News from Nowhere

TranslationChapter 03 of 32

nophi lue mawha lokue

The Guest House and Breakfast Therein

Morris's third chapter brings the new society down to table height. The traveller studies the Guest House, meets its young hosts, eats breakfast, and finds his own century carved into the wall behind the table. The conversation wanders from Epping Forest to age, handwork, and old books before a golden dustman calls from the door. Details that belong to Morris's world stay exact in his lines, with Phi's description beside them.

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

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.

(I stayed behind the others for a little while so that I could look closely at this house.)

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 told you, this house stood on the site of my old home.)

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 house was longish, and the pointed ends of its roof faced 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.

(The wall in front of us had long windows that came down fairly low, with stone tracery in them.)

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 beautifully from red brick, and its roof was 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 ran a long band of baked-clay figures.)

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 thenui to se kire.

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

(The figures had been made very well, with strong and direct forms.)

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

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

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

(I had never felt such strength and directness in modern work.)

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 things depicted at once, and 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 since we went indoors soon afterwards, I took all this in at a glance.)

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

lo mia mua lona lokue to whano. lo miona roe sheloi thiku helu kerou tomae to ki lorima. toru wolea kelo to se ma tawemi.

PL 1SG LOC meeting place PST stand. PL person INS MANY small smooth stone floor PST PFV build. roof wood frame PST PASS NEG cover.

(We stood in a hall. People had built its floor from many small, smooth stones and left the roof's wooden frame uncovered.)

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 toreku muo lo tholupi to kulo.

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

(There were no windows on the side away from the river. Instead, low stone arches there led into rooms.)

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

thue ta toreku mia soli thepalu to nila. thepalu noe womu to nai.

THROUGH one arch 1SG SOME garden PST see. garden BEHIND home PST be.

(Through one of the stone arches, I saw part of a garden behind the house.)

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

leo lo toreku laeno moru phanoi ru keru kolai to phelu.

ABOVE PL arch long wall portion INTS bright pigment PST hold.

(Above the stone arches, a long stretch of wall held bright 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 that the pigment had been laid on 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 figures were like those 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 there was beautiful. People had made it from generous, strong materials.)

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

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

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

(The place was not very large. It might have been a little smaller than a large hall I knew.)

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 there, a person feels their heart lift with the 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 makes a habit of using their eyes without anxiety.)

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 nirelo lokue phemi womu lona lokue nai tho to nuwi sano.

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

(I knew plainly that this pleasant place was the Guest House's hall.)

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.

(Three young people were flitting here and there inside it.)

morris: three young women were flitting to and fro.

mia mua ha waora kelua phoe ra shemu mua lo shia miona remole mu miona to ki nila. thelao mia lo miona to ru thesa nila.

1SG LOC PROX wondrous morning ANT DIST moment LOC PL 3SG person concept zero person PST PFV see. CONS 1SG PL person PST INTS careful see.

(Until that moment on this eventful morning, I had seen no one from their category of person. So I studied them very carefully.)

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 whu mue lo shia miona remole whano lo miona sheo lo shia mo welao to po ma nai.

PL garden COORD PL build COORD REL OUT.OF PL 3SG person concept stand PL person THAN PL 3SG CMPR good PST POT NEG be.

(The gardens, the buildings, and people outside their category could not have been better than these three.)

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 theali lomare. sheloi koma wethalu lo miona to ma tumoa lomare.

1SG PL person garment ALSO PST careful see. cloth PL person PST fitting embrace. MANY head garment PL person PST NEG heavy embrace.

(I also studied their clothing carefully. Cloth draped them becomingly, and they were not bundled in heavy layers of headwear.)

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

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

(Their garments wrapped them as people. No one had stuffed them as full as a seat.)

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

mua mia punoa mua lo shia miona remole sheloi miona phea meipa pheno ro kelu.

LOC 1SG society LOC PL 3SG person concept MANY person AS seat full HAB become.

(In my own society, many people in that category habitually become as 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 clothing stood between the style of an ancient society and a simpler style from an old society. Clearly, however, it followed neither.)

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 fabrics were light and bright, and well suited to the season.)

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

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

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

(They were a genuine pleasure to look at, with such kind and happy expressions.)

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

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

(Their bodies were strong, harmonious, and beautifully shaped. They seemed thoroughly healthy and strong.)

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

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

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

(All were rather beautiful. One was very beautiful, with a harmonious face.)

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 towards us joyfully and without waiting, with no sign of shyness.)

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

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

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

(The three took my hand and shook it. They regarded me as a friend just 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 whamoi 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 doubt eye 1SG garment see DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST NEC sense. ADD 1SG AROUND garment NONE time careful PST be.

(But I was still wrapped in last night's clothes, and I could not help noticing that they eyed my garments doubtfully. Besides, I had never paid much attention to 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 offered a word or two, and then they quickly set to work 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.

(Before long, they took our hands and led us to a table in the most cheerful 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.

(Our breakfast had been spread on that table.)

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, one of them hurried through those rooms and out of the hall.)

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.

(They soon returned carrying a large bunch 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 differed greatly from the roses that once flourished here, though they resembled roses from an old farmer's 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 lopha to we turema.

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

(They hurried from there into the food room and returned again with a carefully made glass vessel.)

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

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

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

(They put the flowers into the vessel and set it in the middle 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 li nosa seroli to nai.

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

(Another person, who had also run off, returned carrying a large leaf piled with red berries. Some were only just ripe.)

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 to ka whano. shia sha ha nai. sho to haolu.

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

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

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

phoe mia mua ha kelua to rihe mia ha to remo.

ANT 1SG LOC PROX morning PST rise 1SG PROX PST think.

(I thought of it before I rose 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 climb 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 get there 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 ha lokue po hekawi mirulo welao nai.

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

(Still, these few berries are as good as what you could find here 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 their head kindly, and we began to eat 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 ru thesa nia wonepa nuora to ki ka whano.

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

(The meal was simple, but the food had been cooked with great care, and people had set it out just as carefully.)

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

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

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

(The bread in particular was very good, and there were 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 a large, thick, dark, sweet farmhouse bread. I liked that one best.)

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

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

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

(Another kind consisted of thin grain-bread crusts shaped like little flutes. I had eaten this kind in a distant 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 put the first mouthful into my mouth, I saw some writing carved and gilded on the wooden wall.)

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 a table that my own society might 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.

(It contained a name I knew very well. That name made me read all the writing, which went as follows:)

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.

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

(Guests and neighbours: the alliance's speaking room stood on the site of this guest house. Drink from a glass in its memory!)

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 hard to tell you what I felt while I read the writing.)

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 ru 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 INTS move PST CAUS see DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST ASSUM think. BETWEEN PL 1SG quiet short time PST stay.

(Because both my friends looked at me inquisitively, I assumed that my face showed how deeply my heart had been moved. Silence 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 selomi miona mo welao keno to phelu. whekai ha phirae thiku to nai. pheo teku shemu selomi miona wei mia to la keloa haolu.

boat person THAN weave person CMPR good custom PST hold. CONTR PROX different small PST be. POST short moment weave person DAT 1SG PST ATTEN rough speak.

(The boat worker had better manners than the weaver, though only a little better. Soon the weaver spoke to me rather 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 pha lo mia thia hina shemui pho ma sano. wa thia nomei thilou soli keno pukate nai.

VOC guest. PL 1SG INT.COMP PL 1SG 2SG what utter INT.COMP.CLOSE NEG know. Q 2SG name inquire SOME custom break be.

("Guest, we do not know what to call you. Would it break some custom if we asked 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.

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

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

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

POL IMP CONS 1SG AS NAME phemi utter. PROX 1SG family name be. 2SG see.

(Then please call me Guest. It is my family name, you see.)

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.

(If you wish, you may attach one other name to it.)

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

ne kulo roe koma wei mia phena kiroa to loa. whekai la weshoru kire leo ne selomi menoa to wepu. shia to haolu. su mia thilou wei thia peloma ma nai. whekai thia lue kua shua. pi no wei mia shane. mia roa ha kire lo thena kuelo nai. mia lo shelu welao remotha phelu.

NAME kulo INS head DAT 1SG kind sign PST give. CONTR ATTEN anxious shape ABOVE NAME selomi face PST go. 3SG PST speak. OPT 1SG inquire DAT 2SG harmful NEG be. CONTR 2SG ABL where come. POL IMP DAT 1SG tell. 1SG AROUND PROX shape PL thing curious be. 1SG PL book good reason hold.

(Guide nodded kindly to me, but a trace of anxiety crossed Weaver's face. They said, "I hope my question does not harm you. But where do you come from? Please tell me. I am curious about such things, and I have good bookish reasons.")

morris: Dick nodded kindly to me; but a shade of anxiousness passed over the weaver's face, and he said--"I hope you don't mind my asking, but would you tell me where you come from? 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 la 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 ATTEN eager wait.

(Guide was plainly pushing them with a foot under the table. They were not much abashed, however, and waited rather eagerly for me to speak.)

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.

(I was just about to say 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 lo phirae porua remo tiwa lo mia so kolua tho to remo.

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

(But I thought these words would carry us into a tangle of thoughts at cross purposes.)

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 a long moment and carefully made a lie. A little truth guarded it. Then I spoke:)

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

mia sha thia nila. 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 2SG see. 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 far from these lands for a very long time. That is why things now seem strange to me.")

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 at the edge of a great forest, and people there raised me.)

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 reshi koema. shia sha ra lokue we mioru nai. sho to haolu.

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

(Guide entered the conversation quickly. "That place is beautiful too," they 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.

(It is a very cheerful place, since the trees have had time to flourish again after many homes were cleared away.)

morris: "a very jolly place, now that the trees have had time to grow again since the great clearing of houses in 1955."

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

quiet weave person CAUS POT NEG stay. 3SG PST speak.

(Silence could not hold Weaver. They spoke:)

morris: Quoth the irrepressible weaver:

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

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

("Dear neighbour, you knew that forest some years ago.")

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

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

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

(According to report, people in that old society regularly cut the tops from every tree. Is that 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 phanoi to kawepa.

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

(This question caught hold of the part of me that knew about life in the old days.)

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

mia pha mia kua nai pho nela pha mia weno nai pho to ma remo. mia muo mera to lepa. thelao mia to pa haolu.

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

(I gave no thought to where or when I was. I fell into the net and began to speak.)

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

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

PURP 3SG listen 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 very beautiful person came towards me to listen. They were scattering small 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,

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

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

(They stood behind me with a hand on my shoulder.)

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

mua ra manuwe shia soli heru to phelu. mia roe phirae nomei ha heru to ro shemui.

LOC DIST hand 3SG SOME herb PST hold. 1SG INS different name PROX herb PST HAB utter.

(They held an herb in that hand, one I used to call by another name.)

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.

(The herb's strong, sweet scent reminded me of the first days of my childhood.)

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. theula lopia ha lo halemu tiwa so reshi nila.

1SG DIST food garden ALSO PST remember. 1SG REL BEHIND sweet herb portion ABOVE wall flourish PL large blue fruit ALSO PST remember. UNIV child PROX PL remember tie FUT fast see.

(I also remembered the food garden and the large blue fruits that flourished on the wall beyond the sweet-herb patch. Every child will quickly see the link between these memories.)

morris: in the kitchen-garden at Woodford, and the large blue plums which grew on the wall beyond the sweet-herb patch,--a connection of memories which all boys will see at once.

mia to pa shane.

1SG PST INCH tell.

(I began to tell them:)

morris: I started off:

mua mia lopia thimu nela pheo ra laeno thimu wi phanoi phirae to nai. ta phanoi roa ta ru serao womu to nai. ta phanoi mua ta raelu lokue to nai. 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 two portion different PST be. one portion AROUND one INTS old home PST be. one portion LOC one tall place PST be. NEAR UNIV forest REL head PASS cut tree PST be. PL thick small tree AMONG DIST PL tree PST stand.

("In my childhood, and for a long time afterwards, two areas were different: one around a very old house and one on high ground. Nearly all the forest consisted of trees cut at the crown, with dense small trees among them.")

morris: "When I was a boy, and for long after, except for a piece about Queen Elizabeth's Lodge, and for the part about High Beech, the Forest was almost wholly made up of pollard hornbeams mixed with holly thickets.

whekai phoe pai wi phoi wi shao ta torua whalo silawo punoki leo ra shelira karami to pilu.

CONTR ANT NEAR two nine-group two three-group one year large village institution ABOVE DIST forest authority PST take.

(But about twenty-five years earlier, an institution of the large town 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 stopped cutting the crowns. This cutting had been part of an 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.

(Without the cutting, the trees flourished.)

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 I did not see the place for many years after that. There was one exception, when we members of the alliance went to the high place for pleasure.)

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 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 transform. PROX see 1SG PST INTS surprise.

(On that visit, I saw that people had built over the whole place. It had been transformed, and the sight surprised me greatly.)

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 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 hear.

(Recently, we heard that people who see little beauty intended to turn 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. thia nila.

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. 2SG see.

(But when you say that building has stopped and the trees now flourish, those words are very welcome to me, you see.)

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

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 moment I suddenly remembered Guide's count. I stopped speaking and felt my thoughts knot together.)

morris: At that point I suddenly remembered Dick's date, and stopped short rather confused.

wia toruaHow many years

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

eager weave person 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 tangled thoughts. They seemed almost aware that they had broken a custom, and spoke quickly:)

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 how old are you?")

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

ne kulo nela ra limu mioru miona to pa theisa hola.

NAME kulo COORD DIST young beautiful person PST INCH loud laugh.

(Guide and the young, beautiful person both burst into loud laughter.)

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

lao ne selomi kuewa to nai lo miona shia ke po tholira.

BECAUSE NAME selomi strange PST be PL person 3SG INFER POT forgive.

(Because Weaver was strange, it seemed that people might forgive them.)

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.

(Guide spoke in the middle of their 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.

("Stop, Weaver. Stop asking questions. Questioning this guest is not good.")

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

sheloi sano thia ka thenoi.

MANY know 2SG CAUS falls-short.

("Knowing so much is making you fall short.")

morris: Why, much learning is spoiling you.

thia phea whu punoa ru moluki rinu lo palowe kealo miona mua lo tawimo serao nophi nai.

2SG AS REL society INTS transform want PL shoe create person LOC PL foolish old story be.

(You are like the shoemakers in foolish old stories who wanted society to change greatly.)

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

lo lophae tha lila shia kelasu sano sheraki ra lo miona theula welao keno phou paloi pesa to thueli tho shane.

PL storyteller DECL.COMP PURP 3SG usable know search DIST PL person UNIV good custom BELOW foot push PST intend DECL.COMP.CLOSE tell.

(The storytellers say that those people meant to push every good custom beneath their feet in search 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.

(I am beginning to think that mathematics has tied your 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.

(You have also dug into foolish old books about the old society's giving and taking. Hehe!)

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

thelao thia pha thela phoa pho la sano.

CONS 2SG INT.COMP how do INT.COMP.CLOSE ATTEN know.

(So you hardly know how to act.)

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.

(You must take up work outside the home now, 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."

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

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

(Weaver laughed kindly. The young person walked over, gently touched their cheek, and spoke with laughter in their voice:)

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

halu. shia phea ha to thowia.

aww. 3SG AS PROX PST born.

("Aww, they were born this way.")

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

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

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

(I felt a little puzzled. Still, I laughed because the others were laughing. Seeing that they were free of anxiety, joyful, and good-hearted pleased me, so I laughed for that reason too.)

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 solae to si thesa kealo. phoe shia ha haolu mia to haolu.

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

(Weaver was carefully preparing an explanation for me. Before they could speak, I said:)

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

whekai kona lo phewani.

CONTR VOC PL neighbor.

("But neighbours,")

morris: "But neighbours"

mia ha phelui to ki kawepa.

1SG PROX word PST PFV catch.

(I had caught that word.)

morris: (I had caught up that word),

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

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

(When I can answer, I do not refuse to answer. Send me as many questions as you wish. I enjoy it.)

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.

(If you wish, I will tell you everything about the forest of my childhood.)

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. thia nila. thelao mia misa ma shane.

SOME person REFL PL year HAB NEG tell. 1SG DIST person NEG be. 2SG see. CONS 1SG why NEG tell.

(Some people make a habit of not telling their age. I am not such a person, you see, 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 am nearly fifty-six years old.)

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

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

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

(Although Weaver had only just heard all that talk about good manners, they could not help letting out a long, astonished "wow.")

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.

(Weaver's simple heart greatly amused the others. Joy passed quickly over their faces, but good manners kept them from laughing.)

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 person to another with puzzled eyes, and finally spoke:)

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. pi no hola. pi no wei mia shane.

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

("Please tell me what is wrong. You know that I want to learn from you. Please laugh, but please tell me.")

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. lao mia luera wi remotha to phelu mia we to hola.

PL person now PST true laugh. BECAUSE 1SG past two reason PST hold 1SG ALSO PST laugh.

(Now they truly laughed, and I joined them again because I still had the same two reasons.)

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

whekai mua lumae ra mioru miona roe moli nela sharemi haoni to haolu.

CONTR LOC end DIST beautiful person INS gentle COORD persuade voice PST speak.

(At last, however, the beautiful person spoke in a gentle, persuasive voice:)

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

shia keloa nai. halu. whekai thia nila. mia wei thia shia remo po shane.

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

("They are rude, the poor thing. But, you see, I can tell you what they are 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.

(They think that you appear somewhat 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 there need be no surprise in that, because you have travelled.)

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 laniru to ki phoa.

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

(Your words made one thing clear: you have travelled through lands where people are unkind 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 ru reshi kelu. lo miona ha sheloi shemu haolu. ha nuwi shewo nai.

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

(If a person lives among people who feel sadness, they grow old very quickly. People have said this often, and it is clearly 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 ha muila ronua phanoi wei miona mioru manolu welao lokue nai tho haolu.

ADD PL person DECL.COMP PROX earth south portion DAT person beautiful stay good place be DECL.COMP.CLOSE speak.

(People also say that the southern part of this land is a good place for a person's beauty to remain.)

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

shia menoa rulo to kelu. shia sha thia pha mia wia torua phelu pho remo. sho to haolu.

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

(Their face reddened. They said, "How old do you think I am?")

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

lo miona theula thimu wei mia tha mua ta mia punoa miona remole miona lo torua phea miona nila kire nai tho to haolu.

PL person UNIV time DAT 1SG DECL.COMP LOC one 1SG society person concept person PL year AS person see shape be DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(I said, "I have always been told that, for one category of person in my society, a person's years are like their appearance.")

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 po haolu.

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

(So, without harm or overly sweet speech, I might say that you are twenty years old.)

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.

(They laughed joyfully 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 went looking 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 am forty-two years old.)

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

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

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

(I stared at them and drew another musical laugh from them.)

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

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

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

(But the stare was justified: there was not a thread of anxiety on their 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.

(Their skin was smooth as bone, their cheeks full and round, and their lips rose-red like the roses they had carried 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 nela koru to nai. shia wei riola lue lo pelio wethalu to ki leiro.

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

(Their beautiful arms were strong and harmonious from shoulder to wrist. They had bared them for 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.

(Under my gaze, their face grew a little red. But it was clear that they had taken me for someone who was eighty years old.)

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 I spoke to make the moment pass gently:)

morris: so to pass it off I said--

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

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

("You see, the old saying has proved true again. You drew me into a rude question, and I should not have accepted that.")

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.

(They 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.

("Friends, old and young, I must take up my work now.")

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

pheo teku thimu lo mia mua ha la mehalu so nai. mia tha mia kau lumae ha riola reshi kolua tho rinu.

POST short time PL 1SG LOC PROX ATTEN busy FUT be. 1SG DECL.COMP 1SG ALL end PROX labor fast carry DECL.COMP.CLOSE want.

(We will soon be rather busy here, and I want to finish my work quickly.)

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.

(That is because I began reading a beautiful old book yesterday, and I want to read more of 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 pao.

CONS goodbye.

(So, goodbye.)

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.

(They waved to us and walked lightly through 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 they left, they took some of the sunlight from our table with them. An old storyteller had written about such a 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.

(After they departed, Guide spoke:)

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.

("Guest, will you not ask our friend here a question or two? Now is your time for questions. That is 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."

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

weave person QUOT.COMP 1SG INS joy FUT respond. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(Weaver said, "I will answer them gladly.")

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.

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

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 hea mia wei thia roa ra theko soli thilou sepho rinu.

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

(But since I hear that you are a weaver, I want 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 to nai.

1SG AROUND PROX craft interested be DISJ PST be.

(I am interested in that craft. Or I was.)

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

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

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

(They said, "I suspect I will not be very useful to you there.")

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.

(As a craftsperson, I fall short. I am not like Guide.)

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.

(Besides weaving, I do a little device-work for books. But I fall short at more careful book-work.)

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.

(This mechanical book-work is also beginning to die. The sickness of book-making is beginning to shrink as well.)

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 towards other things I like. I took up 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. mia ha shelu kealo mo ko remotha to phelu. mia tha ha shelu phoe whu lo miona wiso peloma phoa thimu muila kire ka nila tho thueli.

ADD 1SG AROUND DIST old society end time peace COORD home life book IPFV write. 1SG PROX book create CMPR FOC reason PST hold. 1SG DECL.COMP PROX book ANT REL PL person RECP harmful do time earth shape CAUS see DECL.COMP.CLOSE intend.

(I am also writing a book about peace and home life in the last days of that old society. My main reason for making it is to show what the land was like before the time when people harmed one another.)

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,--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 admit it: you tangled my thoughts somewhat, but your knowledge interested me greatly.)

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.

(Still, I hope we can talk more later, when 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 la shelu riola miona nila tho sano. lao mia thiku manuwe thesani phelu shia mia thiku nila.

1SG DECL.COMP 3SG 1SG AS ATTEN book labor person see DECL.COMP.CLOSE know. BECAUSE 1SG small hand skill hold 3SG 1SG small see.

(I know they see me as rather a book worker. They hold me in contempt because I have little skill with my hands.)

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 custom now.)

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.

(I have read many books from that old society, and this is clear to me: this is partly 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.

(The folly of that time 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.

no whekai kona ne kulo ha serao haolu halemu. no wo phoa.

IMP CONTR VOC NAME kulo PROX old speak remember. IMP EXC do.

(But Guide, remember the old saying. Do not overdo it!)

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

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

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

(Guide said, "Hey, am I likely to do that?")

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

wa mia mua theula muila mo ko kelomi miona ma nai.

Q 1SG LOC UNIV earth CMPR FOC accept person NEG be.

(Am I not the most accepting person on earth?)

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 content? If you neither make me learn mathematics nor make me enter your new knowledge of beauty, 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.

(If I can create a little beauty with my gold, steel, fire-blowing device, and good 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?

whekai hei. phirae thilou miona wea thia shua. kona mia phemi. halu.

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

(But hey, another questioner is coming towards 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 wei shia thema na nai.

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

(Weaver, you must help me. We must be their guardians 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 brief silence, Guide called loudly, "Gold! If you must have it, here we are.")

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

solai wethalu mionaThe person in gold

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 turned to look over my shoulder and saw something flashing and quivering brightly 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 roe ralu whu nia kerou tomae sheru thalo horae miona to nila.

CONS 1SG REFL PST turn. 1SG INS free REL ON stone floor slow walk radiant person PST see.

(So I turned around and, at my leisure, watched a radiant person walk slowly across 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.

(Their outer garment had been woven very abundantly and elegantly with gold thread.)

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 sunlight quivered brightly from them. They looked like a person wrapped in gold clothing.)

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

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

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

(They were tall, dark-haired, and very beautiful.)

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.

(Their face was as kind as the other people's faces. Still, they moved in a rather proud way.)

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 often gives anyone this appearance.)

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.

(They came to our table with a smiling face and sat down.)

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.

(They stretched out their long legs and rested an arm across the seat.)

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

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

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

(Tall, strong people can move with this slow grace without 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.

(They were in life's full season, yet seemed as joyful as a child who had just received 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.

(They bowed gracefully to me, then spoke:)

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 can see clearly that you are the guest Grace just told me about.")

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 a distant land unfamiliar with us and our customs.)

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 lonae ma naweri tho ho remo. thia nila.

1SG FEW inquire hold. CONS 1SG DECL.COMP 2SG DAT 1SG respond NEG refuse DECL.COMP.CLOSE ASSUM think. 2SG see.

(I have a few questions. I assume you will not refuse me an answer, you see.)

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

mua ha ne kulo muo haolu to reshi koema. tua. pi kona ne solai. no ha nosa leiro.

LOC PROX NAME kulo INTO speak PST fast enter. no. POL VOC NAME solai. IMP PROX now release.

(At this point, Guide entered the conversation quickly. "No. Please, Gold, leave it alone for now.")

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.

(You want the guest to have joy and rest. That is clear.)

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

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

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

(But they still feel their thoughts tangled by the new customs and people around them. If they must bear the burden of answering every kind of question, how could joy and rest come to 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?

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

no. no. 1SG ALL REL 3SG REFL POT inquire place 3SG FUT carry. LOC DIST place PL person DAT 3SG FUT respond.

(No, no. I will take them somewhere they can ask questions themselves, and people there will answer them.)

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

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

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

(My great-grandparent lives there, in the middle of the large town.)

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

wei ha thia mu haolu po phelu. mia ha sano.

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

(I know you can say nothing to that.)

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

no thelao mue womu wepu. no wei mia rolutha pilu. lao mia miso kau ra lokue ha phemi so kolua.

IMP CONS OUT.OF home go. IMP DAT 1SG wagon take. BECAUSE 1SG REFL ALL DIST place PROX guest FUT carry.

(Go out, then, and get me a wagon, because I will take this guest there myself.)

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.

(Please tell Keeper that they may give me the old stone-coloured horse, since I can guide a boat much better than a wagon.)

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 so manolu.

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

(Get up, old friend, and go without sadness. Our guest will remain 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. They spoke to this dignified person as an old friend, and their speech was brief. This surprised 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 ru sano nomei lue lo serao nophi shua mia tha ne solai ha lo kuewa miona wheo kowela miona na nai tho to remo.

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

(Although their well-known name came from old stories, I thought Gold must be, at least, an elder on the council 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.

(Nevertheless, they got up and said, "Yes, old rower, whatever you like. I have little work today.")

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. shai ha sheloi sano phemi haolu pheo ha so kamo mia tha shia thia rolia thaluni na reshi nila tho thekao.

3SG DAT 1SG INS ATTEN proud head low sign PST give. CONC PROX MANY know guest speak POST PROX FUT arrive 1SG DECL.COMP 3SG 2SG worth kin NEC fast see DECL.COMP.CLOSE acknowledge.

(They gave me a rather proud bow, then continued, "Although my pleasure in speaking with this learned guest will come later, I admit that they must see your worthy relative very soon.)

morris: and though" (with a condescending bow to me) "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 pheo lo miona wei shia lo thilou lonae shia wei mia po mo welao lonae.

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

(Besides, once people have answered their questions, they may answer mine better.")

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 miso mue lona lokue to ka roke.

POST thing 3SG PST turn. 3SG REFL OUT.OF meeting place PST CAUS move.

(Then they turned and swung themselves out of the hall.)

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

solai muhena mionaThe golden dustman

pheo shia wuero wepu mia to haolu. wa ha thilou kanelu nai. ne solai hina riola phoa.

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

(After they had gone some distance, I said, "Is it wrong to ask what work Gold does?")

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.

(Their name makes me remember many joyful times when I read 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.

(Guide laughed and said, "Yes, yes. It does that for us too. I see you understand the name.")

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

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

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

(We call them Gold for amusement. It is not their true name. Their true name is Sturdy. We do this because they are a dust worker, because they habitually wrap themselves in very bright clothes, and because they habitually put on as much gold as a gold-clad person from a very old society.)

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. li lo mia shia phirae melu nai. thelao lo mia nua shia monelu haolu. thia nila.

COND 3SG like. 3SG why POT NEG do. RESTR PL 1SG 3SG different friend be. CONS PL 1SG COM 3SG amused speak. 2SG see.

(If they like it, why could they not? Only we are their special friends, so we speak to them playfully, you see.)

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 soli thimu to maeli manolu. whekai ne kulo to mo haolu.

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

(After that I remained silent for a while, but Guide spoke again:)

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

shia ru welao miona nai. thia shia na kaeli.

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

("They are a very good person. You are bound to like them.")

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 they have one shortcoming: they make a habit of writing stories in love with 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 nai. shia ha phea sha thimu welisha sho shemui.

3SG DECL.COMP REFL DIST old time color true CAUS see DECL.COMP.CLOSE INTS proud be. 3SG PROX AS QUOT.COMP time color QUOT.COMP.CLOSE utter.

(They are very proud of making that old time's colour look true. "Time-colour" is what they call it.)

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.

(They think you come from a forgotten part of the world, where people feel sorrow and therefore interest storytellers.)

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.

(So they think they might take some knowledge from you.)

morris: he thinks he might get some information out of you.

shia wei thia ru thenui so haolu. whekai teo. mia wei thia miso therilu ha haolu.

3SG DAT 2SG INTS direct FUT speak. CONTR watch out. 1SG DAT 2SG REFL rest PROX speak.

(They will speak to you very directly. But watch out! I say this for your own peace of mind.)

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. kona ne kulo. mia tha shia lo nophi ru welao nai tho remo.

NAME selomi PST stubborn speak. VOC NAME kulo. 1SG DECL.COMP 3SG PL story INTS good be DECL.COMP.CLOSE think.

(Weaver said stubbornly, "Guide, I think their 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. ta philea pelori wiso sholei.

NAME kulo QUOT.COMP 2SG PROX true think. QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak. one feather bird RECP gather.

(Guide said, "You truly think so. 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 stories of old times are almost equal.)

morris: mathematics and antiquarian novels stand on much the same footing.

whekai shia we wea ha shua.

CONTR 3SG ALSO TOWARD PROX come.

(But they are also coming this way.)

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.

(The golden dust-worker called loudly to us 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 rose and went into the doorway.)

morris: so we all got up and went into the porch,

mua neo ra lokue rolutha lo mia to hasi. thei rolutha wi laeno wolea kema kerou welisha kalora to whano. mia ha rolutha to na morae.

LOC FRONT DIST place wagon PL 1SG PST wait. BETWEEN wagon two long wood strong stone color horse PST stand. 1SG PROX wagon PST NEC sense.

(A wagon waited for us in front of the doorway. A strong, stone-coloured horse stood between its two long wooden shafts. I could not help noticing the wagon.)

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.

(The wagon was light and usable, with none of the roughness that makes a person feel sick.)

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.

(Every wagon in my society habitually had this roughness, especially those that people called "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 wagon was as graceful and cheerful in form as a farm wagon.)

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.

(Guide and I climbed into the wagon.)

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 people had come into the doorway to watch us leave. They waved to us.)

morris: The girls, who had come into the porch to see us off, waved their hands to us;

selomi miona roe koma phena kiroa to loa. muhena miona phea sulai koma mulu kiroa to luwae loa.

weave person INS head kind sign PST give. dust person AS musician head low sign PST graceful give.

(Weaver nodded kindly, and the dust-worker 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.

(Guide moved the reins, and off we went.)

morris: Dick shook the reins, and we were off.

Translation limits

The Phi follows the traveller from the house to the waiting carriage. It includes the breakfast and inscription, then follows the forest history, the questions about age, and the argument over handwork and books. Morris's wording sits beside every unit. Nothing source-bound disappears merely because Phi has to describe it.

Source detailPhi treatment
Hammersmith, Crosby Hall, Epping Forest, Walthamstow, Woodford, High Beech, Bloomsbury, Wessex, Turin, Dickens, Scott, and WilliamPhi gives the place, role, or allusion needed by the sentence, and the exact names remain in Morris's lines.
Annie, Dick, Bob, Boffin, Henry Johnson, and JimThe people who recur have Phi onyms: ne luwae, ne kulo, ne selomi, ne solai, ne keruko, ne woru. Every exact English name stays in Morris's lines. ne phemi differs only in that the narrator chooses it himself, on the page.
May 1962, 1955, the fourteenth and nineteenth centuries, and the speakers' agesConventional dates and numbered centuries remain exact in the source. Elapsed years and ages that matter to the conversation are expressed exactly with Phi's ternary numerals.
Marble mosaic, tracery, fresco, lead, armour, a High Table, a loom, printing, composing, a blowpipe, carriage shafts, and reinsPhi describes visible material, form, function, and relation. Some trade and architectural distinctions narrow where the lexicon has no dedicated root; Morris's adjacent wording identifies each precise label.
Strawberries, roses, wheat, blackbirds, hornbeams, holly, balm, lavender, and plumsperola, napa, napuro, and nuko pelori carry recurring or composable distinctions. The remaining species stay exact in the source while Phi describes the fruit, tree, herb, colour, scent, or remembered setting that matters in the sentence.
Women, male men, fine lady, gentleman, baron, senator, and troubadourPhi marks the narrator's gendered categories where his comparison depends on them, but does not make them general person-words. Rank and social title become reported role, appearance, or inference. The source preserves every original label.
Fighting, defence, revenge, reactionary novels, commoners' rights, and the Corporation's control of the forestPhi reports the acts and relations without coining martial or coercive roots: people harm one another, guardianship protects the guest, retaliation answers contempt, a city institution takes authority, and an old commons entitlement ends. These are translations of Morris's claims, not corrections to them.
Optional vocabularySpecialised terms come from Household and Daily Life, Work, Craft, and Repair, Commons and Collective Governance, Accessibility and Participation, Ecological Systems and Material Life, and Philosophical Reasoning.

This chapter requires no new root. Where Phi must describe instead of label, the table says so. A smooth line that quietly changes Morris would cost more than the missing label.