nophi lue mawha lokue
A Market by the Way
The carriage leaves the river and enters a Hammersmith the traveller can scarcely recognise. King Street has disappeared under meadows and gardens. The Creek is out of its culvert, and the meeting roads now lead to a market whose buildings make Guest chuckle aloud. Guide, ne kulo, enjoys the response. He blushes when he admits that the great theatre doors are his work.
Each block carries the Phi passage, its word-by-word gloss, an English rendering derived from the Phi, and Morris's own wording. Exact place names and architectural labels stay in his lines; Phi describes their visible role. The final exchange depends on English making "poor" and "poorly" sound alike. Phi translates what each speaker means, so Morris's adjacent wording carries the pun instead of a manufactured Phi ambiguity.
ruela nela phuliroThe road and the stream
lo mia lue luphore to reshi rato.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 1SG ABL river PST fast turn.
Literal English: (We turned quickly away from the river.)
morris: We turned away from the river at once,
pheo teku shemu lo mia mua whu thue ha lokue wepu whalo ruela to wepu.
Word-by-word gloss: POST short moment PL 1SG LOC REL THROUGH PROX place go large path PST go.
Literal English: (Soon we were on the great road that went through this place.)
morris: and were soon in the main road that runs through Hammersmith.
lu he mia lue sio luphore lokue ma shua. mia pha mia kua nai pho po ma kethira.
Word-by-word gloss: COND IRR 1SG ABL BESIDE river place NEG come. 1SG INT.COMP 1SG where be INT.COMP.CLOSE POT NEG infer.
Literal English: (Had I not come from the riverside, I could not have inferred where I was.)
morris: But I should have had no guess as to where I was, if I had not started from the waterside;
lao serao ruela to te nai mia pha mia kua nai pho po ma kethira.
Word-by-word gloss: BECAUSE old path PST CESS be 1SG INT.COMP 1SG where be INT.COMP.CLOSE POT NEG infer.
Literal English: (Because the old road had ceased to exist, I could not infer where I was.)
morris: for King Street was gone,
whalo ruela thue lo losha sileta pelowa nela lo whu phea thepalu se sorila muila to wepu.
Word-by-word gloss: large path THROUGH PL wide sun meadow COORD PL REL AS garden PASS cultivate earth PST go.
Literal English: (The great road ran through wide, sunlit meadows and ground cultivated like gardens.)
morris: and the highway ran through wide sunny meadows and garden-like tillage.
lo mia thue phuliro to reshi wepu. phuliro lue phou muila phialu shoeka to ki se leiro.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 1SG THROUGH stream PST fast go. stream ABL BELOW earth water route PST PFV PASS release.
Literal English: (We quickly crossed the stream. It had been released from an underground waterway.)
morris: The Creek, which we crossed at once, had been rescued from its culvert,
whau lo mia thue ha mioru repha to wepu lo mia tha phialu lunisa pheno to si nai tho to hi nila.
Word-by-word gloss: SIMUL PL 1SG THROUGH PROX beautiful bridge PST go PL 1SG DECL.COMP water tide full PST IPFV be DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST DIR see.
Literal English: (As we crossed the beautiful bridge, we saw for ourselves that the water was still full from the tide.)
morris: and as we went over its pretty bridge we saw its waters, yet swollen by the tide,
sheloi keru phirae ponalu luphonu phialu leko to tawemi.
Word-by-word gloss: MANY bright different size boat water surface PST cover.
Literal English: (Many bright boats of different sizes covered the water's surface.)
morris: covered with gay boats of different sizes.
soli womu mua ruela to whano. soli womu thoa lo kosha to whano.
Word-by-word gloss: SOME home LOC path PST stand. SOME home AMONG PL field PST stand.
Literal English: (Some houses stood along the road, and some among the fields.)
morris: There were houses about, some on the road, some amongst the fields
lo nirelo thiku ruela wea ha lo womu to mulu wepu.
Word-by-word gloss: PL pleasant small path TOWARD PROX PL home PST low go.
Literal English: (Pleasant little paths went down towards the houses.)
morris: with pleasant lanes leading down to them,
roa theli womu whu ruloi lorua thepalu to nai.
Word-by-word gloss: AROUND EACH home REL flourish abundant garden PST be.
Literal English: (Each house had a flourishing, abundant garden around it.)
morris: and each surrounded by a teeming garden.
theula womu mioru noporu to phelu. theula womu ru keruko to nai.
Word-by-word gloss: UNIV home beautiful design PST hold. UNIV home INTS sturdy PST be.
Literal English: (Every house was beautifully designed and very sturdy.)
morris: They were all pretty in design, and as solid as might be,
whekai lo womu phea telo womu to ka nila.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR PL home AS farmer home PST CAUS see.
Literal English: (But the houses looked like farmers' homes.)
morris: but countryfied in appearance, like yeomen's dwellings;
soli womu phea lo whu sio luphore whano womu roe rulo mueri kerou to se lorima.
Word-by-word gloss: SOME home AS PL REL BESIDE river stand home INS red clay stone PST PASS build.
Literal English: (Some houses were built of red brick, like the houses beside the river.)
morris: some of them of red brick like those by the river,
whekai shelami womu roe wolea nela phirae muralo to se lorima.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR MOST home INS wood COORD different material PST PASS build.
Literal English: (But most were built of wood and another material.)
morris: but more of timber and plaster,
lo muralo tha lo womu phea ha se na lorima tho to phelona.
Word-by-word gloss: PL material DECL.COMP PL home AS PROX PASS NEC build DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST require.
Literal English: (Those materials required the houses to be built that way.)
morris: which were by the necessity of their construction
thelao lo womu kire phea tholua senao muralo womu kire to nai.
Word-by-word gloss: CONS PL home shape AS ancient same material home shape PST be.
Literal English: (Consequently, the houses had forms like those of ancient houses made from the same materials.)
morris: so like mediaeval houses of the same materials
mia tha mia mua tholua thimu lima nai tho to ru phaelo.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG DECL.COMP 1SG LOC ancient time alive be DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST INTS feel.
Literal English: (I felt strongly that I was alive in an ancient time.)
morris: that I fairly felt as if I were alive in the fourteenth century;
lo mia lo miona to haromi. lo mia sio phirae miona to wepu. lo shia wethalu ha phaelo to panoru.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 1SG PL person PST meet. PL 1SG BESIDE different person PST go. PL 3SG garment PROX feel PST support.
Literal English: (We met people and passed others. Their clothing supported that feeling.)
morris: a sensation helped out by the costume of the people that we met or passed,
mawha wethalu mia thimu kire to phelu.
Word-by-word gloss: NONE garment 1SG time shape PST hold.
Literal English: (None of the clothes had the form of my own time.)
morris: in whose dress there was nothing "modern."
shelami miona keru wethalu to wenuha.
Word-by-word gloss: MOST person bright garment PST wear.
Literal English: (Most people wore bright clothes.)
morris: Almost everybody was gaily dressed,
whekai soli miona mo ko keru wethalu to wenuha.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR SOME person CMPR FOC bright garment PST wear.
Literal English: (But some wore the brightest clothes of all.)
morris: but especially the women,
ra lo miona ru mioru kire to nai.
Word-by-word gloss: DIST PL person INTS beautiful shape PST be.
Literal English: (Those people were very beautiful.)
morris: who were so well-looking, or even so handsome,
mia wei ne kulo tha ra lo miona ru mioru nai tho haolu to rinu. whekai mia ha phelui to kethua kupe.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG DAT NAME kulo DECL.COMP DIST PL person INTS beautiful be DECL.COMP.CLOSE speak PST want. CONTR 1SG PROX word PST hard hide.
Literal English: (I wanted to tell Guide that those people were very beautiful, but it was hard to keep those words hidden.)
morris: that I could scarcely refrain my tongue from calling my companion's attention to the fact.
mia soli phenui menoa to nila.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG SOME thoughtful face PST see.
Literal English: (I saw some thoughtful faces.)
morris: Some faces I saw that were thoughtful,
mia mua ha lo menoa ru thunoa mishoa to nila.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG LOC PROX PL face INTS dignified express PST see.
Literal English: (I saw expressions of great dignity in those faces.)
morris: and in these I noticed great nobility of expression,
mia mawha whu la nuhe mishoa menoa to nila.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG NONE REL ATTEN sadness express face PST see.
Literal English: (No face I saw expressed even slight sadness.)
morris: but none that had a glimmer of unhappiness,
lo mia sheloi miona to haromi. shelami miona whuo kupe lo siora to thenui mishoa.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 1SG MANY person PST meet. MOST person WITHOUT hide PL joy PST direct express.
Literal English: (We met many people. Most expressed their joy directly, without hiding it.)
morris: and the greater part (we came upon a good many people) were frankly and openly joyous.
lorima kireThe forms of the market
lao lo ruela mua ha lokue haromi mia tha mia ha lokue miratu tho to remo.
Word-by-word gloss: BECAUSE PL path LOC PROX place meet 1SG DECL.COMP 1SG PROX place recognize DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST think.
Literal English: (Because the roads met here, I thought I recognized the place.)
morris: I thought I knew the Broadway by the lie of the roads that still met there.
mua nitho ruela phanoi lo mulu lorima nela lo thei lo lorima whemoa lokue to whano.
Word-by-word gloss: LOC north path portion PL low build COORD PL BETWEEN PL build empty place PST stand.
Literal English: (On the north side of the road stood low buildings and open places between them.)
morris: On the north side of the road was a range of buildings and courts, low,
lo lorima to se ru mioru lorima nela to se thesa weshapi.
Word-by-word gloss: PL build PST PASS INTS beautiful build COORD PST PASS careful decorate.
Literal English: (The buildings had been built with great beauty and decorated with care.)
morris: but very handsomely built and ornamented,
lo lorima sheo roa lo mueli womu ru phirae to nai.
Word-by-word gloss: PL build THAN AROUND PL plain home INTS different PST be.
Literal English: (The buildings were very different from the plain houses around them.)
morris: and in that way forming a great contrast to the unpretentiousness of the houses round about;
leo ha lo mulu lorima whalo lona lokue ratenu toru to rihe. ha toru roe tumoa keluo to se tawemi.
Word-by-word gloss: ABOVE PROX PL low build large meeting place steep roof PST rise. PROX roof INS heavy metal PST PASS cover.
Literal English: (Above the low buildings rose the steep roof of a great hall. The roof was covered with heavy metal.)
morris: while above this lower building rose the steep lead-covered roof
lo kema panoru moru phanoi nela lo raelu moru phanoi phou ha toru to whano.
Word-by-word gloss: PL strong support wall portion COORD PL tall wall portion BELOW PROX roof PST stand.
Literal English: (Strong wall supports and tall sections of wall stood beneath that roof.)
morris: and the buttresses and higher part of the wall of a great hall,
lona lokue mua waora nela lorua senalu to se lorima.
Word-by-word gloss: meeting place LOC wondrous COORD abundant style PST PASS build.
Literal English: (The hall was built in a wondrous and abundant style.)
morris: of a splendid and exuberant style of architecture,
mia li tha ha senalu lue shao tholua senalu lo mo ko welao kirero to ke welotu tho po haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG RESTR DECL.COMP PROX style ABL three-group ancient style PL CMPR FOC good quality PST INFER mix DECL.COMP.CLOSE POT speak.
Literal English: (I could say only that this style seemed to mix the best qualities of three ancient styles.)
morris: of which one can say little more than that it seemed to me to embrace the best qualities of the Gothic of northern Europe with those of the Saracenic and Byzantine,
shia ta senalu kire to ma phelu.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG one style shape PST NEG hold.
Literal English: (It had the form of no single style.)
morris: though there was no copying of any one of these styles.
mua ronua ruela phanoi whu wi shao wi moru phanoi phelu lorima to whano.
Word-by-word gloss: LOC south path portion REL two three-group two wall portion hold build PST stand.
Literal English: (On the south side of the road stood a building with eight wall sections.)
morris: On the other, the south side, of the road was an octagonal building
shia raelu toru to phelu.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG tall roof PST hold.
Literal English: (It had a high roof.)
morris: with a high roof,
shia kire phea wuero whalo silawo thorea womu kire to nai.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG shape AS far large village ceremony home shape PST be.
Literal English: (Its outline was like that of a ceremonial building in a distant city.)
morris: not unlike the Baptistry at Florence in outline,
roa lorima mulu toru to whano.
Word-by-word gloss: AROUND build low roof PST stand.
Literal English: (A low roof surrounded the building.)
morris: except that it was surrounded by a lean-to
phou toru kerou toreku thalo ruela to whano.
Word-by-word gloss: BELOW roof stone arch walk path PST stand.
Literal English: (Beneath that roof stood a walkway of stone arches.)
morris: that clearly made an arcade or cloisters to it:
we ha lorima to se ru phiro weshapi.
Word-by-word gloss: ALSO PROX build PST PASS INTS elegant decorate.
Literal English: (This building too was decorated very elegantly.)
morris: it also was most delicately ornamented.
wisola lokueThe exchange-place
lo mia lue lo nirelo kosha to shua. ha theula lorima neo lo mia to pakiro rihe.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 1SG ABL PL pleasant field PST come. PROX UNIV build FRONT PL 1SG PST sudden rise.
Literal English: (We came from the pleasant fields, and all this architecture rose suddenly before us.)
morris: This whole mass of architecture which we had come upon so suddenly from amidst the pleasant fields
ha lorima mua miso ru mioru kire to nai.
Word-by-word gloss: PROX build LOC REFL INTS beautiful shape PST be.
Literal English: (The architecture itself had a very beautiful form.)
morris: was not only exquisitely beautiful in itself,
sheno lo lorima heloi kealo nela lorua lioru to mishoa.
Word-by-word gloss: ADD PL build generous create COORD abundant life PST express.
Literal English: (The buildings also expressed generosity in their making and abundant life.)
morris: but it bore upon it the expression of such generosity and abundance of life
phoe ha mia mawha thimu ru rashowe to nai.
Word-by-word gloss: ANT PROX 1SG NONE time INTS excited PST be.
Literal English: (Before this, I had never been so excited.)
morris: that I was exhilarated to a pitch that I had never yet reached.
mia roe nirelo to maeli hola.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG INS pleasant PST quiet laugh.
Literal English: (I laughed quietly with pleasure.)
morris: I fairly chuckled for pleasure.
ne kulo ha to ke shelomu.
Word-by-word gloss: NAME kulo PROX PST INFER understand.
Literal English: (Guide seemed to understand this.)
morris: My friend seemed to understand it,
ne kulo to meilo. shia mia to si nila. shia roe nirelo nela lothea mewali to nai.
Word-by-word gloss: NAME kulo PST sit. 3SG 1SG PST IPFV see. 3SG INS pleasant COORD love interested PST be.
Literal English: (Guide sat and kept looking at me with pleasant, loving interest.)
morris: and sat looking on me with a pleased and affectionate interest.
lo mia thoa sheloi rolutha to te wepu.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 1SG AMONG MANY wagon PST CESS go.
Literal English: (We stopped among many wagons.)
morris: We had pulled up amongst a crowd of carts,
mua lo rolutha mioru wolu lo miona to meilo. thoa lo shia lo lopia to meilo. lo shia ru keru wethalu to wenuha.
Word-by-word gloss: LOC PL wagon beautiful healthy PL person PST sit. AMONG PL 3SG PL child PST sit. PL 3SG INTS bright garment PST wear.
Literal English: (Beautiful, healthy people sat in the wagons, with children among them. Those people wore very bright clothes.)
morris: wherein sat handsome healthy-looking people, men, women, and children very gaily dressed,
lo rolutha wisola rolutha to nai. ha nuwi to nai.
Word-by-word gloss: PL wagon exchange wagon PST be. PROX clear PST be.
Literal English: (The wagons were exchange-wagons. This was clear.)
morris: and which were clearly market carts,
lo rolutha roe lorua kosha nuora pheno to nai. lo nuora nirelo kire to phelu. mia lo nuora nuola to rinu.
Word-by-word gloss: PL wagon INS abundant field food full PST be. PL food pleasant shape PST hold. 1SG PL food eat PST want.
Literal English: (The wagons were full of abundant food from the fields. The food looked pleasant, and I wanted to eat it.)
morris: as they were full of very tempting-looking country produce.
shela wile lokue ponuThe theatre doors
mia sha lao mia ha nuwi nila mia lila pha ha wisola lokue nai pho thilou ralu nai sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG QUOT.COMP BECAUSE 1SG PROX clear see 1SG PURP INT.COMP PROX exchange place be INT.COMP.CLOSE inquire free be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (I said, "Since I see this clearly, I need not ask whether this is an exchange-place.")
morris: I said, "I need not ask if this is a market, for I see clearly that it is;
whekai ha hina wisola lokue nai. shia misa ru waora nai.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR PROX what exchange place be. 3SG why INTS wondrous be.
Literal English: (But what exchange-place is this? Why is it so wondrous?)
morris: but what market is it that it is so splendid?
ra ru waora whalo lona lokue hina nai. ronua ruela phanoi lorima hina nai.
Word-by-word gloss: DIST INTS wondrous large meeting place what be. south path portion build what be.
Literal English: (What is that great hall that inspires such wonder? What is the building on the south side of the road?)
morris: And what is the glorious hall there, and what is the building on the south side?"
ne kulo sha li ha lo mia wisola lokue nai sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: NAME kulo QUOT.COMP RESTR PROX PL 1SG exchange place be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (Guide said, "This is only our exchange-place.")
morris: "O," said he, "it is just our Hammersmith market;
lao lo mia ru thoru nai mia tha thia shia ru kaeli tho ru siora nai.
Word-by-word gloss: BECAUSE PL 1SG INTS proud be 1SG DECL.COMP 2SG 3SG INTS like DECL.COMP.CLOSE INTS joy be.
Literal English: (Because we are very proud of it, I am very glad that you like it so much.)
morris: and I am glad you like it so much, for we are really proud of it.
ha lorima muwi lo mia shila lona lokue nai.
Word-by-word gloss: PROX build interior PL 1SG winter meeting place be.
Literal English: (The interior of this building is our winter meeting-place.)
morris: Of course the hall inside is our winter Mote-House;
lo mia shelami shemu mua keloi mua lo kosha sio luphore ro haromi.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 1SG MOST moment LOC summer LOC PL field BESIDE river HAB meet.
Literal English: (In summer we usually meet in the fields beside the river.)
morris: for in summer we mostly meet in the fields down by the river
luphore thei lo mia nela ra welamu lokue nai.
Word-by-word gloss: river BETWEEN PL 1SG COORD DIST elm place be.
Literal English: (The river lies between us and that place of elms.)
morris: opposite Barn Elms.
ha lorima shela wile lokue nai. shia mua lo mia kuri nai.
Word-by-word gloss: PROX build art play place be. 3SG LOC PL 1SG right be.
Literal English: (This building is a theatre. It is on our right.)
morris: The building on our right hand is our theatre:
mia tha thia shia kaeli tho soliru.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG DECL.COMP 2SG 3SG like DECL.COMP.CLOSE hope.
Literal English: (I hope you like it.)
morris: I hope you like it."
mia sha lu he mia shia ma kaeli. mia tawimo nai sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG QUOT.COMP COND IRR 1SG 3SG NEG like. 1SG foolish be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (I said, "If I did not like it, I would be foolish.")
morris: "I should be a fool if I didn't," said I.
whau ne kulo to haolu shia menoa la rulo to kelu.
Word-by-word gloss: SIMUL NAME kulo PST speak 3SG face ATTEN red PST become.
Literal English: (Guide's face grew a little red as they spoke.)
morris: He blushed a little as he said:
shia sha lao mia ha lokue lorima to naphe mia we siora nai. mia lo whalo ponu to kealo sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG QUOT.COMP BECAUSE 1SG PROX place build PST help 1SG ALSO joy be. 1SG PL large door PST create QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (They said, "Because I helped build this place, I am glad too. I made the great doors.")
morris: "I am glad of that, too, because I had a hand in it; I made the great doors,
lo ponu roe welotu keluo to se kealo. nia lo ponu lo lemi keru keluo sima to se thesa thinu.
Word-by-word gloss: PL door INS mix metal PST PASS create. ON PL door PL thin bright metal thread PST PASS careful put.
Literal English: (The doors were made from mixed metal. Thin threads of bright metal were carefully placed on them.)
morris: which are of damascened bronze.
mua ha philo wuero shemu lo mia lo ponu so po nilaki.
Word-by-word gloss: LOC PROX day far moment PL 1SG PL door FUT POT inspect.
Literal English: (We might inspect the doors later today.)
morris: We will look at them later in the day, perhaps:
whekai nosa lo mia na wepu.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR now PL 1SG NEC go.
Literal English: (But now we must go.)
morris: but we ought to be getting on now.
ha philo mua wisola lokue thurai ma nai.
Word-by-word gloss: PROX day LOC exchange place vibrant NEG be.
Literal English: (Today the exchange-place is not lively.)
morris: As to the market, this is not one of our busy days;
lao mua phirae thimu thia mo miona so nila lo mia ha wisola lokue so mo welao nila.
Word-by-word gloss: BECAUSE LOC different time 2SG CMPR person FUT see PL 1SG PROX exchange place FUT CMPR good see.
Literal English: (We will get a better look at this exchange-place another time, because then you will see more people.)
morris: so we shall do better with it another time, because you will see more people."
mia wei shia sha mea sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG DAT 3SG QUOT.COMP thanks QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (I said, "Thank you," to them.)
morris: I thanked him,
mia sha wa ha lo whu thoa lo kosha ro menui miona nai sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG QUOT.COMP Q PROX PL REL AMONG PL field HAB dwell person be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (I said, "Are these the people who usually live among the fields?")
morris: and said: "Are these the regular country people?
lua. thoa lo shia sheloi ru mioru limu miona nai.
Word-by-word gloss: lovely. AMONG PL 3SG MANY INTS beautiful young person be.
Literal English: (Lovely. There are many very beautiful young people among them.)
morris: What very pretty girls there are amongst them."
whau mia to haolu mia ta mioru miona menoa to nila.
Word-by-word gloss: SIMUL 1SG PST speak 1SG one beautiful person face PST see.
Literal English: (While I was speaking, I saw the face of one beautiful person.)
morris: As I spoke, my eye caught the face of a beautiful woman,
shia raelu to nai. shia nuelo whila nela whilo hisae to phelu.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG tall PST be. 3SG dark hair COORD white skin PST hold.
Literal English: (They were tall, with dark hair and white skin.)
morris: tall, dark-haired, and white-skinned,
lila shia meluna nela sukaro philo keluro shia mioru whilo liro wethalu to wenuha.
Word-by-word gloss: PURP 3SG season COORD hot day honor 3SG beautiful white green garment PST wear.
Literal English: (To honor the season and the hot day, they wore a beautiful pale-green garment.)
morris: dressed in a pretty light-green dress in honour of the season and the hot day,
shia wea mia to phena seniku.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG TOWARD 1SG PST kind smile.
Literal English: (They smiled kindly at me.)
morris: who smiled kindly on me,
mia tha shia wea ne kulo to mo phena seniku tho to remo.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG DECL.COMP 3SG TOWARD NAME kulo PST CMPR kind smile DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST think.
Literal English: (I thought they smiled more kindly at Guide.)
morris: and more kindly still, I thought on Dick;
thelao mia ta teku shemu to manolu. whekai mia to wepu.
Word-by-word gloss: CONS 1SG one short moment PST stay. CONTR 1SG PST go.
Literal English: (So I paused for a moment, but then I went on.)
morris: so I stopped a minute, but presently went on:
mia sha mia tha mia mua wisola lokue lo whu phea lo kosha miona kire phelu miona po nila tho to remo. whekai mia lo shia ma nila. thelao mia ha thilou. shekoi mia whu thena wisola piru ma nila sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG QUOT.COMP 1SG DECL.COMP 1SG LOC exchange place PL REL AS PL field person shape hold person POT see DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST think. CONTR 1SG PL 3SG NEG see. CONS 1SG PROX inquire. SPEC 1SG REL thing exchange trader NEG see QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (I said, "I thought I might see people who looked like field-dwellers at an exchange-place. But I see none of them, so I ask. Specifically, I see no traders exchanging things.")
morris: "I ask because I do not see any of the country-looking people I should have expected to see at a market--I mean selling things there."
lewonu phewaniThe valley neighbours
ne kulo sha mia pha thia hina kire miona po nila pho ma shelomu sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: NAME kulo QUOT.COMP 1SG INT.COMP 2SG what shape person POT see INT.COMP.CLOSE NEG understand QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (Guide said, "I do not understand what sort of people you might see.")
morris: "I don't understand," said he, "what kind of people you would expect to see;
mia pha thia kosha miona phelui hina reo pho we ma shelomu.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG INT.COMP 2SG field person word what meaning INT.COMP.CLOSE ALSO NEG understand.
Literal English: (I also do not understand what the words "field people" mean to you.)
morris: nor quite what you mean by 'country' people.
ha lo miona lo mia phewani nai.
Word-by-word gloss: PROX PL person PL 1SG neighbor be.
Literal English: (These people are our neighbours.)
morris: These are the neighbours,
mua ha luphore lewonu lo miona phea lo shia nai.
Word-by-word gloss: LOC PROX river valley PL person AS PL 3SG be.
Literal English: (The people of this river valley are like them.)
morris: and that like they run in the Thames valley.
mua ha lo mola soli muila sheo ha lokue mo keloa nai.
Word-by-word gloss: LOC PROX PL island SOME earth THAN PROX place CMPR rough be.
Literal English: (On these islands, some lands are rougher than this place.)
morris: There are parts of these islands which are rougher
lo muila sheo ha lokue mo pheralu phelu.
Word-by-word gloss: PL earth THAN PROX place CMPR rain hold.
Literal English: (Those lands have more rain than this place.)
morris: and rainier than we are here,
mua ra lo lokue lo miona mo keloa wethalu ro wenuha.
Word-by-word gloss: LOC DIST PL place PL person CMPR rough garment HAB wear.
Literal English: (In those places, people usually wear rougher clothes.)
morris: and there people are rougher in their dress;
ra lo miona sheo lo mia mo kema kire to nai. lo shia menoa lo howenu kire to phelu.
Word-by-word gloss: DIST PL person THAN PL 1SG CMPR strong shape PST be. PL 3SG face PL weather shape PST hold.
Literal English: (Those people were more strongly built than we were, and their faces carried the marks of the weather.)
morris: and they themselves are tougher and more hard-bitten than we are to look at.
whekai soli miona sheo lo mia kire ra lo miona kire mo kaeli.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR SOME person THAN PL 1SG shape DIST PL person shape CMPR like.
Literal English: (But some people prefer their appearance to ours.)
morris: But some people like their looks better than ours;
lo shia tha ra lo menoa mo phirae kire phelu tho shane. ha phelui to nai.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 3SG DECL.COMP DIST PL face CMPR different shape hold DECL.COMP.CLOSE tell. PROX word PST be.
Literal English: (They say those faces have more distinctive shapes. That was the word.)
morris: they say they have more character in them--that's the word.
ha kaeli thena nai. sheno lo lue ra lokue miona nela lo lue ha lokue miona wiso lumani ro ka kelu. ra lo lumani welao ro nai.
Word-by-word gloss: PROX like thing be. ADD PL ABL DIST place person COORD PL ABL PROX place person RECP family HAB CAUS become. DIST PL family good HAB be.
Literal English: (It is a matter of liking. Besides, people from there and people from here often form families together. Those families are usually good.)
morris: Well, it's a matter of taste.--Anyhow, the cross between us and them generally turns out well,"
ne kulo ha to phenui haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: NAME kulo PROX PST thoughtful speak.
Literal English: (Guide said this thoughtfully.)
morris: added he, thoughtfully.
shai mia lo mirae lue shia to rato mia shia to hea.
Word-by-word gloss: CONC 1SG PL eye ABL 3SG PST turn 1SG 3SG PST hear.
Literal English: (Although my eyes turned away from them, I heard them.)
morris: I heard him, though my eyes were turned away from him,
ra mioru miona thue norui ponu to si wepu. ha mia lo mirae lue ne kulo to ka rato.
Word-by-word gloss: DIST beautiful person THROUGH boundary door PST IPFV go. PROX 1SG PL eye ABL NAME kulo PST CAUS turn.
Literal English: (The beautiful person was going through a gate. That turned my eyes away from Guide.)
morris: for that pretty girl was just disappearing through the gate
shia newai liro thinoe pheno whalo wiru to phelu.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG fresh green seed full large basket PST hold.
Literal English: (They carried a large basket full of fresh green seeds.)
morris: with her big basket of early peas,
mia ra kire pakiro nuhe to phaelo.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG DIST shape sudden sadness PST feel.
Literal English: (I felt that kind of sudden sadness.)
morris: and I felt that disappointed kind of feeling which overtakes one
lu miona mua ruela whu miona theonu ka rato sola mioru nai menoa nila. shia tha mua mawha phirae thimu shia ra menoa so nila tho po remo. thelao shia ra kire nuhe po phaelo.
Word-by-word gloss: COND person LOC path REL person attend CAUS turn DISJ beautiful be face see. 3SG DECL.COMP LOC NONE different time 3SG DIST face FUT see DECL.COMP.CLOSE POT think. CONS 3SG DIST shape sadness POT feel.
Literal English: (When someone sees a face in the street that catches their attention or is beautiful, they may think they will never see that face again. Then they may feel that kind of sadness.)
morris: when one has seen an interesting or lovely face in the streets which one is never likely to see again;
mia sui teku shemu maeli to nai.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG DUR short moment quiet PST be.
Literal English: (I was quiet for a short while.)
morris: and I was silent a little.
pheo laeno shemu mia sha mia whu henoi panuri ma phelu miona shareo. mia mua ha lokue ta ha kire miona ki ma nila sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: POST long moment 1SG QUOT.COMP 1SG REL ENOUGH resource NEG hold person discuss. 1SG LOC PROX place one PROX shape person PFV NEG see QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (After a long while, I said, "I am speaking of people who do not have enough resources. I have not seen one person of that kind here.")
morris: At last I said: "What I mean is, that I haven't seen any poor people about--not one."
henoiEnough of what
ne kulo shia komeri to la tiwa. shia tha shia ha ma shelomu tho to mishoa.
Word-by-word gloss: NAME kulo 3SG forehead PST ATTEN tie. 3SG DECL.COMP 3SG PROX NEG understand DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST express.
Literal English: (Guide's forehead drew together slightly, and they showed that they did not understand.)
morris: He knit his brows, looked puzzled,
shia sha tua. ha woeli nai sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG QUOT.COMP no. PROX natural be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (They said, "No. Naturally.")
morris: and said: "No, naturally;
lu miona mokela nai. shia mua womu po manolu sola shia mua thepalu li mulu po thalo.
Word-by-word gloss: COND person sick be. 3SG LOC home POT stay DISJ 3SG LOC garden RESTR low POT walk.
Literal English: (If someone is sick, they may stay at home or, at most, crawl in the garden.)
morris: if anybody is poorly, he is likely to be within doors, or at best crawling about the garden:
whekai mia tha nosa mawha miona mokela nai tho sano.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR 1SG DECL.COMP now NONE person sick be DECL.COMP.CLOSE know.
Literal English: (But I know of no one who is sick now.)
morris: but I don't know of any one sick at present.
thia misa tha thia mua ruela mokela miona so nila tho remo.
Word-by-word gloss: 2SG why DECL.COMP 2SG LOC path sick person FUT see DECL.COMP.CLOSE think.
Literal English: (Why do you think you will see sick people on the road?)
morris: Why should you expect to see poorly people on the road?"
mia sha tua. tua. mia mokela miona ma shareo sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG QUOT.COMP no. no. 1SG sick person NEG discuss QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (I said, "No, no. I am not speaking of sick people.")
morris: "No, no," I said; "I don't mean sick people.
mia whu henoi panuri ma phelu miona shareo.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG REL ENOUGH resource NEG hold person discuss.
Literal English: (I am speaking of people who do not have enough resources.)
morris: I mean poor people, you know;
mia lo whu keloa wethalu phelu miona shareo.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG PL REL rough garment hold person discuss.
Literal English: (I am speaking of people whose clothes are rough.)
morris: rough people."
ne kulo to siora seniku. shia sha tua sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: NAME kulo PST joy smile. 3SG QUOT.COMP no QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (Guide smiled with joy and said, "No.")
morris: "No," said he, smiling merrily,
shia sha mia ma ru sano sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG QUOT.COMP 1SG NEG INTS know QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (They said, "I really do not know.")
morris: "I really do not know.
ha theloa nai. thia kau mia phao phao phao na reshi wepu.
Word-by-word gloss: PROX truth be. 2SG ALL 1SG parent parent parent NEC fast go.
Literal English: (The truth is this: you must go quickly to my great-grandparent.)
morris: The fact is, you must come along quick to my great-grandfather,
shia sheo mia thia so mo welao shelomu.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG THAN 1SG 2SG FUT CMPR good understand.
Literal English: (My great-grandparent will understand you better than I do.)
morris: who will understand you better than I do.
kona kerou welisha kalora. no wepu.
Word-by-word gloss: VOC stone color horse. IMP go.
Literal English: (Go, stone-coloured horse!)
morris: Come on, Greylocks!"
ne kulo lo kalora nira to ka tiripe.
Word-by-word gloss: NAME kulo PL horse cord PST CAUS quiver.
Literal English: (Guide shook the reins.)
morris: Therewith he shook the reins,
lo mia wea sileta thorui to siora wepu.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 1SG TOWARD sun beginning PST joy go.
Literal English: (We went joyfully eastward.)
morris: and we jogged along merrily eastward.
Translation limits
This translation follows the complete chapter. The ordered Morris lines preserve every source passage. Phi carries each claim that its vocabulary and grammar can state without pretending that an English label has become a Phi word.
| Source detail | Phi treatment |
|---|---|
| Hammersmith, King Street, the Creek, the Broadway, Barn Elms, the Thames valley, Florence | The exact names stay with Morris. Phi identifies each place by role, relation, or visible form. |
| The fourteenth century and the Gothic, Saracenic, and Byzantine traditions | The historical categories are Morris's. Phi gives an ancient time and three old styles whose best qualities seem to meet without direct copying. |
| Plaster, lead, bronze, damascening, buttresses, arcade, cloisters, and baptistry | Morris supplies the precise labels. Phi gives wood and another material, heavy-metal covering, mixed metal, bright inlaid threads, supporting walls, a roofed path on toreku arches, and a distant city's ceremonial building. |
| Men, women, girls, and great-grandfather | These categories remain in the source lines. Phi describes the people, their clothes and appearance, and the three-generation kinship relation. |
| Market, market carts, produce, selling, and sellers | wisola lokue is an exchange-place, wisola rolutha an exchange-wagon, and wisola piru an exchange trader. Field food and the visible act of exchange carry the rest without assuming money or price. |
| Early peas | Phi gives fresh green seeds; Morris supplies the species and its early season. |
| The "poor" and "poorly" pun | Phi states insufficient resources and sickness separately. Morris's English carries the shared sound that makes the misunderstanding possible. |
| Greylocks | Phi addresses the stone-coloured horse. The personal name belongs to Morris. |
Work toreku names the arches. Registered compounds supply clay-stone, mixed metal, boundary-door, exchange-place, and the Sun's beginning. Art-play-place composes freely for the theatre.
The architecture still gets room to be architecture. The reader can follow the roof and buttresses, count the octagon as wi shao wi, walk beneath the outer arches, and stop with Guest at Guide's inlaid doors. One should not hurry a chuckle that Morris spent this much masonry earning.