Barwar: The Lion With a Swollen Leg

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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	Awiko Sulaqa

	Transcription	Translation
0:00	ʾíṯwa lìṯwa,ˈ čú biš-m-álaha góṛa lìṯwa.ˈ ʾìṯwaˈ xa-brónət ṱòṱo.ˈ xa-nàša,ˈ qímɛwa m-gu-máṯe dìyeˈ ʾu-zíla gu-ḏa-bàžər.ˈ tíwɛle tàma.ˈ hóle xázəx xa-làmpa lháya.ˈ ʾɛ́-ga qam-lámpa ʾíṯwa šràʾa,ˈ šràya,ˈ dɛrɛ́wa zɛ̀ṯaˈ ʾap-ʾáy lăyàwa,ˈ yawáwa bèṛa.ˈ ʾɛ̀-ga,ˈ brōn-màlkaˈ mrìle.ˈ ṯéle xa-dùxtur,ˈ xa-ḥằkīm,ˈ mə̀reˈ brónux là-tarəṣˈ ʾə́lla màyətˈ mástət ʾàryeˈ xáṣət ʾàryeˈ ta-málke mə̀rye.ˈ ʾɛ́ni máṣe parə̀mle,ˈ ʾɛ́ni máṣe máṭe l-ʾàrya,ˈ qaṭə̀lle,ˈ ṱ-awə́dle gúḏe dìye,ˈ gúḏantət ʾàrya?ˈ ʾáp bróna díya parmìleˈ ṱ-oḏíle guḏànta?ˈ mattíla xāṣ-t ʾàryaˈ mɛṯɛ́la ta-brōn-málka mə̀rya?ˈ ʾàp-xa líṯ.ˈ zílle gu-bàžər,ˈ ʾáp-xa lá-ṣbirre ʾasə̀qle.ˈ zílle gu-bážər kùllaˈ mə̀reˈ kut-mɛ̀ṯeˈ mástət ʾàryeˈ ʾu-guḏant-ʾàrye,ˈ xáṣə ʾàryeˈ ta-brōn-màlka mə́rya?ˈ ʾáp-xa lɛle-ṣbàra.ˈ ʾɛ́ni ṣábər ṱ-àsəq?ˈ mə́ra xa-bɛ́ṯa hòle.ˈ ṱ-ásqəx xázəx ʾaw-mòdileˈ tàma.ˈ síqla dbíšla bíye dìye.ˈ mə́re ʾat-ʾàzətˈ mɛṯə̀tlənˈ ʾàwwa-məndi.ˈ mə́re šàrṭ ʾə́lle díye,ˈ qaṭlə́xxe brònux.ˈ mə́re yàbaˈ ʾána máṣən ṱ-ázən mɛ́ṯən ʾàrya?ˈ lɛ̀-maṣən mɛ́ṯən ʾárya.ˈ mə́re là-barya.ˈ gắrəg ʾàzət.ˈ šə́mu bróni là qəṭlúle.ˈ ṱ-ázən mjàrbena.ˈ xàzənˈ màṣənˈ ṱ-óḏən xa-čàra.ˈ là-amṣən,ˈ maqə̀ṭlu bróni,ˈ mó ṱ-oḏèna?ˈ qímle sìqle.ˈ síqle gu-xa-ṭùra.ˈ ʾítle ḏa-ʾɛ́na táma gu-d-ò-ṭura.ˈ ʾarìṯaˈ ʾáy hola-ʾáqla díya mqobɛ̀ṯa.ˈ ʾáqla dìyaˈ hóla mqobɛ̀ṯa.ˈ ṣràxɛlaˈ l-ʾàlaha,ˈ ʾáqla dìya.ˈ ʾu-ṭḷáṯa kuddíne hóla mə́nna dìya,ˈ ṭḷáṯa bnóne hóla mə̀nna.ˈ ʾáyya y-ámri kuddìne.ˈ ṣlàya,ˈ ṣálya šátya mìya,ˈ ta-t-qàlba xá-bena xéna.ˈ ṣráxɛla l-ʾàlaha.ˈ ʾa-ʾáqla díya lítla ʾáp-xa waḏə̀lla,ˈ lɛ́la mṣàyaˈ ma-ṱ-íla mqobɛ̀ṯa,ˈ ṃḷíṯa jarā́ḥ ʾu-məndiyáne šə̀xte.ˈ ʾáwwa nàšaˈ xa bárdi hóle tàmaˈ rába gòṛa.ˈ bàrdiˈ hóle mṭùšyaˈ wíḏa xa-qɛ́sa rìxa,ˈ m-áxxa l-d-ăwáʾha hə́nna màṭe.ˈ muxə̀rpəlle,ˈ muxə̀rpəlle,ˈ muxə̀rpəlle,ˈ wíḏəlle ʾax-xmàṭa.ˈ wíḏəlle ʾax-xmàṭa,ˈ ṣlìṯɛla ʾaríṯa,ˈ ṣráxɛla, ṣràxa.ˈ ṣlíṯa šmìyəlla.ˈ klìṯɛla-ʾay.ˈ bnóna díya ṣə́lye šə́tye mìyɛla.ˈ qlìbe,ˈ kə́lye tàmɛla.ˈ ṣálya ʾày,ˈ šátya mìya.ˈ ṣlíṯa šàtya,ˈ ʾáw mə́xyəlle ʾo-qɛ́sa l-ʾáqla dìya.ˈ ʾay-ṣrìxtɛla.ˈ kú-məndit plùṭ,ˈ mărádət lə̀bbuxˈ maməṭyànnux,ˈ ku-bằyətˈ ṱ-oḏànna.ˈ ʾaw-là-pliṭle.ˈ xá-ga xètaˈ ṣlíṯɛla šatyàwa,ˈ ʾap-ʾɛ-dána qəm-maxéla ʾáqla dìya.ˈ mə́ra ṭlùb!ˈ kú-məndit bằyət,ˈ módi mărā́d lə̀bbuxˈ ṱ-oḏànne!ˈ là-pliṭle.ˈ préle xáčča ʾáqla dìya,ˈ prèleˈ xàčča.ˈ béna ṭlà-gayeˈ kìpla,ˈ šátya mìya.ˈ qəm-maxéla ʾáqla biš-xɛlàna,ˈ qəm-parèla ʾáqla dìya,ˈ ṭlà-gaye,ˈ kúlla prèle.ˈ ʾámra plùṭ.ˈ wáʿdə ʿằrab,ˈ ʾáti mə́ndit bắyət ṱ-oḏannə̀llux.ˈ plìṭɛle.ˈ mə́re wáʿdə ʿằrab!ˈ yáʿni ʾíṯwa ʾimā̀n ʾɛ́-ga.ˈ mə́ra mòdila?ˈ mə̀reˈ guḏánt ʾàryeˈ ʾu-mást ʾàryeˈ ʾu-xáṣət ʾàryeˈ ta-brōn-málka mə̀rya.ˈ wáʿdə ʿằrabile,ˈ gắrəg ʾoḏàle.ˈ qímtɛla musáqtəlle bróna dìyaˈ p-ápe xa-gằra,ˈ prìmtəlle.ˈ bróna díya prìmtəlle,ˈ wíḏtəlle guḏànta.ˈ dart-yóma módi wìḏta?ˈ murɛ́ṯəlla gána díya xə̀lya,ˈ xlíwtəlla gána dìyaˈ ʾu-wíḏtəlle màsta.ˈ dríṯəlle gu-d-o-gùḏa.ˈ dríṯəlle xáṣə bróna dìya.ˈ máṣli ṭla-màlkaˈ ʾámra.ˈ qəm-maṣléle màstaˈ ta-brōn-màlkaˈ t-wéwa ṭə́pya xə̀rsa.ˈ qəm-maxɛ́le bìye,ˈ trìṣle.ˈ ʾána šwiqáli tàmaˈ ṯéli làxxa.ˈ ʾíṯwa lìṯwa,ˈ čú biš-m-álaha góṛa lìṯwa.ˈ ʾìṯwaˈ xa-brónət ṱòṱo.ˈ xa-nàša,ˈ qímɛwa m-gu-máṯe dìyeˈ ʾu-zíla gu-ḏa-bàžər.ˈ tíwɛle tàma.ˈ hóle xázəx xa-làmpa lháya.ˈ ʾɛ́-ga qam-lámpa ʾíṯwa šràʾa,ˈ šràya,ˈ dɛrɛ́wa zɛ̀ṯaˈ ʾap-ʾáy lăyàwa,ˈ yawáwa bèṛa.ˈ ʾɛ̀-ga,ˈ brōn-màlkaˈ mrìle.ˈ ṯéle xa-dùxtur,ˈ xa-ḥằkīm,ˈ mə̀reˈ brónux là-tarəṣˈ ʾə́lla màyətˈ mástət ʾàryeˈ xáṣət ʾàryeˈ ta-málke mə̀rye.ˈ ʾɛ́ni máṣe parə̀mle,ˈ ʾɛ́ni máṣe máṭe l-ʾàrya,ˈ qaṭə̀lle,ˈ ṱ-awə́dle gúḏe dìye,ˈ gúḏantət ʾàrya?ˈ ʾáp bróna díya parmìleˈ ṱ-oḏíle guḏànta?ˈ mattíla xāṣ-t ʾàryaˈ mɛṯɛ́la ta-brōn-málka mə̀rya?ˈ ʾàp-xa líṯ.ˈ zílle gu-bàžər,ˈ ʾáp-xa lá-ṣbirre ʾasə̀qle.ˈ zílle gu-bážər kùllaˈ mə̀reˈ kut-mɛ̀ṯeˈ mástət ʾàryeˈ ʾu-guḏant-ʾàrye,ˈ xáṣə ʾàryeˈ ta-brōn-màlka mə́rya?ˈ ʾáp-xa lɛle-ṣbàra.ˈ ʾɛ́ni ṣábər ṱ-àsəq?ˈ mə́ra xa-bɛ́ṯa hòle.ˈ ṱ-ásqəx xázəx ʾaw-mòdileˈ tàma.ˈ síqla dbíšla bíye dìye.ˈ mə́re ʾat-ʾàzətˈ mɛṯə̀tlənˈ ʾàwwa-məndi.ˈ mə́re šàrṭ ʾə́lle díye,ˈ qaṭlə́xxe brònux.ˈ mə́re yàbaˈ ʾána máṣən ṱ-ázən mɛ́ṯən ʾàrya?ˈ lɛ̀-maṣən mɛ́ṯən ʾárya.ˈ mə́re là-barya.ˈ gắrəg ʾàzət.ˈ šə́mu bróni là qəṭlúle.ˈ ṱ-ázən mjàrbena.ˈ xàzənˈ màṣənˈ ṱ-óḏən xa-čàra.ˈ là-amṣən,ˈ maqə̀ṭlu bróni,ˈ mó ṱ-oḏèna?ˈ qímle sìqle.ˈ síqle gu-xa-ṭùra.ˈ ʾítle ḏa-ʾɛ́na táma gu-d-ò-ṭura.ˈ ʾarìṯaˈ ʾáy hola-ʾáqla díya mqobɛ̀ṯa.ˈ ʾáqla dìyaˈ hóla mqobɛ̀ṯa.ˈ ṣràxɛlaˈ l-ʾàlaha,ˈ ʾáqla dìya.ˈ ʾu-ṭḷáṯa kuddíne hóla mə́nna dìya,ˈ ṭḷáṯa bnóne hóla mə̀nna.ˈ ʾáyya y-ámri kuddìne.ˈ ṣlàya,ˈ ṣálya šátya mìya,ˈ ta-t-qàlba xá-bena xéna.ˈ ṣráxɛla l-ʾàlaha.ˈ ʾa-ʾáqla díya lítla ʾáp-xa waḏə̀lla,ˈ lɛ́la mṣàyaˈ ma-ṱ-íla mqobɛ̀ṯa,ˈ ṃḷíṯa jarā́ḥ ʾu-məndiyáne šə̀xte.ˈ ʾáwwa nàšaˈ xa bárdi hóle tàmaˈ rába gòṛa.ˈ bàrdiˈ hóle mṭùšyaˈ wíḏa xa-qɛ́sa rìxa,ˈ m-áxxa l-d-ăwáʾha hə́nna màṭe.ˈ muxə̀rpəlle,ˈ muxə̀rpəlle,ˈ muxə̀rpəlle,ˈ wíḏəlle ʾax-xmàṭa.ˈ wíḏəlle ʾax-xmàṭa,ˈ ṣlìṯɛla ʾaríṯa,ˈ ṣráxɛla, ṣràxa.ˈ ṣlíṯa šmìyəlla.ˈ klìṯɛla-ʾay.ˈ bnóna díya ṣə́lye šə́tye mìyɛla.ˈ qlìbe,ˈ kə́lye tàmɛla.ˈ ṣálya ʾày,ˈ šátya mìya.ˈ ṣlíṯa šàtya,ˈ ʾáw mə́xyəlle ʾo-qɛ́sa l-ʾáqla dìya.ˈ ʾay-ṣrìxtɛla.ˈ kú-məndit plùṭ,ˈ mărádət lə̀bbuxˈ maməṭyànnux,ˈ ku-bằyətˈ ṱ-oḏànna.ˈ ʾaw-là-pliṭle.ˈ xá-ga xètaˈ ṣlíṯɛla šatyàwa,ˈ ʾap-ʾɛ-dána qəm-maxéla ʾáqla dìya.ˈ mə́ra ṭlùb!ˈ kú-məndit bằyət,ˈ módi mărā́d lə̀bbuxˈ ṱ-oḏànne!ˈ là-pliṭle.ˈ préle xáčča ʾáqla dìya,ˈ prèleˈ xàčča.ˈ béna ṭlà-gayeˈ kìpla,ˈ šátya mìya.ˈ qəm-maxéla ʾáqla biš-xɛlàna,ˈ qəm-parèla ʾáqla dìya,ˈ ṭlà-gaye,ˈ kúlla prèle.ˈ ʾámra plùṭ.ˈ wáʿdə ʿằrab,ˈ ʾáti mə́ndit bắyət ṱ-oḏannə̀llux.ˈ plìṭɛle.ˈ mə́re wáʿdə ʿằrab!ˈ yáʿni ʾíṯwa ʾimā̀n ʾɛ́-ga.ˈ mə́ra mòdila?ˈ mə̀reˈ guḏánt ʾàryeˈ ʾu-mást ʾàryeˈ ʾu-xáṣət ʾàryeˈ ta-brōn-málka mə̀rya.ˈ wáʿdə ʿằrabile,ˈ gắrəg ʾoḏàle.ˈ qímtɛla musáqtəlle bróna dìyaˈ p-ápe xa-gằra,ˈ prìmtəlle.ˈ bróna díya prìmtəlle,ˈ wíḏtəlle guḏànta.ˈ dart-yóma módi wìḏta?ˈ murɛ́ṯəlla gána díya xə̀lya,ˈ xlíwtəlla gána dìyaˈ ʾu-wíḏtəlle màsta.ˈ dríṯəlle gu-d-o-gùḏa.ˈ dríṯəlle xáṣə bróna dìya.ˈ máṣli ṭla-màlkaˈ ʾámra.ˈ qəm-maṣléle màstaˈ ta-brōn-màlkaˈ t-wéwa ṭə́pya xə̀rsa.ˈ qəm-maxɛ́le bìye,ˈ trìṣle.ˈ ʾána šwiqáli tàmaˈ ṯéli làxxa.ˈ	There was once—nothing is greater than God—there was a son of an old woman, a man, who had left his village and gone to a town, where he lived. We can see a lamp burning (over there where he dwelt). At that time people used an oil lamp instead of an (electric) lamp. They would put oil in it and it would burn and give off light. At that time the son of the king became ill. A doctor, a physician, came and said ‘Your son will not recover unless you bring the yoghurt of lions, on the back of lions, for sick kings. Who can slaughter it, who can approach the lion, kill it and make a churn out of it, a lion churn? Could they slaughter also its cub and make it into a churn, then put it on the back of a lion and bring it to the sick son of the king? There is nobody (who can do this). He (the king) went to the town, but nobody dared to go up (to do) it. He went to the town and said ‘Is there anybody who can fetch yoghurt of lions and a churn of lions on the back of lions for the sick son of the king?’ Nobody dared. Who would dare go up (and do that)? They said ‘There is a house over there. Let us go and see what that is there’. They went up and pressed him (to do it). He said ‘You must go and fetch this thing’. He told him the conditions ‘We shall kill your son (if you do not do so)’. He said ‘Well, can I bring back a lion? I cannot bring back a lion’. He said ‘That is not possible’. ‘You must go’. ‘Listen, do not kill my son. I shall go and try (to do it). I shall see whether I can find a solution. If I cannot, have my son killed, what can I do?’ He set off and went up a mountain. There was a spring there in that mountain. The lionness, her leg was swollen. Her leg was swollen. She cried to God, (on account of) her leg. There were three cubs with her, three young offspring were with her. Such (young) they call ‘cubs’. She went down to drink water and then returned again. She cried out to God. She had nobody to look after her leg. She could not (cope), since it was so swollen, full of sores and filth. As for the man, there was a papyrus brake close by, a very large papyrus brake, in which he hid. He prepared a long stick, which reached from here to that thing over there. He sharpened it well and made it like a needle. He made it like a needle and the lionness came down, yelling. She came down and he heard her. She stood and her young went down and drank the water. They came back and stood there. She then went down and drank water. When she went down, he struck her leg with the stick. She cried out ‘Whatever you are come out! I shall make you attain your heart’s desire. I shall do whatever you want’. He did not come out. Again she came down and drank. Also this time he struck her leg. She said ‘Ask! Whatever you want, whatever your heart’s desire is, I shall do it!’ But he did not come out. He burst her leg a little, he burst it a little. Then, three times she bent down to drink water. He struck her leg harder and burst her leg, three times, he burst it completely. She said ‘Come out! (I give you) an Arab promise, I shall do for you whatever you want’. He came out, he said ‘An Arab promise!’, that is there was trust at that time. She said ‘What is it?’ He said ‘A churn of lions, yoghurt of lions and (carriage on) the back of lions for the sick son of a king’. The promise was an Arab one, she had to perform it. She went and took up her young cub behind a hill and slaughtered it. She slaughtered her young cub and made it into a churn. The next day what did she do? She herself set some milk, she milked herself and made it into yoghurt. She put it in the churn, put it on the back of her (other) young cub and said ‘Take it down to the king’. He brought the yoghurt down to the son of the king, who was afflicted with leprosy. They applied the yoghurt to him and he recovered. I have left it there and come here.

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ʾíṯwa lìṯwa,ˈ čú biš-m-álaha góṛa lìṯwa.ˈ ʾìṯwaˈ xa-brónət ṱòṱo.ˈ xa-nàša,ˈ qímɛwa m-gu-máṯe dìyeˈ ʾu-zíla gu-ḏa-bàžər.ˈ tíwɛle tàma.ˈ hóle xázəx xa-làmpa lháya.ˈ ʾɛ́-ga qam-lámpa ʾíṯwa šràʾa,ˈ šràya,ˈ dɛrɛ́wa zɛ̀ṯaˈ ʾap-ʾáy lăyàwa,ˈ yawáwa bèṛa.ˈ ʾɛ̀-ga,ˈ brōn-màlkaˈ mrìle.ˈ ṯéle xa-dùxtur,ˈ xa-ḥằkīm,ˈ mə̀reˈ brónux là-tarəṣˈ ʾə́lla màyətˈ mástət ʾàryeˈ xáṣət ʾàryeˈ ta-málke mə̀rye.ˈ ʾɛ́ni máṣe parə̀mle,ˈ ʾɛ́ni máṣe máṭe l-ʾàrya,ˈ qaṭə̀lle,ˈ ṱ-awə́dle gúḏe dìye,ˈ gúḏantət ʾàrya?ˈ ʾáp bróna díya parmìleˈ ṱ-oḏíle guḏànta?ˈ mattíla xāṣ-t ʾàryaˈ mɛṯɛ́la ta-brōn-málka mə̀rya?ˈ ʾàp-xa líṯ.ˈ zílle gu-bàžər,ˈ ʾáp-xa lá-ṣbirre ʾasə̀qle.ˈ zílle gu-bážər kùllaˈ mə̀reˈ kut-mɛ̀ṯeˈ mástət ʾàryeˈ ʾu-guḏant-ʾàrye,ˈ xáṣə ʾàryeˈ ta-brōn-màlka mə́rya?ˈ ʾáp-xa lɛle-ṣbàra.ˈ ʾɛ́ni ṣábər ṱ-àsəq?ˈ mə́ra xa-bɛ́ṯa hòle.ˈ ṱ-ásqəx xázəx ʾaw-mòdileˈ tàma.ˈ síqla dbíšla bíye dìye.ˈ mə́re ʾat-ʾàzətˈ mɛṯə̀tlənˈ ʾàwwa-məndi.ˈ mə́re šàrṭ ʾə́lle díye,ˈ qaṭlə́xxe brònux.ˈ mə́re yàbaˈ ʾána máṣən ṱ-ázən mɛ́ṯən ʾàrya?ˈ lɛ̀-maṣən mɛ́ṯən ʾárya.ˈ mə́re là-barya.ˈ gắrəg ʾàzət.ˈ šə́mu bróni là qəṭlúle.ˈ ṱ-ázən mjàrbena.ˈ xàzənˈ màṣənˈ ṱ-óḏən xa-čàra.ˈ là-amṣən,ˈ maqə̀ṭlu bróni,ˈ mó ṱ-oḏèna?ˈ qímle sìqle.ˈ síqle gu-xa-ṭùra.ˈ ʾítle ḏa-ʾɛ́na táma gu-d-ò-ṭura.ˈ ʾarìṯaˈ ʾáy hola-ʾáqla díya mqobɛ̀ṯa.ˈ ʾáqla dìyaˈ hóla mqobɛ̀ṯa.ˈ ṣràxɛlaˈ l-ʾàlaha,ˈ ʾáqla dìya.ˈ ʾu-ṭḷáṯa kuddíne hóla mə́nna dìya,ˈ ṭḷáṯa bnóne hóla mə̀nna.ˈ ʾáyya y-ámri kuddìne.ˈ ṣlàya,ˈ ṣálya šátya mìya,ˈ ta-t-qàlba xá-bena xéna.ˈ ṣráxɛla l-ʾàlaha.ˈ ʾa-ʾáqla díya lítla ʾáp-xa waḏə̀lla,ˈ lɛ́la mṣàyaˈ ma-ṱ-íla mqobɛ̀ṯa,ˈ ṃḷíṯa jarā́ḥ ʾu-məndiyáne šə̀xte.ˈ ʾáwwa nàšaˈ xa bárdi hóle tàmaˈ rába gòṛa.ˈ bàrdiˈ hóle mṭùšyaˈ wíḏa xa-qɛ́sa rìxa,ˈ m-áxxa l-d-ăwáʾha hə́nna màṭe.ˈ muxə̀rpəlle,ˈ muxə̀rpəlle,ˈ muxə̀rpəlle,ˈ wíḏəlle ʾax-xmàṭa.ˈ wíḏəlle ʾax-xmàṭa,ˈ ṣlìṯɛla ʾaríṯa,ˈ ṣráxɛla, ṣràxa.ˈ ṣlíṯa šmìyəlla.ˈ klìṯɛla-ʾay.ˈ bnóna díya ṣə́lye šə́tye mìyɛla.ˈ qlìbe,ˈ kə́lye tàmɛla.ˈ ṣálya ʾày,ˈ šátya mìya.ˈ ṣlíṯa šàtya,ˈ ʾáw mə́xyəlle ʾo-qɛ́sa l-ʾáqla dìya.ˈ ʾay-ṣrìxtɛla.ˈ kú-məndit plùṭ,ˈ mărádət lə̀bbuxˈ maməṭyànnux,ˈ ku-bằyətˈ ṱ-oḏànna.ˈ ʾaw-là-pliṭle.ˈ xá-ga xètaˈ ṣlíṯɛla šatyàwa,ˈ ʾap-ʾɛ-dána qəm-maxéla ʾáqla dìya.ˈ mə́ra ṭlùb!ˈ kú-məndit bằyət,ˈ módi mărā́d lə̀bbuxˈ ṱ-oḏànne!ˈ là-pliṭle.ˈ préle xáčča ʾáqla dìya,ˈ prèleˈ xàčča.ˈ béna ṭlà-gayeˈ kìpla,ˈ šátya mìya.ˈ qəm-maxéla ʾáqla biš-xɛlàna,ˈ qəm-parèla ʾáqla dìya,ˈ ṭlà-gaye,ˈ kúlla prèle.ˈ ʾámra plùṭ.ˈ wáʿdə ʿằrab,ˈ ʾáti mə́ndit bắyət ṱ-oḏannə̀llux.ˈ plìṭɛle.ˈ mə́re wáʿdə ʿằrab!ˈ yáʿni ʾíṯwa ʾimā̀n ʾɛ́-ga.ˈ mə́ra mòdila?ˈ mə̀reˈ guḏánt ʾàryeˈ ʾu-mást ʾàryeˈ ʾu-xáṣət ʾàryeˈ ta-brōn-málka mə̀rya.ˈ wáʿdə ʿằrabile,ˈ gắrəg ʾoḏàle.ˈ qímtɛla musáqtəlle bróna dìyaˈ p-ápe xa-gằra,ˈ prìmtəlle.ˈ bróna díya prìmtəlle,ˈ wíḏtəlle guḏànta.ˈ dart-yóma módi wìḏta?ˈ murɛ́ṯəlla gána díya xə̀lya,ˈ xlíwtəlla gána dìyaˈ ʾu-wíḏtəlle màsta.ˈ dríṯəlle gu-d-o-gùḏa.ˈ dríṯəlle xáṣə bróna dìya.ˈ máṣli ṭla-màlkaˈ ʾámra.ˈ qəm-maṣléle màstaˈ ta-brōn-màlkaˈ t-wéwa ṭə́pya xə̀rsa.ˈ qəm-maxɛ́le bìye,ˈ trìṣle.ˈ ʾána šwiqáli tàmaˈ ṯéli làxxa.ˈ

Translation:

There was once—nothing is greater than God—there was a son of an old woman, a man, who had left his village and gone to a town, where he lived. We can see a lamp burning (over there where he dwelt). At that time people used an oil lamp instead of an (electric) lamp. They would put oil in it and it would burn and give off light. At that time the son of the king became ill. A doctor, a physician, came and said ‘Your son will not recover unless you bring the yoghurt of lions, on the back of lions, for sick kings. Who can slaughter it, who can approach the lion, kill it and make a churn out of it, a lion churn? Could they slaughter also its cub and make it into a churn, then put it on the back of a lion and bring it to the sick son of the king? There is nobody (who can do this). He (the king) went to the town, but nobody dared to go up (to do) it. He went to the town and said ‘Is there anybody who can fetch yoghurt of lions and a churn of lions on the back of lions for the sick son of the king?’ Nobody dared. Who would dare go up (and do that)? They said ‘There is a house over there. Let us go and see what that is there’. They went up and pressed him (to do it). He said ‘You must go and fetch this thing’. He told him the conditions ‘We shall kill your son (if you do not do so)’. He said ‘Well, can I bring back a lion? I cannot bring back a lion’. He said ‘That is not possible’. ‘You must go’. ‘Listen, do not kill my son. I shall go and try (to do it). I shall see whether I can find a solution. If I cannot, have my son killed, what can I do?’ He set off and went up a mountain. There was a spring there in that mountain. The lionness, her leg was swollen. Her leg was swollen. She cried to God, (on account of) her leg. There were three cubs with her, three young offspring were with her. Such (young) they call ‘cubs’. She went down to drink water and then returned again. She cried out to God. She had nobody to look after her leg. She could not (cope), since it was so swollen, full of sores and filth. As for the man, there was a papyrus brake close by, a very large papyrus brake, in which he hid. He prepared a long stick, which reached from here to that thing over there. He sharpened it well and made it like a needle. He made it like a needle and the lionness came down, yelling. She came down and he heard her. She stood and her young went down and drank the water. They came back and stood there. She then went down and drank water. When she went down, he struck her leg with the stick. She cried out ‘Whatever you are come out! I shall make you attain your heart’s desire. I shall do whatever you want’. He did not come out. Again she came down and drank. Also this time he struck her leg. She said ‘Ask! Whatever you want, whatever your heart’s desire is, I shall do it!’ But he did not come out. He burst her leg a little, he burst it a little. Then, three times she bent down to drink water. He struck her leg harder and burst her leg, three times, he burst it completely. She said ‘Come out! (I give you) an Arab promise, I shall do for you whatever you want’. He came out, he said ‘An Arab promise!’, that is there was trust at that time. She said ‘What is it?’ He said ‘A churn of lions, yoghurt of lions and (carriage on) the back of lions for the sick son of a king’. The promise was an Arab one, she had to perform it. She went and took up her young cub behind a hill and slaughtered it. She slaughtered her young cub and made it into a churn. The next day what did she do? She herself set some milk, she milked herself and made it into yoghurt. She put it in the churn, put it on the back of her (other) young cub and said ‘Take it down to the king’. He brought the yoghurt down to the son of the king, who was afflicted with leprosy. They applied the yoghurt to him and he recovered. I have left it there and come here.