Phi texts

Transmutation

wuloe wetha tupiwa

The Velveteen Rabbit

Margery Williams published The Velveteen Rabbit in 1922: a nursery story about a cloth rabbit loved threadbare by a child, condemned to the bonfire after a fever, and carried at last by the nursery magic into being a real rabbit. A full narrative arc rather than excerpts, it turns on a becoming that is Phi's own: love working slow change until the change is complete. Twelve words were coined: whekelu (magic), kuewa (strange), waora (wondrous), phimela (kiss), whishela (whisper), tiripe (quiver), piloe (spot), phiwapi (butterfly), mirulo (berry), misuki (mouse), numea (nestle), and pukate (break), favored over compression since a closer transmutation matters more than an economical one. Real is shewo (true), defined in the story by the one who knows; the Skin Horse's "long, long time" is carried by the habitual ro; and the nursery magic Fairy steps out of the golden blossom exactly where the original has her, whekelu miona, the keeper of every toy a child has loved.

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

horae thoruiThe splendid beginning

ta wuloe wetha tupiwa to nai.

one soft cloth rabbit PST be.

(There was once a velveteen rabbit.)

williams: HERE was once a velveteen rabbit,

mua thorui shia ru horae to nai.

LOC beginning 3SG INTS radiant PST be.

(In the beginning he was truly radiant.)

williams: and in the beginning he was really splendid.

shia theru nela wuloe to nai.

3SG thick COORD soft PST be.

(He was plump and soft.)

williams: He was fat and bunchy,

tupiwa na theru nela wuloe nai.

rabbit NEC thick COORD soft be.

(A rabbit must be plump and soft.)

williams: as a rabbit should be;

shia nolika whila lo mureli piloe nela lo whilo piloe to phelu.

3SG animal hair PL brown spot COORD PL white spot PST hold.

(His fur held brown spots and white spots.)

williams: his coat was spotted brown and white,

shia menoa whila shewo sima to nai.

3SG face hair true thread PST be.

(His whiskers were real thread.)

williams: he had real thread whiskers,

mua shia shonui horathe welisha wetha to nai.

LOC 3SG ear dawn color cloth PST be.

(Inside his ears was dawn-colored cloth.)

williams: and his ears were lined with pink sateen.

shila holia kelua to nai.

winter festival morning PST be.

(It was the morning of the winter festival.)

williams: On Christmas morning,

shia mua lopia paloi wethalu thorui to se peki.

3SG LOC child foot garment beginning PST PASS squeeze.

(He was wedged in the opening of the child's stocking.)

williams: when he sat wedged in the top of the Boy's stocking,

thei shia paloi ta shila liro loremi to nai.

BETWEEN 3SG foot one winter green branch PST be.

(Between his paws was a sprig of the winter's green.)

williams: with a sprig of holly between his paws,

shia ru mioru to nai.

3SG INTS beautiful PST be.

(He was altogether charming.)

williams: the effect was charming.

mua wethalu we phirae thena to nai.

LOC garment ALSO different thing PST be.

(There were other things in the stocking too.)

williams: There were other things in the stocking,

lo kerou lureko nela lo thero welisha lureko to nai.

PL stone fruit COORD PL fire color fruit PST be.

(There were nuts, and fire-colored fruits.)

williams: nuts and oranges

ta nurako wilemo to nai.

one railway toy PST be.

(There was a railway toy.)

williams: and a toy engine,

lo kaelo kerou lureko nela ta keli misuki to nai.

PL sweet stone fruit COORD one device mouse PST be.

(There were sweet nuts, and a wind-up mouse.)

williams: and chocolate almonds and a clockwork mouse,

whekai tupiwa mo ko welao to nai.

CONTR rabbit CMPR FOC good PST be.

(But the rabbit was the best of all.)

williams: but the Rabbit was quite the best of all.

lopia ta laeno shemu shia to lothea.

child one long moment 3SG PST love.

(For one long while, the child loved him.)

williams: For at least two hours the Boy loved him,

pheo thena lo thaluni kau nuola to shua.

POST thing PL kin ALL eat PST come.

(After that, the kinfolk came to the meal.)

williams: and then Aunts and Uncles came to dinner,

ta whalo pelua kohura to nai.

one large paper noise PST be.

(There was a great noise of paper.)

williams: and there was a great rustling of tissue paper

lo loami to se phae.

PL gift PST PASS open.

(The gifts were being opened.)

williams: and unwrapping of parcels,

lo miona theula newu loami to rashowe nila.

PL person UNIV new gift PST excited see.

(The people looked excitedly at all the new gifts.)

williams: and in the excitement of looking at all the new presents

wuloe wetha tupiwa to se sahu.

soft cloth rabbit PST PASS forget.

(The velveteen rabbit was forgotten.)

williams: the Velveteen Rabbit was forgotten.

lopia tholuThe nursery

sui laeno thimu shia mua wilemo molu sola nia lopia tholu tomae to liona.

DUR long time 3SG LOC toy container DISJ ON child space floor PST live.

(For a long time he lived in the toy cupboard or on the nursery floor.)

williams: For a long time he lived in the toy cupboard or on the nursery floor,

mawha miona sheloi shemu shia to remo.

NONE person MANY moment 3SG PST think.

(No one thought of him often.)

williams: and no one thought very much about him.

shia woeli nilua to nai.

3SG natural shy PST be.

(He was naturally shy.)

williams: He was naturally shy,

shia li wuloe wetha to nai.

3SG RESTR soft cloth PST be.

(He was only velveteen.)

williams: and being only made of velveteen,

thelao soli whu lo miona mo sone wilemo shia to thiku nila.

CONS SOME REL PL person CMPR value toy 3SG PST small see.

(And so some toys that people valued more looked down on him.)

williams: some of the more expensive toys quite snubbed him.

lo keli wilemo ru thoru to nai.

PL device toy INTS proud PST be.

(The mechanical toys were very proud.)

williams: The mechanical toys were very superior,

lo shia theula phirae wilemo to thiku nila.

PL 3SG UNIV different toy PST small see.

(They looked down on all the other toys.)

williams: and looked down upon every one else;

lo shia sheloi newu remo to phelu.

PL 3SG MANY new think PST hold.

(They held many new thoughts.)

williams: they were full of modern ideas,

lo shia sha lo mia shewo nai sho ro haolu.

PL 3SG QUOT.COMP PL 1SG true be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE HAB speak.

(They kept saying: "We are real.")

williams: and pretended they were real.

wilemo luphonu sui keloi nela muero to ki liona.

toy boat DUR summer COORD autumn PST PFV live.

(The toy boat had lived through a summer and an autumn.)

williams: The model boat, who had lived through two seasons

pai theula shia kolai to ki lepa.

NEAR UNIV 3SG pigment PST PFV fall.

(Nearly all his paint had fallen away.)

williams: and lost most of his paint,

shia lue lo shia ha keno to howela.

3SG ABL PL 3SG PROX custom PST receive.

(He caught this custom from them.)

williams: caught the tone from them

shia sheloi shemu roe theko haluma shia suro nela phora to therua thelima.

3SG MANY moment INS craft language 3SG rope COORD sail PST eager describe.

(He often and eagerly described his ropes and sails in craft language.)

williams: and never missed an opportunity of referring to his rigging in technical terms.

lao shia tha lo shewo tupiwa liona tho to ma sano tupiwa sha mia thena relo nai sho to po ma haolu.

BECAUSE 3SG DECL.COMP PL true rabbit live DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST NEG know rabbit QUOT.COMP 1SG thing symbol be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST POT NEG speak.

(Because he did not know that real rabbits live, the rabbit could not say: "I am the model of a thing.")

williams: The Rabbit could not claim to be a model of anything, for he didn't know that real rabbits existed;

shia tha theula tupiwa phea miso roe wolea muhena se pilewa tho to remo.

3SG DECL.COMP UNIV rabbit AS REFL INS wood dust PASS make DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST think.

(He thought all rabbits, like himself, were made with wood-dust.)

williams: he thought they were all stuffed with sawdust like himself,

shia tha wolea muhena nosa serao thena nai tho to shelomu.

3SG DECL.COMP wood dust now old thing be DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST understand.

(And he understood that wood-dust was now an old thing.)

williams: and he understood that sawdust was quite out-of-date

miona mawha thimu thoa lo newu remo miona wolea muhena na ma haolu.

person NONE time AMONG PL new think person wood dust NEC NEG speak.

(Among the new-thought people, one must never speak of wood-dust.)

williams: and should never be mentioned in modern circles.

we wolea whalo misheko thoru to nai.

ALSO wood large cat proud PST be.

(Even the wooden great-cat put on pride.)

williams: Even Timothy, the jointed wooden lion, ... put on airs

lo sowelu miona shia to pilewa.

PL disabled person 3SG PST make.

(Disabled people had made him.)

williams: who was made by the disabled soldiers,

thelao shia na mo whalo remo phelu.

CONS 3SG NEC CMPR large think hold.

(So he ought to hold larger thoughts.)

williams: and should have had broader views,

whekai shia sha mia whalo punoki wemari nai sho ro haolu.

CONTR 3SG QUOT.COMP 1SG large institution member be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE HAB speak.

(But he kept saying: "I am a member of the great institution.")

williams: put on airs and pretended he was connected with Government.

lo shia thiku tupiwa ru thiku to ka phaelo. shia thoa lo shia li ta wilemo to nai.

PL 3SG small rabbit INTS small PST CAUS feel. 3SG AMONG PL 3SG RESTR one toy PST be.

(Together they made the little rabbit feel very small, merely one toy among the rest.)

williams: Between them all the poor little Rabbit was made to feel himself very insignificant and commonplace,

li kori kalora wei shia phena to nai.

RESTR leather horse DAT 3SG kind PST be.

(Only the Leather Horse was kind to him.)

williams: and the only person who was kind to him at all was the Skin Horse.

kori kaloraThe Skin Horse

kori kalora sheo theula phirae wilemo mua lopia tholu mo laeno to ki liona.

leather horse THAN UNIV different toy LOC child space CMPR long PST PFV live.

(The Leather Horse had lived in the nursery longer than all the other toys.)

williams: The Skin Horse had lived longer in the nursery than any of the others.

shia ru serao to nai.

3SG INTS old PST be.

(He was very old.)

williams: He was so old

shia mureli nolika whila mua soli lokue to ki wepu.

3SG brown animal hair LOC SOME place PST PFV go.

(In places, his brown fur had gone.)

williams: that his brown coat was bald in patches

phou whila lo pina to se nila.

BELOW hair PL sew PST PASS see.

(Beneath the hair, the sewing showed.)

williams: and showed the seams underneath,

pai theula shia tulira whila wei nolue kerou tiwa to ki se natu.

NEAR UNIV 3SG tail hair DAT neck stone tie PST PFV PASS pull.

(Nearly all his tail-hairs had been pulled out for the tying of neck-stones.)

williams: and most of the hairs in his tail had been pulled out to string bead necklaces.

shia phue to nai.

3SG wise PST be.

(He was wise.)

williams: He was wise,

shia tha sheloi keli wilemo shua tho to ki nila.

3SG DECL.COMP MANY device toy come DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST PFV see.

(He had seen many mechanical toys come.)

williams: for he had seen a long succession of mechanical toys arrive

lo shia to thoru haolu.

PL 3SG PST proud speak.

(They spoke proudly.)

williams: to boast and swagger,

pheo soli thimu lo shia keli korua to pukate.

POST SOME time PL 3SG device heart PST break.

(After a while, their device-hearts broke.)

williams: and by-and-by break their mainsprings

lo shia to lumeo.

PL 3SG PST die.

(And they passed away.)

williams: and pass away,

thelao shia tha lo shia li wilemo nai tho to sano.

CONS 3SG DECL.COMP PL 3SG RESTR toy be DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST know.

(So he knew that they were only toys.)

williams: and he knew that they were only toys,

lo shia mawha thimu phirae thena so kelu.

PL 3SG NONE time different thing FUT become.

(They would never become anything else.)

williams: and would never turn into anything else.

lopia tholu whekelu ru kuewa nela ru waora nai.

child space magic INTS strange COORD INTS wondrous be.

(For nursery magic is very strange and very wondrous.)

williams: For nursery magic is very strange and wonderful,

li lo whu serao nela phue nela seroli nai wilemo phea kori kalora shia shelomu.

RESTR PL REL old COORD wise COORD mature be toy AS leather horse 3SG understand.

(Only the toys that are old and wise and seasoned, like the Leather Horse, understand it.)

williams: and only those playthings that are old and wise and experienced like the Skin Horse understand all about it.

shewoWhat is Real

phoe tholu woru shua lo shia ta philo sio wiso pai moeli to ruemi.

ANT space keeper come PL 3SG one day BESIDE RECP NEAR hearth PST lie down.

(One day, before the keeper of the room came, they were lying beside each other near the hearth.)

williams: one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room.

tupiwa sha hina shewo nai sho to thilou.

rabbit QUOT.COMP what true be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST inquire.

(The rabbit asked: "What is Real?")

williams: "What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit

tupiwa sha wa mua thia lo whu kohura pilewa thena nai. wa ta keli manuwe mue thia weloni whano sho to thilou.

rabbit QUOT.COMP Q LOC 2SG PL REL noise make thing be. Q one device hand OUT.OF 2SG body stand QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST inquire.

(He asked: "Are there things inside you that make a noise? Does a device-hand stand out of your body?")

williams: Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?

kori kalora sha shewo lue pilewa ma shua sho to haolu.

leather horse QUOT.COMP true ABL make NEG come QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(The Leather Horse said: "Real does not come from how you are made.")

williams: "Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse.

sha shewo whu wei thia kelu thena nai sho to haolu.

QUOT.COMP true REL DAT 2SG become thing be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("Real is a thing that happens to you.")

williams: It's a thing that happens to you.

sha lu lopia sui ru laeno thimu thia lothea nela shia thia li wilemo ma nila nela shia thia ru lothea. pheo thena thia shewo kelu sho to haolu.

QUOT.COMP COND child DUR INTS long time 2SG love COORD 3SG 2SG RESTR toy NEG see COORD 3SG 2SG INTS love. POST thing 2SG true become QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("When a child loves you for a very long time, does not see you merely as a toy, and truly loves you, then you become Real.")

williams: When a child loves you for a long, long time,
not just to play with, but REALLY loves you,
then you become Real.

tupiwa sha wa ha kipona thola sho to thilou.

rabbit QUOT.COMP Q PROX pain bring QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST inquire.

(The rabbit asked: "Does this bring pain?")

williams: "Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

kori kalora sha soli shemu sho to haolu.

leather horse QUOT.COMP SOME moment QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(The Leather Horse said: "Sometimes.")

williams: "Sometimes," said the Skin Horse,

shia theula thimu wero to nai.

3SG UNIV time honest PST be.

(He was always honest.)

williams: for he was always truthful.

sha lu thia shewo nai. kipona thia ma kulo sho to haolu.

QUOT.COMP COND 2SG true be. pain 2SG NEG guide QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("When you are Real, pain does not guide you.")

williams: "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

shia sha wa ha mua ta shemu kelu phea keli rato. sola wa ha roe lo thiku helui kelu sho to thilou.

3SG QUOT.COMP Q PROX LOC one moment become AS device turn. DISJ Q PROX INS PL small change become QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST inquire.

(He asked: "Does it happen in one moment, like the winding of a device? Or does it happen by small changes?")

williams: "Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

kori kalora sha ha mua ta shemu ma kelu sho to haolu.

leather horse QUOT.COMP PROX LOC one moment NEG become QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(The Leather Horse said: "It does not happen in one moment.")

williams: "It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse.

sha thia kelu. ha laeno thimu phelona sho to haolu.

QUOT.COMP 2SG become. PROX long time require QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("You become. It requires a long time.")

williams: "You become. It takes a long time.

sha thelao ha wei lo welua miona phina shemu kelu sho to haolu.

QUOT.COMP CONS PROX DAT PL fragile person FEW moment become QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("That is why it comes only rarely to fragile people.")

williams: That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily,

sha ha wei lo whu tiso shuna phelu miona nela lo whu se na moli phelu miona we phina shemu kelu sho to haolu.

QUOT.COMP PROX DAT PL REL sharp edge hold person COORD PL REL PASS NEC gentle hold person ALSO FEW moment become QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("To those who hold sharp edges, and those who must be gently kept, it also comes rarely.")

williams: or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept.

sha lu thia shewo kelu. pai theula thia whila lue lothea ki wepu sho to haolu.

QUOT.COMP COND 2SG true become. NEAR UNIV 2SG hair ABL love PFV go QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("By the time you become Real, nearly all your hair has been loved away.")

williams: Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off,

sha thia mirae lepa. thia lo kiparu ralu kelu. thia ru rohemi sho to haolu.

QUOT.COMP 2SG eye fall. 2SG PL joint free become. 2SG INTS wear down QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("Your eyes fall out. Your joints grow loose. You become very worn.")

williams: and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby.

sha whekai ha lo thena ru thiku nai sho to haolu.

QUOT.COMP CONTR PROX PL thing INTS small be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("But these things are altogether small.")

williams: But these things don't matter at all,

sha lu thia shewo kelu. li whu ma shelomu miona thia ma mioru nila sho to haolu.

QUOT.COMP COND 2SG true become. RESTR REL NEG understand person 2SG NEG beautiful see QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("Once you become Real, only the people who do not understand see you as unbeautiful.")

williams: because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

tupiwa sha thia shewo ho nai sho to haolu.

rabbit QUOT.COMP 2SG true ASSUM be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(The rabbit said: "You are Real, I suppose?")

williams: "I suppose you are real?" said the Rabbit.

lao shia tha kori kalora po reshi kipona phaelo tho to remo pheo thena shia tha miso ha to ma haolu tho to pula.

BECAUSE 3SG DECL.COMP leather horse POT fast pain feel DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST think POST thing 3SG DECL.COMP REFL PROX PST NEG speak DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST wish.

(Because he thought the Leather Horse might easily feel hurt, he then wished that he himself had not said it.)

williams: And then he wished he had not said it, for he thought the Skin Horse might be sensitive.

whekai kori kalora li to seniku.

CONTR leather horse RESTR PST smile.

(But the Leather Horse only smiled.)

williams: But the Skin Horse only smiled.

kori kalora nophiThe Skin Horse's story

shia sha lopia lumani wheo mia shewo ka kelu sho to haolu.

3SG QUOT.COMP child family elder 1SG true CAUS become QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(He said: "The child's family-elder made me Real.")

williams: "The Boy's Uncle made me Real," he said.

sha ha phoe sheloi torua to kelu sho to haolu.

QUOT.COMP PROX ANT MANY year PST become QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("That happened a great many years before.")

williams: That was a great many years ago;

sha lu thia ta shemu shewo kelu. thia mawha thimu phirae thena kelu sho to haolu.

QUOT.COMP COND 2SG one moment true become. 2SG NONE time different thing become QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("Once you become Real, you never become a different thing again.")

williams: but once you are Real you can't become unreal again.

sha ha theula thimu manolu sho to haolu.

QUOT.COMP PROX UNIV time stay QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("It stays for always.")

williams: It lasts for always."

tupiwa to laeno whunei.

rabbit PST long breathe.

(The rabbit breathed one long breath.)

williams: The Rabbit sighed.

shia tha ha shewo whekelu pheo laeno thimu wei shia so kelu tho to remo.

3SG DECL.COMP PROX true magic POST long time DAT 3SG FUT become DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST think.

(He thought that this Real-magic would come to him only after a long time.)

williams: He thought it would be a long time before this magic called Real happened to him.

shia tha miso shewo kelu tho to wilao.

3SG DECL.COMP REFL true become DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST long-for.

(He longed to become Real himself.)

williams: He longed to become Real,

shia tha miso shewo phaelo sano tho to wilao.

3SG DECL.COMP REFL true feel know DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST long-for.

(He longed to know Real's own feeling.)

williams: to know what it felt like;

shia tha miso rohemi nela miso mirae nela menoa whila lepa tho to remo.

3SG DECL.COMP REFL wear down COORD REFL eye COORD face hair fall DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST think.

(He thought of himself wearing down, his eyes and his whiskers falling away.)

williams: and yet the idea of growing shabby and losing his eyes and whiskers

ha remo nuhe to thola.

PROX think sadness PST bring.

(That thought brought sadness.)

williams: was rather sad.

shia tha miso whuo ha lo kipona thena shewo po kelu tho to pula.

3SG DECL.COMP REFL WITHOUT PROX PL pain thing true POT become DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST wish.

(He wished that he could become Real without these hurting things.)

williams: He wished that he could become it without these uncomfortable things happening to him.

tholu woruThe keeper of the nursery

ta whu lopia tholu kulo miona to nai.

one REL child space guide person PST be.

(There was a person who guided the nursery.)

williams: There was a person called Nana who ruled the nursery.

soli shemu shia lo whu ruemi wilemo to ma nila.

SOME moment 3SG PL REL lie down toy PST NEG see.

(Sometimes she did not see the toys lying about.)

williams: Sometimes she took no notice of the playthings lying about,

soli shemu shia whuo remo phea whalo howeli to wepu.

SOME moment 3SG WITHOUT think AS large wind PST go.

(Sometimes, without any reason, she went about like a great wind.)

williams: and sometimes, for no reason whatever, she went swooping about like a great wind

shia muo lo molu lo wilemo to reshi pesa.

3SG INTO PL container PL toy PST fast push.

(She pushed the toys quickly away into the cupboards.)

williams: and hustled them away in cupboards.

shia sha mia tholu hiso ka kelu sho ro haolu.

3SG QUOT.COMP 1SG space clean CAUS become QUOT.COMP.CLOSE HAB speak.

(She kept saying: "I am making the room clean.")

williams: She called this "tidying up,"

ha wei theula wilemo korua thero to thola.

PROX DAT UNIV toy heart fire PST bring.

(This brought heart-fire to every toy.)

williams: and the playthings all hated it,

ko lo keluo wilemo mo whalo korua thero to phaelo.

FOC PL metal toy CMPR large heart fire PST feel.

(The metal toys especially felt the greater anger.)

williams: especially the tin ones.

tupiwa ha to ma ru phaelo.

rabbit PROX PST NEG INTS feel.

(The rabbit did not feel it so strongly.)

williams: The Rabbit didn't mind it so much,

lu shia kau hina se wapho. shia wuloe to lepa.

COND 3SG ALL what PASS throw. 3SG soft PST fall.

(Wherever he was thrown, he fell soft.)

williams: for wherever he was thrown he came down soft.

ta howai lopia kau nuwera to wepu.

one evening child ALL bed PST go.

(One evening the child was going to bed.)

williams: One evening, when the Boy was going to bed,

shia whu nua shia ro nulae mueri lohau to po ma hekawi.

3SG REL COM 3SG HAB sleep clay dog PST POT NEG find.

(He could not find the clay dog that always slept with him.)

williams: he couldn't find the china dog that always slept with him.

tholu woru sheli to nai.

space keeper impatient PST be.

(The keeper was in a hurry.)

williams: Nana was in a hurry,

mua nulae shemu mueri lohau sheraki wo tupeka to nai.

LOC sleep moment clay dog search EXC burden PST be.

(At bedtime, searching for clay dogs was too much of a burden.)

williams: and it was too much trouble to hunt for china dogs at bedtime,

thelao shia li roa miso to nila.

CONS 3SG RESTR AROUND REFL PST see.

(So she simply looked around herself.)

williams: so she simply looked about her,

shia tha wilemo molu ponu ki se phae tho to nila.

3SG DECL.COMP toy container door PFV PASS open DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST see.

(She saw that the toy cupboard's door had been opened.)

williams: and seeing that the toy cupboard door stood open,

shia phea howeli to shua.

3SG AS wind PST come.

(She came like the wind.)

williams: she made a swoop.

shia sha ha. no thia serao tupiwa howela. nua thia shia po nulae sho to haolu.

3SG QUOT.COMP PROX. IMP 2SG old rabbit receive. COM 2SG 3SG POT sleep QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(She said: "Here. Take your old rabbit. He can sleep with you.")

williams: "Here," she said, "take your old Bunny! He'll do to sleep with you!"

shia roe ta shonui mue molu tupiwa to natu.

3SG INS one ear OUT.OF container rabbit PST pull.

(By one ear, she pulled the rabbit out of the cupboard.)

williams: And she dragged the Rabbit out by one ear,

shia muo lopia pelio tupiwa to loa.

3SG INTO child arm rabbit PST give.

(She gave him into the child's arms.)

williams: and put him into the Boy's arms.

lopia nuweraIn the child's bed

lue ha shero wuloe wetha tupiwa mua lopia nuwera to ro nulae.

ABL PROX night soft cloth rabbit LOC child bed PST HAB sleep.

(From that night on, the velveteen rabbit slept in the child's bed.)

williams: That night, and for many nights after, the Velveteen Rabbit slept in the Boy's bed.

mua thorui shia nuloe to ma nai.

LOC beginning 3SG content PST NEG be.

(At first, he was not comfortable.)

williams: At first he found it rather uncomfortable,

lopia shia to ru kema lomare.

child 3SG PST INTS strong embrace.

(For the child hugged him very tightly.)

williams: for the Boy hugged him very tight,

soli shemu lopia nia shia to rato.

SOME moment child ON 3SG PST turn.

(Sometimes the child turned over onto him.)

williams: and sometimes he rolled over on him,

soli shemu lopia phou komalu shia to nulo pesa.

SOME moment child BELOW pillow 3SG PST deep push.

(Sometimes he pushed him deep under the pillow.)

williams: and sometimes he pushed him so far under the pillow

tupiwa to po ma ru whunei.

rabbit PST POT NEG INTS breathe.

(The rabbit could hardly breathe.)

williams: that the Rabbit could scarcely breathe.

shia we mua lopia tholu lo laeno lunei shemu to wilao.

3SG ALSO LOC child space PL long moon moment PST long-for.

(He missed, too, the long moon-lit hours in the nursery.)

williams: And he missed, too, those long moonlight hours in the nursery,

mua ha lo shemu theula womu maeli to nai.

LOC PROX PL moment UNIV home quiet PST be.

(In those hours all the house was quiet.)

williams: when all the house was silent,

shia we nua kori kalora thorelu to wilao.

3SG ALSO COM leather horse converse PST long-for.

(And he missed talking with the Leather Horse.)

williams: and his talks with the Skin Horse.

whekai pheo teku shemu shia ha to pa kaeli.

CONTR POST short moment 3SG PROX PST INCH like.

(But after a short while he began to like it.)

williams: But very soon he grew to like it,

lopia wei shia to ro haolu.

child DAT 3SG PST HAB speak.

(For the child would talk to him.)

williams: for the Boy used to talk to him,

lopia phou wethamo wei shia lo welao nowhu to pilewa.

child BELOW blanket DAT 3SG PL good cave PST make.

(The child made good caves for him under the blanket.)

williams: and made nice tunnels for him under the bedclothes

lopia sha lo ha phea whu lo shewo tupiwa mua liona nowhu nai sho to haolu.

child QUOT.COMP PL PROX AS REL PL true rabbit LOC live cave be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(He said: "These are like the burrows the real rabbits live in.")

williams: that he said were like the burrows the real rabbits lived in.

lo shia roe whishela lo horae wile to nuawe wile.

PL 3SG INS whisper PL radiant play PST together play.

(In whispers, together, they played splendid games.)

williams: And they had splendid games together, in whispers,

tholu woru kau shia nuola to ki wepu.

space keeper ALL 3SG eat PST PFV go.

(The keeper had gone away to her meal.)

williams: when Nana had gone away to her supper

shero luma nia moeli phelasi to si thape.

night lamp ON hearth shelf PST IPFV burn.

(The night-lamp went on burning on the mantel shelf.)

williams: and left the night-light burning on the mantelpiece.

lu lopia pa nulae. tupiwa phou shia thiku sulae kathoru to ro numea.

COND child INCH sleep. rabbit BELOW 3SG small warm jaw PST HAB nestle.

(When the child fell asleep, the rabbit would nestle under his small warm jaw.)

williams: And when the Boy dropped off to sleep, the Rabbit would snuggle down close under his little warm chin

tupiwa to ro whemura.

rabbit PST HAB dream.

(And he would dream.)

williams: and dream,

lopia manuwe sui theula shero shia to noshi phelu.

child hand DUR UNIV night 3SG PST near hold.

(The child's hands held him close, all night long.)

williams: with the Boy's hands clasped close round him all night long.

thimu to wepu.

time PST go.

(And time went on.)

williams: And so time went on,

thiku tupiwa ru loshi to nai.

small rabbit INTS joyful PST be.

(The little rabbit was very joyful.)

williams: and the little Rabbit was very happy-

thelao shia mawha thimu tha miso mioru whila ru rohemi tho to nila.

CONS 3SG NONE time DECL.COMP REFL beautiful hair INTS wear down DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST see.

(So joyful that he never once saw how worn his beautiful fur was becoming.)

williams: so happy that he never noticed how his beautiful velveteen fur was getting shabbier and shabbier,

shia tulira pina to si phae.

3SG tail sew PST IPFV open.

(His tail's sewing was coming open.)

williams: and his tail becoming unsewn,

mua whu lopia shia to phimela lokue horathe welisha lue shia nophae to ki wepu.

LOC REL child 3SG PST kiss place dawn color ABL 3SG nose PST PFV go.

(In the place where the child had kissed him, the pink had gone from his nose.)

williams: and all the pink rubbed off his nose where the Boy had kissed him.

wiraeSpring

wirae to shua.

spring PST come.

(Spring came.)

williams: Spring came,

wei lo shia mua thepalu lo laeno philo to nai.

DAT PL 3SG LOC garden PL long day PST be.

(For them there were long days in the garden.)

williams: and they had long days in the garden,

lu lopia kau hina to wepu. tupiwa we to wepu.

COND child ALL what PST go. rabbit ALSO PST go.

(Wherever the child went, the rabbit went too.)

williams: for wherever the Boy went the Rabbit went too.

shia mua manuwe rolutha to wepu.

3SG LOC hand wagon PST go.

(He went about in the hand-wagon.)

williams: He had rides in the wheelbarrow,

lo shia nia whelina to nuawe nuola.

PL 3SG ON grass PST together eat.

(They ate together on the grass.)

williams: and picnics on the grass,

lopia phou lo mirulo loremi wei shia lo mioru thiku whekelu womu to lorima.

child BELOW PL berry branch DAT 3SG PL beautiful small magic home PST build.

(Under the berry canes, the child built lovely little magic houses for him.)

williams: and lovely fairy huts built for him under the raspberry canes

lo mirulo loremi noe peloru shuna to whano.

PL berry branch BEHIND flower edge PST stand.

(The berry canes stood behind the flower border.)

williams: behind the flower border.

ta shemu lopia kau howai nuola to se ka reshi wepu.

one moment child ALL evening eat PST PASS CAUS fast go.

(Once, the child was called away quickly to the evening meal.)

williams: And once, when the Boy was called away suddenly to go out to tea,

tupiwa tei pheo norawhi laeno shemu nia whelina to manolu.

rabbit UNTIL POST dusk long moment ON grass PST stay.

(The rabbit stayed out on the grass until long after dusk.)

williams: the Rabbit was left out on the lawn until long after dusk,

tholu woru roe philu to na shua. shia tupiwa to sheraki.

space keeper INS candle PST NEC come. 3SG rabbit PST search.

(The keeper had to come with the candle and search for him.)

williams: and Nana had to come and look for him with the candle

lu tupiwa ra ma nai. lopia to po ma nulae.

COND rabbit DIST NEG be. child PST POT NEG sleep.

(If the rabbit was not there, the child could not sleep.)

williams: because the Boy couldn't go to sleep unless he was there.

shia lue suilo ru wirua to nai.

3SG ABL dew INTS wet PST be.

(He was wet through from the dew.)

williams: He was wet through with the dew

muphia nia shia to nai.

mud ON 3SG PST be.

(And mud was all over him.)

williams: and quite earthy

tupiwa muo lo nowhu to ki tupi.

rabbit INTO PL cave PST PFV jump.

(The rabbit had been diving into the burrows.)

williams: from diving into the burrows

lopia mua peloru muila wei shia lo nowhu to ki pilewa.

child LOC flower earth DAT 3SG PL cave PST PFV make.

(The child had made the burrows for him in the flower-bed.)

williams: the Boy had made for him in the flower bed,

shia sui hewe roe thiku korua thero to haolu.

3SG DUR wipe INS small heart fire PST speak.

(As she wiped, the keeper spoke with a small heart-fire.)

williams: and Nana grumbled

tholu woru roe shia theko wethalu shuna tupiwa to hewe.

space keeper INS 3SG craft garment edge rabbit PST wipe.

(She wiped him off with the edge of her work-garment.)

williams: as she rubbed him off with a corner of her apron.

shewo haoluThe declaration

shia sha thia thia serao tupiwa na phelu sho to haolu.

3SG QUOT.COMP 2SG 2SG old rabbit NEC hold QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(She said: "You must have your old rabbit!")

williams: "You must have your old Bunny!" she said.

sha wao. theula ha theko wei ta wilemo nai sho to haolu.

QUOT.COMP wow. UNIV PROX craft DAT one toy be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("Well! All this work, for one toy!")

williams: "Fancy all that fuss for a toy!"

lopia mua nuwera to meilo.

child LOC bed PST sit.

(The child sat up in bed.)

williams: The Boy sat up in bed

shia manuwe laeno to kelu.

3SG hand long PST become.

(His hands stretched out long.)

williams: and stretched out his hands.

shia sha no wei mia mia tupiwa loa sho to haolu.

3SG QUOT.COMP IMP DAT 1SG 1SG rabbit give QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(He said: "Give my rabbit to me!")

williams: "Give me my Bunny!" he said.

sha thia ha na ma haolu sho to haolu.

QUOT.COMP 2SG PROX NEC NEG speak QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("You must not say that.")

williams: "You mustn't say that.

sha shia wilemo ma nai. shia shewo nai sho to haolu.

QUOT.COMP 3SG toy NEG be. 3SG true be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("He is not a toy. He is Real!")

williams: He isn't a toy. He's REAL!"

thiku tupiwa ha to hea. shia ru loshi to kelu.

small rabbit PROX PST hear. 3SG INTS joyful PST become.

(The little rabbit heard this, and he became very joyful.)

williams: When the little Rabbit heard that he was happy,

shia tha kori kalora haolu pheo laeno shemu shewo nai tho to sano.

3SG DECL.COMP leather horse speak POST long moment true be DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST know.

(He knew that the Leather Horse's words, at long last, were true.)

williams: for he knew that what the Skin Horse had said was true at last.

lopia tholu whekelu wei shia to ki kelu.

child space magic DAT 3SG PST PFV become.

(The nursery magic had happened to him.)

williams: The nursery magic had happened to him,

shia wilemo to te nai.

3SG toy PST CESS be.

(He had ceased to be a toy.)

williams: and he was a toy no longer.

shia shewo to nai.

3SG true PST be.

(He was Real.)

williams: He was Real.

lopia miso ha to ki haolu.

child REFL PROX PST PFV speak.

(The child himself had said it.)

williams: The Boy himself had said it.

ha shero shia ru loshi to nai. thelao nulae wei shia to sheru shua.

PROX night 3SG INTS joyful PST be. CONS sleep DAT 3SG PST slow come.

(That night he was so joyful that sleep came slowly to him.)

williams: That night he was almost too happy to sleep,

ru whalo lothea mua shia thiku wolea muhena korua to roke.

INTS large love LOC 3SG small wood dust heart PST move.

(So great a love moved in his little wood-dust heart.)

williams: and so much love stirred in his little sawdust heart

shia korua to pai pukate.

3SG heart PST NEAR break.

(His heart nearly burst.)

williams: that it almost burst.

shia mirae palowe kerou to nai.

3SG eye shoe stone PST be.

(His eyes were boot-buttons.)

williams: And into his boot-button eyes,

lo shia phoe laeno thimu to te keru loa.

PL 3SG ANT long time PST CESS bright give.

(They had long ago ceased giving light.)

williams: that had long ago lost their polish,

muo ha lo mirae nulo sano nela mioru nila to shua.

INTO PROX PL eye deep know COORD beautiful see PST come.

(Into those eyes there came a look of deep knowing and of beauty.)

williams: there came a look of wisdom and beauty,

thelao wireo kelua we tholu woru ha to nila.

CONS future morning ALSO space keeper PROX PST see.

(So that the next morning even the keeper saw it.)

williams: so that even Nana noticed it next morning

shia tupiwa to howela.

3SG rabbit PST receive.

(She took him up.)

williams: when she picked him up,

shia sha wao. ha serao tupiwa whu sano menoa phelu sho to haolu.

3SG QUOT.COMP wow. PROX old rabbit REL know face hold QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(And said: "Well! This old rabbit has a knowing face.")

williams: and said, "I declare if that old Bunny hasn't got quite a knowing expression!"

keloiSummer

ha keloi ru waora to nai.

PROX summer INTS wondrous PST be.

(That was a truly wondrous summer!)

williams: That was a wonderful Summer!

pai whu lo shia mua liona womu ta shelira to nai.

NEAR REL PL 3SG LOC live home one forest PST be.

(Near the house where they lived there was a wood.)

williams: Near the house where they lived there was a wood,

mua lo laeno keloi thorui howai lopia kau shelira to ro wepu.

LOC PL long summer beginning evening child ALL forest PST HAB go.

(In the long evenings of early summer, the child would go to the wood.)

williams: and in the long June evenings the Boy liked to go there

shia pheo howai nuola to ro wile.

3SG POST evening eat PST HAB play.

(After the evening meal, he would play there.)

williams: after tea to play.

shia nua miso wuloe wetha tupiwa to ro thola.

3SG COM REFL soft cloth rabbit PST HAB bring.

(He would bring the velveteen rabbit along with him.)

williams: He took the Velveteen Rabbit with him,

phoe peloru muraki nela kawhera wile lopia theula thimu thoa phero wei tupiwa ta thiku nuwera to pilewa.

ANT flower harvest COORD coerce play child UNIV time AMONG fern DAT rabbit one small bed PST make.

(Before gathering flowers and playing at coercion, the child always made the rabbit a little nest among the bracken.)

williams: and before he wandered off to pick flowers, or play at brigands among the trees, he always made the Rabbit a little nest somewhere among the bracken,

mua ha nuwera tupiwa sulae nela nuloe to nai.

LOC PROX bed rabbit warm COORD content PST be.

(In this nest the rabbit was warm and content.)

williams: where he would be quite cosy,

shia korua phena to nai.

3SG heart kind PST be.

(For the child's heart was kind.)

williams: for he was a kind-hearted little boy

shia tha tupiwa nuloe nai tho to kaeli.

3SG DECL.COMP rabbit content be DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST like.

(And he liked the rabbit to be comfortable.)

williams: and he liked Bunny to be comfortable.

ta howai tupiwa sonu to ruemi.

one evening rabbit alone PST lie down.

(One evening the rabbit was lying there alone.)

williams: One evening, while the Rabbit was lying there alone,

shia lo whu mua whelina thei shia wuloe paloi rashelo nireku to laeno nila.

3SG PL REL LOC grass BETWEEN 3SG soft foot run insect PST long see.

(He was watching the small insects that ran in the grass between his soft paws.)

williams: watching the ants that ran to and fro between his velvet paws in the grass,

shia tha wi kuewa limoe mue raelu phero maeli shua tho to nila.

3SG DECL.COMP two strange creature OUT.OF tall fern quiet come DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST see.

(He saw two strange creatures come creeping out of the tall bracken.)

williams: he saw two strange beings creep out of the tall bracken near him.

waeshi tupiwaThe wild rabbits

lo shia phea miso tupiwa to nai.

PL 3SG AS REFL rabbit PST be.

(They were rabbits like himself.)

williams: They were rabbits like himself,

whekai lo shia sheloi nolika whila to phelu. lo shia ru newu to nai.

CONTR PL 3SG MANY animal hair PST hold. PL 3SG INTS new PST be.

(But they held thick fur, and they were altogether new.)

williams: but quite furry and brand-new.

lo shia to se ke ru welao pilewa.

PL 3SG PST PASS INFER INTS good make.

(They must have been made very well.)

williams: They must have been very well made,

lo shia pina mawha thimu to se nila.

PL 3SG sew NONE time PST PASS see.

(For their seams were never seen at all.)

williams: for their seams didn't show at all,

lu lo shia roke. lo shia kire to kuewa helui.

COND PL 3SG move. PL 3SG shape PST strange change.

(When they moved, their shape changed strangely.)

williams: and they changed shape in a queer way when they moved;

ta shemu lo shia laeno nela lemi to nai. wireo shemu lo shia theru nela wuloe to nai.

one moment PL 3SG long COORD thin PST be. future moment PL 3SG thick COORD soft PST be.

(One moment they were long and thin; the next moment, plump and soft.)

williams: one minute they were long and thin and the next minute fat and bunchy,

whekai tupiwa theula thimu mua ta kire to manolu.

CONTR rabbit UNIV time LOC one shape PST stay.

(But the rabbit himself always stayed in one shape.)

williams: instead of always staying the same like he did.

lo shia paloi nia muila to wuloe thalo.

PL 3SG foot ON earth PST soft walk.

(Their feet walked softly on the ground.)

williams: Their feet padded softly on the ground,

lo shia kau tupiwa to maeli shua.

PL 3SG ALL rabbit PST quiet come.

(They came creeping right up to him.)

williams: and they crept quite close to him,

lo shia nophae to si tiripe.

PL 3SG nose PST IPFV quiver.

(Their noses were quivering all the while.)

williams: twitching their noses,

tupiwa keli mue kua whano to laeno nila.

rabbit device OUT.OF where stand PST long see.

(The rabbit stared to see out of which side the device stood.)

williams: while the Rabbit stared hard to see which side the clockwork stuck out,

shia tha lo whu tupi miona sheloi shemu whu lo shia ka rato thena phelu tho to sano.

3SG DECL.COMP PL REL jump person MANY moment REL PL 3SG CAUS turn thing hold DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST know.

(For he knew that jumping people generally hold a thing that winds them up.)

williams: for he knew that people who jump generally have something to wind them up.

whekai shia ha to po ma nila.

CONTR 3SG PROX PST POT NEG see.

(But he could not see it.)

williams: But he couldn't see it.

lo shia ru phirae newu tupiwa to ke nai.

PL 3SG INTS different new rabbit PST INFER be.

(They were, evidently, an altogether new kind of rabbit.)

williams: They were evidently a new kind of rabbit altogether.

lo shia tupiwa to laeno nila. thiku tupiwa lo shia we to laeno nila.

PL 3SG rabbit PST long see. small rabbit PL 3SG ALSO PST long see.

(They stared at him, and the little rabbit stared back.)

williams: They stared at him, and the little Rabbit stared back.

sui theula ha shemu lo shia nophae to tiripe.

DUR UNIV PROX moment PL 3SG nose PST quiver.

(And all that time, their noses quivered.)

williams: And all the time their noses twitched.

ta shia sha misa thia ma whano. misa thia nua lo mia ma wile sho to thilou.

one 3SG QUOT.COMP why 2SG NEG stand. why 2SG COM PL 1SG NEG play QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST inquire.

(One of them asked: "Why do you not get up? Why do you not play with us?")

williams: "Why don't you get up and play with us?" one of them asked.

tupiwa sha mia ma rinu sho to haolu.

rabbit QUOT.COMP 1SG NEG want QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(The rabbit said: "I do not want to.")

williams: "I don't feel like it," said the Rabbit,

lao shia mawha keli to phelu shia tha miso ha solae tho to ma rinu.

BECAUSE 3SG NONE device PST hold 3SG DECL.COMP REFL PROX explain DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST NEG want.

(Because he held no clockwork, he did not want to explain it.)

williams: for he didn't want to explain that he had no clockwork.

nolika whila tupiwa sha wao. ha kethua ma nai sho to haolu.

animal hair rabbit QUOT.COMP wow. PROX hard NEG be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(The furry rabbit said: "Ho! It is not difficult.")

williams: "Ho!" said the furry rabbit. "It's as easy as anything,"

shia ta whalo tupi to tupi. shia nia miso rokai tolae to whano.

3SG one large jump PST jump. 3SG ON REFL back leg PST stand.

(He gave one big hop, and stood on his hind legs.)

williams: And he gave a big hop sideways and stood on his hind legs.

shia sha mia tha thia ha po pilewa tho ma nohero sho to haolu.

3SG QUOT.COMP 1SG DECL.COMP 2SG PROX POT make DECL.COMP.CLOSE NEG believe QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(He said: "I do not believe that you can do it!")

williams: "I don't believe you can!" he said.

thiku tupiwa sha mia ha po pilewa. mia sheo theula thena mo raelu po tupi sho to haolu.

small rabbit QUOT.COMP 1SG PROX POT make. 1SG THAN UNIV thing CMPR tall POT jump QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(The little rabbit said: "I can! I can jump higher than anything!")

williams: "I can!" said the little Rabbit. "I can jump higher than anything!"

shia lo whu lopia shia wapho shemu to thueli.

3SG PL REL child 3SG throw moment PST intend.

(He meant the moments when the child threw him.)

williams: He meant when the Boy threw him,

whekai shia tha miso ha haolu tho to ma rinu.

CONTR 3SG DECL.COMP REFL PROX speak DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST NEG want.

(But of course he did not want to say so.)

williams: but of course he didn't want to say so.

nolika whila tupiwa sha wa thia nia thia rokai tolae po tupi sho to thilou.

animal hair rabbit QUOT.COMP Q 2SG ON 2SG back leg POT jump QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST inquire.

(The furry rabbit asked: "Can you hop on your hind legs?")

williams: "Can you hop on your hind legs?" asked the furry rabbit.

ha thilou sukima to thola.

PROX inquire fear PST bring.

(That question brought fear.)

williams: That was a dreadful question,

wuloe wetha tupiwa mawha rokai tolae to phelu.

soft cloth rabbit NONE back leg PST hold.

(For the velveteen rabbit had no hind legs at all!)

williams: for the Velveteen Rabbit had no hind legs at all!

shia rokai phea tisu molu lue ta thena to se pilewa.

3SG back AS needle container ABL one thing PST PASS make.

(His back was made from one piece, like a pincushion.)

williams: The back of him was made all in one piece, like a pincushion.

shia thoa phero to moesha meilo.

3SG AMONG fern PST still sit.

(He sat still in the bracken.)

williams: He sat still in the bracken,

shia tha lo phirae tupiwa ma nila tho to soliru.

3SG DECL.COMP PL different rabbit NEG see DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST hope.

(And hoped that the other rabbits would not see.)

williams: and hoped that the other rabbits wouldn't notice.

shia nu wi shemu sha mia ma rinu sho to haolu.

3SG ORD two moment QUOT.COMP 1SG NEG want QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(A second time he said: "I do not want to!")

williams: "I don't want to!" he said again.

whekai waeshi tupiwa ru tiso mirae phelu.

CONTR wild rabbit INTS sharp eye hold.

(But wild rabbits hold very sharp eyes.)

williams: But the wild rabbits have very sharp eyes.

ha shia miso nolue to laeno ka kelu. shia to nila.

PROX 3SG REFL neck PST long CAUS become. 3SG PST see.

(This one stretched his neck out long, and looked.)

williams: And this one stretched out his neck and looked.

shia sha shia mawha rokai tolae phelu sho to kapura.

3SG QUOT.COMP 3SG NONE back leg hold QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST shout.

(He called out: "He has no hind legs!")

williams: "He hasn't got any hind legs!" he called out.

sha wao. tupiwa whuo rokai tolae nai sho to haolu.

QUOT.COMP wow. rabbit WITHOUT back leg be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("Well! A rabbit without any hind legs!")

williams: "Fancy a rabbit without any hind legs!"

shia to pa hola.

3SG PST INCH laugh.

(And he began to laugh.)

williams: And he began to laugh.

thiku tupiwa sha mia phelu. mia rokai tolae phelu. mia nia lo shia meilo sho to kapura.

small rabbit QUOT.COMP 1SG hold. 1SG back leg hold. 1SG ON PL 3SG sit QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST shout.

(The little rabbit cried: "I have! I have hind legs! I am sitting on them!")

williams: "I have!" cried the little Rabbit. "I have got hind legs! I am sitting on them!"

waeshi tupiwa sha no lo shia laeno ka kelu. no phea ha wei mia lo shia ka nila sho to haolu.

wild rabbit QUOT.COMP IMP PL 3SG long CAUS become. IMP AS PROX DAT 1SG PL 3SG CAUS see QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(The wild rabbit said: "Then stretch them out long, and show them to me, like this!")

williams: "Then stretch them out and show me, like this!" said the wild rabbit.

shia roa miso to pa rato. shia to pa rotiku.

3SG AROUND REFL PST INCH turn. 3SG PST INCH dance.

(He began to whirl around himself, and to dance.)

williams: And he began to whirl round and dance,

thiku tupiwa ru wiloru to phaelo.

small rabbit INTS dizziness PST feel.

(Till the little rabbit felt quite dizzy.)

williams: till the little Rabbit got quite dizzy.

shia sha mia rotiku ma kaeli. mia moesha meilo mo rinu sho to haolu.

3SG QUOT.COMP 1SG dance NEG like. 1SG still sit CMPR want QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(He said: "I do not like dancing. I would rather sit still!")

williams: "I don't like dancing," he said. "I'd rather sit still!"

whekai sui theula ha shemu shia tha miso rotiku tho to wilao.

CONTR DUR UNIV PROX moment 3SG DECL.COMP REFL dance DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST long-for.

(But all the while he was longing to dance.)

williams: But all the while he was longing to dance,

ta monelu newu tiphori thue shia to rashelo.

one amused new tingling THROUGH 3SG PST run.

(For a funny new tingling ran through him.)

williams: for a funny new tickly feeling ran through him,

shia tha miso wei phea ha lo tupiwa tupi theula muila thena so loa tho to phaelo.

3SG DECL.COMP REFL DAT AS PROX PL rabbit jump UNIV earth thing FUT give DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST feel.

(He felt that he would give every thing in the world to jump the way these rabbits jumped.)

williams: and he felt he would give anything in the world to be able to jump about like these rabbits did.

kuewa tupiwa to te rotiku. shia ru noshi to shua.

strange rabbit PST CESS dance. 3SG INTS near PST come.

(The strange rabbit ceased dancing, and came very near.)

williams: The strange rabbit stopped dancing, and came quite close.

shia laeno menoa whila wuloe wetha tupiwa shonui to moli palo.

3SG long face hair soft cloth rabbit ear PST gentle touch.

(His long whiskers gently brushed the velveteen rabbit's ear.)

williams: He came so close this time that his long whiskers brushed the Velveteen Rabbit's ear,

pheo thena shia nophae to reshi tiripe.

POST thing 3SG nose PST fast quiver.

(Then his nose quivered fast.)

williams: and then he wrinkled his nose suddenly

shia shonui mulu to kelu. shia phei tupiwa to tupi.

3SG ear low PST become. 3SG AWAY rabbit PST jump.

(His ears went flat, and he jumped back away from him.)

williams: and flattened his ears and jumped backwards.

shia sha shia whinu theali ma nai. shia tupiwa ma nai. shia shewo ma nai sho to kapura.

3SG QUOT.COMP 3SG smell fitting NEG be. 3SG rabbit NEG be. 3SG true NEG be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST shout.

(He cried out: "His scent is not right! He is not a rabbit! He is not Real!")

williams: "He doesn't smell right!" he exclaimed. "He isn't a rabbit at all! He isn't real!"

thiku tupiwa sha mia shewo nai. mia shewo nai. lopia ha to haolu sho to haolu.

small rabbit QUOT.COMP 1SG true be. 1SG true be. child PROX PST speak QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(The little rabbit said: "I am Real! I am Real! The child said it!")

williams: "I am Real!" said the little Rabbit. "I am Real! The Boy said so!"

shia to pai nuhewa.

3SG PST NEAR weep.

(And he nearly wept.)

williams: And he nearly began to cry.

mua ha shemu paloi shonuwa to nai.

LOC PROX moment foot sound PST be.

(Just then there was a sound of feet.)

williams: Just then there was a sound of footsteps,

lopia pai lo shia to rashelo.

child NEAR PL 3SG PST run.

(The child ran past, near them.)

williams: and the Boy ran past near them,

roe paloi kohura nela whilo tulira keru loa wi kuewa tupiwa lue nila to wepu.

INS foot noise COORD white tail bright give two strange rabbit ABL see PST go.

(With a noise of feet and a flash of white tails, the two strange rabbits went from sight.)

williams: and with a stamp of feet and a flash of white tails the two strange rabbits disappeared.

thiku tupiwa sha no turema. no nua mia wile sho to kapura.

small rabbit QUOT.COMP IMP return. IMP COM 1SG play QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST shout.

(The little rabbit called: "Come back! Play with me!")

williams: "Come back and play with me!" called the little Rabbit.

sha pi no turema. mia tha mia shewo nai tho sano sho to haolu.

QUOT.COMP POL IMP return. 1SG DECL.COMP 1SG true be DECL.COMP.CLOSE know QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("Oh, please come back! I know that I am Real!")

williams: "Oh, do come back! I know I am Real!"

whekai mawha lonae to nai.

CONTR NONE respond PST be.

(But there was no answer.)

williams: But there was no answer,

li lo thiku nireku to rashelo.

RESTR PL small insect PST run.

(Only the little insects ran to and fro.)

williams: only the little ants ran to and fro,

mua whu wi kuewa limoe thue to wepu lokue phero to moli rotiku.

LOC REL two strange creature THROUGH PST go place fern PST gentle dance.

(Where the two strangers had passed, the fern danced gently.)

williams: and the bracken swayed gently where the two strangers had passed.

wuloe wetha tupiwa ru sonu to nai.

soft cloth rabbit INTS alone PST be.

(The velveteen rabbit was all alone.)

williams: The Velveteen Rabbit was all alone.

shia sha wao. misa lo shia phea ha to rashelo. misa lo shia to po ma manolu. misa lo shia nua mia to po ma haolu sho to remo.

3SG QUOT.COMP wow. why PL 3SG AS PROX PST run. why PL 3SG PST POT NEG stay. why PL 3SG COM 1SG PST POT NEG speak QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST think.

(He thought: "Oh! Why did they run away like that? Why could they not stay? Why could they not talk with me?")

williams: "Oh, dear!" he thought. "Why did they run away like that? Why couldn't they stop and talk to me?"

sui laeno thimu shia to ru moesha ruemi. shia phero to laeno nila.

DUR long time 3SG PST INTS still lie down. 3SG fern PST long see.

(For a long time he lay very still, watching the fern.)

williams: For a long time he lay very still, watching the bracken,

shia tha lo shia turema tho to soliru.

3SG DECL.COMP PL 3SG return DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST hope.

(And hoping that they would come back.)

williams: and hoping that they would come back.

whekai lo shia mawha thimu to turema.

CONTR PL 3SG NONE time PST return.

(But they never returned.)

williams: But they never returned,

pheo soli shemu sileta mo mulu to lepa.

POST SOME moment sun CMPR low PST fall.

(Presently the sun sank lower.)

williams: and presently the sun sank lower

lo thiku whilo shero phiwapi to wapi. lo shia wapile to tiripe.

PL small white night butterfly PST fly. PL 3SG wing PST quiver.

(The little white night-butterflies came flying, their wings quivering.)

williams: and the little white moths fluttered out,

lopia to shua. shia kau womu tupiwa to kolua.

child PST come. 3SG ALL home rabbit PST carry.

(The child came, and carried him home.)

williams: and the Boy came and carried him home.

serao nela rohemiGrowing old and worn

lo phaeno to wepu. thiku tupiwa ru serao to kelu. shia to ru rohemi.

PL week PST go. small rabbit INTS old PST become. 3SG PST INTS wear down.

(Weeks passed. The little rabbit grew very old, and he became very worn.)

williams: Weeks passed, and the little Rabbit grew very old and shabby,

whekai lopia shia to ru lothea.

CONTR child 3SG PST INTS love.

(But the child loved him just as truly.)

williams: but the Boy loved him just as much.

shia shia to ru kema lothea. thelao theula shia menoa whila lue lothea to wepu.

3SG 3SG PST INTS strong love. CONS UNIV 3SG face hair ABL love PST go.

(He loved him so hard that all his whiskers went from love.)

williams: He loved him so hard that he loved all his whiskers off,

mua shia shonui horathe welisha wetha kerou welisha to kelu.

LOC 3SG ear dawn color cloth stone color PST become.

(The dawn-colored cloth in his ears turned gray.)

williams: and the pink lining to his ears turned grey,

shia lo mureli piloe lue nila to pai wepu.

3SG PL brown spot ABL see PST NEAR go.

(His brown spots nearly went from sight.)

williams: and his brown spots faded.

we shia kire to pa wepu.

ALSO 3SG shape PST INCH go.

(Even his shape began to go.)

williams: He even began to lose his shape,

shia nosa phea tupiwa to se po ma ru nila.

3SG now AS rabbit PST PASS POT NEG INTS see.

(He could hardly be seen as a rabbit now.)

williams: and he scarcely looked like a rabbit any more,

li wei lopia shia tupiwa to nai.

RESTR DAT child 3SG rabbit PST be.

(Only to the child was he still a rabbit.)

williams: except to the Boy.

wei shia tupiwa theula thimu mioru to nai.

DAT 3SG rabbit UNIV time beautiful PST be.

(To him, the rabbit was always beautiful.)

williams: To him he was always beautiful,

li ha wei thiku tupiwa thaemo to nai.

RESTR PROX DAT small rabbit precious PST be.

(And only this was precious to the little rabbit.)

williams: and that was all that the little Rabbit cared about.

lao lopia tholu whekelu shia shewo to ki ka kelu shia tha phirae miona miso thela nila tho to ma remo.

BECAUSE child space magic 3SG true PST PFV CAUS become 3SG DECL.COMP different person REFL how see DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST NEG think.

(Because the nursery magic had made him Real, he did not think about how other people saw him.)

williams: He didn't mind how he looked to other people, because the nursery magic had made him Real,

lu thia shewo nai. rohemi thiku thena nai.

COND 2SG true be. wear down small thing be.

(When you are Real, wearing down is a small thing.)

williams: and when you are Real shabbiness doesn't matter.

rulo suloruThe scarlet fever

pheo thena ta philo lopia mokela to kelu.

POST thing one day child sick PST become.

(And then, one day, the child fell sick.)

williams: And then, one day, the Boy was ill.

shia menoa ru rulo to kelu.

3SG face INTS red PST become.

(His face grew very red.)

williams: His face grew very flushed,

shia sui nulae to haolu.

3SG DUR sleep PST speak.

(He talked in his sleep.)

williams: and he talked in his sleep,

shia thiku weloni ru sukaro to nai.

3SG small body INTS hot PST be.

(His little body was very hot.)

williams: and his little body was so hot

lu lopia shia noshi phelu. weloni tupiwa to thape.

COND child 3SG near hold. body rabbit PST burn.

(When the child held him close, the body burned the rabbit.)

williams: that it burned the Rabbit when he held him close.

lo kuewa miona mua lopia tholu to shua. lo shia to wepu.

PL strange person LOC child space PST come. PL 3SG PST go.

(Strange people came into the nursery, and went again.)

williams: Strange people came and went in the nursery,

ta luma sui theula shero to thape.

one lamp DUR UNIV night PST burn.

(A lamp burned all night.)

williams: and a light burned all night

sui theula ha thimu thiku wuloe wetha tupiwa phou wethamo to ruemi.

DUR UNIV PROX time small soft cloth rabbit BELOW blanket PST lie down.

(Through all of it, the little velveteen rabbit lay under the blanket.)

williams: and through it all the little Velveteen Rabbit lay there,

shia lue nila to se kupe.

3SG ABL see PST PASS hide.

(He was hidden from sight.)

williams: hidden from sight under the bedclothes,

shia mawha thimu to roke.

3SG NONE time PST move.

(And he never stirred.)

williams: and he never stirred,

shia sukima to phelu. shia tha lu lo shia miso hekawi. soli miona miso kau phirae lokue po kolua tho to remo.

3SG fear PST hold. 3SG DECL.COMP COND PL 3SG REFL find. SOME person REFL ALL different place POT carry DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST think.

(He held fear: he thought that if they found him, someone might carry him away to another place.)

williams: for he was afraid that if they found him some one might take him away,

shia tha lopia miso phelona tho to sano.

3SG DECL.COMP child REFL require DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST know.

(And he knew that the child needed him.)

williams: and he knew that the Boy needed him.

ha laeno nela shorui thimu to nai.

PROX long COORD weary time PST be.

(It was a long, weary time.)

williams: It was a long weary time,

lopia wo mokela to nai. thelao shia to po ma wile.

child EXC sick PST be. CONS 3SG PST POT NEG play.

(The child was too sick, and so he could not play.)

williams: for the Boy was too ill to play,

thiku tupiwa sui theula philo moshaki to nai. shia mawha thena to po phoa.

small rabbit DUR UNIV day bored PST be. 3SG NONE thing PST POT do.

(All day long the little rabbit was bored. He could do nothing.)

williams: and the little Rabbit found it rather dull with nothing to do all day long.

whekai shia to hurao numea.

CONTR 3SG PST patient nestle.

(But he nestled down patiently.)

williams: But he snuggled down patiently,

shia wea whu lopia towe kelu shemu to nila.

3SG TOWARD REL child well become moment PST see.

(He looked toward the time when the child would be well again.)

williams: and looked forward to the time when the Boy should be well again,

mua ha shemu lo shia thoa lo peloru nela lo phiwapi mua thepalu so wepu.

LOC PROX moment PL 3SG AMONG PL flower COORD PL butterfly LOC garden FUT go.

(Then they would go out in the garden among the flowers and the butterflies.)

williams: and they would go out in the garden amongst the flowers and the butterflies

lo shia phea luera mua mirulo loremi lokue lo horae wile so wile.

PL 3SG AS past LOC berry branch place PL radiant play FUT play.

(And they would play splendid games in the berry-cane thicket, as in the past.)

williams: and play splendid games in the raspberry thicket like they used to.

shia sheloi loshi thena to winora.

3SG MANY joyful thing PST plan.

(He planned many joyful things.)

williams: All sorts of delightful things he planned,

sui lopia kesho nulae tupiwa kau komalu to maeli shua.

DUR child middle sleep rabbit ALL pillow PST quiet come.

(While the child lay half asleep, the rabbit crept close to the pillow.)

williams: and while the Boy lay half asleep he crept up close to the pillow

shia muo lopia shonui ha lo thena to whishela.

3SG INTO child ear PROX PL thing PST whisper.

(And whispered these things into his ear.)

williams: and whispered them in his ear.

pheo soli shemu rulo suloru to rato.

POST SOME moment red fever PST turn.

(Presently the scarlet fever turned.)

williams: And presently the fever turned,

lopia towe to pa kelu.

child well PST INCH become.

(The child began to get well.)

williams: and the Boy got better.

shia mua nuwera to po meilo. shia lo kire shelu to po nila.

3SG LOC bed PST POT sit. 3SG PL shape book PST POT see.

(He could sit up in bed and look at the picture-books.)

williams: He was able to sit up in bed and look at picture-books,

thiku tupiwa sio shia to numea.

small rabbit BESIDE 3SG PST nestle.

(While the little rabbit nestled close at his side.)

williams: while the little Rabbit cuddled close at his side.

ta philo lopia to po whano. shia miso wethalu to po howela.

one day child PST POT stand. 3SG REFL garment PST POT receive.

(And one day, he was allowed to get up, and to take up his garments.)

williams: And one day, they let him get up and dress.

moriwhe remoThe seaside plan

keru sileta kelua to nai.

bright sun morning PST be.

(It was a bright, sun-filled morning.)

williams: It was a bright, sunny morning,

lo wira to ki se ru phae.

PL window PST PFV PASS INTS open.

(The windows had been opened full wide.)

williams: and the windows stood wide open.

lo miona kau womu lerua raelu lokue lopia to kolua.

PL person ALL home exterior tall place child PST carry.

(They carried the child out to the house's high outside place.)

williams: They had carried the Boy out on to the balcony,

shia roe sulae wethalu to se lomare.

3SG INS warm garment PST PASS embrace.

(He was wrapped in a warm garment.)

williams: wrapped in a shawl,

thiku tupiwa thoa lo wethamo to ruemi. shia to si remo.

small rabbit AMONG PL blanket PST lie down. 3SG PST IPFV think.

(The little rabbit lay among the blankets and kept thinking.)

williams: and the little Rabbit lay tangled up among the bedclothes, thinking.

wireo philo lopia kau moriwhe kerime so wepu.

future day child ALL sea shore FUT go.

(Tomorrow the child would go to the seashore.)

williams: The Boy was going to the seaside to-morrow.

theula thena to ki se thilonu.

UNIV thing PST PFV PASS prepare.

(Everything had been prepared.)

williams: Everything was arranged,

nosa li whu theala miona haolu se na teru.

now RESTR REL heal person speak PASS NEC process.

(Now only the healer's words remained to be carried through.)

williams: and now it only remained to carry out the doctor's orders.

lo miona theula ha to shareo.

PL person UNIV PROX PST discuss.

(The people talked it all through.)

williams: They talked about it all,

thiku tupiwa phou wethamo to ruemi.

small rabbit BELOW blanket PST lie down.

(While the little rabbit lay under the blanket.)

williams: while the little Rabbit lay under the bedclothes,

li shia koma mue wetha to whano. shia to sheluo.

RESTR 3SG head OUT.OF cloth PST stand. 3SG PST listen.

(Only his head peeped out of the cloth, and he listened.)

williams: with just his head peeping out, and listened.

tholu lue rulo suloru hisophi se na hiso ka kelu.

space ABL red fever contaminant PASS NEC clean CAUS become.

(The room must be cleaned of scarlet-fever contamination.)

williams: The room was to be disinfected,

theula whu lopia mua nuwera nua to wile shelu nela wilemo se na thape.

UNIV REL child LOC bed COM PST play book COORD toy PASS NEC burn.

(All the books and toys the child had played with in bed must be burned.)

williams: and all the books and toys that the Boy had played with in bed must be burnt.

thiku tupiwa sha hoi. wireo philo lo mia kau moriwhe kerime so wepu sho to remo.

small rabbit QUOT.COMP onward. future day PL 1SG ALL sea shore FUT go QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST think.

(The little rabbit thought: "Hurrah! Tomorrow we go to the seashore!")

williams: "Hurrah!" thought the little Rabbit. "To-morrow we shall go to the seaside!"

lopia sheloi shemu moriwhe kerime to haolu.

child MANY moment sea shore PST speak.

(For the child had often talked of the seashore.)

williams: For the boy had often talked of the seaside,

tupiwa tha miso lo whu shua whalo morilu nila tho to wilao.

rabbit DECL.COMP REFL PL REL come large wave see DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST long-for.

(The rabbit longed to see the big waves that come rolling in.)

williams: and he wanted very much to see the big waves coming in,

shia we lo ru thiku moriwhe limoe nela lo kirua womu nila to wilao.

3SG ALSO PL INTS small sea creature COORD PL sand home see PST long-for.

(He longed to see the tiny sea-creatures too, and the sand houses.)

williams: and the tiny crabs, and the sand castles.

mua ha shemu tholu woru shia to nila.

LOC PROX moment space keeper 3SG PST see.

(Just then the keeper caught sight of him.)

williams: Just then Nana caught sight of him.

shia sha shia serao tupiwa thela nai sho to thilou.

3SG QUOT.COMP 3SG old rabbit how be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST inquire.

(She asked: "And his old rabbit, how of him?")

williams: "How about his old Bunny?" she asked.

whu theala miona sha wa ha sho to thilou.

REL heal person QUOT.COMP Q PROX QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST inquire.

(The healer said: "That?")

williams: "That?" said the doctor.

sha ha sheloi rulo suloru hisophi phelu sho to haolu.

QUOT.COMP PROX MANY red fever contaminant hold QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("It holds a mass of scarlet-fever contamination!")

williams: "Why, it's a mass of scarlet fever germs!-

sha no ha nosa thape sho to haolu.

QUOT.COMP IMP PROX now burn QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("Burn it at once.")

williams: Burn it at once.

sha hina. tawimo haolu. no wei shia ta newu tupiwa loa sho to haolu.

QUOT.COMP what. foolish speak. IMP DAT 3SG one new rabbit give QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("What? Foolish talk! Give him a new one.")

williams: What? Nonsense! Get him a new one.

sha shia ha mawha thimu na ma phelu sho to haolu.

QUOT.COMP 3SG PROX NONE time NEC NEG hold QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("He must never have that again!")

williams: He mustn't have that any more!"

lirupaThe sack

thiku tupiwa nua lo serao kire shelu nela sheloi whemori muo ta lirupa to se pesa.

small rabbit COM PL old shape book COORD MANY waste INTO one bag PST PASS push.

(The little rabbit was put into a sack with the old picture-books and a great deal of rubbish.)

williams: And so the little Rabbit was put into a sack with the old picture-books and a lot of rubbish,

shia kau thepalu lumae noe pelori womu to se kolua.

3SG ALL garden end BEHIND bird home PST PASS carry.

(He was carried out to the garden's end, behind the bird-house.)

williams: and carried out to the end of the garden behind the fowl-house.

ha wei whalo thero welao lokue to nai.

PROX DAT large fire good place PST be.

(That was a good place for a great fire.)

williams: That was a fine place to make a bonfire,

whekai thepalu woru mua ha shemu sheloi riporu to phelu. thelao shia thero to po ma pilewa.

CONTR garden keeper LOC PROX moment MANY task PST hold. CONS 3SG fire PST POT NEG make.

(But the garden's keeper had many tasks just then, and so he could not make the fire.)

williams: only the gardener was too busy just then to attend to it.

shia lo tumeki nuora na muholi. shia lo liro thinoe na muraki.

3SG PL root food NEC dig. 3SG PL green seed NEC harvest.

(He had the root-foods to dig, and the green seeds to gather.)

williams: He had the potatoes to dig and the green peas to gather,

whekai shia tha wireo kelua thorui shia so shua nela shia theula ha so thape tho to seru.

CONTR 3SG DECL.COMP future morning beginning 3SG FUT come COORD 3SG UNIV PROX FUT burn DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST commit.

(But he promised to come early the next morning and burn all of it.)

williams: but next morning he promised to come quite early and burn the whole lot.

ha shero lopia mua phirae tholu to nulae.

PROX night child LOC different space PST sleep.

(That night the child slept in a different room.)

williams: That night the Boy slept in a different bedroom,

ta newu tupiwa nua shia to nulae.

one new rabbit COM 3SG PST sleep.

(A new rabbit slept with him.)

williams: and he had a new bunny to sleep with him.

ha ru horae tupiwa to nai. shia theula whilo wuloe liru to nai. shia mirae shewo phielo to nai.

PROX INTS radiant rabbit PST be. 3SG UNIV white soft fabric PST be. 3SG eye true glass PST be.

(It was a truly splendid rabbit, all white soft fabric, its eyes real glass.)

williams: It was a splendid bunny, all white plush with real glass eyes,

whekai lopia wo rashowe to nai. thelao shia ha to po ma ru theonu.

CONTR child EXC excited PST be. CONS 3SG PROX PST POT NEG INTS attend.

(But the child was too excited, and so he could not attend to it very much.)

williams: but the Boy was too excited to care very much about it.

lao wireo philo shia kau moriwhe kerime so wepu ha ru waora thena to nai.

BECAUSE future day 3SG ALL sea shore FUT go PROX INTS wondrous thing PST be.

(For tomorrow he was going to the seashore, and that itself was so wondrous a thing.)

williams: For to-morrow he was going to the seaside, and that in itself was such a wonderful thing

shia mawha phirae thena to po remo.

3SG NONE different thing PST POT think.

(That he could think of nothing else.)

williams: that he could think of nothing else.

lopia to nulae. shia moriwhe kerime to whemura.

child PST sleep. 3SG sea shore PST dream.

(The child slept, dreaming of the seashore.)

williams: And while the Boy was asleep, dreaming of the seaside,

thiku tupiwa mua shuna noe pelori womu thoa lo serao kire shelu to ruemi.

small rabbit LOC edge BEHIND bird home AMONG PL old shape book PST lie down.

(The little rabbit lay among the old picture-books, in the corner behind the bird-house.)

williams: the little Rabbit lay among the old picture-books in the corner behind the fowl-house,

shia ru sonu nuhe to phaelo.

3SG INTS alone sadness PST feel.

(And he felt very lonely.)

williams: and he felt very lonely.

lirupa to se ma tiwa.

bag PST PASS NEG tie.

(The sack had been left untied.)

williams: The sack had been left untied,

thelao shia miso to thiku roke. shia koma thue phae to wepu.

CONS 3SG REFL PST small move. 3SG head THROUGH open PST go.

(So by small movements of himself, his head went through the opening.)

williams: and so by wriggling a bit he was able to get his head through the opening

shia mue lirupa to nila.

3SG OUT.OF bag PST see.

(And he looked out.)

williams: and look out.

shia to la tiripe.

3SG PST ATTEN quiver.

(He was shivering a little.)

williams: He was shivering a little,

mua shewo nuwera nulae shia keno to nai.

LOC true bed sleep 3SG custom PST be.

(For sleeping in a proper bed had always been his custom.)

williams: for he had always been used to sleeping in a proper bed,

nosa shia nolika whila lue lomare to ki rohemi. shia ru lemi to ki kelu.

now 3SG animal hair ABL embrace PST PFV wear down. 3SG INTS thin PST PFV become.

(By now his coat had worn down from hugging and had become very thin.)

williams: and by this time his coat had worn so thin and threadbare from hugging

thelao shia tupiwa to te sulae ka kelu.

CONS 3SG rabbit PST CESS warm CAUS become.

(So that it no longer kept him warm.)

williams: that it was no longer any protection to him.

pai shia lo mirulo loremi to nai.

NEAR 3SG PL berry branch PST be.

(Near him were the berry canes.)

williams: Near by he could see the thicket of raspberry canes,

lo shia to raelu thuroa. lo shia phea nulo shelira noshi to whano.

PL 3SG PST tall grow. PL 3SG AS deep forest near PST stand.

(They grew tall, and stood close together like a deep jungle.)

williams: growing tall and close like a tropical jungle,

mua lo shia shomelu tupiwa nua lopia mua lo luera kelua to ki wile.

LOC PL 3SG shadow rabbit COM child LOC PL past morning PST PFV play.

(In their shadow he had played with the child on bygone mornings.)

williams: in whose shadow he had played with the Boy on bygone mornings.

shia mua thepalu lo laeno sileta shemu to remo.

3SG LOC garden PL long sun moment PST think.

(He thought of those long sun-lit hours in the garden.)

williams: He thought of those long sunlit hours in the garden-

lo shia ru loshi to nai.

PL 3SG INTS joyful PST be.

(How joyful they had been.)

williams: how happy they were-

ta whalo nuhe kau shia to shua.

one large sadness ALL 3SG PST come.

(And a great sadness came over him.)

williams: and a great sadness came over him.

shia tha theula ha shemu neo miso wepu tho to ho nila.

3SG DECL.COMP UNIV PROX moment FRONT REFL go DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST ASSUM see.

(He seemed to see all those hours pass before him.)

williams: He seemed to see them all pass before him,

theula sheo phirae mo mioru to nai.

UNIV THAN different CMPR beautiful PST be.

(Each more beautiful than the last.)

williams: each more beautiful than the other,

shia mua peloru muila lo whekelu womu to nila.

3SG LOC flower earth PL magic home PST see.

(He saw the magic houses in the flower-bed.)

williams: the fairy huts in the flower-bed,

shia mua shelira lo maeli howai to nila.

3SG LOC forest PL quiet evening PST see.

(He saw the quiet evenings in the wood.)

williams: the quiet evenings in the wood

mua ha lo howai shia thoa phero to ruemi. lo thiku nireku nia shia paloi to rashelo.

LOC PROX PL evening 3SG AMONG fern PST lie down. PL small insect ON 3SG foot PST run.

(In those evenings he lay in the bracken, and the little insects ran over his paws.)

williams: when he lay in the bracken and the little ants ran over his paws;

shia whu shia nu ta shemu tha miso shewo nai tho sano waora philo to nila.

3SG REL 3SG ORD one moment DECL.COMP REFL true be DECL.COMP.CLOSE know wondrous day PST see.

(And he saw the wondrous day when he first knew that he was Real.)

williams: the wonderful day when he first knew that he was Real.

shia ru phue nela moli kori kalora to remo.

3SG INTS wise COORD gentle leather horse PST think.

(He thought of the Leather Horse, so wise and gentle.)

williams: He thought of the Skin Horse, so wise and gentle,

shia theula kori kalora haolu to remo.

3SG UNIV leather horse speak PST think.

(And of all that the horse had told him.)

williams: and all that he had told him.

lu theula thena lumae phea ha nai. lothea nela mioru lepa nela shewo kelu wei hina nai.

COND UNIV thing end AS PROX be. love COORD beautiful fall COORD true become DAT what be.

(If the end of it all is like this, for what is the loving, and the falling of beauty, and the becoming Real?)

williams: Of what use was it to be loved and lose one's beauty and become Real if it all ended like this?

shia thiku wuloe nophae to ki rohemi. ta mirae phialu nia shia nophae to mulu wepu.

3SG small soft nose PST PFV wear down. one eye water ON 3SG nose PST low go.

(His little velvet nose had worn down, and a tear trickled over it.)

williams: And a tear, ... trickled down his little shabby velvet nose

ha shewo mirae phialu to nai.

PROX true eye water PST be.

(It was a real tear.)

williams: a real tear,

shia kau muila to lepa.

3SG ALL earth PST fall.

(And it fell to the ground.)

williams: and fell to the ground.

whekelu peloruThe magic flower

pheo thena ta kuewa thena to kelu.

POST thing one strange thing PST become.

(And then a strange thing happened.)

williams: And then a strange thing happened.

mua whu mirae phialu to lepa lokue ta peloru lue muila to thuroa.

LOC REL eye water PST fall place one flower ABL earth PST grow.

(In the place where the tear had fallen, a flower grew out of the ground.)

williams: For where the tear had fallen a flower grew out of the ground,

ha kuewa peloru to nai. shia phea mawha whu mua thepalu thuroa peloru to nai.

PROX strange flower PST be. 3SG AS NONE REL LOC garden grow flower PST be.

(It was a strange flower, like none that grew in the garden.)

williams: a mysterious flower, not at all like any that grew in the garden.

shia lo lemi liro lirowa to phelu.

3SG PL thin green leaf PST hold.

(It held slender green leaves.)

williams: It had slender green leaves

lo shia phea keru liro kerou to nai.

PL 3SG AS bright green stone PST be.

(Their color was of bright green stones.)

williams: the colour of emeralds,

mua lirowa kesho ta phirali phea solai soeli to nai.

LOC leaf middle one blossom AS gold cup PST be.

(And in the middle of the leaves was a blossom like a golden cup.)

williams: and in the centre of the leaves a blossom like a golden cup.

shia ru mioru to nai. thelao thiku tupiwa nuhewa to sahu.

3SG INTS beautiful PST be. CONS small rabbit weep PST forget.

(It was so beautiful that the little rabbit forgot to weep.)

williams: It was so beautiful that the little Rabbit forgot to cry,

shia li to ruemi. shia ha to laeno nila.

3SG RESTR PST lie down. 3SG PROX PST long see.

(He simply lay there, watching it.)

williams: and just lay there watching it.

pheo soli shemu phirali to phae.

POST SOME moment blossom PST open.

(And presently the blossom opened.)

williams: And presently the blossom opened,

lue shia ta whekelu miona to shua.

ABL 3SG one magic person PST come.

(And out of it came a magic person.)

williams: and out of it there stepped a fairy.

shia mua theula muila mo ko mioru whekelu miona to nai.

3SG LOC UNIV earth CMPR FOC beautiful magic person PST be.

(She was the most beautiful magic person in the whole world.)

williams: She was quite the loveliest fairy in the whole world.

shia wethalu moriwhe kerou nela suilo to nai.

3SG garment sea stone COORD dew PST be.

(Her garment was of sea-stones and dew-drops.)

williams: Her dress was of pearl and dew-drops,

roa shia nolue nela mua shia whila lo peloru to nai.

AROUND 3SG neck COORD LOC 3SG hair PL flower PST be.

(There were flowers around her neck and in her hair.)

williams: and there were flowers round her neck and in her hair,

shia menoa phea mo ko seroli peloru to nai.

3SG face AS CMPR FOC mature flower PST be.

(And her face was like the most fully-opened flower of all.)

williams: and her face was like the most perfect flower of all.

shia kau thiku tupiwa to shua. shia muo miso pelio tupiwa to howela.

3SG ALL small rabbit PST come. 3SG INTO REFL arm rabbit PST receive.

(She came to the little rabbit, and gathered him up into her arms.)

williams: And she came close to the little Rabbit and gathered him up in her arms

shia lue nuhewa wirua wuloe wetha nophae to phimela.

3SG ABL weep wet soft cloth nose PST kiss.

(And she kissed his velveteen nose, all wet from weeping.)

williams: and kissed him on his velveteen nose that was all damp from crying.

shia sha kona thiku tupiwa. wa thia mia sua nai ma sano sho to haolu.

3SG QUOT.COMP VOC small rabbit. Q 2SG 1SG who be NEG know QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(She said: "Little rabbit, do you not know who I am?")

williams: "Little Rabbit," she said, "don't you know who I am?"

tupiwa wea shia to nila.

rabbit TOWARD 3SG PST see.

(The rabbit looked up at her.)

williams: The Rabbit looked up at her,

shia tha miso mua luera shia menoa nila tho to ho remo.

3SG DECL.COMP REFL LOC past 3SG face see DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST ASSUM think.

(It seemed to him that he had seen her face somewhere in the past.)

williams: and it seemed to him that he had seen her face before,

whekai shia kua to po ma halemu.

CONTR 3SG where PST POT NEG remember.

(But he could not remember where.)

williams: but he couldn't think where.

shia sha mia lopia tholu whekelu miona nai sho to haolu.

3SG QUOT.COMP 1SG child space magic person be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(She said: "I am the nursery magic person.")

williams: "I am the nursery magic Fairy," she said.

sha mia theula whu lo lopia ki lothea wilemo woru nai sho to haolu.

QUOT.COMP 1SG UNIV REL PL child PFV love toy keeper be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("I am the keeper of all the toys that children have loved.")

williams: "I take care of all the playthings that the children have loved.

sha lu lo shia serao kelu nela rohemi nela lo lopia lo shia mawha thimu phelona. mia shua. mia nua mia lo shia kolua. mia lo shia shewo ka kelu sho to haolu.

QUOT.COMP COND PL 3SG old become COORD wear down COORD PL child PL 3SG NONE time require. 1SG come. 1SG COM 1SG PL 3SG carry. 1SG PL 3SG true CAUS become QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("When they grow old and worn, and the children no longer need them, I come. I carry them away with me, and I turn them into Real.")

williams: When they are old and worn out and the children don't need them any more, then I come and take them away with me and turn them into Real."

thiku tupiwa sha wa mia mua luera shewo ma nai sho to thilou.

small rabbit QUOT.COMP Q 1SG LOC past true NEG be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST inquire.

(The little rabbit asked: "Was I not Real before?")

williams: "Wasn't I Real before?" asked the little Rabbit.

whekelu miona sha lao shia thia to lothea thia wei lopia shewo to nai sho to haolu.

magic person QUOT.COMP BECAUSE 3SG 2SG PST love 2SG DAT child true PST be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(The magic person said: "Because he loved you, you were Real to the child.")

williams: "You were Real to the Boy," the Fairy said, "because he loved you.

sha nosa thia wei theula miona shewo so nai sho to haolu.

QUOT.COMP now 2SG DAT UNIV person true FUT be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("Now you shall be Real to everyone.")

williams: Now you shall be Real to every one."

sheliraInto the wood

shia mua miso pelio thiku tupiwa to noshi phelu. shia nua shia muo shelira to wapi.

3SG LOC REFL arm small rabbit PST near hold. 3SG COM 3SG INTO forest PST fly.

(She held the little rabbit close in her arms, and flew with him into the wood.)

williams: And she held the little Rabbit close in her arms and flew with him into the wood.

lao lunei to ki shua shero keru to nai.

BECAUSE moon PST PFV come night bright PST be.

(Because the moon had risen, the night was bright.)

williams: It was light now, for the moon had risen.

theula shelira mioru to nai.

UNIV forest beautiful PST be.

(All the forest was beautiful.)

williams: All the forest was beautiful,

lo phero phea theriko shioli to keru loa.

PL fern AS frost silver PST bright give.

(And the fronds of the bracken shone like frost-silver.)

williams: and the fronds of the bracken shone like frosted silver.

mua shelira pelowa thei lo shiro lo waeshi tupiwa nua lo miso shomelu nia wuloe whelina to rotiku.

LOC forest meadow BETWEEN PL tree PL wild rabbit COM PL REFL shadow ON soft grass PST dance.

(In the forest's meadow between the trees, the wild rabbits danced with their own shadows on the velvet grass.)

williams: In the open glade between the tree-trunks the wild rabbits danced with their shadows on the velvet grass,

lu whekai lo shia whekelu miona nila. lo shia to te rotiku.

COND CONTR PL 3SG magic person see. PL 3SG PST CESS dance.

(But when they saw the magic person, they all ceased dancing.)

williams: but when they saw the Fairy they all stopped dancing

lo shia mua sorui to whano. lo shia shia to laeno nila.

PL 3SG LOC circle PST stand. PL 3SG 3SG PST long see.

(They stood in a ring, and stared at her.)

williams: and stood round in a ring to stare at her.

whekelu miona sha mia wei lo thia ta newu wile melu ki thola sho to haolu.

magic person QUOT.COMP 1SG DAT PL 2SG one new play friend PFV bring QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(The magic person said: "I have brought you a new play-friend.")

williams: "I've brought you a new playfellow," the Fairy said.

sha no wei shia ru phena nai sho to haolu.

QUOT.COMP IMP DAT 3SG INTS kind be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("Be very kind to him.")

williams: "You must be very kind to him

sha no wei shia theula whu shia mua tupiwa muila na sano thena thumela sho to haolu.

QUOT.COMP IMP DAT 3SG UNIV REL 3SG LOC rabbit earth NEC know thing teach QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("Teach him all the things he must know in rabbit-land.")

williams: and teach him all he needs to know in Rabbit-land,

sha shia nua lo thia theula thimu so liona sho to haolu.

QUOT.COMP 3SG COM PL 2SG UNIV time FUT live QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

("He is going to live with you for ever and ever!")

williams: for he is going to live with you for ever and ever!"

shia nu wi shemu thiku tupiwa to phimela. shia nia whelina tupiwa to loa.

3SG ORD two moment small rabbit PST kiss. 3SG ON grass rabbit PST give.

(She kissed the little rabbit a second time, and set him down on the grass.)

williams: And she kissed the little Rabbit again and put him down on the grass.

shia sha kona thiku tupiwa. no rashelo. no wile sho to haolu.

3SG QUOT.COMP VOC small rabbit. IMP run. IMP play QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(She said: "Little rabbit! Run, and play!")

williams: "Run and play, little Rabbit!" she said.

whekai thiku tupiwa ta shemu to ru moesha meilo. shia to ma roke.

CONTR small rabbit one moment PST INTS still sit. 3SG PST NEG move.

(But for a moment the little rabbit sat quite still, and never moved.)

williams: But the little Rabbit sat quite still for a moment and never moved.

lu shia tha theula waeshi tupiwa roa miso rotiku tho nila. shia miso rokai tolae to reshi halemu.

COND 3SG DECL.COMP UNIV wild rabbit AROUND REFL dance DECL.COMP.CLOSE see. 3SG REFL back leg PST fast remember.

(When he saw all the wild rabbits dancing around him, he suddenly remembered his hind legs.)

williams: For when he saw all the wild rabbits dancing around him he suddenly remembered about his hind legs,

shia tha lo shia miso ta thena kire nila tho to ma rinu.

3SG DECL.COMP PL 3SG REFL one thing shape see DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST NEG want.

(He did not want them to see his made-in-one-piece shape.)

williams: and he didn't want them to see that he was made all in one piece.

shia tha whekelu miona roe lumae phimela miso ru ka helui tho to ma sano.

3SG DECL.COMP magic person INS end kiss REFL INTS CAUS change DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST NEG know.

(He did not know that with that last kiss the magic person had changed him altogether.)

williams: He did not know that when the Fairy kissed him that last time she had changed him altogether.

shia wo nilua to nai. lu he shia mua nophae sikoru to ma phaelo. shia sui laeno thimu po meilo.

3SG EXC shy PST be. COND IRR 3SG LOC nose itch PST NEG feel. 3SG DUR long time POT sit.

(He was too shy. If he had not felt an itch on his nose, he might have sat there a long time.)

williams: And he might have sat there a long time, too shy to move, if just then something hadn't tickled his nose,

phoe remo shia roe miso rokai paloi thumai miso nophae to rohi.

ANT think 3SG INS REFL back foot finger REFL nose PST rub.

(And before any thought, he was rubbing his nose with a hind toe.)

williams: and before he thought what he was doing he lifted his hind toe to scratch it.

shia tha miso hi rokai tolae phelu tho to hekawi.

3SG DECL.COMP REFL DIR back leg hold DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST find.

(He found that he really did have hind legs!)

williams: And he found that he actually had hind legs!

shia serao wuloe wetha to te phelu.

3SG old soft cloth PST CESS hold.

(The old velveteen was gone from him.)

williams: Instead of dingy velveteen

shia wuloe nela keru mureli nolika whila to phelu.

3SG soft COORD bright brown animal hair PST hold.

(He held brown fur, soft and shining.)

williams: he had brown fur, soft and shiny,

shia shonui miso to tiripe.

3SG ear REFL PST quiver.

(His ears twitched by themselves.)

williams: his ears twitched by themselves,

shia menoa whila ru laeno to nai. lo shia whelina to palo.

3SG face hair INTS long PST be. PL 3SG grass PST touch.

(His whiskers were so long that they brushed the grass.)

williams: and his whiskers were so long that they brushed the grass.

shia ta tupi to tupi.

3SG one jump PST jump.

(He gave one leap.)

williams: He gave one leap

rokai tolae siora ru whalo to nai.

back leg joy INTS large PST be.

(And the joy of those hind legs was so great.)

williams: and the joy of using those hind legs was so great

thelao shia nia whelina to reshi tupi.

CONS 3SG ON grass PST fast jump.

(That he went springing about the turf.)

williams: that he went springing about the turf on them,

shia phea lo phirae tupiwa roa miso to rato.

3SG AS PL different rabbit AROUND REFL PST turn.

(He whirled around, as the other rabbits did.)

williams: jumping sideways and whirling round as the others did,

shia ru rashowe to kelu.

3SG INTS excited PST become.

(He grew so excited.)

williams: and he grew so excited

pheo laeno shemu shia to te tupi. shia whekelu miona to sheraki.

POST long moment 3SG PST CESS jump. 3SG magic person PST search.

(At long last he stopped jumping and looked for the magic person.)

williams: that when at last he did stop to look for the Fairy

whekai shia to ki wepu.

CONTR 3SG PST PFV go.

(But she had gone.)

williams: she had gone.

shia pheo laeno shemu shewo tupiwa to nai. shia nua lo phirae tupiwa mua womu to nai.

3SG POST long moment true rabbit PST be. 3SG COM PL different rabbit LOC home PST be.

(He was a Real rabbit at last, at home with the other rabbits.)

williams: He was a Real Rabbit at last, at home with the other rabbits.

lumaeThe return

muero to wepu. shila we to wepu.

autumn PST go. winter ALSO PST go.

(Autumn passed, and winter too.)

williams: Autumn passed and Winter,

mua wirae lo philo sulae nela keru to kelu.

LOC spring PL day warm COORD bright PST become.

(In the spring the days grew warm and bright.)

williams: and in the Spring, when the days grew warm and sunny,

lopia wei wile kau noe womu shelira to wepu.

child DAT play ALL BEHIND home forest PST go.

(The child went out to the wood behind the house, to play.)

williams: the Boy went out to play in the wood behind the house.

sui shia wile wi tupiwa mue phero to maeli shua.

DUR 3SG play two rabbit OUT.OF fern PST quiet come.

(While he played, two rabbits came creeping out of the bracken.)

williams: And while he was playing, two rabbits crept out from the bracken

lo shia shia to maeli nila.

PL 3SG 3SG PST quiet see.

(They watched him quietly.)

williams: and peeped at him.

ta shia theula mureli to nai.

one 3SG UNIV brown PST be.

(One of them was brown all over.)

williams: One of them was brown all over,

whekai phirae shia phou whila lo kuewa piloe to phelu.

CONTR different 3SG BELOW hair PL strange spot PST hold.

(But the other held strange markings under his fur.)

williams: but the other had strange markings under his fur,

mua nulo luera shia lo piloe to ho howela.

LOC deep past 3SG PL spot PST ASSUM receive.

(As though in the deep past he had been given spots.)

williams: as though long ago he had been spotted,

lo piloe nosa we thue whila to se nila.

PL spot now ALSO THROUGH hair PST PASS see.

(And the spots still showed through the fur.)

williams: and the spots still showed through.

roa shia thiku wuloe nophae nela shia nuko mirae ta sano thena to nai.

AROUND 3SG small soft nose COORD 3SG black eye one know thing PST be.

(About his little soft nose and his black eyes there was a known thing.)

williams: And about his little soft nose and his round black eyes there was something familiar,

lopia wei miso sha wao. shia phea whu mua mia rulo suloru shemu lue mia wepu mia serao tupiwa nai sho to haolu.

child DAT REFL QUOT.COMP wow. 3SG AS REL LOC 1SG red fever moment ABL 1SG go 1SG old rabbit be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.

(The child said to himself: "Why, he looks just like my old rabbit, the one that went from me when I had scarlet fever!")

williams: so that the Boy thought to himself: "Why, he looks just like my old Bunny that was lost when I had scarlet fever!"

whekai shia tha ha hi miso tupiwa nai tho mawha thimu to sano.

CONTR 3SG DECL.COMP PROX DIR REFL rabbit be DECL.COMP.CLOSE NONE time PST know.

(But he never knew that it truly was his own rabbit.)

williams: But he never knew that it really was his own Bunny,

tupiwa wei whu mua nu ta shemu tupiwa shewo kelu to naphe lopia nila to turema.

rabbit DAT REL LOC ORD one moment rabbit true become PST help child see PST return.

(The rabbit had come back to look at the child who had first helped him become Real.)

williams: come back to look at the child who had first helped him to be Real.

What the transmutation changed

Gap log, coined roots: magic → whekelu; strange → kuewa; wondrous → waora; kiss → phimela; whisper → whishela; quiver, twitch, shiver, and flutter → tiripe; spot → piloe; butterfly → phiwapi; berry → mirulo; mouse → misuki; nestle → numea; break → pukate. These twelve roots recur across the story rather than solving one sentence each.

The material world still composes where the parts teach something useful. Velveteen is wuloe wetha, sawdust is wolea muhena, Christmas is shila holia, and the Skin Horse is kori kalora. The stocking becomes lopia paloi wethalu; holly is shila liro loremi; nuts and oranges are kinds of lureko, fruit. A mainspring is keli korua, a bead necklace is nolue kerou, a wheelbarrow is manuwe rolutha, and a picture-book is kire shelu. Sand castles, emeralds, pearls, and glades also keep transparent compounds. Household vocabulary now names komalu (pillow), wethamo (blanket), lirupa (bag or sack), and phelasi (shelf) directly. whemori names the rubbish as waste, while liru avoids claiming that plush is wool. The Medical module supplies rulo suloru for scarlet fever and rulo suloru hisophi for its contamination.

The social changes are deliberate. Expensive toys become toys that people value more, which preserves nursery rank without inventing a price. Aunts and Uncles become kinfolk; the remembered Uncle is a family elder. Williams still calls the disabled makers soldiers in the citation, while Phi calls them lo sowelu miona, disabled people. Government becomes whalo punoki, the great institution, and the lion merely claims membership in it. Brigand-play is kawhera wile, coercion-play. Tidying still brings korua thero, heart-fire, because Phi composes both anger and hatred from that heat. Nana is the nursery's keeper. Timothy is the wooden great-cat, and the Fairy is whekelu miona, the magic person. shewo, Real, is defined by the Skin Horse and confirmed by the coda's hi: the wild rabbit truly is the child's old companion.