Barwar: The Wise Young Man

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Transcribed by	Source	Speakers
Geoffrey Khan	Khan, Geoffrey. The Neo-Aramaic Dialect of Barwar. 3 vols. Leiden-Boston: Brill, 2008, vol. 3	Dawiḏ ʾAdam

	Transcription	Translation
0:00	ʾíṯwa xa-nàšaˈ gòṛaˈ zála b-ʾùrxa.ˈ zílle xá taqríban pálgə-saʾəta, xá-saʾəta, b-ùrxa,ˈ xa-yála zóra … là-zora,ˈ yáʿni mə́ṭya … tmanessə́r, ʾəsrì-šənne,ˈ zílle bàre.ˈ zílle báre dìyeˈ qəm-xazéle xa-nàšaˈ mìṯaˈ nabóləlle mṭamòrəlle.ˈ ʾo-yála zòraˈ ʾábu ʾəsrì-šənneˈ mə́re ṭla-d-ó gòṛa,ˈ náša gòṛa,ˈ mə́re xàliˈ ʾáwwa náša mìṯɛle ʾən-b-xàyele?ˈ mə́re hay-hátxa-w hátxa mə̀nnux.ˈ la-hóle mìṯa.ˈ lɛt-xzáya bíye díye ṱ-íle mìṯa?ˈ hóla nabóləlle mṭamòrəlle.ˈ w-áti hot-màraˈ mìṯɛle ʾən-b-xàye?ˈ la-hóle mìṯa.ˈ zìlɛle,ˈ lɛ̀le rhíwa.ˈ zílela xa-fàtraˈ mə̀ṭyela,ˈ xəzyéla nèra,ˈ mìya.ˈ ʾámər xàliˈ lá ʾawḏə́xle ʾáwwa gə̀šraˈ šáwrəx réša réša d-ánna mìya?ˈ ham-mṣawòre ʾə́lle díye.ˈ mə́re ʾána m-ɛ́ka mɛṯə́nnux qɛ̀se?ˈ m-ɛ́ka mɛṯə́nnux bəzmàre?ˈ m-ɛ́ka mɛṯə́nnux nasàrtaˈ ta-t-nasrə́nnux qɛ̀se ṱ-oḏə́nnux gə̀šra,ˈ šáwrəx réše réše dìye?ˈ ham-mə́re ma-yxàləf.ˈ qímela síqela b-xa-ṭùra.ˈ mə̀re ʾə́lle díyeˈ xàliˈ nə́mu la-ʾawḏə́xle ʾáwwa ṭùraˈ dărajyàṯa,ˈ dăràje,ˈ ṱ-ásqəx l-áwwa ṭùra?ˈ mə́re hàyˈ kálba brət-kàlbaˈ ṱ-íwət xa-xèna!ˈ m-ɛ́ka píšlux baláya ʾə̀lli?ˈ mə́re ʾána m-ɛ́ka mɛṯə́nnux kulə̀nga,ˈ ʾu-mɛṯə́nnux kèpeˈ ʾu-mɛṯə́nnux čimàntoˈ ʾu-ta-ṱ-oḏə́nnux dăràjeˈ ʾu-ta-ṱ-ásqət rèša díya?ˈ ʾáwwa yála là rhíwle.ˈ píḏela síqela ṭùra.ˈ sìqela,ˈ dàšta-wawaˈ ʾu-ḏá mḏíta gòṛta,ˈ tàma.ˈ ʾáwwa lítle náše gu-d-a-mḏìta.ˈ ʾo-náša sàwaˈ mə́re ṭla-d-ó-yala zòra,ˈ mə̀reˈ ʾɛ̀ka ṱ-ázət?ˈ ʾána čú-dukṯa lìtli.ˈ ṱ-ázən gu-jàma.ˈ xámən gu-jàma.ˈ ʾáwwa qíma zíla l-bɛ̀ṯe díyeˈ ʾo-náša gòṛa.ˈ ʾíṯwale xa-bràta.ˈ ʾu-zàngīn-wewa,ˈ ʾu-ʾíṯwale qàṣra.ˈ qáṣre díye spày-wewa.ˈ mára qìmɛle,ˈ wírɛle gu-bɛ̀ṯa,ˈ bráte díye mə́ra há bàbi,ˈ dàx-wawa ʾúrxux?ˈ spày-itwa?ˈ ʾə́ṯyət ràḥat,ˈ ʾən-là?ˈ mə́re bráti rába ràḥat-inwa,ˈ ʾína ʾə́ṯyɛle xa-yàla,ˈ xa-ʾaṣòṭa.ˈ mŭčə́zəlla xəyàli.ˈ mə́ra dàxi?ˈ mə́re ʾə̀ṯyəxˈ mə́ṭyəx pálgət ʾùrxaˈ xa-náša hóle mìṯa,ˈ zála mṭamòrəlle.ˈ hóle mára mìṯɛle ʾən-b-xàye?ˈ la-hóle mìṯa,ˈ hola-zála mṭamòrəlle.ˈ mə́ra bábi mò mə́rux-əlle?ˈ mə́re qəm-ṣarə̀nne.ˈ ta-mòˈ bàbi?ˈ la-ʾaw-dū̀s-wewa!ˈ mə́re dàx ṱ-ile-dū́s?ˈ hóla zála mṭamòrəlle.ˈ mə́ra hè bábi,ˈ hè.ˈ ʾu-mòdi-xenət xə́zya?ˈ mə́re ʾə́ṯyəx xa-néra benàṯənˈ hóle màraˈ bábi ṱ-óḏəxle gə̀šra.ˈ mə́ri m-ɛ́ka mɛṯə́nne qɛ̀se,ˈ m-ɛ́ka mɛṯə́nne bəzmàreˈ ʾu-nasàrta,ˈ ta-ṱ-oḏə́nne gə̀šraˈ šàwər réše réše.ˈ mòdi mə́rux-əlle?ˈ mə́re mṣuwə̀rri ʾə́lle díye.ˈ mə́re ṯélən b-áwwa ṭúra šìma.ˈ hóle mára ṭlàliˈ ṱ-óḏəxle dăràje xáli.ˈ mə́ri ʾána m-ɛ́ka mɛ́ṯən kulə̀nga,ˈ m-ɛ́ka mɛṯéna čimànto,ˈ m-ɛ́ka mɛ́ṯən kèpeˈ ta-ṱ-oḏə́nne dăráje ta-ṱ-ásəq gu-réše.ˈ mòdi mə̀rux-əlle?ˈ mə́re qəm-ṣarə̀nne.ˈ lá bàbi,ˈ là!ˈ lɛ̀ka zílle?ˈ zílle gu-jàma.ˈ mə́ra ma-yxàləf.ˈ mšádrən mɛxòlta ʾə́lle díye,ˈ ʾixàla.ˈ qìmtɛla,ˈ šlìqtaˈ bèʾe,ˈ šàwwa béʾe.ˈ ʾu-muttɛ́ṯɛla ṭḷáṯi lə̀xmeˈ gu-čànta.ˈ mə́ra bábi nábəlla gu-jàmaˈ hàlle!ˈ ʾáwwa zílɛle b-ʾùrxa,ˈ xa-bètaˈ ʾu-xa-lə́xma xìləlla.ˈ zílɛle nùbləllaˈ ʾə́lle dìye.ˈ mə́re hàˈ ʾáwwa ʾixàlaˈ ṭlàlux,ˈ xùl!ˈ pṯíxəlla xə̀zyəlla,ˈ ʾína ʾəštà-beʾe.ˈ lə́xma pṯìxleˈ ʾína xáze ʾə́sri ʾə́č̣č̣a lə̀xme.ˈ ʾámər là băyə́nna,ˈ šqùl!ˈ ʾámər ṭla-mòdi?ˈ mə́re ʾàxniˈ kə̀slənˈ šàbṯaˈ ʾíla šawwà-yomeˈ ʾu-yàrxaˈ ʾíle ṭḷaṯì-yome.ˈ ʾáxtu šabṯɛ́xu ʾəštà-yomela?ˈ yarxɛ́xu ʾəsri-w-ʾəč̣č̣à-yomele?ˈ là băyə́nna.ˈ šqúl sì!ˈ qímɛle šqìla-ʾaniˈ ʾu-mŭdə̀ṛəlla.ˈ núbləlla qa-bráte dìye.ˈ mə́ra hà bábi,ˈ mə́ra xázəx mŭdəṛìlux.ˈ ṭla-mò?ˈ mə́re ʾo-mára hàtxa,ˈ hàtxa.ˈ nublìliˈ hóle mára ṭlàliˈ lè y-axlə́nna.ˈ ʾáxni šabṯɛ̀niˈ šawwà yománelaˈ ʾu-yarxɛ́ni ṭḷaṯì yómele.ˈ mə̀reˈ ʾáxtu šabṯɛ́xu ʾíla ʾəštà-yomeˈ ʾu-yarxɛ́xu ʾíle ʾəsri-w-ʾəč̣č̣à-yome.ˈ mə́re là băyə́nna,ˈ sì.ˈ mə́ra dū̀sˈ bábi.ˈ b-ʾùrxaˈ lát-xila xa-lə́xma-w xa-bèta?ˈ mə́re yè.ˈ mə́re m-ɛ̀ka ḏíle?ˈ mə́ra ʾána muttɛ́ṯənwa yománə šàbṯaˈ ʾu-muttɛ́ṯənwa yománət yàrxa.ˈ ʾáti xa-béta hot-šqíləlla mən-šàbṯaˈ píše ʾəštà-yome.ˈ ʾu-xa-lə́xma hot-šqíləlle mən-yàrxa,ˈ hóla píše ʾəsri-w-ʾəč̣č̣à-yome.ˈ mə́ra bábi hawnànɛle.ˈ si-mɛ́ṯəlle làxxa.ˈ ʾu-mə̀raˈ ʾímə ṱ-ítu ʾə̀ṯye,ˈ xə̀zyeˈ ʾo-náša mìṯa,ˈ yắḏət módi-wawa qázde dìye?ˈ màrɛwaˈ har-ʾàwwɛleˈ ʾən-ʾítle nawàge,ˈ ʾən-ʾítle bàba,ˈ ʾən-ʾítle yə̀mma,ˈ ʾən-ʾítle xonăwàṯa?ˈ ʾímə-t mə̀reˈ har-ʾàwwɛleˈ ʾən-là?ˈ mìṯɛleˈ ʾən-là?ˈ xá-naša l-xóḏe lítle la-bába la-yə́mma la-ʾàp-xa,ˈ ʾáw y-amrìleˈ lìtle náše.ˈ ʾáwwa mìṯɛle.ˈ ʾáwwa mádam ʾìṯwaleˈ bàxta,ˈ ʾíṯwale bnòne,ˈ ʾíṯwale nàše,ˈ ʾáwwa lɛ̀le míṯa.ˈ mə́re dū̀s-iwət.ˈ mə́re ʾína m-ɛ̀kaˈ ṱ-óḏənwale gə́šra?ˈ ʾaw-mə́re là ṱ-oḏə́tli gə́šra b-qɛ̀saˈ ʾáxxa-w tàmma.ˈ xa-mənnɛ́xu ṭayə́nwa ʾo-xèna,ˈ ṭayə́nwale l-xàṣe,ˈ payə́šwa gə̀šra.ˈ xà-mənnɛxu b-taréwaˈ ʾo-xéna là taréwa.ˈ mə́re dū̀s-itˈ ʾap-ʾàyya.ˈ mə́ra b-ṭùra,ˈ ʾímə ṯélɛxu sáqa l-ṭùra,ˈ ʾaw-là-wewa qázde díye ta-t-xaprítu ṭùra.ˈ mə́re ṱ-amrítu tuniyàṯa,ˈ mṣawṯítu m-ġḏàḏe,ˈ ta-t-ṭúra ja-jálde pàrəq.ˈ ʾaw-lɛ̀wa qázde díye ta-ṱ-ázət ʾawḏə́tle xaprə́tle ṭùra,ˈ ʾawḏə́tle dăràjeˈ ʾáxxa-w tàmma.ˈ mə́re b-álaha dū̀s-it.ˈ si-múrre ṱ-áṯe làxxa.ˈ qímɛle zíla xá-ga xèta,ˈ mírəlle ʾu-ʾə̀ṯyɛle.ˈ ʾə́ṯyɛle l-bɛ̀ṯa,ˈ wírɛle gu-bɛ́ṯa xə̀zyəlle,ˈ ʾàmərˈ ʾáwwa tărɛ́xu pč̣ìlɛle.ˈ bábət bráta màraˈ m-ɛ̀kɛle pč̣íla?ˈ har-gubbā̀n-ix wíḏəlle.ˈ ya-nàšaˈ hot-mára hàtxa!ˈ mùt hole-pč̣íla?!ˈ ʾo-tắra drə̀st-ile,ˈ lɛ́le pč̣ìla.ˈ ʾáxxa l-tàmma.ˈ xárṯa mə̀raˈ … mṣuwə́tla m-ġḏàḏe,ˈ yála-w yàltaˈ … mə́ra ʾána băyànnux.ˈ mə́re ʾap-ʾána băyə̀nnəx.ˈ gwìrela l-ġḏáḏe.ˈ gwíre l-ġḏàḏe,ˈ màlkaˈ šmìleˈ ʿal-ʾasā̀sˈ xa-yála hóle ʾə́ṯya táma kəslèy,ˈ rába hawnànɛle,ˈ ʾu-ʾup-báxte dìyeˈ ṱ-íle gwìrəllaˈ rába hawnàntɛla.ˈ yíwle xábra ta-d-ò-yalaˈ mə́re ṱ-ázət ʾaskarìya.ˈ mə́re ṱ-ázət ʾaskarìya,ˈ lázəm ʾàzeti.ˈ kút ʾáṯe gu-ʾúpra dìyiˈ lázəm ʾáwəḏ ʾaskarìya.ˈ ʾawwa ʾaskaríya dìyeˈ ṭlà-kəma dánɛla?ˈ qa-ṭḷà-yarxe.ˈ mára qìmɛleˈ mə́re ma-yxàləf,ˈ ṱ-àzena.ˈ ʾáwwa ḏìleˈ manay-díye mòdila.ˈ qímɛle mtúrṣəlla xa-tàxta,ˈ wíḏəlla semàlta.ˈ múttəlla gu-ḥădìqa,ˈ mpúlṭɛle bəzmàre.ˈ kùllaˈ mən-ʾə̀ltəxˈ wíḏəlla bəzmàre.ˈ ʾítle tắra gu-ḥădìqaˈ ʾu-ʾítle dàrga-žigən.ˈ xa-béna ʾáwwa zìlɛle,ˈ l-àskar.ˈ ʾáwwa xènaˈ ṯéle málka b-lɛ̀le.ˈ ṯéle málka b-lɛ̀le,ˈ síqle gáwa-gawət ḥădìqa.ˈ ʾu-síqle b-dăràje.ˈ síqle wírre kəs-bràta.ˈ wírre kəs-bràtaˈ mə̀reˈ ʾána ʾədlɛ́le ʾárxa ṱ-áwən láxxa kə̀sləx.ˈ mə́ra málka dax-lítlux xàṭər.ˈ mə́ra ṱ-ázən máṯyən xáčča štɛ̀ṯa,ˈ màzza,ˈ məndi-hàle,ˈ ṱ-átwəx šátəx ʾána w-àti.ˈ qímtɛla zíltɛlaˈ ja-jálde muṯɛ́ṯəlla štɛ̀ṯa.ˈ ʾu-tìwela.ˈ muṯɛ́ṯɛla tré glàse.ˈ ṭla-d-áy dráyɛla xàččaˈ ṭla-d-áw ràba.ˈ ʾa-d-áy ṃḷáyəlla kùlle míyaˈ ʾa-d-áw har-mə̀ḷya.ˈ štáyɛla-w práqɛla bíya dìyaˈ mə́ra də-yàlla,ˈ jàlde,ˈ ští ta-t-dàmxəx.ˈ málka rwèle.ˈ rwèleˈ qəm-doqále p-àqle,ˈ xrrr garšále nablále gu-čàčma,ˈ w-ač̣mále tắra bàre.ˈ ʾay-ṯéla dmíxla gu-ʾótəx dìya.ˈ xlíqla tằra,ˈ dmìxla.ˈ wítɛla qedámta sáʾət ʾárpa b-lɛ̀le,ˈ ṛìšɛleˈ màlkaˈ ʾína gu-čàčma.ˈ ʾáwwa lɛ̀le múdwaˈ ja-jálde pṯíxəlle tằra,ˈ rìqɛle.ˈ ríqa zìlɛle.ˈ zìlɛle,ˈ qedámta qímtɛla bràta-wˈ mxŭláltəlla ʾay-dùkṯaˈ ʾáxxa-w tàmma.ˈ báṯər ṭḷá-yarxe ṯéle yàla.ˈ ṯéle yàla,ˈ zílle ráʾsan qəm-xazéle dăràjeˈ ʾína dàwaˈ líqa b-bəzmàre.ˈ lɛ́le múttəlla ʾáqle dìyeˈ … ṣáwlət màlkaˈ ʾiwɛ́wa dàwaˈ … múttəlla rš-d-àn bəzmáre,ˈ ʾo-bəzmára xíla mən-dàwa,ˈ šqíla mən-dàwa.ˈ mə́re málka hóle ʾə́ṯya láxxa kəs-bàxti.ˈ ʾə̀ṯyɛle,ˈ qə́ryəlle xəmyáne dìye.ˈ mə́re háyyo ṱ-amrə̀nnux.ˈ mə́re há xḕr,ˈ mòdila?ˈ mə́re hàyyoˈ ʾána brátux là băyə́nna.ˈ mə́re sí-mur ṭla-màlka:ˈ ʾíṯwali xa-kàrma.ˈ zrìyənwaleˈ mútta-wewa dalyáṯa ʾu-xabúše ʾu-kúll xa-mə̀ndi.ˈ mútta-wewa ʾixàla.ˈ ṯéle xa-náša qəm-šaqə́lle ʾo-kàrmi.ˈ lá-karmi lɛle-mădòṛeˈ ʾu-la-ḥáqqət kàrmi lɛle-yáwa.ˈ si-hátxa múrgən ṭla-màlkaˈ xzi-mò b-mjawə́blux málka.ˈ qímɛle xəmyána dìyeˈ zílle kəs-màlka.ˈ ʾímə zílle kəs-màlka,ˈ díwənt málka hóle ṃḷíṯa náše ràbe.ˈ kúlla ʾə́ṯye ʾitléy šăráṭe ṱ-amríla qa-màlka.ˈ ʾaw-tíwɛle xaràya.ˈ mboqə́rre mən-d-o-qamàyaˈ módit ʾə̀ṯya?ˈ módi šắrəṭ dìyux? módi mqúma ʾə̀llux?ˈ ʾo-qamáya miràle,ˈ ʾo-t-tré miràle,ˈ ha-t-mṭéle gárra ʾə́lle dìye.ˈ mṭéle gárra ʾə́lle dìyeˈ mə́reˈ ʾàtiˈ módila qə́ṣṣət dìyux?ˈ mə́re ya-málka ṱ-áwət basìma.ˈ hóle ʾə́ṯya xa-nàša.ˈ ʾíṯwale xa-kàrma.ˈ zríyənwale b-iṯàṯiˈ ʾu-rábənwa kčíxa bíye dìye.ˈ ha-t-qa-mamṭə́nna ṭúnte dìye.ˈ ʾímət mṭéla ṭúnte dìye,ˈ ṯéle xa-nàša,ˈ qəm-šaqə̀lla ʾɛ-ṭúnte díye.ˈ ʾo-kármi qəm-šaqə̀lle.ˈ lá-karmi lɛ́le mădòṛeˈ ʾu-lá ḥáqqət kármi lɛle yàwa.ˈ ʾána hírən b-gàniˈ mò bắyən ṱ-oḏénaˈ lan-mṣáya čù-məndi.ˈ w-áti mò ṱ-amrə́tli?ˈ mə́re ʾána marən-ə̀lluxˈ hé dū̀s,ˈ ʾíṯwalux ʾo-kàrma.ˈ ʾína wírɛle gáwe díye ʾàryaˈ ʾu-plíṭɛle tèla.ˈ mára ʾímə ṱ-ìleˈ mírəlle hàtxa,ˈ ʾáwwa xəmyáne díye lɛ̀le ḏíya módila manày.ˈ málka ḏìle.ˈ qímɛle díṛa ʾə̀ṯyɛle.ˈ mə́re ṭla-yàlaˈ mə́re hàtxa mjuwə́ble ʾə́lli málka.ˈ mə́re mòdi mə́re?ˈ mə́re hé dū̀sˈ ʾíṯwalux kàrmaˈ ʾu-ṯéle náša qəm-šaqə̀lle mə́nnuxˈ ʾu-la-ḥàqqa yíwleˈ ʾu-la-kàrmux mŭdə́ṛṛe.ˈ ʾína wírɛle gáwe díye ʾàryaˈ ʾína plíṭɛle max-tàlaˈ m-gu-kàrma.ˈ mə́re dū́s hàtxa mə́re?ˈ mə́re hè.ˈ mə́re ʾána m-díya m-bàṯərˈ brátux băyə̀nna.ˈ ʾu-xə́tna l-bɛ́ṯa pɛ̀šena.ˈ ʾu-hadíya ḏíli ʾána manáy díyux mòdilaˈ ʾu-t-màlka.ˈ ʾu-háwət basíma ràba.ˈ ʾíṯwa xa-nàšaˈ gòṛaˈ zála b-ʾùrxa.ˈ zílle xá taqríban pálgə-saʾəta, xá-saʾəta, b-ùrxa,ˈ xa-yála zóra … là-zora,ˈ yáʿni mə́ṭya … tmanessə́r, ʾəsrì-šənne,ˈ zílle bàre.ˈ zílle báre dìyeˈ qəm-xazéle xa-nàšaˈ mìṯaˈ nabóləlle mṭamòrəlle.ˈ ʾo-yála zòraˈ ʾábu ʾəsrì-šənneˈ mə́re ṭla-d-ó gòṛa,ˈ náša gòṛa,ˈ mə́re xàliˈ ʾáwwa náša mìṯɛle ʾən-b-xàyele?ˈ mə́re hay-hátxa-w hátxa mə̀nnux.ˈ la-hóle mìṯa.ˈ lɛt-xzáya bíye díye ṱ-íle mìṯa?ˈ hóla nabóləlle mṭamòrəlle.ˈ w-áti hot-màraˈ mìṯɛle ʾən-b-xàye?ˈ la-hóle mìṯa.ˈ zìlɛle,ˈ lɛ̀le rhíwa.ˈ zílela xa-fàtraˈ mə̀ṭyela,ˈ xəzyéla nèra,ˈ mìya.ˈ ʾámər xàliˈ lá ʾawḏə́xle ʾáwwa gə̀šraˈ šáwrəx réša réša d-ánna mìya?ˈ ham-mṣawòre ʾə́lle díye.ˈ mə́re ʾána m-ɛ́ka mɛṯə́nnux qɛ̀se?ˈ m-ɛ́ka mɛṯə́nnux bəzmàre?ˈ m-ɛ́ka mɛṯə́nnux nasàrtaˈ ta-t-nasrə́nnux qɛ̀se ṱ-oḏə́nnux gə̀šra,ˈ šáwrəx réše réše dìye?ˈ ham-mə́re ma-yxàləf.ˈ qímela síqela b-xa-ṭùra.ˈ mə̀re ʾə́lle díyeˈ xàliˈ nə́mu la-ʾawḏə́xle ʾáwwa ṭùraˈ dărajyàṯa,ˈ dăràje,ˈ ṱ-ásqəx l-áwwa ṭùra?ˈ mə́re hàyˈ kálba brət-kàlbaˈ ṱ-íwət xa-xèna!ˈ m-ɛ́ka píšlux baláya ʾə̀lli?ˈ mə́re ʾána m-ɛ́ka mɛṯə́nnux kulə̀nga,ˈ ʾu-mɛṯə́nnux kèpeˈ ʾu-mɛṯə́nnux čimàntoˈ ʾu-ta-ṱ-oḏə́nnux dăràjeˈ ʾu-ta-ṱ-ásqət rèša díya?ˈ ʾáwwa yála là rhíwle.ˈ píḏela síqela ṭùra.ˈ sìqela,ˈ dàšta-wawaˈ ʾu-ḏá mḏíta gòṛta,ˈ tàma.ˈ ʾáwwa lítle náše gu-d-a-mḏìta.ˈ ʾo-náša sàwaˈ mə́re ṭla-d-ó-yala zòra,ˈ mə̀reˈ ʾɛ̀ka ṱ-ázət?ˈ ʾána čú-dukṯa lìtli.ˈ ṱ-ázən gu-jàma.ˈ xámən gu-jàma.ˈ ʾáwwa qíma zíla l-bɛ̀ṯe díyeˈ ʾo-náša gòṛa.ˈ ʾíṯwale xa-bràta.ˈ ʾu-zàngīn-wewa,ˈ ʾu-ʾíṯwale qàṣra.ˈ qáṣre díye spày-wewa.ˈ mára qìmɛle,ˈ wírɛle gu-bɛ̀ṯa,ˈ bráte díye mə́ra há bàbi,ˈ dàx-wawa ʾúrxux?ˈ spày-itwa?ˈ ʾə́ṯyət ràḥat,ˈ ʾən-là?ˈ mə́re bráti rába ràḥat-inwa,ˈ ʾína ʾə́ṯyɛle xa-yàla,ˈ xa-ʾaṣòṭa.ˈ mŭčə́zəlla xəyàli.ˈ mə́ra dàxi?ˈ mə́re ʾə̀ṯyəxˈ mə́ṭyəx pálgət ʾùrxaˈ xa-náša hóle mìṯa,ˈ zála mṭamòrəlle.ˈ hóle mára mìṯɛle ʾən-b-xàye?ˈ la-hóle mìṯa,ˈ hola-zála mṭamòrəlle.ˈ mə́ra bábi mò mə́rux-əlle?ˈ mə́re qəm-ṣarə̀nne.ˈ ta-mòˈ bàbi?ˈ la-ʾaw-dū̀s-wewa!ˈ mə́re dàx ṱ-ile-dū́s?ˈ hóla zála mṭamòrəlle.ˈ mə́ra hè bábi,ˈ hè.ˈ ʾu-mòdi-xenət xə́zya?ˈ mə́re ʾə́ṯyəx xa-néra benàṯənˈ hóle màraˈ bábi ṱ-óḏəxle gə̀šra.ˈ mə́ri m-ɛ́ka mɛṯə́nne qɛ̀se,ˈ m-ɛ́ka mɛṯə́nne bəzmàreˈ ʾu-nasàrta,ˈ ta-ṱ-oḏə́nne gə̀šraˈ šàwər réše réše.ˈ mòdi mə́rux-əlle?ˈ mə́re mṣuwə̀rri ʾə́lle díye.ˈ mə́re ṯélən b-áwwa ṭúra šìma.ˈ hóle mára ṭlàliˈ ṱ-óḏəxle dăràje xáli.ˈ mə́ri ʾána m-ɛ́ka mɛ́ṯən kulə̀nga,ˈ m-ɛ́ka mɛṯéna čimànto,ˈ m-ɛ́ka mɛ́ṯən kèpeˈ ta-ṱ-oḏə́nne dăráje ta-ṱ-ásəq gu-réše.ˈ mòdi mə̀rux-əlle?ˈ mə́re qəm-ṣarə̀nne.ˈ lá bàbi,ˈ là!ˈ lɛ̀ka zílle?ˈ zílle gu-jàma.ˈ mə́ra ma-yxàləf.ˈ mšádrən mɛxòlta ʾə́lle díye,ˈ ʾixàla.ˈ qìmtɛla,ˈ šlìqtaˈ bèʾe,ˈ šàwwa béʾe.ˈ ʾu-muttɛ́ṯɛla ṭḷáṯi lə̀xmeˈ gu-čànta.ˈ mə́ra bábi nábəlla gu-jàmaˈ hàlle!ˈ ʾáwwa zílɛle b-ʾùrxa,ˈ xa-bètaˈ ʾu-xa-lə́xma xìləlla.ˈ zílɛle nùbləllaˈ ʾə́lle dìye.ˈ mə́re hàˈ ʾáwwa ʾixàlaˈ ṭlàlux,ˈ xùl!ˈ pṯíxəlla xə̀zyəlla,ˈ ʾína ʾəštà-beʾe.ˈ lə́xma pṯìxleˈ ʾína xáze ʾə́sri ʾə́č̣č̣a lə̀xme.ˈ ʾámər là băyə́nna,ˈ šqùl!ˈ ʾámər ṭla-mòdi?ˈ mə́re ʾàxniˈ kə̀slənˈ šàbṯaˈ ʾíla šawwà-yomeˈ ʾu-yàrxaˈ ʾíle ṭḷaṯì-yome.ˈ ʾáxtu šabṯɛ́xu ʾəštà-yomela?ˈ yarxɛ́xu ʾəsri-w-ʾəč̣č̣à-yomele?ˈ là băyə́nna.ˈ šqúl sì!ˈ qímɛle šqìla-ʾaniˈ ʾu-mŭdə̀ṛəlla.ˈ núbləlla qa-bráte dìye.ˈ mə́ra hà bábi,ˈ mə́ra xázəx mŭdəṛìlux.ˈ ṭla-mò?ˈ mə́re ʾo-mára hàtxa,ˈ hàtxa.ˈ nublìliˈ hóle mára ṭlàliˈ lè y-axlə́nna.ˈ ʾáxni šabṯɛ̀niˈ šawwà yománelaˈ ʾu-yarxɛ́ni ṭḷaṯì yómele.ˈ mə̀reˈ ʾáxtu šabṯɛ́xu ʾíla ʾəštà-yomeˈ ʾu-yarxɛ́xu ʾíle ʾəsri-w-ʾəč̣č̣à-yome.ˈ mə́re là băyə́nna,ˈ sì.ˈ mə́ra dū̀sˈ bábi.ˈ b-ʾùrxaˈ lát-xila xa-lə́xma-w xa-bèta?ˈ mə́re yè.ˈ mə́re m-ɛ̀ka ḏíle?ˈ mə́ra ʾána muttɛ́ṯənwa yománə šàbṯaˈ ʾu-muttɛ́ṯənwa yománət yàrxa.ˈ ʾáti xa-béta hot-šqíləlla mən-šàbṯaˈ píše ʾəštà-yome.ˈ ʾu-xa-lə́xma hot-šqíləlle mən-yàrxa,ˈ hóla píše ʾəsri-w-ʾəč̣č̣à-yome.ˈ mə́ra bábi hawnànɛle.ˈ si-mɛ́ṯəlle làxxa.ˈ ʾu-mə̀raˈ ʾímə ṱ-ítu ʾə̀ṯye,ˈ xə̀zyeˈ ʾo-náša mìṯa,ˈ yắḏət módi-wawa qázde dìye?ˈ màrɛwaˈ har-ʾàwwɛleˈ ʾən-ʾítle nawàge,ˈ ʾən-ʾítle bàba,ˈ ʾən-ʾítle yə̀mma,ˈ ʾən-ʾítle xonăwàṯa?ˈ ʾímə-t mə̀reˈ har-ʾàwwɛleˈ ʾən-là?ˈ mìṯɛleˈ ʾən-là?ˈ xá-naša l-xóḏe lítle la-bába la-yə́mma la-ʾàp-xa,ˈ ʾáw y-amrìleˈ lìtle náše.ˈ ʾáwwa mìṯɛle.ˈ ʾáwwa mádam ʾìṯwaleˈ bàxta,ˈ ʾíṯwale bnòne,ˈ ʾíṯwale nàše,ˈ ʾáwwa lɛ̀le míṯa.ˈ mə́re dū̀s-iwət.ˈ mə́re ʾína m-ɛ̀kaˈ ṱ-óḏənwale gə́šra?ˈ ʾaw-mə́re là ṱ-oḏə́tli gə́šra b-qɛ̀saˈ ʾáxxa-w tàmma.ˈ xa-mənnɛ́xu ṭayə́nwa ʾo-xèna,ˈ ṭayə́nwale l-xàṣe,ˈ payə́šwa gə̀šra.ˈ xà-mənnɛxu b-taréwaˈ ʾo-xéna là taréwa.ˈ mə́re dū̀s-itˈ ʾap-ʾàyya.ˈ mə́ra b-ṭùra,ˈ ʾímə ṯélɛxu sáqa l-ṭùra,ˈ ʾaw-là-wewa qázde díye ta-t-xaprítu ṭùra.ˈ mə́re ṱ-amrítu tuniyàṯa,ˈ mṣawṯítu m-ġḏàḏe,ˈ ta-t-ṭúra ja-jálde pàrəq.ˈ ʾaw-lɛ̀wa qázde díye ta-ṱ-ázət ʾawḏə́tle xaprə́tle ṭùra,ˈ ʾawḏə́tle dăràjeˈ ʾáxxa-w tàmma.ˈ mə́re b-álaha dū̀s-it.ˈ si-múrre ṱ-áṯe làxxa.ˈ qímɛle zíla xá-ga xèta,ˈ mírəlle ʾu-ʾə̀ṯyɛle.ˈ ʾə́ṯyɛle l-bɛ̀ṯa,ˈ wírɛle gu-bɛ́ṯa xə̀zyəlle,ˈ ʾàmərˈ ʾáwwa tărɛ́xu pč̣ìlɛle.ˈ bábət bráta màraˈ m-ɛ̀kɛle pč̣íla?ˈ har-gubbā̀n-ix wíḏəlle.ˈ ya-nàšaˈ hot-mára hàtxa!ˈ mùt hole-pč̣íla?!ˈ ʾo-tắra drə̀st-ile,ˈ lɛ́le pč̣ìla.ˈ ʾáxxa l-tàmma.ˈ xárṯa mə̀raˈ … mṣuwə́tla m-ġḏàḏe,ˈ yála-w yàltaˈ … mə́ra ʾána băyànnux.ˈ mə́re ʾap-ʾána băyə̀nnəx.ˈ gwìrela l-ġḏáḏe.ˈ gwíre l-ġḏàḏe,ˈ màlkaˈ šmìleˈ ʿal-ʾasā̀sˈ xa-yála hóle ʾə́ṯya táma kəslèy,ˈ rába hawnànɛle,ˈ ʾu-ʾup-báxte dìyeˈ ṱ-íle gwìrəllaˈ rába hawnàntɛla.ˈ yíwle xábra ta-d-ò-yalaˈ mə́re ṱ-ázət ʾaskarìya.ˈ mə́re ṱ-ázət ʾaskarìya,ˈ lázəm ʾàzeti.ˈ kút ʾáṯe gu-ʾúpra dìyiˈ lázəm ʾáwəḏ ʾaskarìya.ˈ ʾawwa ʾaskaríya dìyeˈ ṭlà-kəma dánɛla?ˈ qa-ṭḷà-yarxe.ˈ mára qìmɛleˈ mə́re ma-yxàləf,ˈ ṱ-àzena.ˈ ʾáwwa ḏìleˈ manay-díye mòdila.ˈ qímɛle mtúrṣəlla xa-tàxta,ˈ wíḏəlla semàlta.ˈ múttəlla gu-ḥădìqa,ˈ mpúlṭɛle bəzmàre.ˈ kùllaˈ mən-ʾə̀ltəxˈ wíḏəlla bəzmàre.ˈ ʾítle tắra gu-ḥădìqaˈ ʾu-ʾítle dàrga-žigən.ˈ xa-béna ʾáwwa zìlɛle,ˈ l-àskar.ˈ ʾáwwa xènaˈ ṯéle málka b-lɛ̀le.ˈ ṯéle málka b-lɛ̀le,ˈ síqle gáwa-gawət ḥădìqa.ˈ ʾu-síqle b-dăràje.ˈ síqle wírre kəs-bràta.ˈ wírre kəs-bràtaˈ mə̀reˈ ʾána ʾədlɛ́le ʾárxa ṱ-áwən láxxa kə̀sləx.ˈ mə́ra málka dax-lítlux xàṭər.ˈ mə́ra ṱ-ázən máṯyən xáčča štɛ̀ṯa,ˈ màzza,ˈ məndi-hàle,ˈ ṱ-átwəx šátəx ʾána w-àti.ˈ qímtɛla zíltɛlaˈ ja-jálde muṯɛ́ṯəlla štɛ̀ṯa.ˈ ʾu-tìwela.ˈ muṯɛ́ṯɛla tré glàse.ˈ ṭla-d-áy dráyɛla xàččaˈ ṭla-d-áw ràba.ˈ ʾa-d-áy ṃḷáyəlla kùlle míyaˈ ʾa-d-áw har-mə̀ḷya.ˈ štáyɛla-w práqɛla bíya dìyaˈ mə́ra də-yàlla,ˈ jàlde,ˈ ští ta-t-dàmxəx.ˈ málka rwèle.ˈ rwèleˈ qəm-doqále p-àqle,ˈ xrrr garšále nablále gu-čàčma,ˈ w-ač̣mále tắra bàre.ˈ ʾay-ṯéla dmíxla gu-ʾótəx dìya.ˈ xlíqla tằra,ˈ dmìxla.ˈ wítɛla qedámta sáʾət ʾárpa b-lɛ̀le,ˈ ṛìšɛleˈ màlkaˈ ʾína gu-čàčma.ˈ ʾáwwa lɛ̀le múdwaˈ ja-jálde pṯíxəlle tằra,ˈ rìqɛle.ˈ ríqa zìlɛle.ˈ zìlɛle,ˈ qedámta qímtɛla bràta-wˈ mxŭláltəlla ʾay-dùkṯaˈ ʾáxxa-w tàmma.ˈ báṯər ṭḷá-yarxe ṯéle yàla.ˈ ṯéle yàla,ˈ zílle ráʾsan qəm-xazéle dăràjeˈ ʾína dàwaˈ líqa b-bəzmàre.ˈ lɛ́le múttəlla ʾáqle dìyeˈ … ṣáwlət màlkaˈ ʾiwɛ́wa dàwaˈ … múttəlla rš-d-àn bəzmáre,ˈ ʾo-bəzmára xíla mən-dàwa,ˈ šqíla mən-dàwa.ˈ mə́re málka hóle ʾə́ṯya láxxa kəs-bàxti.ˈ ʾə̀ṯyɛle,ˈ qə́ryəlle xəmyáne dìye.ˈ mə́re háyyo ṱ-amrə̀nnux.ˈ mə́re há xḕr,ˈ mòdila?ˈ mə́re hàyyoˈ ʾána brátux là băyə́nna.ˈ mə́re sí-mur ṭla-màlka:ˈ ʾíṯwali xa-kàrma.ˈ zrìyənwaleˈ mútta-wewa dalyáṯa ʾu-xabúše ʾu-kúll xa-mə̀ndi.ˈ mútta-wewa ʾixàla.ˈ ṯéle xa-náša qəm-šaqə́lle ʾo-kàrmi.ˈ lá-karmi lɛle-mădòṛeˈ ʾu-la-ḥáqqət kàrmi lɛle-yáwa.ˈ si-hátxa múrgən ṭla-màlkaˈ xzi-mò b-mjawə́blux málka.ˈ qímɛle xəmyána dìyeˈ zílle kəs-màlka.ˈ ʾímə zílle kəs-màlka,ˈ díwənt málka hóle ṃḷíṯa náše ràbe.ˈ kúlla ʾə́ṯye ʾitléy šăráṭe ṱ-amríla qa-màlka.ˈ ʾaw-tíwɛle xaràya.ˈ mboqə́rre mən-d-o-qamàyaˈ módit ʾə̀ṯya?ˈ módi šắrəṭ dìyux? módi mqúma ʾə̀llux?ˈ ʾo-qamáya miràle,ˈ ʾo-t-tré miràle,ˈ ha-t-mṭéle gárra ʾə́lle dìye.ˈ mṭéle gárra ʾə́lle dìyeˈ mə́reˈ ʾàtiˈ módila qə́ṣṣət dìyux?ˈ mə́re ya-málka ṱ-áwət basìma.ˈ hóle ʾə́ṯya xa-nàša.ˈ ʾíṯwale xa-kàrma.ˈ zríyənwale b-iṯàṯiˈ ʾu-rábənwa kčíxa bíye dìye.ˈ ha-t-qa-mamṭə́nna ṭúnte dìye.ˈ ʾímət mṭéla ṭúnte dìye,ˈ ṯéle xa-nàša,ˈ qəm-šaqə̀lla ʾɛ-ṭúnte díye.ˈ ʾo-kármi qəm-šaqə̀lle.ˈ lá-karmi lɛ́le mădòṛeˈ ʾu-lá ḥáqqət kármi lɛle yàwa.ˈ ʾána hírən b-gàniˈ mò bắyən ṱ-oḏénaˈ lan-mṣáya čù-məndi.ˈ w-áti mò ṱ-amrə́tli?ˈ mə́re ʾána marən-ə̀lluxˈ hé dū̀s,ˈ ʾíṯwalux ʾo-kàrma.ˈ ʾína wírɛle gáwe díye ʾàryaˈ ʾu-plíṭɛle tèla.ˈ mára ʾímə ṱ-ìleˈ mírəlle hàtxa,ˈ ʾáwwa xəmyáne díye lɛ̀le ḏíya módila manày.ˈ málka ḏìle.ˈ qímɛle díṛa ʾə̀ṯyɛle.ˈ mə́re ṭla-yàlaˈ mə́re hàtxa mjuwə́ble ʾə́lli málka.ˈ mə́re mòdi mə́re?ˈ mə́re hé dū̀sˈ ʾíṯwalux kàrmaˈ ʾu-ṯéle náša qəm-šaqə̀lle mə́nnuxˈ ʾu-la-ḥàqqa yíwleˈ ʾu-la-kàrmux mŭdə́ṛṛe.ˈ ʾína wírɛle gáwe díye ʾàryaˈ ʾína plíṭɛle max-tàlaˈ m-gu-kàrma.ˈ mə́re dū́s hàtxa mə́re?ˈ mə́re hè.ˈ mə́re ʾána m-díya m-bàṯərˈ brátux băyə̀nna.ˈ ʾu-xə́tna l-bɛ́ṯa pɛ̀šena.ˈ ʾu-hadíya ḏíli ʾána manáy díyux mòdilaˈ ʾu-t-màlka.ˈ ʾu-háwət basíma ràba.ˈ	There was once a man, an elderly man, who was going along the road. He went along for about half an hour, an hour, along the road. A young boy … not young, that is one who was eighteen or twenty years old, followed him. He followed him and saw a dead person, whom they were taking to bury. The youth, who was twenty years old, said to the older man, the older person, he said ‘Uncle, is that person dead or alive?’ He said ‘This and that (curse) be upon you. He is indeed dead. Don’t you see that he is dead? They are taking him to bury and you say “Is he alive or dead?”. He is indeed dead’. He went along and did not speak. After a while, they came upon a river, water. He said ‘Uncle, should we not make a bridge for it so that we can cross over this water?’ He cursed him again. He said ‘From where should I bring you wood? From where should I bring you nails? From where should I bring you a saw so that I could saw for you the wood to make a bridge, so we can cross it?’ He said again ‘Fine’. They went up a mountain. He said to him ‘Uncle, should we not make for this mountain steps, so that we can go up the mountain?’ He said ‘Oh, you dog son of a dog, who are another (son of a dog)! Why are you such a trouble to me?’ He said ‘From where could I bring you a pickaxe, or bring you stones, or bring you cement, so that I could make steps for you to go up?’ The youth did not speak. They passed on and went up the mountain. They went up, there was a plain, with a big town there. He had no relatives in that town. The old man said to the youth, he said ‘Where will you go?’ ‘I have nowhere to go. I’ll go to the mosque. I’ll stay in the mosque.’ The elderly man went to his house. He had a daughter. He was rich and had a large residence. His residence was (very) fine. Now, he went into the house and his daughter said ‘Oh, father, how was your journey? Was it good? Was it peaceful or not?’ He said ‘My daughter, I was very peaceful, but a tiresome youth came along and annoyed me’. She said ‘What happened?’ ‘(When) we reached the middle of the journey, (we found) a man had died and they were going to bury him. He says “Is he dead or alive?” He was indeed dead, they were going to bury him’. She said ‘Father, what did you say to him?’ He said ‘I cursed him’. ‘Why father? He was indeed right!’ He said ‘How was he right? They were going to bury him’. She said ‘Father, and what else did you see?’ He said ‘We came to a river between us (and the town). He says “My friend, let’s make a bridge for it”. I asked from where I should bring him wood, from where I should bring him nails and a saw so that I could make a bridge for him to cross over’. ‘What did you say to him?’ He said ‘I cursed him’. He said ‘We came to this huge mountain. He says to me “Let’s make steps for it, my uncle”. I asked him from where I should bring a pickaxe, from where should I bring cement, from where I should bring stones to make him steps to climb it’. ‘What did you say to him?’ He said ‘I cursed him’. ‘No, father, no! Where has he gone?’ ‘He has gone to the mosque’. She said ‘Fine. I shall send food to him, some food’. She boiled eggs, seven eggs, and put thirty loaves of bread in a basket. She said ‘Father, take them to the mosque and give them to him’. He went off on the road and ate one egg and one loaf of bread. He went and took them to him. He said ‘Here is some food for you. Eat it!’ He opened it and saw that there were six eggs. He opened (the basket of) bread and saw that there were twenty-nine loaves of bread. He said ‘I don’t want them. Take them!’ ‘Why (not)?’ He said ‘A week for us is seven days and a month is thirty days. Is your week six weeks? Is your month twenty-nine days? I don’t want them. Take them and go!’ He took them and returned them. He took them to his daughter. She said ‘Oh father’, she said ‘I see you have brought them back. Why?’ He said ‘He says such-and-such has happened. I took them and he says to me “I shall not eat them. Our week is seven days and our month is thirty days”. He said “Your week is six days and your month is twenty-nine days”. He said “I don’t want them, go away!” ’ She said ‘(He’s) right, father. On the way did you not eat a loaf of bread and an egg?’ He said ‘Yes’. He said ‘How did he know?’ She said ‘I had put (in the basket the number of ) the days of the week and I had put (the number of ) the days of the month. You took an egg from the week and it became six days. You took a loaf of bread from the month, and it became twenty-nine days’. She said ‘Father, he is clever. Go and bring him here’. She said ‘When you came and saw that dead man, do you know what his intention was? He meant “Is he alone or does he have grandchildren, does he have a father, does he have a mother, does he have brothers?” That is, when he said “Is he alone or not? Is he dead or not?”, (this is because) a man by himself, who does not have a father, a mother or anybody, they say that he has no relatives. He is dead (in this case). So long as he had a wife, he had sons, he had relatives, he is not dead’. He said ‘You are right. But from where could I have made him a bridge?’ ‘He did not mean “Make me a bridge of wood” and so forth. (Rather his meaning was that) one of you should carry the other, carry him on his back, and he would become a bridge. One of you would get wet and the other would not get wet’. He said ‘You are right, also in this’. She said ‘On the mountain, when you came to go up the mountain, it was not his intention that you should dig the mountain. He meant that you should tell stories, you should speak with one another, so that the mountain would finish quickly. It was not his intention that you should go and dig the mountain and make him steps, and so forth’. He said ‘By God, you are right’. ‘Go and tell him to come here’. He went again and told him, and he came. He came to the house. He entered the house and saw it, then said ‘This door of yours is crooked’. The father of the girl said ‘How can it be crooked? We made it exactly according to a spirit-level, man, but you say that! What (do you mean by saying) it is crooked?! The door is straight, it is not crooked’. And so forth. Afterwards she said—the boy and girl talked with one another—she said ‘I love you’. He said ‘I also love you’. They married one another. They married one another and the king heard that a young man had come to their home, that he was very clever and that also his wife, whom he had married, was very clever. He gave an instruction to that youth saying ‘You have to go to the army’. He said ‘You have to go to the army, you must go’. Everybody who comes to my land, must serve in the army’. For what time is this army of his for? For three months. So, he said ‘Fine, I’ll go’. He knew what his intention was. He constructed a board and made it into a ladder. He put them in the garden. He fetched nails and put all the nails underneath. There was a door in the garden and there was also a main gate. Then he went to the army. The other, the king, came at night. The king came at night and went up through the garden. He went up the steps, he went up and went in (to visit) the girl. He went in (to visit) the girl. He said ‘Tonight I shall be a guest in your home’. She said ‘Oh king, you are welcome’. She said ‘I shall go and bring some drink, nibbles, and so on, so that we can sit and drink, you and me’. She went and quickly brought drink and they sat down. She brought two glasses. For herself she pours out a little and for him a lot. She fills hers all with water. His was continuously full. They drink and finish it. She said ‘Come, quickly, drink so that we can go to sleep’. The king became drunk. He became drunk and she grasped him by his legs, dragged him along and took him to the bathroom, then closed the door behind him. She came back and went to sleep in her room. She locked the door and went to sleep. In the morning, at four o’clock in the morning, the king woke up (and saw) that he was in the bathroom. He did not delay and quickly opened the door, then ran away. He ran and went away. He went away and in the morning the girl got up and cleaned the place, and so forth. After three months the young man came back. (After) the young man came back, he went immediately and saw that on the steps gold had stuck to the nails. While he placed his foot—the shoes of the king were made of gold—he placed them on the nails, the nail ate the gold, took some of the gold. He said ‘The king has come here to visit my wife.’ He came back and called his father-in-law. He said ‘Come. I’ll tell you’. He said ‘Is everything all right? What is the matter?’ He said ‘Come. I don’t love your daughter’. He said ‘Go and tell the king “I had an orchard. I had cultivated it. It was laid out with vines, apple-trees, everything. It was laid out with food. A man came and took away my orchard. He does not return my orchard nor does he pay the price”. Go and say this to the king. See what the king replies’. His father-in-law went to the king. When he went to the king, the audience chamber of the king was full of many people. They had all come with cases to present to the king. He sat last (in the queue). He (The king) asked the first one ‘Why have you come? What is your case? What has befallen you?’ The first one told him (his case), the second one told him, until his turn came. His turn came, he (the king) said ‘What is your story?’ He said ‘King, may you be well. A man has come (to me). He had an orchard. (He said) “I had cultivated it with my hands and toiled greatly in it in order to make it produce its fruit. When its fruit became ripe, a man came and took its fruit. He took my orchard. He is neither returning my orchard nor paying the price of my orchard. I am confused as to what I should do. I cannot do anything. What do you say to me?”’ He (the king) said ‘I say to you: Yes, it’s true. You had an orchard. But a lion entered it and came out as a fox’. Now, when he said that to him, his father-in-law did not understand what the meaning was. The king knew. He came back. He said to the young man, he said ‘The king replied to me in this way’. He said ‘What did he say?’ He said ‘It is true. You had an orchard and a person came and took it from you. He did not pay its price nor did he return your orchard. A lion entered the orchard and came out as a fox’. He said ‘Did he really say that?’ He said ‘Yes’. He said ‘I from now on love your daughter and shall become a son-in-law in the house. I now know what you mean and what the king means’. Thank you.

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ʾíṯwa xa-nàšaˈ gòṛaˈ zála b-ʾùrxa.ˈ zílle xá taqríban pálgə-saʾəta, xá-saʾəta, b-ùrxa,ˈ xa-yála zóra … là-zora,ˈ yáʿni mə́ṭya … tmanessə́r, ʾəsrì-šənne,ˈ zílle bàre.ˈ zílle báre dìyeˈ qəm-xazéle xa-nàšaˈ mìṯaˈ nabóləlle mṭamòrəlle.ˈ ʾo-yála zòraˈ ʾábu ʾəsrì-šənneˈ mə́re ṭla-d-ó gòṛa,ˈ náša gòṛa,ˈ mə́re xàliˈ ʾáwwa náša mìṯɛle ʾən-b-xàyele?ˈ mə́re hay-hátxa-w hátxa mə̀nnux.ˈ la-hóle mìṯa.ˈ lɛt-xzáya bíye díye ṱ-íle mìṯa?ˈ hóla nabóləlle mṭamòrəlle.ˈ w-áti hot-màraˈ mìṯɛle ʾən-b-xàye?ˈ la-hóle mìṯa.ˈ zìlɛle,ˈ lɛ̀le rhíwa.ˈ zílela xa-fàtraˈ mə̀ṭyela,ˈ xəzyéla nèra,ˈ mìya.ˈ ʾámər xàliˈ lá ʾawḏə́xle ʾáwwa gə̀šraˈ šáwrəx réša réša d-ánna mìya?ˈ ham-mṣawòre ʾə́lle díye.ˈ mə́re ʾána m-ɛ́ka mɛṯə́nnux qɛ̀se?ˈ m-ɛ́ka mɛṯə́nnux bəzmàre?ˈ m-ɛ́ka mɛṯə́nnux nasàrtaˈ ta-t-nasrə́nnux qɛ̀se ṱ-oḏə́nnux gə̀šra,ˈ šáwrəx réše réše dìye?ˈ ham-mə́re ma-yxàləf.ˈ qímela síqela b-xa-ṭùra.ˈ mə̀re ʾə́lle díyeˈ xàliˈ nə́mu la-ʾawḏə́xle ʾáwwa ṭùraˈ dărajyàṯa,ˈ dăràje,ˈ ṱ-ásqəx l-áwwa ṭùra?ˈ mə́re hàyˈ kálba brət-kàlbaˈ ṱ-íwət xa-xèna!ˈ m-ɛ́ka píšlux baláya ʾə̀lli?ˈ mə́re ʾána m-ɛ́ka mɛṯə́nnux kulə̀nga,ˈ ʾu-mɛṯə́nnux kèpeˈ ʾu-mɛṯə́nnux čimàntoˈ ʾu-ta-ṱ-oḏə́nnux dăràjeˈ ʾu-ta-ṱ-ásqət rèša díya?ˈ ʾáwwa yála là rhíwle.ˈ píḏela síqela ṭùra.ˈ sìqela,ˈ dàšta-wawaˈ ʾu-ḏá mḏíta gòṛta,ˈ tàma.ˈ ʾáwwa lítle náše gu-d-a-mḏìta.ˈ ʾo-náša sàwaˈ mə́re ṭla-d-ó-yala zòra,ˈ mə̀reˈ ʾɛ̀ka ṱ-ázət?ˈ ʾána čú-dukṯa lìtli.ˈ ṱ-ázən gu-jàma.ˈ xámən gu-jàma.ˈ ʾáwwa qíma zíla l-bɛ̀ṯe díyeˈ ʾo-náša gòṛa.ˈ ʾíṯwale xa-bràta.ˈ ʾu-zàngīn-wewa,ˈ ʾu-ʾíṯwale qàṣra.ˈ qáṣre díye spày-wewa.ˈ mára qìmɛle,ˈ wírɛle gu-bɛ̀ṯa,ˈ bráte díye mə́ra há bàbi,ˈ dàx-wawa ʾúrxux?ˈ spày-itwa?ˈ ʾə́ṯyət ràḥat,ˈ ʾən-là?ˈ mə́re bráti rába ràḥat-inwa,ˈ ʾína ʾə́ṯyɛle xa-yàla,ˈ xa-ʾaṣòṭa.ˈ mŭčə́zəlla xəyàli.ˈ mə́ra dàxi?ˈ mə́re ʾə̀ṯyəxˈ mə́ṭyəx pálgət ʾùrxaˈ xa-náša hóle mìṯa,ˈ zála mṭamòrəlle.ˈ hóle mára mìṯɛle ʾən-b-xàye?ˈ la-hóle mìṯa,ˈ hola-zála mṭamòrəlle.ˈ mə́ra bábi mò mə́rux-əlle?ˈ mə́re qəm-ṣarə̀nne.ˈ ta-mòˈ bàbi?ˈ la-ʾaw-dū̀s-wewa!ˈ mə́re dàx ṱ-ile-dū́s?ˈ hóla zála mṭamòrəlle.ˈ mə́ra hè bábi,ˈ hè.ˈ ʾu-mòdi-xenət xə́zya?ˈ mə́re ʾə́ṯyəx xa-néra benàṯənˈ hóle màraˈ bábi ṱ-óḏəxle gə̀šra.ˈ mə́ri m-ɛ́ka mɛṯə́nne qɛ̀se,ˈ m-ɛ́ka mɛṯə́nne bəzmàreˈ ʾu-nasàrta,ˈ ta-ṱ-oḏə́nne gə̀šraˈ šàwər réše réše.ˈ mòdi mə́rux-əlle?ˈ mə́re mṣuwə̀rri ʾə́lle díye.ˈ mə́re ṯélən b-áwwa ṭúra šìma.ˈ hóle mára ṭlàliˈ ṱ-óḏəxle dăràje xáli.ˈ mə́ri ʾána m-ɛ́ka mɛ́ṯən kulə̀nga,ˈ m-ɛ́ka mɛṯéna čimànto,ˈ m-ɛ́ka mɛ́ṯən kèpeˈ ta-ṱ-oḏə́nne dăráje ta-ṱ-ásəq gu-réše.ˈ mòdi mə̀rux-əlle?ˈ mə́re qəm-ṣarə̀nne.ˈ lá bàbi,ˈ là!ˈ lɛ̀ka zílle?ˈ zílle gu-jàma.ˈ mə́ra ma-yxàləf.ˈ mšádrən mɛxòlta ʾə́lle díye,ˈ ʾixàla.ˈ qìmtɛla,ˈ šlìqtaˈ bèʾe,ˈ šàwwa béʾe.ˈ ʾu-muttɛ́ṯɛla ṭḷáṯi lə̀xmeˈ gu-čànta.ˈ mə́ra bábi nábəlla gu-jàmaˈ hàlle!ˈ ʾáwwa zílɛle b-ʾùrxa,ˈ xa-bètaˈ ʾu-xa-lə́xma xìləlla.ˈ zílɛle nùbləllaˈ ʾə́lle dìye.ˈ mə́re hàˈ ʾáwwa ʾixàlaˈ ṭlàlux,ˈ xùl!ˈ pṯíxəlla xə̀zyəlla,ˈ ʾína ʾəštà-beʾe.ˈ lə́xma pṯìxleˈ ʾína xáze ʾə́sri ʾə́č̣č̣a lə̀xme.ˈ ʾámər là băyə́nna,ˈ šqùl!ˈ ʾámər ṭla-mòdi?ˈ mə́re ʾàxniˈ kə̀slənˈ šàbṯaˈ ʾíla šawwà-yomeˈ ʾu-yàrxaˈ ʾíle ṭḷaṯì-yome.ˈ ʾáxtu šabṯɛ́xu ʾəštà-yomela?ˈ yarxɛ́xu ʾəsri-w-ʾəč̣č̣à-yomele?ˈ là băyə́nna.ˈ šqúl sì!ˈ qímɛle šqìla-ʾaniˈ ʾu-mŭdə̀ṛəlla.ˈ núbləlla qa-bráte dìye.ˈ mə́ra hà bábi,ˈ mə́ra xázəx mŭdəṛìlux.ˈ ṭla-mò?ˈ mə́re ʾo-mára hàtxa,ˈ hàtxa.ˈ nublìliˈ hóle mára ṭlàliˈ lè y-axlə́nna.ˈ ʾáxni šabṯɛ̀niˈ šawwà yománelaˈ ʾu-yarxɛ́ni ṭḷaṯì yómele.ˈ mə̀reˈ ʾáxtu šabṯɛ́xu ʾíla ʾəštà-yomeˈ ʾu-yarxɛ́xu ʾíle ʾəsri-w-ʾəč̣č̣à-yome.ˈ mə́re là băyə́nna,ˈ sì.ˈ mə́ra dū̀sˈ bábi.ˈ b-ʾùrxaˈ lát-xila xa-lə́xma-w xa-bèta?ˈ mə́re yè.ˈ mə́re m-ɛ̀ka ḏíle?ˈ mə́ra ʾána muttɛ́ṯənwa yománə šàbṯaˈ ʾu-muttɛ́ṯənwa yománət yàrxa.ˈ ʾáti xa-béta hot-šqíləlla mən-šàbṯaˈ píše ʾəštà-yome.ˈ ʾu-xa-lə́xma hot-šqíləlle mən-yàrxa,ˈ hóla píše ʾəsri-w-ʾəč̣č̣à-yome.ˈ mə́ra bábi hawnànɛle.ˈ si-mɛ́ṯəlle làxxa.ˈ ʾu-mə̀raˈ ʾímə ṱ-ítu ʾə̀ṯye,ˈ xə̀zyeˈ ʾo-náša mìṯa,ˈ yắḏət módi-wawa qázde dìye?ˈ màrɛwaˈ har-ʾàwwɛleˈ ʾən-ʾítle nawàge,ˈ ʾən-ʾítle bàba,ˈ ʾən-ʾítle yə̀mma,ˈ ʾən-ʾítle xonăwàṯa?ˈ ʾímə-t mə̀reˈ har-ʾàwwɛleˈ ʾən-là?ˈ mìṯɛleˈ ʾən-là?ˈ xá-naša l-xóḏe lítle la-bába la-yə́mma la-ʾàp-xa,ˈ ʾáw y-amrìleˈ lìtle náše.ˈ ʾáwwa mìṯɛle.ˈ ʾáwwa mádam ʾìṯwaleˈ bàxta,ˈ ʾíṯwale bnòne,ˈ ʾíṯwale nàše,ˈ ʾáwwa lɛ̀le míṯa.ˈ mə́re dū̀s-iwət.ˈ mə́re ʾína m-ɛ̀kaˈ ṱ-óḏənwale gə́šra?ˈ ʾaw-mə́re là ṱ-oḏə́tli gə́šra b-qɛ̀saˈ ʾáxxa-w tàmma.ˈ xa-mənnɛ́xu ṭayə́nwa ʾo-xèna,ˈ ṭayə́nwale l-xàṣe,ˈ payə́šwa gə̀šra.ˈ xà-mənnɛxu b-taréwaˈ ʾo-xéna là taréwa.ˈ mə́re dū̀s-itˈ ʾap-ʾàyya.ˈ mə́ra b-ṭùra,ˈ ʾímə ṯélɛxu sáqa l-ṭùra,ˈ ʾaw-là-wewa qázde díye ta-t-xaprítu ṭùra.ˈ mə́re ṱ-amrítu tuniyàṯa,ˈ mṣawṯítu m-ġḏàḏe,ˈ ta-t-ṭúra ja-jálde pàrəq.ˈ ʾaw-lɛ̀wa qázde díye ta-ṱ-ázət ʾawḏə́tle xaprə́tle ṭùra,ˈ ʾawḏə́tle dăràjeˈ ʾáxxa-w tàmma.ˈ mə́re b-álaha dū̀s-it.ˈ si-múrre ṱ-áṯe làxxa.ˈ qímɛle zíla xá-ga xèta,ˈ mírəlle ʾu-ʾə̀ṯyɛle.ˈ ʾə́ṯyɛle l-bɛ̀ṯa,ˈ wírɛle gu-bɛ́ṯa xə̀zyəlle,ˈ ʾàmərˈ ʾáwwa tărɛ́xu pč̣ìlɛle.ˈ bábət bráta màraˈ m-ɛ̀kɛle pč̣íla?ˈ har-gubbā̀n-ix wíḏəlle.ˈ ya-nàšaˈ hot-mára hàtxa!ˈ mùt hole-pč̣íla?!ˈ ʾo-tắra drə̀st-ile,ˈ lɛ́le pč̣ìla.ˈ ʾáxxa l-tàmma.ˈ xárṯa mə̀raˈ … mṣuwə́tla m-ġḏàḏe,ˈ yála-w yàltaˈ … mə́ra ʾána băyànnux.ˈ mə́re ʾap-ʾána băyə̀nnəx.ˈ gwìrela l-ġḏáḏe.ˈ gwíre l-ġḏàḏe,ˈ màlkaˈ šmìleˈ ʿal-ʾasā̀sˈ xa-yála hóle ʾə́ṯya táma kəslèy,ˈ rába hawnànɛle,ˈ ʾu-ʾup-báxte dìyeˈ ṱ-íle gwìrəllaˈ rába hawnàntɛla.ˈ yíwle xábra ta-d-ò-yalaˈ mə́re ṱ-ázət ʾaskarìya.ˈ mə́re ṱ-ázət ʾaskarìya,ˈ lázəm ʾàzeti.ˈ kút ʾáṯe gu-ʾúpra dìyiˈ lázəm ʾáwəḏ ʾaskarìya.ˈ ʾawwa ʾaskaríya dìyeˈ ṭlà-kəma dánɛla?ˈ qa-ṭḷà-yarxe.ˈ mára qìmɛleˈ mə́re ma-yxàləf,ˈ ṱ-àzena.ˈ ʾáwwa ḏìleˈ manay-díye mòdila.ˈ qímɛle mtúrṣəlla xa-tàxta,ˈ wíḏəlla semàlta.ˈ múttəlla gu-ḥădìqa,ˈ mpúlṭɛle bəzmàre.ˈ kùllaˈ mən-ʾə̀ltəxˈ wíḏəlla bəzmàre.ˈ ʾítle tắra gu-ḥădìqaˈ ʾu-ʾítle dàrga-žigən.ˈ xa-béna ʾáwwa zìlɛle,ˈ l-àskar.ˈ ʾáwwa xènaˈ ṯéle málka b-lɛ̀le.ˈ ṯéle málka b-lɛ̀le,ˈ síqle gáwa-gawət ḥădìqa.ˈ ʾu-síqle b-dăràje.ˈ síqle wírre kəs-bràta.ˈ wírre kəs-bràtaˈ mə̀reˈ ʾána ʾədlɛ́le ʾárxa ṱ-áwən láxxa kə̀sləx.ˈ mə́ra málka dax-lítlux xàṭər.ˈ mə́ra ṱ-ázən máṯyən xáčča štɛ̀ṯa,ˈ màzza,ˈ məndi-hàle,ˈ ṱ-átwəx šátəx ʾána w-àti.ˈ qímtɛla zíltɛlaˈ ja-jálde muṯɛ́ṯəlla štɛ̀ṯa.ˈ ʾu-tìwela.ˈ muṯɛ́ṯɛla tré glàse.ˈ ṭla-d-áy dráyɛla xàččaˈ ṭla-d-áw ràba.ˈ ʾa-d-áy ṃḷáyəlla kùlle míyaˈ ʾa-d-áw har-mə̀ḷya.ˈ štáyɛla-w práqɛla bíya dìyaˈ mə́ra də-yàlla,ˈ jàlde,ˈ ští ta-t-dàmxəx.ˈ málka rwèle.ˈ rwèleˈ qəm-doqále p-àqle,ˈ xrrr garšále nablále gu-čàčma,ˈ w-ač̣mále tắra bàre.ˈ ʾay-ṯéla dmíxla gu-ʾótəx dìya.ˈ xlíqla tằra,ˈ dmìxla.ˈ wítɛla qedámta sáʾət ʾárpa b-lɛ̀le,ˈ ṛìšɛleˈ màlkaˈ ʾína gu-čàčma.ˈ ʾáwwa lɛ̀le múdwaˈ ja-jálde pṯíxəlle tằra,ˈ rìqɛle.ˈ ríqa zìlɛle.ˈ zìlɛle,ˈ qedámta qímtɛla bràta-wˈ mxŭláltəlla ʾay-dùkṯaˈ ʾáxxa-w tàmma.ˈ báṯər ṭḷá-yarxe ṯéle yàla.ˈ ṯéle yàla,ˈ zílle ráʾsan qəm-xazéle dăràjeˈ ʾína dàwaˈ líqa b-bəzmàre.ˈ lɛ́le múttəlla ʾáqle dìyeˈ … ṣáwlət màlkaˈ ʾiwɛ́wa dàwaˈ … múttəlla rš-d-àn bəzmáre,ˈ ʾo-bəzmára xíla mən-dàwa,ˈ šqíla mən-dàwa.ˈ mə́re málka hóle ʾə́ṯya láxxa kəs-bàxti.ˈ ʾə̀ṯyɛle,ˈ qə́ryəlle xəmyáne dìye.ˈ mə́re háyyo ṱ-amrə̀nnux.ˈ mə́re há xḕr,ˈ mòdila?ˈ mə́re hàyyoˈ ʾána brátux là băyə́nna.ˈ mə́re sí-mur ṭla-màlka:ˈ ʾíṯwali xa-kàrma.ˈ zrìyənwaleˈ mútta-wewa dalyáṯa ʾu-xabúše ʾu-kúll xa-mə̀ndi.ˈ mútta-wewa ʾixàla.ˈ ṯéle xa-náša qəm-šaqə́lle ʾo-kàrmi.ˈ lá-karmi lɛle-mădòṛeˈ ʾu-la-ḥáqqət kàrmi lɛle-yáwa.ˈ si-hátxa múrgən ṭla-màlkaˈ xzi-mò b-mjawə́blux málka.ˈ qímɛle xəmyána dìyeˈ zílle kəs-màlka.ˈ ʾímə zílle kəs-màlka,ˈ díwənt málka hóle ṃḷíṯa náše ràbe.ˈ kúlla ʾə́ṯye ʾitléy šăráṭe ṱ-amríla qa-màlka.ˈ ʾaw-tíwɛle xaràya.ˈ mboqə́rre mən-d-o-qamàyaˈ módit ʾə̀ṯya?ˈ módi šắrəṭ dìyux? módi mqúma ʾə̀llux?ˈ ʾo-qamáya miràle,ˈ ʾo-t-tré miràle,ˈ ha-t-mṭéle gárra ʾə́lle dìye.ˈ mṭéle gárra ʾə́lle dìyeˈ mə́reˈ ʾàtiˈ módila qə́ṣṣət dìyux?ˈ mə́re ya-málka ṱ-áwət basìma.ˈ hóle ʾə́ṯya xa-nàša.ˈ ʾíṯwale xa-kàrma.ˈ zríyənwale b-iṯàṯiˈ ʾu-rábənwa kčíxa bíye dìye.ˈ ha-t-qa-mamṭə́nna ṭúnte dìye.ˈ ʾímət mṭéla ṭúnte dìye,ˈ ṯéle xa-nàša,ˈ qəm-šaqə̀lla ʾɛ-ṭúnte díye.ˈ ʾo-kármi qəm-šaqə̀lle.ˈ lá-karmi lɛ́le mădòṛeˈ ʾu-lá ḥáqqət kármi lɛle yàwa.ˈ ʾána hírən b-gàniˈ mò bắyən ṱ-oḏénaˈ lan-mṣáya čù-məndi.ˈ w-áti mò ṱ-amrə́tli?ˈ mə́re ʾána marən-ə̀lluxˈ hé dū̀s,ˈ ʾíṯwalux ʾo-kàrma.ˈ ʾína wírɛle gáwe díye ʾàryaˈ ʾu-plíṭɛle tèla.ˈ mára ʾímə ṱ-ìleˈ mírəlle hàtxa,ˈ ʾáwwa xəmyáne díye lɛ̀le ḏíya módila manày.ˈ málka ḏìle.ˈ qímɛle díṛa ʾə̀ṯyɛle.ˈ mə́re ṭla-yàlaˈ mə́re hàtxa mjuwə́ble ʾə́lli málka.ˈ mə́re mòdi mə́re?ˈ mə́re hé dū̀sˈ ʾíṯwalux kàrmaˈ ʾu-ṯéle náša qəm-šaqə̀lle mə́nnuxˈ ʾu-la-ḥàqqa yíwleˈ ʾu-la-kàrmux mŭdə́ṛṛe.ˈ ʾína wírɛle gáwe díye ʾàryaˈ ʾína plíṭɛle max-tàlaˈ m-gu-kàrma.ˈ mə́re dū́s hàtxa mə́re?ˈ mə́re hè.ˈ mə́re ʾána m-díya m-bàṯərˈ brátux băyə̀nna.ˈ ʾu-xə́tna l-bɛ́ṯa pɛ̀šena.ˈ ʾu-hadíya ḏíli ʾána manáy díyux mòdilaˈ ʾu-t-màlka.ˈ ʾu-háwət basíma ràba.ˈ

Translation:

There was once a man, an elderly man, who was going along the road. He went along for about half an hour, an hour, along the road. A young boy … not young, that is one who was eighteen or twenty years old, followed him. He followed him and saw a dead person, whom they were taking to bury. The youth, who was twenty years old, said to the older man, the older person, he said ‘Uncle, is that person dead or alive?’ He said ‘This and that (curse) be upon you. He is indeed dead. Don’t you see that he is dead? They are taking him to bury and you say “Is he alive or dead?”. He is indeed dead’. He went along and did not speak. After a while, they came upon a river, water. He said ‘Uncle, should we not make a bridge for it so that we can cross over this water?’ He cursed him again. He said ‘From where should I bring you wood? From where should I bring you nails? From where should I bring you a saw so that I could saw for you the wood to make a bridge, so we can cross it?’ He said again ‘Fine’. They went up a mountain. He said to him ‘Uncle, should we not make for this mountain steps, so that we can go up the mountain?’ He said ‘Oh, you dog son of a dog, who are another (son of a dog)! Why are you such a trouble to me?’ He said ‘From where could I bring you a pickaxe, or bring you stones, or bring you cement, so that I could make steps for you to go up?’ The youth did not speak. They passed on and went up the mountain. They went up, there was a plain, with a big town there. He had no relatives in that town. The old man said to the youth, he said ‘Where will you go?’ ‘I have nowhere to go. I’ll go to the mosque. I’ll stay in the mosque.’ The elderly man went to his house. He had a daughter. He was rich and had a large residence. His residence was (very) fine. Now, he went into the house and his daughter said ‘Oh, father, how was your journey? Was it good? Was it peaceful or not?’ He said ‘My daughter, I was very peaceful, but a tiresome youth came along and annoyed me’. She said ‘What happened?’ ‘(When) we reached the middle of the journey, (we found) a man had died and they were going to bury him. He says “Is he dead or alive?” He was indeed dead, they were going to bury him’. She said ‘Father, what did you say to him?’ He said ‘I cursed him’. ‘Why father? He was indeed right!’ He said ‘How was he right? They were going to bury him’. She said ‘Father, and what else did you see?’ He said ‘We came to a river between us (and the town). He says “My friend, let’s make a bridge for it”. I asked from where I should bring him wood, from where I should bring him nails and a saw so that I could make a bridge for him to cross over’. ‘What did you say to him?’ He said ‘I cursed him’. He said ‘We came to this huge mountain. He says to me “Let’s make steps for it, my uncle”. I asked him from where I should bring a pickaxe, from where should I bring cement, from where I should bring stones to make him steps to climb it’. ‘What did you say to him?’ He said ‘I cursed him’. ‘No, father, no! Where has he gone?’ ‘He has gone to the mosque’. She said ‘Fine. I shall send food to him, some food’. She boiled eggs, seven eggs, and put thirty loaves of bread in a basket. She said ‘Father, take them to the mosque and give them to him’. He went off on the road and ate one egg and one loaf of bread. He went and took them to him. He said ‘Here is some food for you. Eat it!’ He opened it and saw that there were six eggs. He opened (the basket of) bread and saw that there were twenty-nine loaves of bread. He said ‘I don’t want them. Take them!’ ‘Why (not)?’ He said ‘A week for us is seven days and a month is thirty days. Is your week six weeks? Is your month twenty-nine days? I don’t want them. Take them and go!’ He took them and returned them. He took them to his daughter. She said ‘Oh father’, she said ‘I see you have brought them back. Why?’ He said ‘He says such-and-such has happened. I took them and he says to me “I shall not eat them. Our week is seven days and our month is thirty days”. He said “Your week is six days and your month is twenty-nine days”. He said “I don’t want them, go away!” ’ She said ‘(He’s) right, father. On the way did you not eat a loaf of bread and an egg?’ He said ‘Yes’. He said ‘How did he know?’ She said ‘I had put (in the basket the number of ) the days of the week and I had put (the number of ) the days of the month. You took an egg from the week and it became six days. You took a loaf of bread from the month, and it became twenty-nine days’. She said ‘Father, he is clever. Go and bring him here’. She said ‘When you came and saw that dead man, do you know what his intention was? He meant “Is he alone or does he have grandchildren, does he have a father, does he have a mother, does he have brothers?” That is, when he said “Is he alone or not? Is he dead or not?”, (this is because) a man by himself, who does not have a father, a mother or anybody, they say that he has no relatives. He is dead (in this case). So long as he had a wife, he had sons, he had relatives, he is not dead’. He said ‘You are right. But from where could I have made him a bridge?’ ‘He did not mean “Make me a bridge of wood” and so forth. (Rather his meaning was that) one of you should carry the other, carry him on his back, and he would become a bridge. One of you would get wet and the other would not get wet’. He said ‘You are right, also in this’. She said ‘On the mountain, when you came to go up the mountain, it was not his intention that you should dig the mountain. He meant that you should tell stories, you should speak with one another, so that the mountain would finish quickly. It was not his intention that you should go and dig the mountain and make him steps, and so forth’. He said ‘By God, you are right’. ‘Go and tell him to come here’. He went again and told him, and he came. He came to the house. He entered the house and saw it, then said ‘This door of yours is crooked’. The father of the girl said ‘How can it be crooked? We made it exactly according to a spirit-level, man, but you say that! What (do you mean by saying) it is crooked?! The door is straight, it is not crooked’. And so forth. Afterwards she said—the boy and girl talked with one another—she said ‘I love you’. He said ‘I also love you’. They married one another. They married one another and the king heard that a young man had come to their home, that he was very clever and that also his wife, whom he had married, was very clever. He gave an instruction to that youth saying ‘You have to go to the army’. He said ‘You have to go to the army, you must go’. Everybody who comes to my land, must serve in the army’. For what time is this army of his for? For three months. So, he said ‘Fine, I’ll go’. He knew what his intention was. He constructed a board and made it into a ladder. He put them in the garden. He fetched nails and put all the nails underneath. There was a door in the garden and there was also a main gate. Then he went to the army. The other, the king, came at night. The king came at night and went up through the garden. He went up the steps, he went up and went in (to visit) the girl. He went in (to visit) the girl. He said ‘Tonight I shall be a guest in your home’. She said ‘Oh king, you are welcome’. She said ‘I shall go and bring some drink, nibbles, and so on, so that we can sit and drink, you and me’. She went and quickly brought drink and they sat down. She brought two glasses. For herself she pours out a little and for him a lot. She fills hers all with water. His was continuously full. They drink and finish it. She said ‘Come, quickly, drink so that we can go to sleep’. The king became drunk. He became drunk and she grasped him by his legs, dragged him along and took him to the bathroom, then closed the door behind him. She came back and went to sleep in her room. She locked the door and went to sleep. In the morning, at four o’clock in the morning, the king woke up (and saw) that he was in the bathroom. He did not delay and quickly opened the door, then ran away. He ran and went away. He went away and in the morning the girl got up and cleaned the place, and so forth. After three months the young man came back. (After) the young man came back, he went immediately and saw that on the steps gold had stuck to the nails. While he placed his foot—the shoes of the king were made of gold—he placed them on the nails, the nail ate the gold, took some of the gold. He said ‘The king has come here to visit my wife.’ He came back and called his father-in-law. He said ‘Come. I’ll tell you’. He said ‘Is everything all right? What is the matter?’ He said ‘Come. I don’t love your daughter’. He said ‘Go and tell the king “I had an orchard. I had cultivated it. It was laid out with vines, apple-trees, everything. It was laid out with food. A man came and took away my orchard. He does not return my orchard nor does he pay the price”. Go and say this to the king. See what the king replies’. His father-in-law went to the king. When he went to the king, the audience chamber of the king was full of many people. They had all come with cases to present to the king. He sat last (in the queue). He (The king) asked the first one ‘Why have you come? What is your case? What has befallen you?’ The first one told him (his case), the second one told him, until his turn came. His turn came, he (the king) said ‘What is your story?’ He said ‘King, may you be well. A man has come (to me). He had an orchard. (He said) “I had cultivated it with my hands and toiled greatly in it in order to make it produce its fruit. When its fruit became ripe, a man came and took its fruit. He took my orchard. He is neither returning my orchard nor paying the price of my orchard. I am confused as to what I should do. I cannot do anything. What do you say to me?”’ He (the king) said ‘I say to you: Yes, it’s true. You had an orchard. But a lion entered it and came out as a fox’. Now, when he said that to him, his father-in-law did not understand what the meaning was. The king knew. He came back. He said to the young man, he said ‘The king replied to me in this way’. He said ‘What did he say?’ He said ‘It is true. You had an orchard and a person came and took it from you. He did not pay its price nor did he return your orchard. A lion entered the orchard and came out as a fox’. He said ‘Did he really say that?’ He said ‘Yes’. He said ‘I from now on love your daughter and shall become a son-in-law in the house. I now know what you mean and what the king means’. Thank you.