Urmi, Christian: The Snake’s Dilemma

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Transcribed by	Source	Speakers	Place
Geoffrey Khan	Khan, Geoffrey. The Neo-Aramaic Dialect of the Assyrian Christians of Urmi. 4 vols. Studies in Semitic Languages and Linguistics 86. Leiden-Boston: Brill, 2016, vol. 4	Arsen Mikhaylov	Arzni, Armenia

	Transcription	Translation
0:00	xá ʾurxàči,ˈ ⁺bar-nàša,ˈ váyələ ʾùrxa bərrə́xša.ˈ ʾú mən-də́pnət méša ⁺vàrtuˈ pacúrəl k̭at-nùra ⁺bəlláyələˈ ʾu-méša bək̭yàdəl.ˈ ʾu-pacúrəl xa-ʾilána ⁺ràmaˈ ⁺ʾállu čríxəl xùvvaˈ mən-nùra rík̭əlˈ xùvva,ˈ mən-núra mən-⁺ʾúltux rìk̭əl,ˈ purtə́lləl l-ilàna,ˈ l-rìšu cə́lyəl.ˈ ʾilána꞊da mən-xútu bək̭yàdəl.ˈ ʾu-zúltu ⁺pašùṱulə,ˈ p̂-ídu váyəl k̭èsa,ˈ p̂-ī́d ⁺bar-nàša.ˈ ⁺pašúṱo l-ʾo-xúvva màraˈ ta-⁺slìˈ park̭ə̀nnux.ˈ xúvva bi-k̭ésa ⁺bəsláyəl mən-ʾídət ⁺bar-nàšaˈ ʾu-carmúxəl b-k̭dàlu.ˈ čarmúxələ l-k̭dàluˈ mára ʾádi bət-⁺nesə̀nnux.ˈ mára k̭a-but-mú ⁺byayət ⁺nesə̀tti?ˈ lá ʾána k̭átux purə̀k̭li mə́n …ˈ k̭yàda?ˈ mən-nùyra purə́k̭li k̭àtux.ˈ ⁺bar-náša márəl k̭a-xùvva.ˈ mára k̭a-díyyan mìrənaˈ ʾáxnan ⁺bəddàyaxˈ ʾána꞊da xúvva ⁺bəddàyənˈ k̭át ⁺bar-náša mən-cúllə xə́rba mə̀ndilə.ˈ ʾícət xzìlux ⁺támaˈ ɟárəc ⁺nesə̀ttə.ˈ ⁺bar-náša ⁺rába xə́rba ʾu-pī̀sˈ ɟu-da-brìta.ˈ ʾìtarˈ ⁺bar-náša màraˈ yála ⁺xlàpux ʾávən,ˈ ⁺ʾáxər ʾátxa lèlaˈ ⁺k̭áydət dùnyə.ˈ ⁺ʾáxər ʾána k̭a-díyyux xáyyux purk̭éli mən-nùyra.ˈ ʾá ⁺rába nonúyəl bí xúvva k̭at-lá ⁺nā̀slə.ˈ mára ⁺spàyˈ ʾən-lḗt hammúnə ⁺ʾàlli,ˈ xùvva mára,ˈ tá-⁺bák̭rax xa-mən-⁺ṱlàˈ … nā̀š,ˈ mən-xà-naša,ˈ trè-nāšˈ ⁺bàk̭raxˈ yá nàšə,ˈ yá mə̀ndi bíyyanˈ tàpək̭ˈ ⁺hayvàna,ˈ ṱ-avəd cú-məndit ʾàvəd.ˈ ⁺bàk̭raxˈ xázzax ⁺hàlaˈ … ʾət-mə́jjət ʾána ⁺xə̀lṱəvənˈ yànˈ ⁺ṱrùsəvən k̭at-⁺byáyən k̭átux ⁺nèsən,ˈ k̭a-⁺bar-nàša.ˈ mára ʾàzax.ˈ ʾátxa čurmə́xxa l-k̭dálət ⁺bar-nàša xúvvaˈ ʾùrxa bərrə́xšəna.ˈ bətpak̭əna bí … xá tòra.ˈ mára šlámalux ʾáxuni tòraˈ hə̀nna bədràyələ.ˈ šláma xùvva.ˈ ʾáyya muyyóna dáx꞊t xúvva mən-tóra ⁺bak̭ùrəl.ˈ mára ʾá ⁺bar-náša ⁺byáyən ⁺nesə̀nnə.ˈ mù márət?ˈ ⁺nesə́nnə yán là ⁺nesə́nnə?ˈ mask̭əttə̀nnə,ˈ xìna?ˈ ⁺nesə́nnə mā̀tni.ˈ mára pruk̭ˈ jáldə ⁺nùslə,ˈ cmá꞊t lélə b-ríšux xàˈ mə́ndi tuxmə̀nnə.ˈ cmá꞊t c-⁺ámsət jáldə ⁺nùslə ʾa-nàša!ˈ mára k̭a-mù ⁺ʾaxər?ˈ ⁺bar-nàša mára.ˈ tóra k̭a-but-mù ʾátxa tanúyət ⁺ʾáxər?ˈ k̭a-but-mú ⁺nā̀sli?ˈ ʾána púrk̭un mə̀nˈ … nùraˈ k̭a-da-xùvva,ˈ púrk̭un k̭at-là-ʾak̭ədva.ˈ márən xuš b-ʾùrxux,ˈ ⁺ʾávva ⁺byayələ ⁺nā̀sli.ˈ màraˈ but-hádax ʾaxtóxun ⁺rába pī̀s.ˈ ⁺bar-náša ⁺rába pīs-mə̀ndilə.ˈ ⁺bar-náša mən-móriša hal-⁺bèrašə,ˈ m-⁺bára ⁺barrànta k̭a-díyyiˈ hal-yúma ɟnéta xə̀šcaˈ ⁺bəṱráyən ʾùpra,ˈ maplùxilə.ˈ xá vádra mìyya yávil,ˈ xa-p̂ə́rc̭a mìyya yávil,ˈ xa-p̂ə̀rc̭a꞊daˈ laxma yávilə ⁺bixàlən.ˈ k̭á-da꞊da ʾaxtòxunˈ ⁺bar-náša ɟárəc là xáyyə mára,ˈ ɟárəc ⁺nā̀sni.ˈ har-ʾíca c-⁺amsət ⁺nùslə.ˈ pisùta ʾúd k̭àtu.ˈ xúvva ⁺nùslə mára.ˈ xúvva k̭a-⁺bar-náša màraˈ ⁺šmìlux ʾaxúniˈ mu-mə́rrə ʾàˈ tòra?ˈ ʾádi b-⁺nesə̀nnux.ˈ mára ⁺xlàpux ʾávənˈ xà-mənne꞊da ⁺bák̭rax ʾíta.ˈ mára ⁺bàk̭rax.ˈ bitàyəna,ˈ xàč̭č̭a bitáyəna,ˈ ⁺ràba bítayənaˈ b-ùrxa.ˈ bətpák̭əna b-xa-⁺ʾáynət mìyya.ˈ ⁺ʾáynət míyya bətpák̭əna bìyyo.ˈ màraˈ šlàmalax xáti ⁺ʾáyna.ˈ xùvva šláma bədráyəl ⁺ʾàlˈ ⁺ʾàyna.ˈ mára b-šèna ʾáxuni xùvva.ˈ ʾa-mùt ⁺šúlulə?ˈ ʾa m-ìca bitá?ˈ mára ʾá ⁺bar-náša ⁺byáyən ⁺nesə̀nnə.ˈ mù márət?ˈ dū́z꞊ivən yan-là?ˈ mára jáldə ⁺nùslə.ˈ cmá ṱ-íla jàldəˈ prùk̭.ˈ lá-šuk̭ pā̀šni.ˈ mára k̭a-but-mù?ˈ ʾa-⁺bar-nàša máraˈ ⁺ʾáxər k̭a-mù?ˈ ʾána k̭a-dìyyax mú꞊īn vída-ʾana?ˈ k̭àˈ ⁺ʾàyna mára.ˈ mára mádənxa pràtta,ˈ mádənxa pràtta,ˈ k̭edàmta,ˈ ⁺hala hə́č-xa ⁺hayvàna,ˈ hə̀č-xaˈ mə́ndi lḕl jvìja,ˈ ⁺bar-náša bitàyəlˈ pátu ʾídu ⁺xallulḗl ɟáv ⁺ʾàyna,ˈ ⁺ʾaynət mìyya.ˈ ʾùˈ míyya bəštàyəl mára.ˈ pràk̭tu꞊daˈ bərrák̭əl ɟu-mìyyaˈ ʾu-bərrə̀ššəl.ˈ k̭à-da máraˈ ʾát mə́ndit pyáša lḕtˈ k̭a-⁺dávva jáldə ⁺nùs.ˈ xúš mā̀tni ⁺ʾávva náša,ˈ là šúk̭lə ⁺sā́ġ.ˈ mára ⁺šmìlux?ˈ xúvva mára k̭a-⁺bar-nàša,ˈ ⁺šmílux ʾáxuni mu-mə̀rrə?ˈ ʾádi b-⁺nesə̀nnuxˈ k̭at-mètət.ˈ mára ⁺xlàpux ʾávən,ˈ xá xá-náša꞊da ⁺bák̭rax ʾìtar,ˈ ⁺núsli jàldəˈ jahànnamˈ xína ʾádi ⁺bar ʾátxa ʾátxa ʾàtxəla.ˈ ʾət-d-ṱlá꞊da ⁺bak̭ràxxəˈ ʾíta ⁺nùsli.ˈ mára ⁺spáy ʾàzax.ˈ ʾúrxa bərrə́ššəna mə̀drə.ˈ ʾátxa bi-ʾúrxa bitàyənaˈ xá-xa-ɟa ɟašúk̭əna mən-dò ríšaˈ xá ⁺tàla.ˈ ⁺rxáṱa ⁺rxáṱa bitáyəl bərràk̭əl.ˈ mára ʾàxuni ⁺tála,ˈ xa-clí clì!ˈ xúvva k̭ā́l bədràyələ.ˈ mára mù ⁺byayət mə́nni?ˈ mára clìˈ k̭a-dá ⁺bar-náša ⁺byáyən ⁺nèsən.ˈ mù márət?ˈ ⁺nesə́nnə ⁺yúxsa là?ˈ mára ʾána bəlyàzənˈ jáldə ⁺nùslə,ˈ jáldə xúš mā̀tni-⁺ʾavva.ˈ lá šok̭ə́tlə ⁺sā̀ġ.ˈ màraˈ ʾa-⁺bar-náša mára k̭àm?ˈ ʾíta ʾa-⁺tàlaˈ ⁺tála bìša váyələˈ là xač̭č̭a.ˈ ⁺tàlaˈ ptáləl k̭a-da-xúvva màraˈ ʾína mù꞊ila vita?ˈ k̭ám ⁺bənnàsut?ˈ m-ìca dvík̭ut ⁺ʾávva mùyyut?ˈ màra.ˈ dáx ʾàtxaˈ sámm də̀ryut,ˈ b-k̭dálu čurmə̀xxət?ˈ mára ʾàxuni,ˈ nùyra píləva,ˈ méša bək̭yàdəva.ˈ ʾána꞊da bək̭yàdənva,ˈ čríxənva l-ilàna.ˈ ʾa-⁺bar-nàšaˈ zúltu muttàlə,ˈ k̭ésu muttìlə,ˈ k̭a-díyyi purə̀k̭lə.ˈ ʾádi čurmə́xxən b-k̭dàluˈ ⁺byáyən ⁺nesə̀nnə.ˈ mára ʾàxuni,ˈ jáldə ⁺nùslə,ˈ cma-ṱ-íla jàldə,ˈ cmá꞊t lèlə b-ríšux xá-məndi vída.ˈ ʾína dax-dū̀z? máraˈ ʾátən ⁺ʾaldùyit ʾátən.ˈ ⁺tála k̭a-xùvva márələ.ˈ ʾána lḕn hammúnəˈ núra ʾávə píla bi-ʾilàna.ˈ ʾátən mən-ʾilána ⁺ʾámsət ⁺sálət bi-k̭èsa ⁺ʾal-k̭dálət ⁺dávva náša.ˈ mára xùvva,ˈ mára dàx lēt-hammúna?ˈ ʾána c-⁺ámsən mən-ʾilána ⁺sálən bi-k̭ésa ⁺ʾal-ʾídət ⁺bar-nàša.ˈ mára lḕn hammúna ʾáxuni,ˈ dax-dū̀z!ˈ dùɟlə daɟúlət!ˈ ʾána bəlyàzən mára.ˈ malyùzən,ˈ bərrə̀ššən.ˈ ⁺bári píləna nā̀šˈ k̭at-k̭aṱlìli.ˈ ʾána bərràk̭ən.ˈ ʾína lḕn hammúna ʾátxa ⁺šúla ʾávət vída,ˈ ʾat-⁺ʾámsət mən-k̭ésa mən-ʾilána ⁺sálət l-ídət ⁺bar-nàša.ˈ mára ʾáɟar lḕt hammúna,ˈ c-⁺ámsən xáč̭č̭a maxzə̀nna k̭a-díyyux,ˈ xúvva márəl k̭a-⁺tàla.ˈ mára d-⁺slì!ˈ xázzən ⁺hála c-⁺àmsətˈ ʾa-⁺šúla ʾodə̀ttə.ˈ xázzən ʾìta tanə́nnuxˈ ⁺núslə yan-là.ˈ ʾa-xúvva ⁺bəslàyələ,ˈ ʾáxči čárəx ⁺ʾal-ʾilàna.ˈ ⁺tála k̭a-⁺bar-náša màraˈ búr la-⁺spay nàšaˈ jáldə b-ríšu blùslə!ˈ ríšət xúvva blùslə.ˈ cmá꞊t ⁺sə́lyəl m-k̭dálux l-⁺àrraˈ ríšu blùslə.ˈ ⁺másət ⁺k̭aṱlə̀tlə.ˈ k̭àm švík̭ut?ˈ ʾá ⁺bar-náša ʾàlbalˈ mxáyəl xùvva,ˈ ⁺mask̭ùtul.ˈ mára ʾàxuni,ˈ ⁺váy ʾávənva xlā́p dìyyux,ˈ k̭a-⁺tàla márəl,ˈ ʾát m-ìca brílux ⁺ʾal-dá dúca?ˈ m-ìca tpək̭lux bíyyan?ˈ mút ⁺spayúta ʾódən k̭a-dìyyuxˈ k̭at párk̭ən m-xut-dàˈ ⁺spáy ⁺šūl-díyyux k̭at-və̀dlux k̭a-díyyi?ˈ purə́k̭lux k̭a-díyyi mən-mòta.ˈ xúvva ⁺bənnàsiva,ˈ ʾána k̭átu ⁺spayùta vídənva.ˈ mára hə́č xa-⁺spayúta ⁺lázəm lèla.ˈ ⁺bári pìlənaˈ ⁺sayàdəˈ bi-susavàtə,ˈ bi-⁺tazìyyə,ˈ bi-calbanā̀n.ˈ ⁺byáyəna dók̭i xànk̭ili.ˈ véna bità!ˈ ʾánnə tré ʾurxaváy ʾátxa ptàlənaˈ màra.ˈ ʾána ɟáni ⁺ṱašə́nna láxxa xut-hə̀nna.ˈ ʾánnə mə́nnux ⁺bàk̭ri,ˈ clí-ʾat b-da-ʾùrxa,ˈ máxzi xúš ʾàzi.ˈ mára ⁺ʾal-⁺àyni,ˈ ⁺ʾal-⁺ʾàyni,ˈ ba-ʾá mára ⁺spayùtəla.ˈ ⁺ʾal-ɟárət ⁺ʾáyni ʾa-⁺šúla ʾodə̀nnə k̭a-díyyux.ˈ d-mára ʾána ⁺bəsláyən ⁺tàmmaˈ ɟáni ⁺ṱašə̀nna.ˈ ʾátən har-tìlun,ˈ táni ʾátxa xə̀šlə.ˈ mára ⁺ʾal-⁺ʾàyni.ˈ ʾá ⁺bəsláyəl ⁺várel ɟu-de-⁺čək̭k̭ùrta,ˈ ɟu-de-⁺čā̀l.ˈ ɟánu ⁺ṱašúyol ⁺tàla.ˈ mən-dó-yba bitáyəna susavàyˈ ⁺ʾallé ⁺sayàdəˈ bi-tùp,ˈ bi-calbanā́n ʾan-⁺tazìyyə.ˈ mára šlàma-llux ʾáxuni ⁺bar-náša.ˈ b-šèna.ˈ màraˈ láxxa la-xzílux xa-⁺tála bərràk̭əva?ˈ lá ⁺dílux bi-dəm-ʾúrxa xə̀šlə?ˈ ⁺ʾávun ɟárəc taníva bi-dà-ʾurxaˈ xə́šlə ʾa-⁺tàla.ˈ ⁺bar-náša màraˈ dūl-láxxa ɟánu ⁺ṱùšyo.ˈ dū́l ⁺ʾúltux ɟánu ⁺ṱùšyo.ˈ dbíšəna ʾan-cálbə b-ríšu bədvàk̭una,ˈ bəxnàk̭una,ˈ ⁺palùṱuna,ˈ màyuna.ˈ xina-ɟà,ˈ zambəllìlə,ˈ ⁺ʾaxlìlə.ˈ ʾa-⁺tála k̭a-⁺bar-nàša mára.ˈ yála ʾàxuni,ˈ k̭a-but-múdi ⁺ʾáxər k̭a-díyyi ʾátxa və̀dlux?ˈ lá ʾána k̭a-díyyux xàyyux purk̭éli?ˈ mára ʾàxuni,ˈ ⁺paxlə̀tti,ˈ ⁺ʾámma xasyàttila ʾátxa.ˈ ʾána lìpən,ˈ ɟu-də̀mmilaˈ ɟárəc zabnə̀nvalux.ˈ ʾáyya꞊da məttə́ltət ⁺ṱála ʾu-⁺bar-nàšaˈ k̭at-⁺šəmyox mə́n ʾavahàtanˈ bába sàvan.ˈ ʾìtaˈ ⁺bayyən tànənˈ ʾátxa ⁺bar-nàšaˈ zabúnəl k̭a-⁺tàla,ˈ ⁺tála ʾṓ꞊t mən-cúllə bìšələˈ k̭àtˈ ⁺spáy ⁺bəddáyəl mújjur ʾàzəl.ˈ ʾína ⁺bar-náša k̭át váyəl ⁺tála xáyyu purk̭è,ˈ xáyyət ⁺bar-nàša,ˈ ⁺bar-náša k̭a-dó ⁺tála zabùnələ.ˈ ⁺mak̭ṱúlul b-dan-càlbə,ˈ b-dán ⁺ʾavčìyyə,ˈ ⁺sayàdə.ˈ lḕn ⁺bəddáˈ cmá ⁺ṱúsa muyyítəla ⁺ʾal-⁺bar-náša ɟàna.ˈ ʾánnə ⁺tàla,ˈ ⁺ʾáynət mìyya,ˈ xùvva,ˈ ʾu-tòra.ˈ ʾánnə cúllə ⁺ṱùsənaˈ ⁺ṱúsə muyyén-ʾana but-ṱ-íla ⁺ʾal-⁺pəslət xáyyət ⁺bar-nàša.ˈ k̭át ɟu-mə́txət xáyyu ⁺bar-nàšaˈ cmàˈ ⁺mā̀sniˈ ʾàvədˈ ⁺spày ⁺šulā́nˈ ʾu-cmá xə̀rba ⁺šulā́nˈ ɟav-⁺bar-náša ɟánu ʾə̀ttən.ˈ ʾu-mən-dáyyən m-⁺ùydāl꞊daˈ ʾána lè-⁺ʾamsənˈ ʾádi pašk̭ə́nnə ʾóxa ⁺xábrət k̭àtˈ ⁺šə́myun mə́drə mə́n ʾavahàtiˈ m-bábi sávi k̭at ɟu-dá məttə́lta hùk̭yuna.ˈ ʾé-⁺dān prák̭ta k̭àtˈ calbanā̀nˈ ʾu-ʾan-⁺ʾavčìyyəˈ ⁺šarúyəna ⁺bixàlaˈ k̭a-do-⁺tála parpùsu,ˈ ⁺č̭ambùruna,ˈ ⁺tála k̭a-⁺bar-nàša máraˈ ʾé ʾàxuniˈ ʾət-mə́jjət꞊da ⁺bar-náša ⁺xalvanàya,ˈ ⁺mìsələ.ˈ ʾádi ⁺manáya ⁺davvó ⁺xalvanáya ⁺myásta mù꞊ilaˈ ʾána lḕn ⁺bəddáya.ˈ ⁺xálva ⁺bəddàyət mu꞊ilə?ˈ ⁺xálvət yə̀mma.ˈ ʾìtaˈ ⁺tála k̭àˈ ⁺bar-nàša máraˈ ʾáy ʾàxuniˈ k̭a-díyyi zubə̀nnux ʾátən.ˈ ʾət-mə́jjət꞊da tanúyəva k̭at-⁺bar-nàšaˈ ⁺xalvanàya ⁺mísəl,ˈ mə́nnu hàšyar ɟárəc ʾávəd.ˈ ʾátxa c-⁺amsən ʾátxa pašk̭ə̀nna,ˈ ʾína ⁺manáyu but-ṱ-ìlaˈ ṱ-òyaˈ ɟu-xa pušàk̭a xínaˈ ⁺ʾamsítun bíyyu tapk̭ìtun.ˈ xá ʾurxàči,ˈ ⁺bar-nàša,ˈ váyələ ʾùrxa bərrə́xša.ˈ ʾú mən-də́pnət méša ⁺vàrtuˈ pacúrəl k̭at-nùra ⁺bəlláyələˈ ʾu-méša bək̭yàdəl.ˈ ʾu-pacúrəl xa-ʾilána ⁺ràmaˈ ⁺ʾállu čríxəl xùvvaˈ mən-nùra rík̭əlˈ xùvva,ˈ mən-núra mən-⁺ʾúltux rìk̭əl,ˈ purtə́lləl l-ilàna,ˈ l-rìšu cə́lyəl.ˈ ʾilána꞊da mən-xútu bək̭yàdəl.ˈ ʾu-zúltu ⁺pašùṱulə,ˈ p̂-ídu váyəl k̭èsa,ˈ p̂-ī́d ⁺bar-nàša.ˈ ⁺pašúṱo l-ʾo-xúvva màraˈ ta-⁺slìˈ park̭ə̀nnux.ˈ xúvva bi-k̭ésa ⁺bəsláyəl mən-ʾídət ⁺bar-nàšaˈ ʾu-carmúxəl b-k̭dàlu.ˈ čarmúxələ l-k̭dàluˈ mára ʾádi bət-⁺nesə̀nnux.ˈ mára k̭a-but-mú ⁺byayət ⁺nesə̀tti?ˈ lá ʾána k̭átux purə̀k̭li mə́n …ˈ k̭yàda?ˈ mən-nùyra purə́k̭li k̭àtux.ˈ ⁺bar-náša márəl k̭a-xùvva.ˈ mára k̭a-díyyan mìrənaˈ ʾáxnan ⁺bəddàyaxˈ ʾána꞊da xúvva ⁺bəddàyənˈ k̭át ⁺bar-náša mən-cúllə xə́rba mə̀ndilə.ˈ ʾícət xzìlux ⁺támaˈ ɟárəc ⁺nesə̀ttə.ˈ ⁺bar-náša ⁺rába xə́rba ʾu-pī̀sˈ ɟu-da-brìta.ˈ ʾìtarˈ ⁺bar-náša màraˈ yála ⁺xlàpux ʾávən,ˈ ⁺ʾáxər ʾátxa lèlaˈ ⁺k̭áydət dùnyə.ˈ ⁺ʾáxər ʾána k̭a-díyyux xáyyux purk̭éli mən-nùyra.ˈ ʾá ⁺rába nonúyəl bí xúvva k̭at-lá ⁺nā̀slə.ˈ mára ⁺spàyˈ ʾən-lḗt hammúnə ⁺ʾàlli,ˈ xùvva mára,ˈ tá-⁺bák̭rax xa-mən-⁺ṱlàˈ … nā̀š,ˈ mən-xà-naša,ˈ trè-nāšˈ ⁺bàk̭raxˈ yá nàšə,ˈ yá mə̀ndi bíyyanˈ tàpək̭ˈ ⁺hayvàna,ˈ ṱ-avəd cú-məndit ʾàvəd.ˈ ⁺bàk̭raxˈ xázzax ⁺hàlaˈ … ʾət-mə́jjət ʾána ⁺xə̀lṱəvənˈ yànˈ ⁺ṱrùsəvən k̭at-⁺byáyən k̭átux ⁺nèsən,ˈ k̭a-⁺bar-nàša.ˈ mára ʾàzax.ˈ ʾátxa čurmə́xxa l-k̭dálət ⁺bar-nàša xúvvaˈ ʾùrxa bərrə́xšəna.ˈ bətpak̭əna bí … xá tòra.ˈ mára šlámalux ʾáxuni tòraˈ hə̀nna bədràyələ.ˈ šláma xùvva.ˈ ʾáyya muyyóna dáx꞊t xúvva mən-tóra ⁺bak̭ùrəl.ˈ mára ʾá ⁺bar-náša ⁺byáyən ⁺nesə̀nnə.ˈ mù márət?ˈ ⁺nesə́nnə yán là ⁺nesə́nnə?ˈ mask̭əttə̀nnə,ˈ xìna?ˈ ⁺nesə́nnə mā̀tni.ˈ mára pruk̭ˈ jáldə ⁺nùslə,ˈ cmá꞊t lélə b-ríšux xàˈ mə́ndi tuxmə̀nnə.ˈ cmá꞊t c-⁺ámsət jáldə ⁺nùslə ʾa-nàša!ˈ mára k̭a-mù ⁺ʾaxər?ˈ ⁺bar-nàša mára.ˈ tóra k̭a-but-mù ʾátxa tanúyət ⁺ʾáxər?ˈ k̭a-but-mú ⁺nā̀sli?ˈ ʾána púrk̭un mə̀nˈ … nùraˈ k̭a-da-xùvva,ˈ púrk̭un k̭at-là-ʾak̭ədva.ˈ márən xuš b-ʾùrxux,ˈ ⁺ʾávva ⁺byayələ ⁺nā̀sli.ˈ màraˈ but-hádax ʾaxtóxun ⁺rába pī̀s.ˈ ⁺bar-náša ⁺rába pīs-mə̀ndilə.ˈ ⁺bar-náša mən-móriša hal-⁺bèrašə,ˈ m-⁺bára ⁺barrànta k̭a-díyyiˈ hal-yúma ɟnéta xə̀šcaˈ ⁺bəṱráyən ʾùpra,ˈ maplùxilə.ˈ xá vádra mìyya yávil,ˈ xa-p̂ə́rc̭a mìyya yávil,ˈ xa-p̂ə̀rc̭a꞊daˈ laxma yávilə ⁺bixàlən.ˈ k̭á-da꞊da ʾaxtòxunˈ ⁺bar-náša ɟárəc là xáyyə mára,ˈ ɟárəc ⁺nā̀sni.ˈ har-ʾíca c-⁺amsət ⁺nùslə.ˈ pisùta ʾúd k̭àtu.ˈ xúvva ⁺nùslə mára.ˈ xúvva k̭a-⁺bar-náša màraˈ ⁺šmìlux ʾaxúniˈ mu-mə́rrə ʾàˈ tòra?ˈ ʾádi b-⁺nesə̀nnux.ˈ mára ⁺xlàpux ʾávənˈ xà-mənne꞊da ⁺bák̭rax ʾíta.ˈ mára ⁺bàk̭rax.ˈ bitàyəna,ˈ xàč̭č̭a bitáyəna,ˈ ⁺ràba bítayənaˈ b-ùrxa.ˈ bətpák̭əna b-xa-⁺ʾáynət mìyya.ˈ ⁺ʾáynət míyya bətpák̭əna bìyyo.ˈ màraˈ šlàmalax xáti ⁺ʾáyna.ˈ xùvva šláma bədráyəl ⁺ʾàlˈ ⁺ʾàyna.ˈ mára b-šèna ʾáxuni xùvva.ˈ ʾa-mùt ⁺šúlulə?ˈ ʾa m-ìca bitá?ˈ mára ʾá ⁺bar-náša ⁺byáyən ⁺nesə̀nnə.ˈ mù márət?ˈ dū́z꞊ivən yan-là?ˈ mára jáldə ⁺nùslə.ˈ cmá ṱ-íla jàldəˈ prùk̭.ˈ lá-šuk̭ pā̀šni.ˈ mára k̭a-but-mù?ˈ ʾa-⁺bar-nàša máraˈ ⁺ʾáxər k̭a-mù?ˈ ʾána k̭a-dìyyax mú꞊īn vída-ʾana?ˈ k̭àˈ ⁺ʾàyna mára.ˈ mára mádənxa pràtta,ˈ mádənxa pràtta,ˈ k̭edàmta,ˈ ⁺hala hə́č-xa ⁺hayvàna,ˈ hə̀č-xaˈ mə́ndi lḕl jvìja,ˈ ⁺bar-náša bitàyəlˈ pátu ʾídu ⁺xallulḗl ɟáv ⁺ʾàyna,ˈ ⁺ʾaynət mìyya.ˈ ʾùˈ míyya bəštàyəl mára.ˈ pràk̭tu꞊daˈ bərrák̭əl ɟu-mìyyaˈ ʾu-bərrə̀ššəl.ˈ k̭à-da máraˈ ʾát mə́ndit pyáša lḕtˈ k̭a-⁺dávva jáldə ⁺nùs.ˈ xúš mā̀tni ⁺ʾávva náša,ˈ là šúk̭lə ⁺sā́ġ.ˈ mára ⁺šmìlux?ˈ xúvva mára k̭a-⁺bar-nàša,ˈ ⁺šmílux ʾáxuni mu-mə̀rrə?ˈ ʾádi b-⁺nesə̀nnuxˈ k̭at-mètət.ˈ mára ⁺xlàpux ʾávən,ˈ xá xá-náša꞊da ⁺bák̭rax ʾìtar,ˈ ⁺núsli jàldəˈ jahànnamˈ xína ʾádi ⁺bar ʾátxa ʾátxa ʾàtxəla.ˈ ʾət-d-ṱlá꞊da ⁺bak̭ràxxəˈ ʾíta ⁺nùsli.ˈ mára ⁺spáy ʾàzax.ˈ ʾúrxa bərrə́ššəna mə̀drə.ˈ ʾátxa bi-ʾúrxa bitàyənaˈ xá-xa-ɟa ɟašúk̭əna mən-dò ríšaˈ xá ⁺tàla.ˈ ⁺rxáṱa ⁺rxáṱa bitáyəl bərràk̭əl.ˈ mára ʾàxuni ⁺tála,ˈ xa-clí clì!ˈ xúvva k̭ā́l bədràyələ.ˈ mára mù ⁺byayət mə́nni?ˈ mára clìˈ k̭a-dá ⁺bar-náša ⁺byáyən ⁺nèsən.ˈ mù márət?ˈ ⁺nesə́nnə ⁺yúxsa là?ˈ mára ʾána bəlyàzənˈ jáldə ⁺nùslə,ˈ jáldə xúš mā̀tni-⁺ʾavva.ˈ lá šok̭ə́tlə ⁺sā̀ġ.ˈ màraˈ ʾa-⁺bar-náša mára k̭àm?ˈ ʾíta ʾa-⁺tàlaˈ ⁺tála bìša váyələˈ là xač̭č̭a.ˈ ⁺tàlaˈ ptáləl k̭a-da-xúvva màraˈ ʾína mù꞊ila vita?ˈ k̭ám ⁺bənnàsut?ˈ m-ìca dvík̭ut ⁺ʾávva mùyyut?ˈ màra.ˈ dáx ʾàtxaˈ sámm də̀ryut,ˈ b-k̭dálu čurmə̀xxət?ˈ mára ʾàxuni,ˈ nùyra píləva,ˈ méša bək̭yàdəva.ˈ ʾána꞊da bək̭yàdənva,ˈ čríxənva l-ilàna.ˈ ʾa-⁺bar-nàšaˈ zúltu muttàlə,ˈ k̭ésu muttìlə,ˈ k̭a-díyyi purə̀k̭lə.ˈ ʾádi čurmə́xxən b-k̭dàluˈ ⁺byáyən ⁺nesə̀nnə.ˈ mára ʾàxuni,ˈ jáldə ⁺nùslə,ˈ cma-ṱ-íla jàldə,ˈ cmá꞊t lèlə b-ríšux xá-məndi vída.ˈ ʾína dax-dū̀z? máraˈ ʾátən ⁺ʾaldùyit ʾátən.ˈ ⁺tála k̭a-xùvva márələ.ˈ ʾána lḕn hammúnəˈ núra ʾávə píla bi-ʾilàna.ˈ ʾátən mən-ʾilána ⁺ʾámsət ⁺sálət bi-k̭èsa ⁺ʾal-k̭dálət ⁺dávva náša.ˈ mára xùvva,ˈ mára dàx lēt-hammúna?ˈ ʾána c-⁺ámsən mən-ʾilána ⁺sálən bi-k̭ésa ⁺ʾal-ʾídət ⁺bar-nàša.ˈ mára lḕn hammúna ʾáxuni,ˈ dax-dū̀z!ˈ dùɟlə daɟúlət!ˈ ʾána bəlyàzən mára.ˈ malyùzən,ˈ bərrə̀ššən.ˈ ⁺bári píləna nā̀šˈ k̭at-k̭aṱlìli.ˈ ʾána bərràk̭ən.ˈ ʾína lḕn hammúna ʾátxa ⁺šúla ʾávət vída,ˈ ʾat-⁺ʾámsət mən-k̭ésa mən-ʾilána ⁺sálət l-ídət ⁺bar-nàša.ˈ mára ʾáɟar lḕt hammúna,ˈ c-⁺ámsən xáč̭č̭a maxzə̀nna k̭a-díyyux,ˈ xúvva márəl k̭a-⁺tàla.ˈ mára d-⁺slì!ˈ xázzən ⁺hála c-⁺àmsətˈ ʾa-⁺šúla ʾodə̀ttə.ˈ xázzən ʾìta tanə́nnuxˈ ⁺núslə yan-là.ˈ ʾa-xúvva ⁺bəslàyələ,ˈ ʾáxči čárəx ⁺ʾal-ʾilàna.ˈ ⁺tála k̭a-⁺bar-náša màraˈ búr la-⁺spay nàšaˈ jáldə b-ríšu blùslə!ˈ ríšət xúvva blùslə.ˈ cmá꞊t ⁺sə́lyəl m-k̭dálux l-⁺àrraˈ ríšu blùslə.ˈ ⁺másət ⁺k̭aṱlə̀tlə.ˈ k̭àm švík̭ut?ˈ ʾá ⁺bar-náša ʾàlbalˈ mxáyəl xùvva,ˈ ⁺mask̭ùtul.ˈ mára ʾàxuni,ˈ ⁺váy ʾávənva xlā́p dìyyux,ˈ k̭a-⁺tàla márəl,ˈ ʾát m-ìca brílux ⁺ʾal-dá dúca?ˈ m-ìca tpək̭lux bíyyan?ˈ mút ⁺spayúta ʾódən k̭a-dìyyuxˈ k̭at párk̭ən m-xut-dàˈ ⁺spáy ⁺šūl-díyyux k̭at-və̀dlux k̭a-díyyi?ˈ purə́k̭lux k̭a-díyyi mən-mòta.ˈ xúvva ⁺bənnàsiva,ˈ ʾána k̭átu ⁺spayùta vídənva.ˈ mára hə́č xa-⁺spayúta ⁺lázəm lèla.ˈ ⁺bári pìlənaˈ ⁺sayàdəˈ bi-susavàtə,ˈ bi-⁺tazìyyə,ˈ bi-calbanā̀n.ˈ ⁺byáyəna dók̭i xànk̭ili.ˈ véna bità!ˈ ʾánnə tré ʾurxaváy ʾátxa ptàlənaˈ màra.ˈ ʾána ɟáni ⁺ṱašə́nna láxxa xut-hə̀nna.ˈ ʾánnə mə́nnux ⁺bàk̭ri,ˈ clí-ʾat b-da-ʾùrxa,ˈ máxzi xúš ʾàzi.ˈ mára ⁺ʾal-⁺àyni,ˈ ⁺ʾal-⁺ʾàyni,ˈ ba-ʾá mára ⁺spayùtəla.ˈ ⁺ʾal-ɟárət ⁺ʾáyni ʾa-⁺šúla ʾodə̀nnə k̭a-díyyux.ˈ d-mára ʾána ⁺bəsláyən ⁺tàmmaˈ ɟáni ⁺ṱašə̀nna.ˈ ʾátən har-tìlun,ˈ táni ʾátxa xə̀šlə.ˈ mára ⁺ʾal-⁺ʾàyni.ˈ ʾá ⁺bəsláyəl ⁺várel ɟu-de-⁺čək̭k̭ùrta,ˈ ɟu-de-⁺čā̀l.ˈ ɟánu ⁺ṱašúyol ⁺tàla.ˈ mən-dó-yba bitáyəna susavàyˈ ⁺ʾallé ⁺sayàdəˈ bi-tùp,ˈ bi-calbanā́n ʾan-⁺tazìyyə.ˈ mára šlàma-llux ʾáxuni ⁺bar-náša.ˈ b-šèna.ˈ màraˈ láxxa la-xzílux xa-⁺tála bərràk̭əva?ˈ lá ⁺dílux bi-dəm-ʾúrxa xə̀šlə?ˈ ⁺ʾávun ɟárəc taníva bi-dà-ʾurxaˈ xə́šlə ʾa-⁺tàla.ˈ ⁺bar-náša màraˈ dūl-láxxa ɟánu ⁺ṱùšyo.ˈ dū́l ⁺ʾúltux ɟánu ⁺ṱùšyo.ˈ dbíšəna ʾan-cálbə b-ríšu bədvàk̭una,ˈ bəxnàk̭una,ˈ ⁺palùṱuna,ˈ màyuna.ˈ xina-ɟà,ˈ zambəllìlə,ˈ ⁺ʾaxlìlə.ˈ ʾa-⁺tála k̭a-⁺bar-nàša mára.ˈ yála ʾàxuni,ˈ k̭a-but-múdi ⁺ʾáxər k̭a-díyyi ʾátxa və̀dlux?ˈ lá ʾána k̭a-díyyux xàyyux purk̭éli?ˈ mára ʾàxuni,ˈ ⁺paxlə̀tti,ˈ ⁺ʾámma xasyàttila ʾátxa.ˈ ʾána lìpən,ˈ ɟu-də̀mmilaˈ ɟárəc zabnə̀nvalux.ˈ ʾáyya꞊da məttə́ltət ⁺ṱála ʾu-⁺bar-nàšaˈ k̭at-⁺šəmyox mə́n ʾavahàtanˈ bába sàvan.ˈ ʾìtaˈ ⁺bayyən tànənˈ ʾátxa ⁺bar-nàšaˈ zabúnəl k̭a-⁺tàla,ˈ ⁺tála ʾṓ꞊t mən-cúllə bìšələˈ k̭àtˈ ⁺spáy ⁺bəddáyəl mújjur ʾàzəl.ˈ ʾína ⁺bar-náša k̭át váyəl ⁺tála xáyyu purk̭è,ˈ xáyyət ⁺bar-nàša,ˈ ⁺bar-náša k̭a-dó ⁺tála zabùnələ.ˈ ⁺mak̭ṱúlul b-dan-càlbə,ˈ b-dán ⁺ʾavčìyyə,ˈ ⁺sayàdə.ˈ lḕn ⁺bəddáˈ cmá ⁺ṱúsa muyyítəla ⁺ʾal-⁺bar-náša ɟàna.ˈ ʾánnə ⁺tàla,ˈ ⁺ʾáynət mìyya,ˈ xùvva,ˈ ʾu-tòra.ˈ ʾánnə cúllə ⁺ṱùsənaˈ ⁺ṱúsə muyyén-ʾana but-ṱ-íla ⁺ʾal-⁺pəslət xáyyət ⁺bar-nàša.ˈ k̭át ɟu-mə́txət xáyyu ⁺bar-nàšaˈ cmàˈ ⁺mā̀sniˈ ʾàvədˈ ⁺spày ⁺šulā́nˈ ʾu-cmá xə̀rba ⁺šulā́nˈ ɟav-⁺bar-náša ɟánu ʾə̀ttən.ˈ ʾu-mən-dáyyən m-⁺ùydāl꞊daˈ ʾána lè-⁺ʾamsənˈ ʾádi pašk̭ə́nnə ʾóxa ⁺xábrət k̭àtˈ ⁺šə́myun mə́drə mə́n ʾavahàtiˈ m-bábi sávi k̭at ɟu-dá məttə́lta hùk̭yuna.ˈ ʾé-⁺dān prák̭ta k̭àtˈ calbanā̀nˈ ʾu-ʾan-⁺ʾavčìyyəˈ ⁺šarúyəna ⁺bixàlaˈ k̭a-do-⁺tála parpùsu,ˈ ⁺č̭ambùruna,ˈ ⁺tála k̭a-⁺bar-nàša máraˈ ʾé ʾàxuniˈ ʾət-mə́jjət꞊da ⁺bar-náša ⁺xalvanàya,ˈ ⁺mìsələ.ˈ ʾádi ⁺manáya ⁺davvó ⁺xalvanáya ⁺myásta mù꞊ilaˈ ʾána lḕn ⁺bəddáya.ˈ ⁺xálva ⁺bəddàyət mu꞊ilə?ˈ ⁺xálvət yə̀mma.ˈ ʾìtaˈ ⁺tála k̭àˈ ⁺bar-nàša máraˈ ʾáy ʾàxuniˈ k̭a-díyyi zubə̀nnux ʾátən.ˈ ʾət-mə́jjət꞊da tanúyəva k̭at-⁺bar-nàšaˈ ⁺xalvanàya ⁺mísəl,ˈ mə́nnu hàšyar ɟárəc ʾávəd.ˈ ʾátxa c-⁺amsən ʾátxa pašk̭ə̀nna,ˈ ʾína ⁺manáyu but-ṱ-ìlaˈ ṱ-òyaˈ ɟu-xa pušàk̭a xínaˈ ⁺ʾamsítun bíyyu tapk̭ìtun.ˈ	A wayfarer, a man, is walking along the road. Having entered a forest, he notices that a fire is blazing and the forest is burning. He notices a high tree on which a snake had encircled itself. The snake has escaped from the fire. It has escaped from below, wound itself around the tree, and remained on its top. The tree is burning from below. He stretches out his stick. In his hand there is a wooden stick, in the hand of the man. He stretches to the snake and says ‘Come, come down, I’ll rescue you.’ The snake comes down on the stick from the arm of the man and encircles his neck. It encircles his neck and says ‘Now I shall bite you.’ He says ‘Why do you want to bite me? Did I not rescue you from the conflagration? I have rescued you from the fire,’ says the man to the snake. It says ‘They have said to us, we know, and I as a snake know, that man is the worst thing of all. Wherever you see him, you must bite him. Man is a very evil and bad creature in this world, in this creation.’ Then the man says ‘My boy, may I be your substitute, but this is not the custom of the world. After all, I saved your life from the fire.’ He pleads with the snake not to bite him. It says ‘Fine, if you do not believe me’ the snake says ‘Come let us ask one of three people, three … people, one person, two people, let us ask, either people or whatever meets us, an animal, whatever he may do. Let us ask and see if it is still the case that I am truly wrong, or am I right to want to bite you,’ the man. He says ‘Let’s go.’ With the snake wrapped around the man’s neck, they set off on the road. They meet an ox. It says ‘Greetings, my brother ox.’ The snake offers greetings. They have transmitted it (the story telling)of how the snake asks the ox. It says ‘I want to bite this man. What do you say? Should I bite him or not bite him? Should I paralyse him? If I bite him, he will die.’ He says ‘Finish (the job), bite him quickly, while he has not thought of doing something against you. As quickly as you can, bite the man!’ He says ‘But why?' The man says. ‘Ox, but why are you saying this? Why should it bite me? I have saved it from the fire, the snake, I have saved it so that it would not burn. I say: “Go on your way.” It wants to bite me.’ It says ‘Because you are very evil. A human is a very evil thing. A human being makes me work until the evening, from first light until the setting of the sun, in the dark and I plough the earth. He gives me a bucket of water. He gives me a little water. He gives me also a little food and I eat. For this reason you, a human being, must not live.’ It says ‘He must be bitten. Bite him wherever you can. Do evil to him. Snake, bite him’ it says. The snake says to the man ‘Did you hear, my brother, what this ox said? Now I shall bite you.’ He says ‘May I be your substitute. Let us ask another one.’ It says ‘Let us ask.’ They go. They go a little, they go a lot along the road. They meet a spring of water. They meet a spring of water. It says ‘Greetings to you, my sister spring.’ The snake greets the spring. It says ‘Welcome my brother snake. What is the matter? Where are you coming from?’ It says ‘I want to bite this man. What do you say? Am I right or not?’ It says ‘Bite him quickly. Finish (the job) as quickly as possible. Do not let him live.’ He says ‘Why?’ The man says ‘But why? What have I done to you?’—he says to the spring. It says ‘At dawn, at dawn, early in the morning, when no animal, nothing has moved, the human comes and washes his face and hands in the spring, the spring of water, and he drinks the water’ it says. ‘When he has finished, he spits in the water and goes away. Therefore’ it says ‘You are not something worthy of living. Bite him quickly. Let that man die, do not leave him alive.’ It says ‘Did you hear?’ the snake says to the man ‘Did you hear my brother what it said?’ Now I shall bite you so that you die.’ He says ‘May I be your substitute. Let us ask another person, then bite me quickly, the hell with it, so be it after that. Let us ask a third then bite me.’ It says ‘Fine, let us go.’ They go along the road again. They come along the road and suddenly see on one side a fox. It runs and runs, it flees. It (the snake) says ‘My brother fox, stop, stop!’ the snake shouts. It says ‘What do you want from me?’ It says ‘Wait. I want to bite this person. What do you say? Should I bite him or not?’ It says ‘I am in a hurry. Bite him quickly and let him die quickly. Do not leave him alive.’ The man says ‘Why?’ Well, the fox is not a little wicked. The fox turns to the snake and says ‘But what has happened? Why are you biting him? Where did you catch him and bring him from? How have you put poison in him and encircled his neck?’ It says ‘My brother, fire had broken out and the forest was burning. I also was burning and I had climbed up a tree. This man put out his staff, put out his stick and saved me. Now I have encircled his neck and I want to bite him.’ It says ‘My brother, bite him quickly, as quickly as possible, before he does something against you. But how can it be true?’ it says ‘You are tricking me,’ the fox says to the snake. ‘I do not believe that fire broke out in the tree and that you could come down by the stick onto the neck of that man.’ The snake says ‘What do you mean you do not believe (me)? I can come down from a tree by a stick onto the hand of a man.’ It (the fox) says ‘How can that be true! You are telling lies. I am in a hurry’ it says ‘I am in a hurry. I am going. People are coming after me to kill me. I am fleeing. But I do not believe that you have done this thing, that you are able to go down from a tree by a stick onto the hand of a man.’ It (the snake) says ‘If you do not believe, I can quickly show you,’ the snake says to the fox. It (the fox) says ‘Come down! Let me see whether you can still do that. When I see, then I shall tell you whether to bite him or not.’ The snake comes down and is about to climb on a tree. The fox says to the man ‘Go, you bad man, quickly stamp on his head! Stamp on the head of the snake. While he has come down from your neck onto the ground, stamp on his head. You can kill him. Why have you let him (go)?’ The man at once strikes the snake and paralyzes it. He says ‘My brother, oh may I be your substitute,’ he says to the fox ‘How did it happen that you came to this place? How did it come about that you met us? What good deed can I do for you so I can return the favour that you have done to me? You saved me from death. The snake was about to bite me, (although) I had done it a good deed.’ It says ‘A good deed is not necessary. Hunters are chasing me with horses, with greyhounds, with dogs. They want to catch me and strangle me. Look they are coming! These two roads are bending like this,’ it says ‘I shall hide myself here under …. If they ask you, stand on this road and show them (the road) and let them go (on it).’ He says ‘Of course, of course. Well, this is a good deed. Of course I shall do this for you.’ Then he says ‘I shall go down there and hide myself. As soon as they come, tell them that it (the fox) has gone.’ He says ‘Of course.’ It goes down and enters the hollow, the hole. The fox hides itself. From the other side horses come, on which there are hunters with guns, with the greyhound dogs. They say ‘Greetings, my fellow man!’ ‘Greetings!’ They say ‘Have you seen a fox running away around here? Do you know which way it went?’ He should have said ‘The fox went this way.’ But the man says ‘It has hidden itself over there. It has hidden itself under there.’ The dogs attach themselves to his head and seize him, they strangle him and bring him out. They then tear him apart and eat him. The fox says to the man ‘My brother, why did you do this to me? Did I not save your life for you?’ It says ‘My brother, forgive me, but this is my nature. I am accustomed to it, it is in my blood, I had to betray you. This is the story of the fox and the man, which I have heard from our forebears, our father and grandfather. So, I want to say that the man betrays the fox in this way, the fox, which is the most wicked of all (animals), which knows well how to go about things. The man, whose life the fox had saved, the life of the man, the man betrays the fox. He causes it to be killed by the dogs, by the hunters, the hunters. I do not know how many examples have been adduced about mankind. These, the fox, the spring, the snake, the ox, these are all examples, I adduced examples about the way of life of mankind, whereby in the course of the life of a man, he does as many good deeds as he can and (I show) how many bad deeds there are in man himself. I cannot now explain everything together relating to this tale which, as I say, I heard from my forebears, my father and grandfather, that which they related in this story. In the end, when the dogs and the hunters begin to eat, tear apart the fox, tear it to pieces, the fox says to the man ‘Hey, my brother, it is true that man is a mammal, he has sucked (milk).’ Now I do not know what the significance is of this mammal and sucking. You know what milk is? The milk of a mother. So, the fox says to the man ‘Oh, my brother, you have betrayed me.’ They spoke the truth—that man is a mammal that has sucked (milk) and one has to be cautious of him. That is how I can explain it, but you could find another explanation of its meaning.

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xá ʾurxàči,ˈ ⁺bar-nàša,ˈ váyələ ʾùrxa bərrə́xša.ˈ ʾú mən-də́pnət méša ⁺vàrtuˈ pacúrəl k̭at-nùra ⁺bəlláyələˈ ʾu-méša bək̭yàdəl.ˈ ʾu-pacúrəl xa-ʾilána ⁺ràmaˈ ⁺ʾállu čríxəl xùvvaˈ mən-nùra rík̭əlˈ xùvva,ˈ mən-núra mən-⁺ʾúltux rìk̭əl,ˈ purtə́lləl l-ilàna,ˈ l-rìšu cə́lyəl.ˈ ʾilána꞊da mən-xútu bək̭yàdəl.ˈ ʾu-zúltu ⁺pašùṱulə,ˈ p̂-ídu váyəl k̭èsa,ˈ p̂-ī́d ⁺bar-nàša.ˈ ⁺pašúṱo l-ʾo-xúvva màraˈ ta-⁺slìˈ park̭ə̀nnux.ˈ xúvva bi-k̭ésa ⁺bəsláyəl mən-ʾídət ⁺bar-nàšaˈ ʾu-carmúxəl b-k̭dàlu.ˈ čarmúxələ l-k̭dàluˈ mára ʾádi bət-⁺nesə̀nnux.ˈ mára k̭a-but-mú ⁺byayət ⁺nesə̀tti?ˈ lá ʾána k̭átux purə̀k̭li mə́n …ˈ k̭yàda?ˈ mən-nùyra purə́k̭li k̭àtux.ˈ ⁺bar-náša márəl k̭a-xùvva.ˈ mára k̭a-díyyan mìrənaˈ ʾáxnan ⁺bəddàyaxˈ ʾána꞊da xúvva ⁺bəddàyənˈ k̭át ⁺bar-náša mən-cúllə xə́rba mə̀ndilə.ˈ ʾícət xzìlux ⁺támaˈ ɟárəc ⁺nesə̀ttə.ˈ ⁺bar-náša ⁺rába xə́rba ʾu-pī̀sˈ ɟu-da-brìta.ˈ ʾìtarˈ ⁺bar-náša màraˈ yála ⁺xlàpux ʾávən,ˈ ⁺ʾáxər ʾátxa lèlaˈ ⁺k̭áydət dùnyə.ˈ ⁺ʾáxər ʾána k̭a-díyyux xáyyux purk̭éli mən-nùyra.ˈ ʾá ⁺rába nonúyəl bí xúvva k̭at-lá ⁺nā̀slə.ˈ mára ⁺spàyˈ ʾən-lḗt hammúnə ⁺ʾàlli,ˈ xùvva mára,ˈ tá-⁺bák̭rax xa-mən-⁺ṱlàˈ … nā̀š,ˈ mən-xà-naša,ˈ trè-nāšˈ ⁺bàk̭raxˈ yá nàšə,ˈ yá mə̀ndi bíyyanˈ tàpək̭ˈ ⁺hayvàna,ˈ ṱ-avəd cú-məndit ʾàvəd.ˈ ⁺bàk̭raxˈ xázzax ⁺hàlaˈ … ʾət-mə́jjət ʾána ⁺xə̀lṱəvənˈ yànˈ ⁺ṱrùsəvən k̭at-⁺byáyən k̭átux ⁺nèsən,ˈ k̭a-⁺bar-nàša.ˈ mára ʾàzax.ˈ ʾátxa čurmə́xxa l-k̭dálət ⁺bar-nàša xúvvaˈ ʾùrxa bərrə́xšəna.ˈ bətpak̭əna bí … xá tòra.ˈ mára šlámalux ʾáxuni tòraˈ hə̀nna bədràyələ.ˈ šláma xùvva.ˈ ʾáyya muyyóna dáx꞊t xúvva mən-tóra ⁺bak̭ùrəl.ˈ mára ʾá ⁺bar-náša ⁺byáyən ⁺nesə̀nnə.ˈ mù márət?ˈ ⁺nesə́nnə yán là ⁺nesə́nnə?ˈ mask̭əttə̀nnə,ˈ xìna?ˈ ⁺nesə́nnə mā̀tni.ˈ mára pruk̭ˈ jáldə ⁺nùslə,ˈ cmá꞊t lélə b-ríšux xàˈ mə́ndi tuxmə̀nnə.ˈ cmá꞊t c-⁺ámsət jáldə ⁺nùslə ʾa-nàša!ˈ mára k̭a-mù ⁺ʾaxər?ˈ ⁺bar-nàša mára.ˈ tóra k̭a-but-mù ʾátxa tanúyət ⁺ʾáxər?ˈ k̭a-but-mú ⁺nā̀sli?ˈ ʾána púrk̭un mə̀nˈ … nùraˈ k̭a-da-xùvva,ˈ púrk̭un k̭at-là-ʾak̭ədva.ˈ márən xuš b-ʾùrxux,ˈ ⁺ʾávva ⁺byayələ ⁺nā̀sli.ˈ màraˈ but-hádax ʾaxtóxun ⁺rába pī̀s.ˈ ⁺bar-náša ⁺rába pīs-mə̀ndilə.ˈ ⁺bar-náša mən-móriša hal-⁺bèrašə,ˈ m-⁺bára ⁺barrànta k̭a-díyyiˈ hal-yúma ɟnéta xə̀šcaˈ ⁺bəṱráyən ʾùpra,ˈ maplùxilə.ˈ xá vádra mìyya yávil,ˈ xa-p̂ə́rc̭a mìyya yávil,ˈ xa-p̂ə̀rc̭a꞊daˈ laxma yávilə ⁺bixàlən.ˈ k̭á-da꞊da ʾaxtòxunˈ ⁺bar-náša ɟárəc là xáyyə mára,ˈ ɟárəc ⁺nā̀sni.ˈ har-ʾíca c-⁺amsət ⁺nùslə.ˈ pisùta ʾúd k̭àtu.ˈ xúvva ⁺nùslə mára.ˈ xúvva k̭a-⁺bar-náša màraˈ ⁺šmìlux ʾaxúniˈ mu-mə́rrə ʾàˈ tòra?ˈ ʾádi b-⁺nesə̀nnux.ˈ mára ⁺xlàpux ʾávənˈ xà-mənne꞊da ⁺bák̭rax ʾíta.ˈ mára ⁺bàk̭rax.ˈ bitàyəna,ˈ xàč̭č̭a bitáyəna,ˈ ⁺ràba bítayənaˈ b-ùrxa.ˈ bətpák̭əna b-xa-⁺ʾáynət mìyya.ˈ ⁺ʾáynət míyya bətpák̭əna bìyyo.ˈ màraˈ šlàmalax xáti ⁺ʾáyna.ˈ xùvva šláma bədráyəl ⁺ʾàlˈ ⁺ʾàyna.ˈ mára b-šèna ʾáxuni xùvva.ˈ ʾa-mùt ⁺šúlulə?ˈ ʾa m-ìca bitá?ˈ mára ʾá ⁺bar-náša ⁺byáyən ⁺nesə̀nnə.ˈ mù márət?ˈ dū́z꞊ivən yan-là?ˈ mára jáldə ⁺nùslə.ˈ cmá ṱ-íla jàldəˈ prùk̭.ˈ lá-šuk̭ pā̀šni.ˈ mára k̭a-but-mù?ˈ ʾa-⁺bar-nàša máraˈ ⁺ʾáxər k̭a-mù?ˈ ʾána k̭a-dìyyax mú꞊īn vída-ʾana?ˈ k̭àˈ ⁺ʾàyna mára.ˈ mára mádənxa pràtta,ˈ mádənxa pràtta,ˈ k̭edàmta,ˈ ⁺hala hə́č-xa ⁺hayvàna,ˈ hə̀č-xaˈ mə́ndi lḕl jvìja,ˈ ⁺bar-náša bitàyəlˈ pátu ʾídu ⁺xallulḗl ɟáv ⁺ʾàyna,ˈ ⁺ʾaynət mìyya.ˈ ʾùˈ míyya bəštàyəl mára.ˈ pràk̭tu꞊daˈ bərrák̭əl ɟu-mìyyaˈ ʾu-bərrə̀ššəl.ˈ k̭à-da máraˈ ʾát mə́ndit pyáša lḕtˈ k̭a-⁺dávva jáldə ⁺nùs.ˈ xúš mā̀tni ⁺ʾávva náša,ˈ là šúk̭lə ⁺sā́ġ.ˈ mára ⁺šmìlux?ˈ xúvva mára k̭a-⁺bar-nàša,ˈ ⁺šmílux ʾáxuni mu-mə̀rrə?ˈ ʾádi b-⁺nesə̀nnuxˈ k̭at-mètət.ˈ mára ⁺xlàpux ʾávən,ˈ xá xá-náša꞊da ⁺bák̭rax ʾìtar,ˈ ⁺núsli jàldəˈ jahànnamˈ xína ʾádi ⁺bar ʾátxa ʾátxa ʾàtxəla.ˈ ʾət-d-ṱlá꞊da ⁺bak̭ràxxəˈ ʾíta ⁺nùsli.ˈ mára ⁺spáy ʾàzax.ˈ ʾúrxa bərrə́ššəna mə̀drə.ˈ ʾátxa bi-ʾúrxa bitàyənaˈ xá-xa-ɟa ɟašúk̭əna mən-dò ríšaˈ xá ⁺tàla.ˈ ⁺rxáṱa ⁺rxáṱa bitáyəl bərràk̭əl.ˈ mára ʾàxuni ⁺tála,ˈ xa-clí clì!ˈ xúvva k̭ā́l bədràyələ.ˈ mára mù ⁺byayət mə́nni?ˈ mára clìˈ k̭a-dá ⁺bar-náša ⁺byáyən ⁺nèsən.ˈ mù márət?ˈ ⁺nesə́nnə ⁺yúxsa là?ˈ mára ʾána bəlyàzənˈ jáldə ⁺nùslə,ˈ jáldə xúš mā̀tni-⁺ʾavva.ˈ lá šok̭ə́tlə ⁺sā̀ġ.ˈ màraˈ ʾa-⁺bar-náša mára k̭àm?ˈ ʾíta ʾa-⁺tàlaˈ ⁺tála bìša váyələˈ là xač̭č̭a.ˈ ⁺tàlaˈ ptáləl k̭a-da-xúvva màraˈ ʾína mù꞊ila vita?ˈ k̭ám ⁺bənnàsut?ˈ m-ìca dvík̭ut ⁺ʾávva mùyyut?ˈ màra.ˈ dáx ʾàtxaˈ sámm də̀ryut,ˈ b-k̭dálu čurmə̀xxət?ˈ mára ʾàxuni,ˈ nùyra píləva,ˈ méša bək̭yàdəva.ˈ ʾána꞊da bək̭yàdənva,ˈ čríxənva l-ilàna.ˈ ʾa-⁺bar-nàšaˈ zúltu muttàlə,ˈ k̭ésu muttìlə,ˈ k̭a-díyyi purə̀k̭lə.ˈ ʾádi čurmə́xxən b-k̭dàluˈ ⁺byáyən ⁺nesə̀nnə.ˈ mára ʾàxuni,ˈ jáldə ⁺nùslə,ˈ cma-ṱ-íla jàldə,ˈ cmá꞊t lèlə b-ríšux xá-məndi vída.ˈ ʾína dax-dū̀z? máraˈ ʾátən ⁺ʾaldùyit ʾátən.ˈ ⁺tála k̭a-xùvva márələ.ˈ ʾána lḕn hammúnəˈ núra ʾávə píla bi-ʾilàna.ˈ ʾátən mən-ʾilána ⁺ʾámsət ⁺sálət bi-k̭èsa ⁺ʾal-k̭dálət ⁺dávva náša.ˈ mára xùvva,ˈ mára dàx lēt-hammúna?ˈ ʾána c-⁺ámsən mən-ʾilána ⁺sálən bi-k̭ésa ⁺ʾal-ʾídət ⁺bar-nàša.ˈ mára lḕn hammúna ʾáxuni,ˈ dax-dū̀z!ˈ dùɟlə daɟúlət!ˈ ʾána bəlyàzən mára.ˈ malyùzən,ˈ bərrə̀ššən.ˈ ⁺bári píləna nā̀šˈ k̭at-k̭aṱlìli.ˈ ʾána bərràk̭ən.ˈ ʾína lḕn hammúna ʾátxa ⁺šúla ʾávət vída,ˈ ʾat-⁺ʾámsət mən-k̭ésa mən-ʾilána ⁺sálət l-ídət ⁺bar-nàša.ˈ mára ʾáɟar lḕt hammúna,ˈ c-⁺ámsən xáč̭č̭a maxzə̀nna k̭a-díyyux,ˈ xúvva márəl k̭a-⁺tàla.ˈ mára d-⁺slì!ˈ xázzən ⁺hála c-⁺àmsətˈ ʾa-⁺šúla ʾodə̀ttə.ˈ xázzən ʾìta tanə́nnuxˈ ⁺núslə yan-là.ˈ ʾa-xúvva ⁺bəslàyələ,ˈ ʾáxči čárəx ⁺ʾal-ʾilàna.ˈ ⁺tála k̭a-⁺bar-náša màraˈ búr la-⁺spay nàšaˈ jáldə b-ríšu blùslə!ˈ ríšət xúvva blùslə.ˈ cmá꞊t ⁺sə́lyəl m-k̭dálux l-⁺àrraˈ ríšu blùslə.ˈ ⁺másət ⁺k̭aṱlə̀tlə.ˈ k̭àm švík̭ut?ˈ ʾá ⁺bar-náša ʾàlbalˈ mxáyəl xùvva,ˈ ⁺mask̭ùtul.ˈ mára ʾàxuni,ˈ ⁺váy ʾávənva xlā́p dìyyux,ˈ k̭a-⁺tàla márəl,ˈ ʾát m-ìca brílux ⁺ʾal-dá dúca?ˈ m-ìca tpək̭lux bíyyan?ˈ mút ⁺spayúta ʾódən k̭a-dìyyuxˈ k̭at párk̭ən m-xut-dàˈ ⁺spáy ⁺šūl-díyyux k̭at-və̀dlux k̭a-díyyi?ˈ purə́k̭lux k̭a-díyyi mən-mòta.ˈ xúvva ⁺bənnàsiva,ˈ ʾána k̭átu ⁺spayùta vídənva.ˈ mára hə́č xa-⁺spayúta ⁺lázəm lèla.ˈ ⁺bári pìlənaˈ ⁺sayàdəˈ bi-susavàtə,ˈ bi-⁺tazìyyə,ˈ bi-calbanā̀n.ˈ ⁺byáyəna dók̭i xànk̭ili.ˈ véna bità!ˈ ʾánnə tré ʾurxaváy ʾátxa ptàlənaˈ màra.ˈ ʾána ɟáni ⁺ṱašə́nna láxxa xut-hə̀nna.ˈ ʾánnə mə́nnux ⁺bàk̭ri,ˈ clí-ʾat b-da-ʾùrxa,ˈ máxzi xúš ʾàzi.ˈ mára ⁺ʾal-⁺àyni,ˈ ⁺ʾal-⁺ʾàyni,ˈ ba-ʾá mára ⁺spayùtəla.ˈ ⁺ʾal-ɟárət ⁺ʾáyni ʾa-⁺šúla ʾodə̀nnə k̭a-díyyux.ˈ d-mára ʾána ⁺bəsláyən ⁺tàmmaˈ ɟáni ⁺ṱašə̀nna.ˈ ʾátən har-tìlun,ˈ táni ʾátxa xə̀šlə.ˈ mára ⁺ʾal-⁺ʾàyni.ˈ ʾá ⁺bəsláyəl ⁺várel ɟu-de-⁺čək̭k̭ùrta,ˈ ɟu-de-⁺čā̀l.ˈ ɟánu ⁺ṱašúyol ⁺tàla.ˈ mən-dó-yba bitáyəna susavàyˈ ⁺ʾallé ⁺sayàdəˈ bi-tùp,ˈ bi-calbanā́n ʾan-⁺tazìyyə.ˈ mára šlàma-llux ʾáxuni ⁺bar-náša.ˈ b-šèna.ˈ màraˈ láxxa la-xzílux xa-⁺tála bərràk̭əva?ˈ lá ⁺dílux bi-dəm-ʾúrxa xə̀šlə?ˈ ⁺ʾávun ɟárəc taníva bi-dà-ʾurxaˈ xə́šlə ʾa-⁺tàla.ˈ ⁺bar-náša màraˈ dūl-láxxa ɟánu ⁺ṱùšyo.ˈ dū́l ⁺ʾúltux ɟánu ⁺ṱùšyo.ˈ dbíšəna ʾan-cálbə b-ríšu bədvàk̭una,ˈ bəxnàk̭una,ˈ ⁺palùṱuna,ˈ màyuna.ˈ xina-ɟà,ˈ zambəllìlə,ˈ ⁺ʾaxlìlə.ˈ ʾa-⁺tála k̭a-⁺bar-nàša mára.ˈ yála ʾàxuni,ˈ k̭a-but-múdi ⁺ʾáxər k̭a-díyyi ʾátxa və̀dlux?ˈ lá ʾána k̭a-díyyux xàyyux purk̭éli?ˈ mára ʾàxuni,ˈ ⁺paxlə̀tti,ˈ ⁺ʾámma xasyàttila ʾátxa.ˈ ʾána lìpən,ˈ ɟu-də̀mmilaˈ ɟárəc zabnə̀nvalux.ˈ ʾáyya꞊da məttə́ltət ⁺ṱála ʾu-⁺bar-nàšaˈ k̭at-⁺šəmyox mə́n ʾavahàtanˈ bába sàvan.ˈ

ʾìtaˈ ⁺bayyən tànənˈ ʾátxa ⁺bar-nàšaˈ zabúnəl k̭a-⁺tàla,ˈ ⁺tála ʾṓ꞊t mən-cúllə bìšələˈ k̭àtˈ ⁺spáy ⁺bəddáyəl mújjur ʾàzəl.ˈ ʾína ⁺bar-náša k̭át váyəl ⁺tála xáyyu purk̭è,ˈ xáyyət ⁺bar-nàša,ˈ ⁺bar-náša k̭a-dó ⁺tála zabùnələ.ˈ ⁺mak̭ṱúlul b-dan-càlbə,ˈ b-dán ⁺ʾavčìyyə,ˈ ⁺sayàdə.ˈ lḕn ⁺bəddáˈ cmá ⁺ṱúsa muyyítəla ⁺ʾal-⁺bar-náša ɟàna.ˈ ʾánnə ⁺tàla,ˈ ⁺ʾáynət mìyya,ˈ xùvva,ˈ ʾu-tòra.ˈ ʾánnə cúllə ⁺ṱùsənaˈ ⁺ṱúsə muyyén-ʾana but-ṱ-íla ⁺ʾal-⁺pəslət xáyyət ⁺bar-nàša.ˈ k̭át ɟu-mə́txət xáyyu ⁺bar-nàšaˈ cmàˈ ⁺mā̀sniˈ ʾàvədˈ ⁺spày ⁺šulā́nˈ ʾu-cmá xə̀rba ⁺šulā́nˈ ɟav-⁺bar-náša ɟánu ʾə̀ttən.ˈ ʾu-mən-dáyyən m-⁺ùydāl꞊daˈ ʾána lè-⁺ʾamsənˈ ʾádi pašk̭ə́nnə ʾóxa ⁺xábrət k̭àtˈ ⁺šə́myun mə́drə mə́n ʾavahàtiˈ m-bábi sávi k̭at ɟu-dá məttə́lta hùk̭yuna.ˈ ʾé-⁺dān prák̭ta k̭àtˈ calbanā̀nˈ ʾu-ʾan-⁺ʾavčìyyəˈ ⁺šarúyəna ⁺bixàlaˈ k̭a-do-⁺tála parpùsu,ˈ ⁺č̭ambùruna,ˈ ⁺tála k̭a-⁺bar-nàša máraˈ ʾé ʾàxuniˈ ʾət-mə́jjət꞊da ⁺bar-náša ⁺xalvanàya,ˈ ⁺mìsələ.ˈ ʾádi ⁺manáya ⁺davvó ⁺xalvanáya ⁺myásta mù꞊ilaˈ ʾána lḕn ⁺bəddáya.ˈ ⁺xálva ⁺bəddàyət mu꞊ilə?ˈ ⁺xálvət yə̀mma.ˈ ʾìtaˈ ⁺tála k̭àˈ ⁺bar-nàša máraˈ ʾáy ʾàxuniˈ k̭a-díyyi zubə̀nnux ʾátən.ˈ ʾət-mə́jjət꞊da tanúyəva k̭at-⁺bar-nàšaˈ ⁺xalvanàya ⁺mísəl,ˈ mə́nnu hàšyar ɟárəc ʾávəd.ˈ ʾátxa c-⁺amsən ʾátxa pašk̭ə̀nna,ˈ ʾína ⁺manáyu but-ṱ-ìlaˈ ṱ-òyaˈ ɟu-xa pušàk̭a xínaˈ ⁺ʾamsítun bíyyu tapk̭ìtun.ˈ

Translation:

A wayfarer, a man, is walking along the road. Having entered a forest, he notices that a fire is blazing and the forest is burning. He notices a high tree on which a snake had encircled itself. The snake has escaped from the fire. It has escaped from below, wound itself around the tree, and remained on its top. The tree is burning from below. He stretches out his stick. In his hand there is a wooden stick, in the hand of the man. He stretches to the snake and says ‘Come, come down, I’ll rescue you.’ The snake comes down on the stick from the arm of the man and encircles his neck. It encircles his neck and says ‘Now I shall bite you.’ He says ‘Why do you want to bite me? Did I not rescue you from the conflagration? I have rescued you from the fire,’ says the man to the snake. It says ‘They have said to us, we know, and I as a snake know, that man is the worst thing of all. Wherever you see him, you must bite him. Man is a very evil and bad creature in this world, in this creation.’ Then the man says ‘My boy, may I be your substitute, but this is not the custom of the world. After all, I saved your life from the fire.’ He pleads with the snake not to bite him. It says ‘Fine, if you do not believe me’ the snake says ‘Come let us ask one of three people, three … people, one person, two people, let us ask, either people or whatever meets us, an animal, whatever he may do. Let us ask and see if it is still the case that I am truly wrong, or am I right to want to bite you,’ the man. He says ‘Let’s go.’ With the snake wrapped around the man’s neck, they set off on the road. They meet an ox. It says ‘Greetings, my brother ox.’ The snake offers greetings. They have transmitted it (the story telling)of how the snake asks the ox. It says ‘I want to bite this man. What do you say? Should I bite him or not bite him? Should I paralyse him? If I bite him, he will die.’ He says ‘Finish (the job), bite him quickly, while he has not thought of doing something against you. As quickly as you can, bite the man!’ He says ‘But why?' The man says. ‘Ox, but why are you saying this? Why should it bite me? I have saved it from the fire, the snake, I have saved it so that it would not burn. I say: “Go on your way.” It wants to bite me.’ It says ‘Because you are very evil. A human is a very evil thing. A human being makes me work until the evening, from first light until the setting of the sun, in the dark and I plough the earth. He gives me a bucket of water. He gives me a little water. He gives me also a little food and I eat. For this reason you, a human being, must not live.’ It says ‘He must be bitten. Bite him wherever you can. Do evil to him. Snake, bite him’ it says. The snake says to the man ‘Did you hear, my brother, what this ox said? Now I shall bite you.’ He says ‘May I be your substitute. Let us ask another one.’ It says ‘Let us ask.’ They go. They go a little, they go a lot along the road. They meet a spring of water. They meet a spring of water. It says ‘Greetings to you, my sister spring.’ The snake greets the spring. It says ‘Welcome my brother snake. What is the matter? Where are you coming from?’ It says ‘I want to bite this man. What do you say? Am I right or not?’ It says ‘Bite him quickly. Finish (the job) as quickly as possible. Do not let him live.’ He says ‘Why?’ The man says ‘But why? What have I done to you?’—he says to the spring. It says ‘At dawn, at dawn, early in the morning, when no animal, nothing has moved, the human comes and washes his face and hands in the spring, the spring of water, and he drinks the water’ it says. ‘When he has finished, he spits in the water and goes away. Therefore’ it says ‘You are not something worthy of living. Bite him quickly. Let that man die, do not leave him alive.’ It says ‘Did you hear?’ the snake says to the man ‘Did you hear my brother what it said?’ Now I shall bite you so that you die.’ He says ‘May I be your substitute. Let us ask another person, then bite me quickly, the hell with it, so be it after that. Let us ask a third then bite me.’ It says ‘Fine, let us go.’ They go along the road again. They come along the road and suddenly see on one side a fox. It runs and runs, it flees. It (the snake) says ‘My brother fox, stop, stop!’ the snake shouts. It says ‘What do you want from me?’ It says ‘Wait. I want to bite this person. What do you say? Should I bite him or not?’ It says ‘I am in a hurry. Bite him quickly and let him die quickly. Do not leave him alive.’ The man says ‘Why?’ Well, the fox is not a little wicked. The fox turns to the snake and says ‘But what has happened? Why are you biting him? Where did you catch him and bring him from? How have you put poison in him and encircled his neck?’ It says ‘My brother, fire had broken out and the forest was burning. I also was burning and I had climbed up a tree. This man put out his staff, put out his stick and saved me. Now I have encircled his neck and I want to bite him.’ It says ‘My brother, bite him quickly, as quickly as possible, before he does something against you. But how can it be true?’ it says ‘You are tricking me,’ the fox says to the snake. ‘I do not believe that fire broke out in the tree and that you could come down by the stick onto the neck of that man.’ The snake says ‘What do you mean you do not believe (me)? I can come down from a tree by a stick onto the hand of a man.’ It (the fox) says ‘How can that be true! You are telling lies. I am in a hurry’ it says ‘I am in a hurry. I am going. People are coming after me to kill me. I am fleeing. But I do not believe that you have done this thing, that you are able to go down from a tree by a stick onto the hand of a man.’ It (the snake) says ‘If you do not believe, I can quickly show you,’ the snake says to the fox. It (the fox) says ‘Come down! Let me see whether you can still do that. When I see, then I shall tell you whether to bite him or not.’ The snake comes down and is about to climb on a tree. The fox says to the man ‘Go, you bad man, quickly stamp on his head! Stamp on the head of the snake. While he has come down from your neck onto the ground, stamp on his head. You can kill him. Why have you let him (go)?’ The man at once strikes the snake and paralyzes it. He says ‘My brother, oh may I be your substitute,’ he says to the fox ‘How did it happen that you came to this place? How did it come about that you met us? What good deed can I do for you so I can return the favour that you have done to me? You saved me from death. The snake was about to bite me, (although) I had done it a good deed.’ It says ‘A good deed is not necessary. Hunters are chasing me with horses, with greyhounds, with dogs. They want to catch me and strangle me. Look they are coming! These two roads are bending like this,’ it says ‘I shall hide myself here under …. If they ask you, stand on this road and show them (the road) and let them go (on it).’ He says ‘Of course, of course. Well, this is a good deed. Of course I shall do this for you.’ Then he says ‘I shall go down there and hide myself. As soon as they come, tell them that it (the fox) has gone.’ He says ‘Of course.’ It goes down and enters the hollow, the hole. The fox hides itself. From the other side horses come, on which there are hunters with guns, with the greyhound dogs. They say ‘Greetings, my fellow man!’ ‘Greetings!’ They say ‘Have you seen a fox running away around here? Do you know which way it went?’ He should have said ‘The fox went this way.’ But the man says ‘It has hidden itself over there. It has hidden itself under there.’ The dogs attach themselves to his head and seize him, they strangle him and bring him out. They then tear him apart and eat him. The fox says to the man ‘My brother, why did you do this to me? Did I not save your life for you?’ It says ‘My brother, forgive me, but this is my nature. I am accustomed to it, it is in my blood, I had to betray you. This is the story of the fox and the man, which I have heard from our forebears, our father and grandfather.

So, I want to say that the man betrays the fox in this way, the fox, which is the most wicked of all (animals), which knows well how to go about things. The man, whose life the fox had saved, the life of the man, the man betrays the fox. He causes it to be killed by the dogs, by the hunters, the hunters. I do not know how many examples have been adduced about mankind. These, the fox, the spring, the snake, the ox, these are all examples, I adduced examples about the way of life of mankind, whereby in the course of the life of a man, he does as many good deeds as he can and (I show) how many bad deeds there are in man himself. I cannot now explain everything together relating to this tale which, as I say, I heard from my forebears, my father and grandfather, that which they related in this story. In the end, when the dogs and the hunters begin to eat, tear apart the fox, tear it to pieces, the fox says to the man ‘Hey, my brother, it is true that man is a mammal, he has sucked (milk).’ Now I do not know what the significance is of this mammal and sucking. You know what milk is? The milk of a mother. So, the fox says to the man ‘Oh, my brother, you have betrayed me.’ They spoke the truth—that man is a mammal that has sucked (milk) and one has to be cautious of him. That is how I can explain it, but you could find another explanation of its meaning.