough, but its food was most delicately cooked and had been set on the table with much care.)

morris: which was simple enough, but most delicately cooked, and set on the table with much daintiness.

napa ko ru welao to nai. sheloi phirae kire napa to nai.

bread FOC INTS good PST be. MANY different shape bread PST be.

(The bread especially was very good, and there were breads of several different kinds.)

morris: The bread was particularly good, and was of several different kinds,

ta kire whalo nela theru nela nuelo nela kaelo telo womu napa to nai. ha napa wei mia mo ko welao to nai.

one shape large COORD thick COORD dark COORD sweet farmer home bread PST be. PROX bread DAT 1SG CMPR FOC good PST be.

(One kind was the big, close, dark, sweet-tasting farmhouse bread, and that one was most to my liking.)

morris: from the big, rather close, dark-coloured, sweet-tasting farmhouse loaf, which was most to my liking,

phirae kire lo lemi napa phea thiku phui to nai. mia mua wuero ronua silawo ha kire napa to ki nuola.

different shape PL thin bread AS small flute PST be. 1SG LOC far south village PROX shape bread PST PFV eat.

(Another kind was thin breads like little flutes; I had eaten that kind in a far southern town.)

morris: to the thin pipe-stems of wheaten crust, such as I have eaten in Turin.

lo thekiroThe writing on the wall

sui mia nu ta nuora muo phulae sepho mia nia wolea moru whu se kati nela solai phelu lo thekiro to nila.

DUR 1SG ORD one food INTO mouth send 1SG ON wood wall REL PASS cut COORD gold hold PL write PST see.

(As I was putting the first mouthful into my mouth, my eye caught, on the wooden wall, a writing carved and gilded.)

morris: As I was putting the first mouthfuls into my mouth my eye caught a carved and gilded inscription on the panelling,

ha lo thekiro noe whu mia punoa phea wheo wonepa po shemui wonepa to nai.

PROX PL write BEHIND REL 1SG society AS elder table POT utter table PST be.

(The writing stood behind the table my own world could have called the elders' table.)

morris: behind what we should have called the High Table in an Oxford college hall,

mua lo thekiro ta whu mia ru sano nomei to nai. ha nomei mia theula thekiro to ka theo. lo thekiro phea ha to wepu.

LOC PL write one REL 1SG INTS know name PST be. PROX name 1SG UNIV write PST CAUS read. PL write AS PROX PST go.

(In it was a name I knew well, and that name made me read the whole writing through. It ran like this:)

morris: and a familiar name in it forced me to read it through. Thus it ran:

kona lo phemi nela lo phewani. mua ha phemi womu lokue shalimo haolu tholupi to whano. no roe phielo wei ha halemu milau. mua wirae lumae.

VOC PL guest COORD PL neighbor. LOC PROX guest home place alliance speak room PST stand. IMP INS glass DAT PROX remember drink. LOC spring end.

(Guests and neighbors: on the place of this Guest-house stood the speaking-room of the alliance. Drink a glass to the memory! At spring's end.)

morris: "_Guests and neighbours_, _on the site of this Guest-hall once stood the lecture-room of the Hammersmith Socialists_. _Drink a glass to the memory_! _May 1962_."

sui mia ha lo thekiro theo whu mia phaelo thena shane wei thia kethua nai.

DUR 1SG PROX PL write read REL 1SG feel thing tell DAT 2SG hard be.

(It is difficult to tell you what I felt as I read these words.)

morris: It is difficult to tell you how I felt as I read these words,

lao wi mia melu mia to kuelo nila mia tha mia menoa mia korua roke to ka nila tho to ho remo. thei lo mia maeli teku thimu to manolu.

BECAUSE two 1SG friend 1SG PST curious see 1SG DECL.COMP 1SG face 1SG heart move PST CAUS see DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST ASSUM think. BETWEEN PL 1SG quiet short time PST stay.

(Because both my friends looked curiously at me, I suppose my face showed the moving of my heart. Quiet stayed between us for a little while.)

morris: and I suppose my face showed how much I was moved, for both my friends looked curiously at me, and there was silence between us for a little while.

ne phemiThe guest's name

luphonu miona sheo ne selomi la mo welao keno to phelu. pheo teku shemu ne selomi wei mia to la keloa haolu.

boat person THAN NAME selomi ATTEN CMPR good custom PST hold. POST short moment NAME selomi DAT 1SG PST ATTEN rough speak.

(The ferryman held slightly more good custom than the weaver; presently the weaver spoke to me a little roughly.)

morris: Presently the weaver, who was scarcely so well mannered a man as the ferryman, said to me rather awkwardly:

kona phemi. lo mia tha lo mia thia hina shemui tho ma sano. wa mua thia nomei thilou soli peloma nai.

VOC guest. PL 1SG DECL.COMP PL 1SG 2SG what utter DECL.COMP.CLOSE NEG know. Q LOC 2SG name inquire SOME harmful be.

("Guest, we do not know what to call you. Is there some harm in the asking of your name?")

morris: "Guest, we don't know what to call you: is there any indiscretion in asking you your name?"

mia sha mia we ha nomei nuwi ma sano. sho to haolu.

1SG QUOT.COMP 1SG ALSO PROX name clear NEG know. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("Well," said I, "even I do not know it clearly myself.")

morris: "Well," said I, "I have some doubts about it myself;

pi no thelao mia phea ne phemi shemui. ha mia lumani nomei nai.

POL IMP CONS 1SG AS NAME phemi utter. PROX 1SG family name be.

(So please call me Guest, which is my family's name.)

morris: so suppose you call me Guest, which is a family name, you know,

lu lo thia rinu. lo thia nia ha ta phirae nomei po tiwa.

COND PL 2SG want. PL 2SG ON PROX one different name POT tie.

(And if you please, you may tie another name onto it.)

morris: and add William to it if you please."

ne kulo roe koma wei mia phena kiroa to loa. whekai thiku weshoru kire leo ne selomi menoa to wepu. shia to haolu.

NAME kulo INS head DAT 1SG kind sign PST give. CONTR small anxious shape ABOVE NAME selomi face PST go. 3SG PST speak.

(Guide gave me a kind head-sign; but a small anxious look passed over the weaver's face, and he said:)

morris: Dick nodded kindly to me; but a shade of anxiousness passed over the weaver's face, and he said--

su mia thilou wei thia peloma ma nai. whekai thia lue kua shua. pi no wei mia shane.

OPT 1SG inquire DAT 2SG harmful NEG be. CONTR 2SG ABL where come. POL IMP DAT 1SG tell.

("I hope my asking does you no harm; but would you tell me: from where do you come?")

morris: "I hope you don't mind my asking, but would you tell me where you come from?

mia roa ha kire lo thena kuelo nai. mia welao remotha phelu. mia shelu remotha phelu.

1SG AROUND PROX shape PL thing curious be. 1SG good reason hold. 1SG book reason hold.

(I am curious about such things, and I hold good reasons: book-reasons.)

morris: I am curious about such things for good reasons, literary reasons."

ne kulo phou wonepa roe paloi shia to si pesa. ha ru nuwi to nai. whekai shia ru nilua to ma kelu. shia mia lo haolu to therua hasi.

NAME kulo BELOW table INS foot 3SG PST IPFV push. PROX INTS clear PST be. CONTR 3SG INTS shy PST NEG become. 3SG 1SG PL speak PST eager wait.

(Guide was quite clearly pushing at him with his foot under the table; but he was not much abashed, and awaited my words eagerly.)

morris: Dick was clearly kicking him underneath the table; but he was not much abashed, and awaited my answer somewhat eagerly.

mia tha mia lue ha lokue shua tho haolu to pa thueli.

1SG DECL.COMP 1SG ABL PROX place come DECL.COMP.CLOSE speak PST INCH intend.

(As for me, I was just about to blurt out that I came from this very place.)

morris: As for me, I was just going to blurt out "Hammersmith,"

whekai mia tha ha lo haolu muo tiwa sima ruela lo mia so kolua tho to remo.

CONTR 1SG DECL.COMP PROX PL speak INTO tie thread path PL 1SG FUT carry DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST think.

(When I bethought me: these words would carry us into a path of tied threads.)

morris: when I bethought me what an entanglement of cross purposes that would lead us into;

thelao mia laeno shemu to pilu. mia ta peshu to thesa kealo. thiku theloa ha peshu thema to nai. mia to haolu.

CONS 1SG long moment PST take. 1SG one lie PST careful create. small truth PROX lie guardian PST be. 1SG PST speak.

(So I took time and carefully made a lie; a little truth was that lie's guardian; and I said:)

morris: so I took time to invent a lie with circumstance, guarded by a little truth, and said:

mia sha mia lue ha lo muila ru laeno thimu wuero to nai. thelao lo thena wei mia nosa kuewa ke nai. sho to haolu.

1SG QUOT.COMP 1SG ABL PROX PL earth INTS long time far PST be. CONS PL thing DAT 1SG now strange INFER be. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("You see, I have been away from these lands so long a time that things seem strange to me now.")

morris: "You see, I have been such a long time away from Europe that things seem strange to me now;

whekai mia mua whalo shelira shuna to thowia. lo miona mua ra lokue mia to numelo.

CONTR 1SG LOC large forest edge PST born. PL person LOC DIST place 1SG PST nurture.

(But I was born on the edge of a great forest, and there people bred me up.)

morris: but I was born and bred on the edge of Epping Forest; Walthamstow and Woodford, to wit."

sheliraThe forest

ne kulo muo haolu to pukate. shia sha ra lokue we mioru nai. sho to haolu.

NAME kulo INTO speak PST break. 3SG QUOT.COMP DIST place ALSO beautiful be. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(Dick broke into the talk: "A pretty place, too," he said.)

morris: "A pretty place, too," broke in Dick;

ra ru loshi lokue nai. lao pheo sheloi womu leiro lo shiro ruloi thimu to ki phelu.

DIST INTS joyful place be. BECAUSE POST MANY home release PL tree flourish time PST PFV hold.

(A very jolly place, since after the clearing of many houses the trees have had time to grow again.)

morris: a very jolly place, now that the trees have had time to grow again

sheloi womu leiro phoe pai ta rei wi lau torua to kelu.

MANY home release ANT NEAR one eighty-one-group two twenty-seven-group year PST become.

(That clearing of many houses happened near a hundred and thirty-five years ago.)

morris: since the great clearing of houses in 1955."

maeli ne selomi ka po ma manolu. shia to haolu.

quiet NAME selomi CAUS POT NEG stay. 3SG PST speak.

(Quiet could not hold the weaver; he spoke:)

morris: Quoth the irrepressible weaver:

kona phena phewani. thia phoe sheloi torua ra shelira to sano.

VOC kind neighbor. 2SG ANT MANY year DIST forest PST know.

("Dear neighbor, you knew that forest many years ago.")

morris: "Dear neighbour, since you knew the Forest some time ago,

lo miona tha mua ra serao punoa lo miona theula shiro koma to ro kati tho ti haolu. wa ha shewo nai. pi no wei mia shane.

PL person DECL.COMP LOC DIST old society PL person UNIV tree head PST HAB cut DECL.COMP.CLOSE REP speak. Q PROX true be. POL IMP DAT 1SG tell.

(People say, at second hand, that in that old world the trees all had their heads cut. Is this true? Please tell me.)

morris: could you tell me what truth there is in the rumour that in the nineteenth century the trees were all pollards?"

ha thilou mia serao thimu lioru sano lothea to kawepa.

PROX inquire 1SG old time life know love PST catch.

(This question caught my love of old-time nature-lore.)

morris: This was catching me on my archaeological natural-history side,

mia tha mia kua nela weno nai tho to ma remo. mia muo mera to lepa. thelao mia to pa haolu.

1SG DECL.COMP 1SG where COORD when be DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST NEG think. 1SG INTO net PST fall. CONS 1SG PST INCH speak.

(I gave no thought to where, and when, I was; I fell into the net, and began on it.)

morris: and I fell into the trap without any thought of where and when I was; so I began on it,

mua ra thimu ra ru mioru miona wea mia to shua. shia nia tomae lo kaelo whinu heru thiku loremi to si thiwera.

LOC DIST time DIST INTS beautiful person TOWARD 1SG PST come. 3SG ON floor PL sweet smell herb small branch PST IPFV scatter.

(Meanwhile the handsome one came toward me; she had been scattering little branches of sweet-smelling herbs on the floor.)

morris: while one of the girls, the handsome one, who had been scattering little twigs of lavender and other sweet-smelling herbs about the floor, came near to listen,

lila shia sheluo shia noe mia to whano. shia manuwe nia mia talua to nai.

PURP 3SG listen 3SG BEHIND 1SG PST stand. 3SG hand ON 1SG shoulder PST be.

(She stood behind me to listen, with her hand on my shoulder.)

morris: and stood behind me with her hand on my shoulder,

mua ra manuwe shia soli heru to phelu. mia lopia thimu ha heru nomei to sano.

LOC DIST hand 3SG SOME herb PST hold. 1SG child time PROX herb name PST know.

(In that hand she held some of an herb whose name my boyhood had known.)

morris: in which she held some of the plant that I used to call balm:

ha heru kema kaelo whinu wei mia mia lopia thimu lo thorui philo to ka halemu.

PROX herb strong sweet smell DAT 1SG 1SG child time PL beginning day PST CAUS remember.

(Its strong sweet smell brought back to me the very first days of my child-time.)

morris: its strong sweet smell brought back to my mind my very early days

mia ra nuora thepalu we to halemu. mia whu noe kaelo heru phanoi leo moru ruloi lo whalo shilu lureko we to halemu.

1SG DIST food garden ALSO PST remember. 1SG REL BEHIND sweet herb portion ABOVE wall flourish PL large blue fruit ALSO PST remember.

(I remembered the kitchen-garden too, and the great blue fruits that grew on the wall beyond the sweet-herb bed.)

morris: in the kitchen-garden at Woodford, and the large blue plums which grew on the wall beyond the sweet-herb patch,

theula lopia ha lo halemu tiwa po reshi nila.

UNIV child PROX PL remember tie POT fast see.

(Every child will see this tying-together of memories at once.)

morris: --a connection of memories which all boys will see at once.

mia to pa shane.

1SG PST INCH tell.

(I started off.)

morris: I started off:

mua mia lopia thimu nela pheo ra laeno thimu pai theula shelira whu koma se kati shiro to nai. lo theru thiku shiro thoa ra lo shiro to whano.

LOC 1SG child time COORD POST DIST long time NEAR UNIV forest REL head PASS cut tree PST be. PL thick small tree AMONG DIST PL tree PST stand.

("In my child-time, and long after, almost the whole forest was trees with their heads cut, and dense small trees stood among them.")

morris: "When I was a boy, and for long after, ... the Forest was almost wholly made up of pollard hornbeams mixed with holly thickets.

wi phanoi phirae to nai. ta phanoi roa ta ru serao womu to nai. ta phanoi mua ta raelu lokue to nai.

two portion different PST be. one portion AROUND one INTS old home PST be. one portion LOC one tall place PST be.

(Two parts were different: one around a very old house, and one at a high place.)

morris: except for a piece about Queen Elizabeth's Lodge, and for the part about High Beech,

whekai phoe pai ta lau torua whalo silawo punoki leo ra shelira karami to pilu.

CONTR ANT NEAR one twenty-seven-group year large village institution ABOVE DIST forest authority PST take.

(But near twenty-seven years ago, the great city's institution took authority over the forest.)

morris: But when the Corporation of London took it over about twenty-five years ago,

lo miona koma kati to te phoa. ha kati serao laenu shereni phanoi to nai.

PL person head cut PST CESS do. PROX cut old commons entitlement portion PST be.

(People ceased pollarding, though the cutting had been part of the old commons entitlement.)

morris: the topping and lopping, which was a part of the old commoners' rights, came to an end,

lo shiro whuo kati to ruloi.

PL tree WITHOUT cut PST flourish.

(And the trees were let to grow.)

morris: and the trees were let to grow.

whekai mia mua sheloi luera torua ra lokue to ma nila. ta shemu phirae to nai. mua ra shemu lo mia shalimo miona wei siora kau ra raelu lokue to wepu.

CONTR 1SG LOC MANY past year DIST place PST NEG see. one moment different PST be. LOC DIST moment PL 1SG alliance person DAT joy ALL DIST tall place PST go.

(But for many years now I had not seen the place; one time was different, when we of the alliance went for pleasure to that high place.)

morris: But I have not seen the place now for many years, except once, when we Leaguers went a pleasuring to High Beech.

mua ra shemu mia tha lo miona leo theula ra lokue to ki lorima tho to nila. ra lokue to ki ru moluki. ha nila mia to ru wakomi.

LOC DIST moment 1SG DECL.COMP PL person ABOVE UNIV DIST place PST PFV build DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST see. DIST place PST PFV INTS transform. PROX see 1SG PST INTS surprise.

(Then I saw that people had built over the whole place; it was utterly altered; and that sight shocked me deeply.)

morris: I was very much shocked then to see how it was built-over and altered;

mua ta noshi philo lo mia tha whu mioru thiku nila lo miona ra shelira thepalu ka kelu thueli tho to ti hea.

LOC one near day PL 1SG DECL.COMP REL beautiful small see PL person DIST forest garden CAUS become intend DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST REP hear.

(And the other day we heard it said that the people who see beauty small meant to make the forest into a garden.)

morris: and the other day we heard that the philistines were going to landscape-garden it.

whekai thia tha lo miona to te lorima nela lo shiro nosa ruloi tho haolu. ha lo haolu wei mia ru welao nai.

CONTR 2SG DECL.COMP PL person PST CESS build COORD PL tree now flourish DECL.COMP.CLOSE speak. PROX PL speak DAT 1SG INTS good be.

(But what you say, that the building has ceased and the trees now flourish, is only too good news to me.)

morris: But what you were saying about the building being stopped and the trees growing is only too good news;

mua ra shemu mia ne kulo tawi to reshi halemu. mia haolu to reshi tapu. mia remo tiwa to phaelo.

LOC DIST moment 1SG NAME kulo count PST fast remember. 1SG speak PST fast close. 1SG think tie PST feel.

(At that point I suddenly remembered Dick's count of years; I stopped speaking short, and felt my thoughts tangle.)

morris: --only you know--" At that point I suddenly remembered Dick's date, and stopped short rather confused.

wia toruaHow many years

ne selomi mia remo tiwa to ma morae. shia roa shia miso keno pukate pai selua to ke nai. shia to reshi haolu.

NAME selomi 1SG think tie PST NEG sense. 3SG AROUND 3SG REFL custom break NEAR aware PST INFER be. 3SG PST fast speak.

(The eager weaver did not notice my confusion; he seemed almost aware of his own breach of custom, and said hastily:)

morris: The eager weaver didn't notice my confusion, but said hastily, as if he were almost aware of his breach of good manners,

whekai thia wia torua phelu.

CONTR 2SG how many year hold.

("But, I say: how many years do you hold?")

morris: "But, I say, how old are you?"

ne kulo nela ra mioru miona to pa theisa hola.

NAME kulo COORD DIST beautiful person PST INCH loud laugh.

(Dick and the pretty girl both burst out laughing.)

morris: Dick and the pretty girl both burst out laughing,

ne selomi kuewa ha keno pukate moli to ka ke kelu.

NAME selomi strange PROX custom break gentle PST CAUS INFER become.

(Weaver's strangeness, it seemed, made the breach a gentle one.)

morris: as if Robert's conduct were excusable on the grounds of eccentricity;

ne kulo mua hola kesho to haolu.

NAME kulo LOC laugh middle PST speak.

(And Dick said amidst his laughter:)

morris: and Dick said amidst his laughter:

kona ne selomi. no te thilou. ha phemi thilou welao ma nai.

VOC NAME selomi. IMP CESS inquire. PROX guest inquire good NEG be.

("Hold hard, Weaver: cease the asking. This questioning of guests will not do.")

morris: "Hold hard, Bob; this questioning of guests won't do.

sheloi sano thia ka thenoi.

MANY know 2SG CAUS falls-short.

("Why, much learning is making you fall short.")

morris: Why, much learning is spoiling you.

thia phea lo palowe kealo miona mua lo tawimo serao nophi nai.

2SG AS PL shoe create person LOC PL foolish old story be.

(You are like the shoe-makers in the silly old stories.)

morris: You remind me of the radical cobblers in the silly old novels,

ra lo miona wei riola sano phou paloi theula welao keno to ti pesa.

DIST PL person DAT labor know BELOW foot UNIV good custom PST REP push.

(Those men, so the story-writers report, pushed all good custom underfoot in the chase of useful knowledge.)

morris: who, according to the authors, were prepared to trample down all good manners in the pursuit of utilitarian knowledge.

mia tha thia roe tawi remo thia koma to ki ka tiwa tho pa remo.

1SG DECL.COMP 2SG INS count think 2SG head PST PFV CAUS tie DECL.COMP.CLOSE INCH think.

(The fact is, I begin to think that with mathematics you have tied your own head in knots.)

morris: The fact is, I begin to think that you have so muddled your head with mathematics,

thia whu serao punoa loa nela pilu shane lo tawimo serao shelu we to ki muholi. pio.

2SG REL old society give COORD take tell PL foolish old book ALSO PST PFV dig. hehe.

(And you have been grubbing too into those idiotic old books that tell of the old world's giving and taking. He he!)

morris: and with grubbing into those idiotic old books about political economy (he he!),

thelao thia thela phoa po ma ru sano.

CONS 2SG how do POT NEG INTS know.

(So that you hardly know how to behave.)

morris: that you scarcely know how to behave.

lila thia lue meraku lo thiku mera po sawa thia nosa mue womu riola na pilu.

PURP 2SG ABL brain PL small net POT wash 2SG now OUT.OF home labor NEC take.

(Really, you must now take up some open-air work, so that you may wash the little nets out of your brain.)

morris: Really, it is about time for you to take to some open-air work, so that you may clear away the cobwebs from your brain."

ne selomi to phena hola. ra miona wea shia to wepu. shia ne selomi meshoi to moli palo. shia roe hola haoni to haolu.

NAME selomi PST kind laugh. DIST person TOWARD 3SG PST go. 3SG NAME selomi cheek PST gentle touch. 3SG INS laugh voice PST speak.

(The weaver laughed good-humouredly; and the girl went up to him, patted his cheek gently, and spoke with laughter in her voice:)

morris: The weaver only laughed good-humouredly; and the girl went up to him and patted his cheek and said laughingly,

soa. shia phea ha to thowia.

sorry. 3SG AS PROX PST born.

("Poor fellow! He was born like this.")

morris: "Poor fellow! he was born so."

mia thiku remo tiwa to phaelo. whekai lao lo phirae miona to hola mia we to hola. lao mia lo miona weshoru ma nai siora nela welao korua to nila mia we to hola.

1SG small think tie PST feel. CONTR BECAUSE PL different person PST laugh 1SG ALSO PST laugh. BECAUSE 1SG PL person anxious NEG be joy COORD good heart PST see 1SG ALSO PST laugh.

(I was a little puzzled. But because the others laughed, I laughed too. Because I saw their unanxious happiness and good temper, I laughed with them.)

morris: As for me, I was a little puzzled, but I laughed also, partly for company's sake, and partly with pleasure at their unanxious happiness and good temper;

ne selomi wei mia soa haolu to si thesa kealo. phoe shia ha haolu mia to haolu.

NAME selomi DAT 1SG sorry speak PST IPFV careful create. ANT 3SG PROX speak 1SG PST speak.

(Robert was getting an apology ready for me; before he could speak it, I said:)

morris: and before Robert could make the excuse to me which he was getting ready, I said:

kona lo phewani.

VOC PL neighbor.

("But neighbours,")

morris: "But neighbours"

mia ha haolu to ki kawepa.

1SG PROX speak PST PFV catch.

(I had caught up that word.)

morris: (I had caught up that word),

lu mia po lonae. mia roe siora lonae. no wei mia whu lo thia rinu sheloi thilou sepho. ha wei mia loshi thena nai.

COND 1SG POT respond. 1SG INS joy respond. IMP DAT 1SG REL PL 2SG want MANY inquire send. PROX DAT 1SG joyful thing be.

(When I can answer, I answer with joy: send me as many questions as you please; it is fun for me.)

morris: I don't in the least mind answering questions, when I can do so: ask me as many as you please; it's fun for me.

lu lo thia rinu. mia roa mia lopia thimu ra shelira wei lo thia theula so shane.

COND PL 2SG want. 1SG AROUND 1SG child time DIST forest DAT PL 2SG UNIV FUT tell.

(I will tell you everything about the forest of my boyhood, if you please.)

morris: I will tell you all about Epping Forest when I was a boy, if you please;

soli miona miso lo torua ro ma shane. mia ra miona ma nai. thelao mia misa ma shane.

SOME person REFL PL year HAB NEG tell. 1SG DIST person NEG be. CONS 1SG why NEG tell.

(Some people never tell their own years; I am not that person; so why should I not tell you?)

morris: and as to my age, I'm not a fine lady, you know, so why shouldn't I tell you?

mia pai wi lau wi torua phelu.

1SG NEAR two twenty-seven-group two year hold.

(I hold hard on fifty-six years.)

morris: I'm hard on fifty-six."

shai shia roa welao keno lo haolu li nosa to hea ne selomi roe wakomi sha wao sho to na laeno shemui.

CONC 3SG AROUND good custom PL speak RESTR now PST hear NAME selomi INS surprise QUOT.COMP wow QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST NEC long utter.

(In spite of having only now heard the words about good custom, the weaver could not help giving a long "wow" of astonishment.)

morris: In spite of the recent lecture on good manners, the weaver could not help giving a long "whew" of astonishment,

shia siloma korua lo phirae miona ru monelu to ka kelu. siora leo lo miona menoa to reshi wepu. whekai wei welao keno lo miona to ma hola.

3SG simple heart PL different person INTS amused PST CAUS become. joy ABOVE PL person face PST fast go. CONTR DAT good custom PL person PST NEG laugh.

(His simple heart so amused the others that merriment flitted over their faces, though for courtesy's sake they held back laughter.)

morris: and the others were so amused by his _naivete_ that the merriment flitted all over their faces, though for courtesy's sake they forbore actual laughter;

mia lue ta miona wea phirae miona roe remo tiwa mirae to nila. mua lumae mia to haolu.

1SG ABL one person TOWARD different person INS think tie eye PST see. LOC end 1SG PST speak.

(I looked from one to the other with puzzled eyes, and at last said:)

morris: while I looked from one to the other in a puzzled manner, and at last said:

pi no wei mia shane. hina thenoi. thia tha mia lue lo thia sano rinu tho sano. no hola. no whekai wei mia we shane.

POL IMP DAT 1SG tell. what falls-short. 2SG DECL.COMP 1SG ABL PL 2SG know want DECL.COMP.CLOSE know. IMP laugh. IMP CONTR DAT 1SG ALSO tell.

("Tell me, please: what is amiss? You know I want to learn from you. And please laugh; only tell me too.")

morris: "Tell me, please, what is amiss: you know I want to learn from you. And please laugh; only tell me."

lo miona nosa to shewo hola. mia we to hola. lao mia lo remo phea luera to nai.

PL person now PST true laugh. 1SG ALSO PST laugh. BECAUSE 1SG PL think AS past PST be.

(Well, they did laugh, and I joined them again, my reasons being as before.)

morris: Well, they _did_ laugh, and I joined them again, for the above-stated reasons.

mua lumae ra mioru miona roe moli haoni to haolu.

LOC end DIST beautiful person INS gentle voice PST speak.

(But at last the pretty woman spoke, with a gentle, coaxing voice:)

morris: But at last the pretty woman said coaxingly--

shia keloa nai. soa. whekai mia wei thia shia remo po shane.

3SG rough be. sorry. CONTR 1SG DAT 2SG 3SG think POT tell.

("Well, well, he is rude, poor fellow! But I may as well tell you what he is thinking:")

morris: "Well, well, he _is_ rude, poor fellow! but you see I may as well tell you what he is thinking about:

shia tha thia sheo thia lo torua mo serao ke nai tho remo.

3SG DECL.COMP 2SG THAN 2SG PL year CMPR old INFER be DECL.COMP.CLOSE think.

(He means that you look rather older than your years.)

morris: he means that you look rather old for your age.

whekai ha mu wakomi na nai. lao thia laniru to ki phoa.

CONTR PROX zero surprise NEC be. BECAUSE 2SG journey PST PFV do.

(But surely there need be no wonder in that, since you have been travelling.)

morris: But surely there need be no wonder in that, since you have been travelling;

thia lo haolu ha to ka nuwi nila. thia mua whu lo miona wiso phena ma nai lo muila to ki laniru phoa.

2SG PL speak PROX PST CAUS clear see. 2SG LOC REL PL person RECP kind NEG be PL earth PST PFV journey do.

(And your own words showed it clearly: you have journeyed in lands where people are not kind to one another.)

morris: and clearly from all you have been saying, in unsocial countries.

lu miona thoa whu nuhe phaelo lo miona menui. shia serao reshi kelu. lo miona ha sheloi shemu ti haolu. ha shewo ho nai.

COND person AMONG REL sadness feel PL person dwell. 3SG old fast become. PL person PROX MANY moment REP speak. PROX true ASSUM be.

(If a person lives among people who feel sadness, they grow old quickly. People have often said this, and no doubt it is true.)

morris: It has often been said, and no doubt truly, that one ages very quickly if one lives amongst unhappy people.

sheno lo miona tha mua ha muila ronua phanoi miona mioru ro manolu tho ti haolu.

ADD PL person DECL.COMP LOC PROX earth south portion person beautiful HAB stay DECL.COMP.CLOSE REP speak.

(Also they say that in the south of this land a person's good looks stay.)

morris: Also they say that southern England is a good place for keeping good looks."

shia menoa rulo to kelu. shia sha thia tha mia wia torua phelu tho remo. sho to haolu.

3SG face red PST become. 3SG QUOT.COMP 2SG DECL.COMP 1SG how many year hold DECL.COMP.CLOSE think. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(She blushed, and said: "How many years do you think I hold?")

morris: She blushed and said: "How old am I, do you think?"

lo miona theula thimu wei mia tha miona lo torua phea miona nila kire nai tho to ti haolu.

PL person UNIV time DAT 1SG DECL.COMP person PL year AS person see shape be DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST REP speak.

("Well," quoth I, "I have always been told that a person's years are as the person's look,")

morris: "Well," quoth I, "I have always been told that a woman is as old as she looks,

thelao whuo peloma nela whuo ru kaelo haolu mia tha thia wi phoi wi torua phelu tho haolu.

CONS WITHOUT harmful COORD WITHOUT INTS sweet speak 1SG DECL.COMP 2SG two nine-group two year hold DECL.COMP.CLOSE speak.

(So without offence, and without over-sweet words, I should say that you hold twenty years.)

morris: so without offence or flattery, I should say that you were twenty."

shia to siora hola. shia to haolu.

3SG PST joy laugh. 3SG PST speak.

(She laughed merrily, and said:)

morris: She laughed merrily, and said,

mia lo kaelo haolu to sheraki. thelao ha thua nai. mia wei thia theloa na shane.

1SG PL sweet speak PST search. CONS PROX fair be. 1SG DAT 2SG truth NEC tell.

("I searched for sweet words, so this is fair: I must tell you the truth.")

morris: "I am well served out for fishing for compliments, since I have to tell you the truth,

mia ta lau ta phoi wi shao torua phelu.

1SG one twenty-seven-group one nine-group two three-group year hold.

(I hold forty-two years.)

morris: to wit, that I am forty-two."

mia shia to ru nila. lue shia meliphe hola we to lepa.

1SG 3SG PST INTS see. ABL 3SG music laugh ALSO PST fall.

(I stared at her, and drew musical laughter from her again.)

morris: I stared at her, and drew musical laughter from her again;

whekai ha ru nila thua to nai. mu thesa sima nia shia menoa to nai.

CONTR PROX INTS see fair PST be. zero careful thread ON 3SG face PST be.

(But I might well stare: there was not one thread of care on her face.)

morris: but I might well stare, for there was not a careful line on her face;

shia hisae phea tholau helu to nai. lo shia meshoi pheno nela sorui kire to nai. lo shia phimei phea whu shia to ki kolua lo perola rulo to nai.

3SG skin AS bone smooth PST be. PL 3SG cheek full COORD circle shape PST be. PL 3SG lip AS REL 3SG PST PFV carry PL rose red PST be.

(Her skin was smooth as polished bone, her cheeks full and round, her lips as red as the roses she had brought in.)

morris: her skin was as smooth as ivory, her cheeks full and round, her lips as red as the roses she had brought in;

shia mioru lo pelio lue talua tei manuwe kiparu kema to nai. shia wei riola lue lo pelio wethalu to ki leiro.

3SG beautiful PL arm ABL shoulder UNTIL hand joint strong PST be. 3SG DAT labor ABL PL arm garment PST PFV release.

(Her beautiful arms were firm and strong from shoulder to wrist; she had bared them for her work.)

morris: her beautiful arms, which she had bared for her work, firm and well-knit from shoulder to wrist.

phou mia nila shia menoa la rulo to kelu. whekai ha nuwi to nai. shia mia phea whu wi lau wi phoi wi shao wi torua phelu miona to ki nila.

BELOW 1SG see 3SG face ATTEN red PST become. CONTR PROX clear PST be. 3SG 1SG AS REL two twenty-seven-group two nine-group two three-group two year hold person PST PFV see.

(She blushed a little under my gaze, though it was clear she had taken me for a person of eighty years.)

morris: She blushed a little under my gaze, though it was clear that she had taken me for a man of eighty;

thelao lila ha shemu moli wepu mia to haolu.

CONS PURP PROX moment gentle go 1SG PST speak.

(So, to pass it off, I said:)

morris: so to pass it off I said--

ra serao haolu we shewo to kelu. thia muo keloa thilou mia to natu. mia ha to na ma kelomi.

DIST old speak ALSO true PST become. 2SG INTO rough inquire 1SG PST pull. 1SG PROX PST NEC NEG accept.

("Well, you see, the old saying is proved right again: you tempted me into a rude question, and I ought not to have allowed it.")

morris: "Well, you see, the old saw is proved right again, and I ought not to have let you tempt me into asking you a rude question."

shia we to hola. shia to haolu.

3SG ALSO PST laugh. 3SG PST speak.

(She laughed again, and said:)

morris: She laughed again, and said:

kona lo melu. serao nela limu. mia nosa mia riola na pilu.

VOC PL friend. old COORD young. 1SG now 1SG labor NEC take.

("Well, friends, old and young: I must get to my work now.")

morris: "Well, lads, old and young, I must get to my work now.

pheo teku thimu sheloi riola mua ha so kamo. mia tha mia kau lumae ha riola reshi kolua tho rinu.

POST short time MANY labor LOC PROX FUT arrive. 1SG DECL.COMP 1SG ALL end PROX labor fast carry DECL.COMP.CLOSE want.

(We shall be rather busy here presently, and I want to carry my work quickly to its end.)

morris: We shall be rather busy here presently; and I want to clear it off soon,

lao mia mua luera philo mioru serao shelu to pa theo mia tha mia mua ha kelua ha shelu mo theo tho rinu.

BECAUSE 1SG LOC past day beautiful old book PST INCH read 1SG DECL.COMP 1SG LOC PROX morning PROX book CMPR read DECL.COMP.CLOSE want.

(For I began to read a pretty old book yesterday, and I want to get on with it this morning.)

morris: for I began to read a pretty old book yesterday, and I want to get on with it this morning:

thelao mia nosa pholeni.

CONS 1SG now depart.

(So good-bye for the present.)

morris: so good-bye for the present."

shia roe manuwe wei lo mia kiroa to loa. shia thue lona lokue to phelo thalo.

3SG INS hand DAT PL 1SG sign PST give. 3SG THROUGH meeting place PST light walk.

(She waved a hand to us, and stepped lightly down the hall.)

morris: She waved a hand to us, and stepped lightly down the hall,

sui shia wepu shia lue lo mia wonepa sileta keru phanoi to pilu. ta serao lophae roa ha kire pilu to ki thekiro.

DUR 3SG go 3SG ABL PL 1SG table sun bright portion PST take. one old storyteller AROUND PROX shape take PST PFV write.

(As she went, she took part of the sun's light from our table; an old storyteller has written of this kind of taking.)

morris: taking (as Scott says) at least part of the sun from our table as she went.

selomi nela tawi remoWeaving and mathematics

pheo shia pholeni ne kulo to haolu.

POST 3SG depart NAME kulo PST speak.

(When she was gone, Dick said:)

morris: When she was gone, Dick said

kona phemi. wa thia wei ha melu ta sola wi thilou ma sepho. nosa thia thilou thimu nai. ha thua nai.

VOC guest. Q 2SG DAT PROX friend one DISJ two inquire NEG send. now 2SG inquire time be. PROX fair be.

("Now, guest, won't you send a question or two to our friend here? Now is your asking-time; that is only fair.")

morris: "Now guest, won't you ask a question or two of our friend here? It is only fair that you should have your turn."

ne selomi sha mia roe siora so lonae. sho to haolu.

NAME selomi QUOT.COMP 1SG INS joy FUT respond. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("I shall answer them very gladly," said the weaver.)

morris: "I shall be very glad to answer them," said the weaver.

mia sha lu mia wei thia lo thilou sepho. lo thilou ru kethua so ma nai sho to haolu.

1SG QUOT.COMP COND 1SG DAT 2SG PL inquire send. PL inquire INTS hard FUT NEG be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("If I ask you any questions," said I, "they will not be very severe.")

morris: "If I ask you any questions, sir," said I, "they will not be very severe;

whekai lao mia tha thia selomi miona nai tho ti hea mia wei thia roa ra theko soli thilou sepho rinu.

CONTR BECAUSE 1SG DECL.COMP 2SG weave person be DECL.COMP.CLOSE REP hear 1SG DAT 2SG AROUND DIST craft SOME inquire send want.

(But since I hear that you are a weaver, I should like to ask you something about that craft.)

morris: but since I hear that you are a weaver, I should like to ask you something about that craft,

mia roa ha theko mewali nai. sola mia mewali to nai.

1SG AROUND PROX craft interested be. DISJ 1SG interested PST be.

(As I am interested in it. Or: I was.)

morris: as I am--or was--interested in it."

shia sha mua ra mia wei thia ru welao so ma nai. mia ha ho remo. sho to haolu.

3SG QUOT.COMP LOC DIST 1SG DAT 2SG INTS good FUT NEG be. 1SG PROX ASSUM think. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("Oh," said he, "there I shall not be of much use to you, I am afraid.")

morris: "Oh," said he, "I shall not be of much use to you there, I'm afraid.

mia li roe keli weloa selomi.

1SG RESTR INS device loom weave.

(I only weave with a mechanical loom.)

morris: I only do the most mechanical kind of weaving,

mia phea theko miona thenoi. mia phea ne kulo ma nai.

1SG AS craft person falls-short. 1SG AS NAME kulo NEG be.

(And in fact, as a craftsman I fall short, unlike Guide here.)

morris: and am in fact but a poor craftsman, unlike Dick here.

sheno mia roe keli wei lo shelu thiku riola. whekai mua mo thesa shelu riola mia thenoi.

ADD 1SG INS device DAT PL book small labor. CONTR LOC CMPR careful book labor 1SG falls-short.

(Then besides the weaving, I do a little device-work for books, though at the finer kinds of book-work I fall short.)

morris: Then besides the weaving, I do a little with machine printing and composing, though I am little use at the finer kinds of printing;

sheno ha keli shelu riola pa lumeo. shelu kealo mokela we thiku pa kelu.

ADD PROX device book labor INCH die. book create sick ALSO small INCH become.

(And moreover this device book-work is beginning to die, as the sickness of book-making wanes with it.)

morris: and moreover machine printing is beginning to die out, along with the waning of the plague of book-making,

thelao mia wea whu mia kaeli lo phirae thena to na rato. mia tawi remo to pilu.

CONS 1SG TOWARD REL 1SG like PL different thing PST NEC turn. 1SG count think PST take.

(So I have had to turn toward other things that I have a taste for, and have taken to mathematics.)

morris: so I have had to turn to other things that I have a taste for, and have taken to mathematics;

sheno mia roa ra serao punoa lumae thimu shea nela womu lioru shelu si thekiro.

ADD 1SG AROUND DIST old society end time peace COORD home life book IPFV write.

(Also I am writing a book about the peace, and the home-life so to say, of that old world's last days.)

morris: and also I am writing a sort of antiquarian book about the peaceable and private history, so to say, of the end of the nineteenth century,

mia tha ha shelu phoe whu lo miona wiso peloma phoa thimu muila kire ka nila tho thueli.

1SG DECL.COMP PROX book ANT REL PL person RECP harmful do time earth shape CAUS see DECL.COMP.CLOSE intend.

(More than anything, I want the book to show the shape of the land from before the time when people did harm to one another.)

morris: --more for the sake of giving a picture of the country before the fighting began than for anything else.

thelao mia wei thia roa ra shelira lo thilou to sepho.

CONS 1SG DAT 2SG AROUND DIST forest PL inquire PST send.

(That was why I asked you those questions about the forest.)

morris: That was why I asked you those questions about Epping Forest.

mia ha thekao. thia mia lo remo to la tiwa. whekai thia lo sano mia ru mewali to ka kelu.

1SG PROX acknowledge. 2SG 1SG PL think PST ATTEN tie. CONTR 2SG PL know 1SG INTS interested PST CAUS become.

(I confess it: you have rather tangled my thoughts, though what you knew made me deeply interested.)

morris: You have rather puzzled me, I confess, though your information was so interesting.

su whekai lo mia mua whu ne kulo ha ma nai thimu mo haolu.

OPT CONTR PL 1SG LOC REL NAME kulo PROX NEG be time CMPR speak.

(But later on, I hope, we may have some more talk together, at a time when friend Guide is not here.)

morris: But later on, I hope, we may have some more talk together, when our friend Dick isn't here.

mia tha shia mia phea whuo siora shelu riola miona nila tho sano. lao mia thiku manuwe thesani phelu shia mia thiku nila.

1SG DECL.COMP 3SG 1SG AS WITHOUT joy book labor person see DECL.COMP.CLOSE know. BECAUSE 1SG small hand skill hold 3SG 1SG small see.

(I know he sees me as a joyless book-work man. Because I have little skill with my hands, he holds me in contempt.)

morris: I know he thinks me rather a grinder, and despises me for not being very deft with my hands:

ha nosa keno nai.

PROX now custom be.

(That is the way nowadays.)

morris: that's the way nowadays.

mia lue ra serao punoa sheloi shelu to ki theo. ha wei mia nuwi nai. ha soli whepelo nai.

1SG ABL DIST old society MANY book PST PFV read. PROX DAT 1SG clear be. PROX SOME retaliate be.

(From that old world I have read many books, and this is clear to me: this is a kind of retaliation.)

morris: From what I have read of the nineteenth century literature (and I have read a good deal), it is clear to me that this is a kind of revenge

ra thimu tawimo theula whu roe lo manuwe po riola miona to thiku nila.

DIST time foolish UNIV REL INS PL hand POT labor person PST small see.

(For the foolishness of that day held in contempt everyone who could work with their hands.)

morris: for the stupidity of that day, which despised everybody who _could_ use his hands.

whekai kona ne kulo. no ha serao haolu halemu. mu thena wo sheloi na nai.

CONTR VOC NAME kulo. IMP PROX old speak remember. zero thing EXC MANY NEC be.

(But Dick, old fellow: remember the old saying. Nothing must be too much!)

morris: But Dick, old fellow, _Ne quid nimis_! Don't overdo it!"

ne kulo sha wa mia ha ho phoa. sho to haolu.

NAME kulo QUOT.COMP Q 1SG PROX ASSUM do. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("Come now, am I likely to?" said Dick.)

morris: "Come now," said Dick, "am I likely to?

wa mia whu mo ko kelomi miona ma nai.

Q 1SG REL CMPR FOC accept person NEG be.

(Am I not the most tolerant man in the world?)

morris: Am I not the most tolerant man in the world?

wa mia nuloe ma nai. lu thia mia tawi remo ka ma sano nela thia mia muo thia newu mioru sano ka ma wepu. mia nuloe nai.

Q 1SG content NEG be. COND 2SG 1SG count think CAUS NEG know COORD 2SG 1SG INTO 2SG new beautiful know CAUS NEG go. 1SG content be.

(Am I not quite contented? If you do not make me learn mathematics and do not make me enter your new beauty-lore, I am content.)

morris: Am I not quite contented so long as you don't make me learn mathematics, or go into your new science of aesthetics,

lu mia roe mia solai nela teshilo nela thero whesu keli nela welao thiku toka thiku mioru po kealo. mia nuloe nai.

COND 1SG INS 1SG gold COORD steel COORD fire blow device COORD good small hammer small beautiful POT create. 1SG content be.

(So long as I may make a little beauty with my gold and steel, and the fire-blowing pipe, and the nice little hammer, I am content.)

morris: and let me do a little practical aesthetics with my gold and steel, and the blowpipe and the nice little hammer?

hei. phirae thilou miona wea thia shua. kona mia phemi. soa.

hey. different inquire person TOWARD 2SG come. VOC 1SG guest. sorry.

(But, hillo! Here comes another questioner for you, my poor guest.)

morris: But, hillo! here comes another questioner for you, my poor guest.

kona ne selomi. thia mia naphe na loa. lo mia shia thema na nai.

VOC NAME selomi. 2SG 1SG help NEC give. PL 1SG 3SG guardian NEC be.

(I say, Weaver: you must help me. We must stand guardian over him now.)

morris: I say, Bob, you must help me to defend him now.

pheo teku maeli shia to theisa haolu. kona ne solai. lu thia ha na phelu. lo mia ha nai.

POST short quiet 3SG PST loud speak. VOC NAME solai. COND 2SG PROX NEC hold. PL 1SG PROX be.

(After a short quiet he cried out: "Here, Gold! Here we are, if you must have it!")

morris: "Here, Boffin," he cried out, after a pause; "here we are, if you must have it!"

ne solaiGold

mia leo talua to rato. mua whu thue lona lokue ruemi sileta keru soli thena to keru tiripe. mia ha to nila.

1SG ABOVE shoulder PST turn. LOC REL THROUGH meeting place lie down sun bright SOME thing PST bright quiver. 1SG PROX PST see.

(I looked over my shoulder, and saw something flash and gleam in the sunlight that lay across the hall.)

morris: I looked over my shoulder, and saw something flash and gleam in the sunlight that lay across the hall;

thelao mia miso to rato. mia whuo reshi whu nia kerou tomae moli thalo horae miona to nila.

CONS 1SG REFL PST turn. 1SG WITHOUT fast REL ON stone floor gentle walk radiant person PST see.

(So I turned round, and at my ease saw a splendid figure sauntering slowly over the stone floor.)

morris: so I turned round, and at my ease saw a splendid figure slowly sauntering over the pavement;

shia leo wethalu roe solai sima to se ru lorua nela phiro selomi.

3SG ABOVE garment INS gold thread PST PASS INTS abundant COORD elegant weave.

(His surcoat was woven with gold thread, very abundantly and elegantly.)

morris: a man whose surcoat was embroidered most copiously as well as elegantly,

thelao sileta lue shia to keru tiripe. shia phea whu roe solai wethalu se lomare miona to nai.

CONS sun ABL 3SG PST bright quiver. 3SG AS REL INS gold garment PASS embrace person PST be.

(So that the sun flashed back from him, as if he were a man wrapped all in garments of gold.)

morris: so that the sun flashed back from him as if he had been clad in golden armour.

shia raelu to nai. shia whila nuko to nai. shia ru mioru to nai.

3SG tall PST be. 3SG hair black PST be. 3SG INTS beautiful PST be.

(The man himself was tall, dark-haired, and exceedingly handsome.)

morris: The man himself was tall, dark-haired, and exceedingly handsome,

shia menoa kire phea lo phirae miona menoa kire phena to nai. whekai shia roe la thoru kire to roke.

3SG face shape AS PL different person face shape kind PST be. CONTR 3SG INS ATTEN proud shape PST move.

(His face was no less kindly in expression than the others', but he moved with that somewhat haughty bearing.)

morris: and though his face was no less kindly in expression than that of the others, he moved with that somewhat haughty mien

ru mioru ha kire wei theula miona ro loa.

INTS beautiful PROX shape DAT UNIV person HAB give.

(Great beauty is apt to give anyone that look.)

morris: which great beauty is apt to give to both men and women.

shia roe seniku menoa wea lo mia wonepa to shua. shia mua wonepa to meilo.

3SG INS smile face TOWARD PL 1SG table PST come. 3SG LOC table PST sit.

(He came to our table with a smiling face and sat down at it.)

morris: He came and sat down at our table with a smiling face,

shia lo laeno tolae to welura. shia pelio leo meipa to ka ruemi.

3SG PL long leg PST spread. 3SG arm ABOVE seat PST CAUS lie down.

(He stretched out his long legs and hung his arm over the chair.)

morris: stretching out his long legs and hanging his arm over the chair

raelu nela kema lo miona roe ha moli luwae kire whuo miso nila po roke.

tall COORD strong PL person INS PROX gentle graceful shape WITHOUT REFL see POT move.

(Tall and well-built people may move in that slowly graceful way without ever watching themselves.)

morris: in the slowly graceful way which tall and well-built people may use without affectation.

shia mua lioru pheno thimu to nai. whekai shia phea whu newu wilemo li nosa ki howela lopia siora to ke nai.

3SG LOC life full time PST be. CONTR 3SG AS REL new toy RESTR now PFV receive child joy PST INFER be.

(He was a man in the full time of life, but looked as happy as a child who has only now been given a new toy.)

morris: He was a man in the prime of life, but looked as happy as a child who has just got a new toy.

shia wei mia koma mulu kiroa to luwae loa. shia to haolu.

3SG DAT 1SG head low sign PST graceful give. 3SG PST speak.

(He bowed gracefully to me and said:)

morris: He bowed gracefully to me and said--

mia tha thia ra phemi nai tho nuwi nila. ne luwae roa thia wei mia li nosa to ki haolu.

1SG DECL.COMP 2SG DIST guest be DECL.COMP.CLOSE clear see. NAME luwae AROUND 2SG DAT 1SG RESTR now PST PFV speak.

("I see clearly that you are the guest of whom Graceful has just told me.")

morris: "I see clearly that you are the guest, of whom Annie has just told me,

thia lue whu lo mia sola lo mia keno ma sano wuero muila to kamo.

2SG ABL REL PL 1SG DISJ PL 1SG custom NEG know far earth PST arrive.

(You have come from some far country that does not know of us, or of our ways.)

morris: who have come from some distant country that does not know of us, or our ways of life.

mia phina thilou phelu. thelao mia tha thia wei mia po lonae tho ho remo.

1SG FEW inquire hold. CONS 1SG DECL.COMP 2SG DAT 1SG POT respond DECL.COMP.CLOSE ASSUM think.

(I have a few questions, and I daresay you would not mind answering me.)

morris: So I daresay you would not mind answering me a few questions; for you see--"

mua ha ne kulo muo haolu to pukate. pi kona ne solai. no ha nosa leiro.

LOC PROX NAME kulo INTO speak PST break. POL VOC NAME solai. IMP PROX now release.

(Here Guide broke in: "Please, Gold! Let it alone for the present.")

morris: Here Dick broke in: "No, please, Boffin! let it alone for the present.

thia tha phemi siora nela therilu phelu tho rinu. ha nuwi nai.

2SG DECL.COMP guest joy COORD rest hold DECL.COMP.CLOSE want. PROX clear be.

(Of course you want the guest to hold joy and rest.)

morris: Of course you want the guest to be happy and comfortable;

whekai shia roa miso lo newu keno nela lo newu miona si remo tiwa phaelo. lu shia pheo theula kire thilou na lonae. ha thela po kelu.

CONTR 3SG AROUND REFL PL new custom COORD PL new person IPFV think tie feel. COND 3SG POST UNIV shape inquire NEC respond. PROX how POT become.

(But he still feels his thoughts tangled about the new customs and people around him; if he must answer all kinds of questions, how can that be?)

morris: and how can that be if he has to trouble himself with answering all sorts of questions while he is still confused with the new customs and people about him?

mia kau whu shia miso po thilou lokue shia so kolua. mua ra lokue lo miona wei shia so lonae.

1SG ALL REL 3SG REFL POT inquire place 3SG FUT carry. LOC DIST place PL person DAT 3SG FUT respond.

(No, no: I am going to carry him where he can ask questions himself, and there people will give him answers.)

morris: No, no: I am going to take him where he can ask questions himself, and have them answered;

ra lokue mia phao phao phao womu nai. shia mua whalo silawo kesho menui.

DIST place 1SG parent parent parent home be. 3SG LOC large village middle dwell.

(That place is the house of my parent's parent's parent, who dwells in the middle of the great town.)

morris: that is, to my great-grandfather in Bloomsbury:

wei ha thia mu haolu phelu. mia ha sano.

DAT PROX 2SG zero speak hold. 1SG PROX know.

(And I am sure you can have nothing to say against that.)

morris: and I am sure you can't have anything to say against that.

no thelao kau ne woru womu wepu. no lao mia miso kalora so kulo wei mia rolutha pilu.

IMP CONS ALL NAME woru home go. IMP BECAUSE 1SG REFL horse FUT guide DAT 1SG wagon take.

(So instead of bothering, go out to Keeper's; because I shall drive the horse myself, get a carriage for me.)

morris: So instead of bothering, you had much better go out to James Allen's and get a carriage for me, as I shall drive him up myself;

pi no wei ne woru shane. su lao mia sheo rolutha luphonu po ru mo welao kulo shia wei mia ra serao kerou welisha kalora loa.

POL IMP DAT NAME woru tell. OPT BECAUSE 1SG THAN wagon boat POT INTS CMPR good guide 3SG DAT 1SG DIST old stone color horse give.

(And please tell Keeper that, because I can guide a boat much better than a wagon, he may give me the old grey.)

morris: and please tell Jim to let me have the old grey, for I can drive a wherry much better than a carriage.

no rihe. kona serao melu. no whuo nuhe wepu. lo mia phemi wei thia nela thia lo nophi miso so manolu.

IMP rise. VOC old friend. IMP WITHOUT sadness go. PL 1SG guest DAT 2SG COORD 2SG PL story REFL FUT stay.

(Jump up, old fellow, and go without sadness: our guest will keep himself for you and your stories.)

morris: Jump up, old fellow, and don't be disappointed; our guest will keep himself for you and your stories."

mia ne kulo to ru nila. shia wei ha thunoa miona phea serao melu to haolu. shia haolu we teku to nai. ha mia to wakomi.

1SG NAME kulo PST INTS see. 3SG DAT PROX dignified person AS old friend PST speak. 3SG speak ALSO short PST be. PROX 1SG PST surprise.

(I stared at Guide: he spoke to so dignified-looking a personage as to an old friend, and shortly at that; and this astonished me.)

morris: I stared at Dick; for I wondered at his speaking to such a dignified-looking personage so familiarly, not to say curtly;

shai shia nomei lue lo serao nophi shua mia tha ha miona ha lo kuewa miona wheo kowela miona nai tho to remo.

CONC 3SG name ABL PL old story come 1SG DECL.COMP PROX person PROX PL strange person elder council person be DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST think.

(For though his name came out of the old stories, I thought this man must be at the least an elder-councillor of these strange people.)

morris: for I thought that this Mr. Boffin, in spite of his well-known name out of Dickens, must be at the least a senator of these strange people.

whekai shia to rihe. shia sha lia. kona serao rewa miona. whu thia kaeli. sho to haolu. mua ha philo mia phina riola phelu.

CONTR 3SG PST rise. 3SG QUOT.COMP yes. VOC old oar person. REL 2SG like. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak. LOC PROX day 1SG FEW labor hold.

(However, he got up and said: "All right, old oar-wearer: whatever you like. This is not one of my busy days.)

morris: However, he got up and said, "All right, old oar-wearer, whatever you like; this is not one of my busy days;

shia wei mia roe la thoru koma mulu kiroa to loa.

3SG DAT 1SG INS ATTEN proud head low sign PST give.

(Here he gave me a somewhat condescending bow of the head.)

morris: (with a condescending bow to me)

nua ha sheloi sano phemi haolu pheo ha so kamo. whekai mia thekao. shia thia rolia thaluni na reshi nila.

COM PROX MANY know guest speak POST PROX FUT arrive. CONTR 1SG acknowledge. 3SG 2SG worth kin NEC fast see.

(And though my pleasure of a talk with this learned guest must come after this, I admit that he ought to see your worthy kinsman as soon as may be.)

morris: and though" ... "my pleasure of a talk with this learned guest is put off, I admit that he ought to see your worthy kinsman as soon as possible.

sheno lo miona wei shia so lonae. pheo thena shia wei mia po mo welao lonae.

ADD PL person DAT 3SG FUT respond. POST thing 3SG DAT 1SG POT CMPR good respond.

(Besides, perhaps he will be the better able to answer my questions after his own have been answered.)

morris: Besides, perhaps he will be the better able to answer _my_ questions after his own have been answered."

pheo thena shia to rato. shia mue lona lokue to luwae wepu.

POST thing 3SG PST turn. 3SG OUT.OF meeting place PST graceful go.

(And therewith he turned and swung himself gracefully out of the hall.)

morris: And therewith he turned and swung himself out of the hall.

solai muhena mionaThe golden dustman

pheo shia wepu mia to haolu. wa ha thilou kanelu nai. ne solai hina miona nai.

POST 3SG go 1SG PST speak. Q PROX inquire err be. NAME solai what person be.

(When he was well gone, I said: "Is it a wrong step to ask what Gold is?")

morris: When he was well gone, I said: "Is it wrong to ask what Mr. Boffin is?

shia nomei mia whu mia lo serao nophi theo sheloi loshi thimu ka halemu.

3SG name 1SG REL 1SG PL old story read MANY joyful time CAUS remember.

(His name, by the way, makes me remember many pleasant hours I passed reading the old stories.)

morris: whose name, by the way, reminds me of many pleasant hours passed in reading Dickens."

ne kulo to hola. shia sha lia. lia. wei lo mia we ha phoa. sho to haolu. mia tha thia ha nomei shelomu tho nila.

NAME kulo PST laugh. 3SG QUOT.COMP yes. yes. DAT PL 1SG ALSO PROX do. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak. 1SG DECL.COMP 2SG PROX name understand DECL.COMP.CLOSE see.

(Dick laughed. "Yes, yes," said he, "it does the same for us. I see you take the name's meaning.")

morris: Dick laughed. "Yes, yes," said he, "as it does us. I see you take the allusion.

shia shewo nomei ne solai ma nai. shia shewo nomei ne keruko nai. lao shia muhena riola miona nai lo mia wei monelu shia phea ne solai shemui. lao shia roe ru keru wethalu miso ro lomare lo mia wei monelu shia phea ne solai shemui. lao shia phea lue ru serao punoa solai lomare miona nia miso sheloi solai ro pilu lo mia wei monelu shia phea ne solai shemui.

3SG true name NAME solai NEG be. 3SG true name NAME keruko be. BECAUSE 3SG dust labor person be PL 1SG DAT amused 3SG AS NAME solai utter. BECAUSE 3SG INS INTS bright garment REFL HAB embrace PL 1SG DAT amused 3SG AS NAME solai utter. BECAUSE 3SG AS ABL INTS old society gold embrace person ON REFL MANY gold HAB take PL 1SG DAT amused 3SG AS NAME solai utter.

(His real name is not Gold: his true name is Sturdy. Because he is a dust-work man, we call him Gold for the fun of it. Because he wraps himself in very bright clothes, we call him Gold. Because he takes onto himself as much gold as a gold-wrapped man of a much older society, we call him Gold.)

morris: Of course his real name is not Boffin, but Henry Johnson; we only call him Boffin as a joke, partly because he is a dustman, and partly because he will dress so showily, and get as much gold on him as a baron of the Middle Ages.

lu shia kaeli. shia misa po ma phoa. lo mia shia phirae melu nai. thelao lo mia nua shia monelu haolu.

COND 3SG like. 3SG why POT NEG do. PL 1SG 3SG different friend be. CONS PL 1SG COM 3SG amused speak.

(As why should he not, if he likes? Only, we are his special friends, so of course we jest with him.)

morris: As why should he not if he likes? only we are his special friends, you know, so of course we jest with him."

pheo ha mia laeno thimu to maeli manolu. whekai ne kulo to mo haolu.

POST PROX 1SG long time PST quiet stay. CONTR NAME kulo PST CMPR speak.

(I held my tongue for some time after that; but Dick went on:)

morris: I held my tongue for some time after that; but Dick went on:

shia ru welao miona nai. thia shia na lothea.

3SG INTS good person be. 2SG 3SG NEC love.

("He is a capital fellow, and you can't help loving him.")

morris: "He is a capital fellow, and you can't help liking him;

whekai ta thenoi mua shia nai. shia serao punoa lothea lo nophi ro thekiro.

CONTR one falls-short LOC 3SG be. 3SG old society love PL story HAB write.

(But he has one weakness: he keeps writing stories enamored of the old society.)

morris: but he has a weakness: he will spend his time in writing reactionary novels,

shia tha miso ra serao thimu welisha shewo ka nila tho ru thoru phaelo. shia ha phea sha thimu welisha sho shemui.

3SG DECL.COMP REFL DIST old time color true CAUS see DECL.COMP.CLOSE INTS proud feel. 3SG PROX AS QUOT.COMP time color QUOT.COMP.CLOSE utter.

(And he feels great pride that he shows that old time's color truly; "the time's color" is what he utters it as.)

morris: and is very proud of getting the local colour right, as he calls it;

shia tha thia lue whu lo miona sahu muila phanoi kamo tho remo. mua ra lokue lo miona nuhe phaelo. thelao lo miona lophae mewali ka kelu.

3SG DECL.COMP 2SG ABL REL PL person forget earth portion arrive DECL.COMP.CLOSE think. LOC DIST place PL person sadness feel. CONS PL person storyteller interested CAUS become.

(And as he thinks you come from a corner of the earth that people forget, where the people feel sorrow and therefore make a storyteller interested,)

morris: and as he thinks you come from some forgotten corner of the earth, where people are unhappy, and consequently interesting to a story-teller,

thelao shia tha shia lue thia soli sano po pilu tho remo.

CONS 3SG DECL.COMP 3SG ABL 2SG SOME know POT take DECL.COMP.CLOSE think.

(He thinks he might take some knowledge out of you.)

morris: he thinks he might get some information out of you.

shia wei thia ru nuwi so haolu. whekai teo. mia wei thia miso therilu ha haolu.

3SG DAT 2SG INTS clear FUT speak. CONTR watch out. 1SG DAT 2SG REFL rest PROX speak.

(O, he will be quite straightforward with you, for that matter. But watch out! I say this for your own comfort.)

morris: O, he will be quite straightforward with you, for that matter. Only for your own comfort beware of him!"

ne selomi to muro haolu. mia tha shia lo nophi ru welao nai tho remo.

NAME selomi PST stubborn speak. 1SG DECL.COMP 3SG PL story INTS good be DECL.COMP.CLOSE think.

("Well, Dick," said the weaver doggedly, "I think his stories are very good.")

morris: "Well, Dick," said the weaver, doggedly, "I think his novels are very good."

ne kulo sha thia ha shewo remo. sho to haolu. lo ta philea pelori wiso sholei.

NAME kulo QUOT.COMP 2SG PROX true think. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak. PL one feather bird RECP gather.

("Of course you do," said Dick. "Birds of one feather gather together.")

morris: "Of course you do," said Dick; "birds of a feather flock together;

tawi remo nela serao thimu lo nophi pai kolo whano.

count think COORD old time PL story NEAR equal stand.

(Mathematics and old-time stories stand near equality.)

morris: mathematics and antiquarian novels stand on much the same footing.

whekai shia we shua.

CONTR 3SG ALSO come.

(But here he comes again.)

morris: But here he comes again."

roluthaThe carriage

solai muhena miona lue lona lokue ponu wei lo mia to theisa haolu.

gold dust person ABL meeting place door DAT PL 1SG PST loud speak.

(And in effect the golden dustman hailed us loudly from the hall-door.)

morris: And in effect the Golden Dustman hailed us from the hall-door;

thelao theula mia to rihe. lo mia muo ponu lokue to wepu.

CONS UNIV 1SG PST rise. PL 1SG INTO door place PST go.

(So we all got up and went into the porch.)

morris: so we all got up and went into the porch,

mua neo ra lokue nua kema kerou welisha kalora rolutha lo mia to hasi. mia ha rolutha to na morae.

LOC FRONT DIST place COM strong stone color horse wagon PL 1SG PST wait. 1SG PROX wagon PST NEC sense.

(Before it, with a strong grey horse in the shafts, a carriage stood waiting for us, and I could not help noticing it.)

morris: before which, with a strong grey horse in the shafts, stood a carriage ready for us which I could not help noticing.

rolutha phelo nela kelasu to nai. whekai mu whu mokela ka phaelo keloa mua rolutha to nai.

wagon light COORD usable PST be. CONTR zero REL sick CAUS feel rough LOC wagon PST be.

(It was light and handy; but there was in it none of that roughness which makes one feel sickness.)

morris: It was light and handy, but had none of that sickening vulgarity

mua mia punoa theula rolutha ha keloa to ro phelu. whu lo miona sha phiro sho shemui rolutha ko ha keloa to ro phelu.

LOC 1SG society UNIV wagon PROX rough PST HAB hold. REL PL person QUOT.COMP elegant QUOT.COMP.CLOSE utter wagon FOC PROX rough PST HAB hold.

(In my own world every carriage held that roughness, and above all the ones people uttered as "elegant.")

morris: which I had known as inseparable from the carriages of our time, especially the "elegant" ones,

whekai ha rolutha phea telo rolutha luwae nela loshi kire to nai.

CONTR PROX wagon AS farmer wagon graceful COORD joyful shape PST be.

(But this one was as graceful and pleasant in line as a farm waggon.)

morris: but was as graceful and pleasant in line as a Wessex waggon.

lo mia muo rolutha to kalei. ne kulo nela mia.

PL 1SG INTO wagon PST climb. NAME kulo COORD 1SG.

(We got in, Guide and I.)

morris: We got in, Dick and I.

lila lo limu miona lo mia pholeni nila lo shia muo ponu lokue to ki shua. lo miona roe lo manuwe wei lo mia kiroa to loa.

PURP PL young person PL 1SG depart see PL 3SG INTO door place PST PFV come. PL person INS PL hand DAT PL 1SG sign PST give.

(The young ones, who had come into the porch to see our departing, waved their hands to us.)

morris: The girls, who had come into the porch to see us off, waved their hands to us;

ne selomi roe koma phena kiroa to loa. muhena miona phea sulai koma mulu kiroa to luwae loa.

NAME selomi INS head kind sign PST give. dust person AS musician head low sign PST graceful give.

(The weaver nodded kindly; the dustman bowed as gracefully as a musician.)

morris: the weaver nodded kindly; the dustman bowed as gracefully as a troubadour;

ne kulo lo kalora tiwa to roke. lo mia to wepu.

NAME kulo PL horse tie PST move. PL 1SG PST go.

(Dick shook the reins, and we were off.)

morris: Dick shook the reins, and we were off.

What the transmutation changed

The chapter keeps Morris's walk through the house, breakfast, inscription, forest talk, ages, work, mathematics, Gold's arrival, and the waiting carriage. Almost every source word appears in the adjacent citations. Exact dates, London places, Latin, and source names stay there when their identity matters more than a Phi approximation.

Two roots coined for the transmutation anchor the domestic center: napa (bread) and perola (rose). Household tholupi and nurome give it rooms and a meal. The hall remains lona lokue, meeting-place. Marble mosaic becomes many small smooth stones; the open timber roof shows wooden bones; arches are stone rainbows. Tracery is stone thread-work, and fresco is pigment on soft clay. Breakfast keeps its dark loaf, thin crusts, berries, and roses without becoming generic food.

Morris's gendered contrast is visible in his citations. Phi describes three young hosts, their draped clothes, strong arms, health, and ease without sorting people into women and men. The loss is real: part of Morris's argument about Victorian dress belongs to those categories. The Phi passage includes his comparison with upholstered armchairs and the narrator's startled attention, but it does not claim that the contrast is unchanged.

Commons vocabulary keeps the forest history exact in its relations. The Corporation becomes a city institution taking authority over the forest, and commoners' rights become an old commons entitlement. The wording reports the power and the recognized claim without lending legitimacy to either. Later, Morris's revenge is whepelo, retaliation, while the old century's contempt for handwork uses thiku nila, see-small. Fighting in the weaver's book becomes people harming one another; the source gives the historical category beside it.

The people take Phi-form names at the moments Morris gives them: Guest, Graceful, Guide, and Weaver. Gold and Sturdy follow when Boffin enters. Work vocabulary supplies the loom, practical skill, and the roses' quality; Accessibility supplies the carriage's usability. Gold's reactionary novels become stories enamored of the old society rather than stories merely set there. Mathematics is tawi remo, counting-thought, and machine printing is device-work for books. The carriage closes the chapter with the source's sickening vulgarity as roughness that causes sickness. This retrofit coins no new word.