Senjecas - Chapter 1b - The Visit
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Pronunciation table
(labial) |
riisűko (dental) |
muitűko (alveolar) |
vainűko (palatal) |
ṡ̨uuše̋nos (vowels with प) |
nı̋þo ṡ̨uuše̋nos (weak vowels) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| b | f | v | m̃ | m | t | d | þ | ð | ɫ | l | ṡ | ż | s | z | r | n | k | g | x | ƣ | h | ȝ | š | s̨ | i | e | a | ɔ | o | u | ĭ | ĕ | ŭ | |||||||||||||
| ब | फ | भ | म़ | म | त | द | थ | ध | ल़ | ल | च | ज | स | स़ | र | न | क | ग | क़ | ग़ | ह | य | स्व | स्य | इ ई पि पी |
ए एै पे पै |
अ आ प पा |
ऒ ॵ पॊ पॏ |
ओ औ पो पौ |
उ ऊ पु पू |
पं | पऺ | पॅ | |||||||||||||
| /p/ | /b/ | /ɸ/ | /β/ | /m̥/ | /m/ | /t/ | /d/ | /θ/ | /ð/ | /l̥/ | /l/ | /ʦ/ | /ʣ/ | /s/ | /z/ | /ɾ̥/ | /n/ | /k/ | /g/ | /ç/ | /ʝ/ | /j̊/ | /j/ | /sʷ/ | /sʲ/ | /i/ | /e/ | /ä/ | /ɒ/ | /o/ | /u/ | /ɪ/ | /ɛ/ | /ʊ/ | ||||||||||||
Glossing abbreviations
| 1s/p = 1st person singular/plural | ABL = ablative suffix | COL = collective | F = feminine | INT = intensive prefix | PRV = privative prefix | SUP = supine |
| 2s/p = 2nd person singular/plural | ABS = absolutive (an unmarked modifying adjective) | DES = desiderative | FRQ = frequentative | LAT = lative suffix | PST = past | TRZ = transitivizer |
| 3 = 3rd person | ADV = adverb | DIM = diminutive | FUT = future | LOC = locative suffix | REV = reversive | VOC = vocative particle |
| A(.s/p) = accusative (singular/plural) | AG = agent | ELIS = elision | IMP = imperative | M = masculine | Q = interrogative particle | YNG = young |
| G(.s/p) = genitive (singular/plural) | AP = agent (active) participle | ELT = elative | INC = inchoative | OCC = occupation suffix | QUOT = direct quotation | |
| N(.s/p) = nominative (singular/plural) | AUG = augmentative | EP = epenthesis | IND = indicative | PP = patient (past) participle | RPR = recent perfective | |
| V(.s/p) = vocative (singular/plural) | CAUS = causative | EQU = equative degree | INS = instrument | PRF = perfect | SBJ = subjunctive |
Text
- The topmost branches brushed against the vault of the sky
- and the roots drew water from the rivers of the underworld.
- He guided the animal into the shade of the great tree
- for the sun was approaching the midpoint of his journey.
- Dismounting without effort he gently lifted her to the ground.
- It was only when he stood upon the ground that his height was apparent to her.
- Although he looked like the men of her People there was a difference.
- He was a head and then some taller than Damvelu who was himself tall among the men.
- His hair was lighter than that of the men, seeming to lay about his head and shoulders like the clouds in the sky.
- And his eyes! Among the People all but she had blue eyes, yet none were so blue as his.
- To look into his eyes was to see the sky in the light of the overhead sun.
- She could not tear her sight away even though her neck had begun to ache.
- "Do you know who I am, Talma?"
- "No, Father, I do not; nor have I ever seen an animal such as yours, of such beauty and strength and speed.
- The bulls of Damvelu's herds are strong indeed, but could never match the strength of this golden animal."
- "Truly do you call me Father for I am Numta, the Sky Father.
- And you are truly named Talma, for you will be the instrument of life to all People
- as you gave life to that ewe and her lambs.
- No longer will you be called Thunkozu."
- He picked her up in his arms as if she were a newborn lamb and set her at the base of the great tree.
- Gently he lay down beside her, not like Damvelu in his loving but rough way,
- yet at the moment she was aware only of the blueness of his eyes
- and felt herself to be in flight in the blue sky
- as she had often imagined when watching the eagle vanish into that blue expanse.
- And as the light of the overhead sun filtered through the leaves of the ash, she felt life begin within her.
- When she returned to herself he lifted her up and placed her once again on the golden animal and lightly mounted behind her.
- Without a word, the animal leapt away, swift as the wind, toward the village.
- This time there was no fear in her breast as they sped along,
- and she allowed herself to relax against his strength.
- As they rode he said to her, "That which has passed between us, sister-wife, shall be our secret.
- Tonight you will lie with Damvelu to complete that which we two have begun."
- They arrived at the village in less time than she could have walked from the pasture.
- The People were in an uproar, having seen them approaching from a distance.
- The animal stopped unbidden in front of the kurgan of Damvelu, who was just emerging.
- His eyes darted from animal to rider and back again but, when the rider gently lowered Talma to the ground,
- he managed to look him in the eyes and say, "Welcome, traveler, to our village.
- Will you stay with us this night?"
- "I thank you, Damvelu, for your kindness but I will continue on today," he replied.
- And to her he said, "Do not forget what I told you and I will return."
- With that he wheeled the animal around, which caused the People to scatter in four directions,
- and sped off as if he would catch up with the setting sun.
- With mouth agape, Damvelu watched him disappear,
- then turned to Talma and asked, "What did he tell you? What is his name?"
- "I do not know how he is called, Damvelu, but he did tell me to care for you as a good wife should."
- And she absentmindedly took hold of his hand.
- That night they lay together, Damvelu and Talma.
- In the merciful darkness she could not see him
- and in her mind she was once again under the great ash tree.
- For the second time in her life she felt life begin within her.
- And a stray moonbeam came prying through a crack in the door of the kurgan.
