Barwar: The Tale of Nasimo

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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	Xošebo ʾOdišo

	Transcription	Translation
0:00	ʾíṯwa xa-bráta šə́mma Nasìmo.ˈ Nasìmoˈ wíḏɛwa gu-ʾúmra qurbàna,ˈ qa-ṱ-azáwa qarwàwa.ˈ yomáṯa la-palṭàwa,ˈ ma-ṱ-áwa xámṯa šapìrta,ˈ káwsa làxxa ṣaléwa.ˈ ʾiṯwála šáwwa xonăwàṯa.ˈ mə́ra lá-palṭa xáṯən mən-bɛ̀ṯa.ˈ ʾàxni nablə́xla.ˈ ʾáni zìlla.ˈ lá-ṯela jàldeˈ murqə̀lla.ˈ mə́ra xéna ʾána qɛ́mən ʾázən ʾùmra.ˈ ʾánna xonăwáṯa là-ṯela.ˈ ʾazáwa ʾúmra qa-t-qarwàwa,ˈ dášta ṃaḷyáwa rakáwe ʾarabàye.ˈ ṃḷíṯa dášta ʾarabàye,ˈ ʾə́ṯyela jlíwəlla muṣə̀lyəlla.ˈ ʾə́ṯyɛle xóna díya ʾo-gòṛa,ˈ lɛ́le xə́zyəlla xàṯe,ˈ dax-xànum ʾay-tíwta gu-bɛ́ṯa.ˈ lá qəm-xazèla.ˈ mə̀re:ˈ ʾo dàyˈ ya-xlápax dàyˈ ʾo kɛ́la xáṯi Nasìmo?ˈ mə́ra bábi xáṯux Nasìmoˈ xámši yóme ṣimìlaˈ qurbáne t-la qriwìlaˈ ʾo-yóma t-qarwàwaleˈ dášta ṃḷéla rakàweˈ xáṯux Nasímo jlíwtɛla l-ʾarabàyeˈ muṣlyə́lla l-ʾáṯṛa t-xtàyeˈ ʾaw-bxéle ʾu-mquhə̀rre.ˈ tíwle bxàya.ˈ ʾap-o-xéna hàdəx,ˈ ʾap-o-xéna hàdəx.ˈ ʾo-zórət kúlla ṯèle.ˈ ʾap-áw qrèle:ˈ ʾo-dày,ˈ xlápax dày.ˈ mə́ra bábi xáṯux Nasìmoˈ xámši yóme ṣimìlaˈ qurbáne t-la qriwìlaˈ ʾo-yóma t-qarwàwaleˈ dášta ṃḷéla rakàweˈ zílla máṯət arabàyeˈ xáṯux Nasímo muṣlyə́lla l-ʾáṯṛa t-xtàyeˈ kɛ̀la xáṯi Nasímo?ˈ mə́re yə̀mmiˈ ṱ-ázən ʾána mɛṯə̀nna.ˈ mə́ra bábət yə́mmux rába rə̀ḥqɛla dúka.ˈ dàx ṱ-ázət?ˈ mə́re yə́mmi la-hòyaˈ ʾànaˈ xàṯi lá-ʾazən xazə́nna.ˈ qímle zìlle,ˈ šqílle gàneˈ bábi šqílle kupálət prə̀zla.ˈ ʾu-muttúle kosíṯət prə́zla b-rèšeˈ ʾu-šqílle ṣáwlət prə́zla p-àqle.ˈ zílle mxéle b-dùnye.ˈ ṭlíble xàṭər mənnèy:ˈ púšu b-šɛ̀na!ˈ hon-zàla.ˈ bálki lɛ́la ʾúrxət dyàṛa.ˈ xíšle, ʾu-xíšle, ʾu-xíšle ʾu-xìšle.ˈ mṭéle l-xa-màṯa.ˈ mə́re ʾàyyɛla máṯət fulán-naša?ˈ mə́re hè.ˈ mə́re kɛ̀le qáṣre díye,ˈ bɛ́ṯe díye?ˈ mə́re ʾăwàʾha qáṣre díyele.ˈ qíma sìqɛle,ˈ kə́lya qam-ṭắrət bɛ̀ṯa.ˈ ʾítle xa-yalə́xta mnuqàštaˈ l-bábe zqírta b-qɛ̀seˈ ʾu-xáṯe díye mnuqàštəlla.ˈ dwíqəlla gu-ʾíḏe dìye,ˈ bxàyaˈ maṣlóyele də̀mmeˈ mxáyɛle ʾɛ́ne dìye.ˈ tíwle táma píšle jnàna.ˈ ʾáx ʾáyya yalə̀xtaˈ bàbila zqírtaˈ ʾu-xáṯi Nasìmola mnuqášta.ˈ xadámta díya ʾáy šmèla.ˈ mən-ʾə̀ltəx mə́ra:ˈ xadàmta!ˈ béna ʾəstàḏti.ˈ mə́ra ʾaw-sáwa mòdi?ˈ píšle sàwa.ˈ mə́re šáwwa šə́nne b-ʾùrxa,ˈ zàla,ˈ kutáne blèla,ˈ ṣáwle nčìlla.ˈ píšle făqíra məskèna.ˈ léš-ʾawwa mṣáya máṭe čù-dukṯa.ˈ mṭéle gu-d-ày-maṯaˈ ham-zḕn.ˈ mṭéle gu-d-ày máṯa.ˈ ʾay-máṯa d-àn-našela.ˈ tíwɛle tàma.ˈ mə́ra mó-băye ʾo-nàša?ˈ mə́ra ʾəstáḏta hola-màra,ˈ hóle bxáya jnàna,ˈ hole-màraˈ ʾáyya yalə̀xtaˈ bàbila zqírtaˈ xáṯi Nasìmola mnuqášta.ˈ ʾɛ̀nile?ˈ kla-kla-klá ʾána ṣàlyən.ˈ kla-klá mṣáwṯən mənne-dìye.ˈ ṣlíṯɛla mṣuwàṯta mənne-dìye.ˈ ʾo-sáwa qú ruq-m-tàma!ˈ kaləbṯi bəṱ-axlàlux.ˈ qaṭúṯi bəd-mnagràluxˈ ʾɛ-kăfíyya m-ɛkàlux?ˈ mə́re ʾɛ-kăfìyya ya-bábiˈ ʾəstáḏta Nasìmola mnuqášta.ˈ ʾu-ʾána ʾanna-šawwá-šənne hon-ṯàyaˈ ʾína kupáli píšla šmìṭṭaˈ ʾu-piláwe píšla šmìṭe.ˈ júlli lítli t-lošèna.ˈ bắyən xázən xáṯi Nasìmoˈ xóš mɛṯèna!ˈ mə́ra hàtxa,ˈ ʾáwwa xònile.ˈ síqtɛla l-ṭábaq t-ṭḷàṯa.ˈ zdíṯəlla gána dìyaˈ kəsle-dìye.ˈ mə́re ʾána bəd-mɛ̀ṯena.ˈ mə́ra ʾáp-ʾana bəd-mɛ́ṯən gòtux.ˈ zədyála gána díya tàmaˈ tə́rna mítla kəs-ġḏàḏe.ˈ ʾɛ́-ga ṯéla qəm-xazɛ̀laˈ mòdile?ˈ mòdile?ˈ ʾánna mə́ra hàtxɛle bə́rya.ˈ … mə́ra mɛ́ṯəx ʾùpraˈ mxamə̀xla.ˈ ʾáyya šuqáli táma ʾu-ṯéli làxxa.ˈ ʾíṯwa xa-bráta šə́mma Nasìmo.ˈ Nasìmoˈ wíḏɛwa gu-ʾúmra qurbàna,ˈ qa-ṱ-azáwa qarwàwa.ˈ yomáṯa la-palṭàwa,ˈ ma-ṱ-áwa xámṯa šapìrta,ˈ káwsa làxxa ṣaléwa.ˈ ʾiṯwála šáwwa xonăwàṯa.ˈ mə́ra lá-palṭa xáṯən mən-bɛ̀ṯa.ˈ ʾàxni nablə́xla.ˈ ʾáni zìlla.ˈ lá-ṯela jàldeˈ murqə̀lla.ˈ mə́ra xéna ʾána qɛ́mən ʾázən ʾùmra.ˈ ʾánna xonăwáṯa là-ṯela.ˈ ʾazáwa ʾúmra qa-t-qarwàwa,ˈ dášta ṃaḷyáwa rakáwe ʾarabàye.ˈ ṃḷíṯa dášta ʾarabàye,ˈ ʾə́ṯyela jlíwəlla muṣə̀lyəlla.ˈ ʾə́ṯyɛle xóna díya ʾo-gòṛa,ˈ lɛ́le xə́zyəlla xàṯe,ˈ dax-xànum ʾay-tíwta gu-bɛ́ṯa.ˈ lá qəm-xazèla.ˈ mə̀re:ˈ ʾo dàyˈ ya-xlápax dàyˈ ʾo kɛ́la xáṯi Nasìmo?ˈ mə́ra bábi xáṯux Nasìmoˈ xámši yóme ṣimìlaˈ qurbáne t-la qriwìlaˈ ʾo-yóma t-qarwàwaleˈ dášta ṃḷéla rakàweˈ xáṯux Nasímo jlíwtɛla l-ʾarabàyeˈ muṣlyə́lla l-ʾáṯṛa t-xtàyeˈ ʾaw-bxéle ʾu-mquhə̀rre.ˈ tíwle bxàya.ˈ ʾap-o-xéna hàdəx,ˈ ʾap-o-xéna hàdəx.ˈ ʾo-zórət kúlla ṯèle.ˈ ʾap-áw qrèle:ˈ ʾo-dày,ˈ xlápax dày.ˈ mə́ra bábi xáṯux Nasìmoˈ xámši yóme ṣimìlaˈ qurbáne t-la qriwìlaˈ ʾo-yóma t-qarwàwaleˈ dášta ṃḷéla rakàweˈ zílla máṯət arabàyeˈ xáṯux Nasímo muṣlyə́lla l-ʾáṯṛa t-xtàyeˈ kɛ̀la xáṯi Nasímo?ˈ mə́re yə̀mmiˈ ṱ-ázən ʾána mɛṯə̀nna.ˈ mə́ra bábət yə́mmux rába rə̀ḥqɛla dúka.ˈ dàx ṱ-ázət?ˈ mə́re yə́mmi la-hòyaˈ ʾànaˈ xàṯi lá-ʾazən xazə́nna.ˈ qímle zìlle,ˈ šqílle gàneˈ bábi šqílle kupálət prə̀zla.ˈ ʾu-muttúle kosíṯət prə́zla b-rèšeˈ ʾu-šqílle ṣáwlət prə́zla p-àqle.ˈ zílle mxéle b-dùnye.ˈ ṭlíble xàṭər mənnèy:ˈ púšu b-šɛ̀na!ˈ hon-zàla.ˈ bálki lɛ́la ʾúrxət dyàṛa.ˈ xíšle, ʾu-xíšle, ʾu-xíšle ʾu-xìšle.ˈ mṭéle l-xa-màṯa.ˈ mə́re ʾàyyɛla máṯət fulán-naša?ˈ mə́re hè.ˈ mə́re kɛ̀le qáṣre díye,ˈ bɛ́ṯe díye?ˈ mə́re ʾăwàʾha qáṣre díyele.ˈ qíma sìqɛle,ˈ kə́lya qam-ṭắrət bɛ̀ṯa.ˈ ʾítle xa-yalə́xta mnuqàštaˈ l-bábe zqírta b-qɛ̀seˈ ʾu-xáṯe díye mnuqàštəlla.ˈ dwíqəlla gu-ʾíḏe dìye,ˈ bxàyaˈ maṣlóyele də̀mmeˈ mxáyɛle ʾɛ́ne dìye.ˈ tíwle táma píšle jnàna.ˈ ʾáx ʾáyya yalə̀xtaˈ bàbila zqírtaˈ ʾu-xáṯi Nasìmola mnuqášta.ˈ xadámta díya ʾáy šmèla.ˈ mən-ʾə̀ltəx mə́ra:ˈ xadàmta!ˈ béna ʾəstàḏti.ˈ mə́ra ʾaw-sáwa mòdi?ˈ píšle sàwa.ˈ mə́re šáwwa šə́nne b-ʾùrxa,ˈ zàla,ˈ kutáne blèla,ˈ ṣáwle nčìlla.ˈ píšle făqíra məskèna.ˈ léš-ʾawwa mṣáya máṭe čù-dukṯa.ˈ mṭéle gu-d-ày-maṯaˈ ham-zḕn.ˈ mṭéle gu-d-ày máṯa.ˈ ʾay-máṯa d-àn-našela.ˈ tíwɛle tàma.ˈ mə́ra mó-băye ʾo-nàša?ˈ mə́ra ʾəstáḏta hola-màra,ˈ hóle bxáya jnàna,ˈ hole-màraˈ ʾáyya yalə̀xtaˈ bàbila zqírtaˈ xáṯi Nasìmola mnuqášta.ˈ ʾɛ̀nile?ˈ kla-kla-klá ʾána ṣàlyən.ˈ kla-klá mṣáwṯən mənne-dìye.ˈ ṣlíṯɛla mṣuwàṯta mənne-dìye.ˈ ʾo-sáwa qú ruq-m-tàma!ˈ kaləbṯi bəṱ-axlàlux.ˈ qaṭúṯi bəd-mnagràluxˈ ʾɛ-kăfíyya m-ɛkàlux?ˈ mə́re ʾɛ-kăfìyya ya-bábiˈ ʾəstáḏta Nasìmola mnuqášta.ˈ ʾu-ʾána ʾanna-šawwá-šənne hon-ṯàyaˈ ʾína kupáli píšla šmìṭṭaˈ ʾu-piláwe píšla šmìṭe.ˈ júlli lítli t-lošèna.ˈ bắyən xázən xáṯi Nasìmoˈ xóš mɛṯèna!ˈ mə́ra hàtxa,ˈ ʾáwwa xònile.ˈ síqtɛla l-ṭábaq t-ṭḷàṯa.ˈ zdíṯəlla gána dìyaˈ kəsle-dìye.ˈ mə́re ʾána bəd-mɛ̀ṯena.ˈ mə́ra ʾáp-ʾana bəd-mɛ́ṯən gòtux.ˈ zədyála gána díya tàmaˈ tə́rna mítla kəs-ġḏàḏe.ˈ ʾɛ́-ga ṯéla qəm-xazɛ̀laˈ mòdile?ˈ mòdile?ˈ ʾánna mə́ra hàtxɛle bə́rya.ˈ … mə́ra mɛ́ṯəx ʾùpraˈ mxamə̀xla.ˈ ʾáyya šuqáli táma ʾu-ṯéli làxxa.ˈ	There was a girl called Nasimo. Mass was performed in church, so that she had to go to take communion. She did not go out for days, since she was so beautiful, her hair flowing down to here. She had seven brothers. They said ‘Our sister will not go out of the house. We shall take her’. They went off. They did not come back early, they were delayed. She said ‘Well, I shall go to church. These brothers (of mine) have not come back’. She went to church to take communion and the plain filled with Arab horsemen. The plain filled with Arabs. They came and kidnapped her and took her away. Her eldest brother came back and did not find his sister. She (was always) sitting like a lady at home. He did not see her. He said: ‘Oh mother, may I be your ransom, mother Oh where is my sister Nasimo?’ She said ‘My dear, your sister Nasimo fasted fifty days without taking communion. The day she was taking communion The plain filled with horsemen. Your sister Nasimo has been captured by Arabs. They took her down to the land of the (dwellers in the) low places’. He wept and became sad. He sat down weeping. The other (brother) did the same, the other the same. The youngest came back. He also cried: ‘Oh mother, may I be your ransom, mother She said ‘My dear, your sister Nasimo fasted fifty days without taking communion. The day she was taking communion The plain filled with horsemen. She went to the land of the Arabs. They took you sister Nasimo down to the land of the (dwellers in the) low places’. Where is my sister Nasimo? He said ‘Mother, I shall go and bring her back’. She said ‘My dear, the place is very far. How will you go?’ He said ‘Mother, it is impossible for me not to go and find my sister’. He went off, he took himself off, my dear, he took an iron stick, he put a hat of iron on his head and took iron shoes (to wear) on his feet. He went out into the world. He bade them farewell ‘Remain in peace! I am going. Perhaps it is the road of no return’. He went a long way and arrived at a village. He said ‘Is this the village of such-and-such a person?’ He said ‘Yes’. He said ‘Where is his residence, his house?’ He said ‘That is his residence over there’. He went up there and stood outside the house. He had an embroidered handkerchief, which was woven by his father on the wood (of the loom) and embroidered by his sister. He held it in his hand, weeping, shedding tears and wiping his eyes. He sat there and started to sing dirges: Oh this handkerchief, was woven by my father and embroidered by my sister Nasimo. Her servant girl heard. From downstairs she (Nasimo) said ‘Servant!’ ‘Right away madam’. She said ‘Who is that old man?’ He had become an old man. Now, he had travelled on the road for seven years, his shirt was worn out, his shoes had fallen apart. He had become a poor wretch. He could no longer reach any place. He was lucky to arrive in that village. He reached that village. It was the village of those people. He sat there. She said ‘What does that man want?’ She said ‘Madam, he is weeping and singing dirges, saying “This handkerchief was woven by my father and embroidered by my sister Nasimo”. ‘Who is he? Wait, wait, wait. I shall go down. Wait, wait. I shall talk to him’. She went down and spoken to him: Oh old man, get up and flee from there! My dog will eat you. My cat will gnaw you. From where have you got this handkerchief? He said ‘This handkerchief, my dear, was embroidered by the lady Nasimo. I have been been coming (on my way here) for these seven years. Look, my stick has broken and my shoes have broken, I have no shoes to wear. I just want to see my sister Nasimo, then let me die!’ She said ‘If that is the case, he is my brother’. She went up to the third floor and threw herself down beside him. He said ‘I want to die’. She said ‘I also shall die by your side’. She threw herself down there and both died together. When they came and saw them (they asked) ‘What is it? What is it?’ They said such-and-such has happened. They said ‘Let us bring soil and bury them’. I have left it there and come here.

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Transcription:

ʾíṯwa xa-bráta šə́mma Nasìmo.ˈ Nasìmoˈ wíḏɛwa gu-ʾúmra qurbàna,ˈ qa-ṱ-azáwa qarwàwa.ˈ yomáṯa la-palṭàwa,ˈ ma-ṱ-áwa xámṯa šapìrta,ˈ káwsa làxxa ṣaléwa.ˈ ʾiṯwála šáwwa xonăwàṯa.ˈ mə́ra lá-palṭa xáṯən mən-bɛ̀ṯa.ˈ ʾàxni nablə́xla.ˈ ʾáni zìlla.ˈ lá-ṯela jàldeˈ murqə̀lla.ˈ mə́ra xéna ʾána qɛ́mən ʾázən ʾùmra.ˈ ʾánna xonăwáṯa là-ṯela.ˈ ʾazáwa ʾúmra qa-t-qarwàwa,ˈ dášta ṃaḷyáwa rakáwe ʾarabàye.ˈ ṃḷíṯa dášta ʾarabàye,ˈ ʾə́ṯyela jlíwəlla muṣə̀lyəlla.ˈ ʾə́ṯyɛle xóna díya ʾo-gòṛa,ˈ lɛ́le xə́zyəlla xàṯe,ˈ dax-xànum ʾay-tíwta gu-bɛ́ṯa.ˈ lá qəm-xazèla.ˈ mə̀re:ˈ

ʾo dàyˈ ya-xlápax dàyˈ
ʾo kɛ́la xáṯi Nasìmo?ˈ
mə́ra bábi xáṯux Nasìmoˈ
xámši yóme ṣimìlaˈ
qurbáne t-la qriwìlaˈ
ʾo-yóma t-qarwàwaleˈ
dášta ṃḷéla rakàweˈ
xáṯux Nasímo jlíwtɛla l-ʾarabàyeˈ
muṣlyə́lla l-ʾáṯṛa t-xtàyeˈ

ʾaw-bxéle ʾu-mquhə̀rre.ˈ tíwle bxàya.ˈ ʾap-o-xéna hàdəx,ˈ ʾap-o-xéna hàdəx.ˈ ʾo-zórət kúlla ṯèle.ˈ ʾap-áw qrèle:ˈ

ʾo-dày,ˈ xlápax dày.ˈ
mə́ra bábi xáṯux Nasìmoˈ
xámši yóme ṣimìlaˈ
qurbáne t-la qriwìlaˈ
ʾo-yóma t-qarwàwaleˈ
dášta ṃḷéla rakàweˈ
zílla máṯət arabàyeˈ
xáṯux Nasímo muṣlyə́lla l-ʾáṯṛa t-xtàyeˈ
kɛ̀la xáṯi Nasímo?ˈ

mə́re yə̀mmiˈ ṱ-ázən ʾána mɛṯə̀nna.ˈ mə́ra bábət yə́mmux rába rə̀ḥqɛla dúka.ˈ dàx ṱ-ázət?ˈ mə́re yə́mmi la-hòyaˈ ʾànaˈ xàṯi lá-ʾazən xazə́nna.ˈ qímle zìlle,ˈ šqílle gàneˈ bábi šqílle kupálət prə̀zla.ˈ ʾu-muttúle kosíṯət prə́zla b-rèšeˈ ʾu-šqílle ṣáwlət prə́zla p-àqle.ˈ zílle mxéle b-dùnye.ˈ ṭlíble xàṭər mənnèy:ˈ púšu b-šɛ̀na!ˈ hon-zàla.ˈ bálki lɛ́la ʾúrxət dyàṛa.ˈ xíšle, ʾu-xíšle, ʾu-xíšle ʾu-xìšle.ˈ mṭéle l-xa-màṯa.ˈ mə́re ʾàyyɛla máṯət fulán-naša?ˈ mə́re hè.ˈ mə́re kɛ̀le qáṣre díye,ˈ bɛ́ṯe díye?ˈ mə́re ʾăwàʾha qáṣre díyele.ˈ qíma sìqɛle,ˈ kə́lya qam-ṭắrət bɛ̀ṯa.ˈ ʾítle xa-yalə́xta mnuqàštaˈ l-bábe zqírta b-qɛ̀seˈ ʾu-xáṯe díye mnuqàštəlla.ˈ dwíqəlla gu-ʾíḏe dìye,ˈ bxàyaˈ maṣlóyele də̀mmeˈ mxáyɛle ʾɛ́ne dìye.ˈ tíwle táma píšle jnàna.ˈ

ʾáx ʾáyya yalə̀xtaˈ
bàbila zqírtaˈ
ʾu-xáṯi Nasìmola mnuqášta.ˈ

xadámta díya ʾáy šmèla.ˈ mən-ʾə̀ltəx mə́ra:ˈ xadàmta!ˈ béna ʾəstàḏti.ˈ mə́ra ʾaw-sáwa mòdi?ˈ píšle sàwa.ˈ mə́re šáwwa šə́nne b-ʾùrxa,ˈ zàla,ˈ kutáne blèla,ˈ ṣáwle nčìlla.ˈ píšle făqíra məskèna.ˈ léš-ʾawwa mṣáya máṭe čù-dukṯa.ˈ mṭéle gu-d-ày-maṯaˈ ham-zḕn.ˈ mṭéle gu-d-ày máṯa.ˈ ʾay-máṯa d-àn-našela.ˈ tíwɛle tàma.ˈ mə́ra mó-băye ʾo-nàša?ˈ mə́ra ʾəstáḏta hola-màra,ˈ hóle bxáya jnàna,ˈ hole-màraˈ ʾáyya yalə̀xtaˈ bàbila zqírtaˈ xáṯi Nasìmola mnuqášta.ˈ ʾɛ̀nile?ˈ kla-kla-klá ʾána ṣàlyən.ˈ kla-klá mṣáwṯən mənne-dìye.ˈ ṣlíṯɛla mṣuwàṯta mənne-dìye.ˈ

ʾo-sáwa qú ruq-m-tàma!ˈ
kaləbṯi bəṱ-axlàlux.ˈ
qaṭúṯi bəd-mnagràluxˈ
ʾɛ-kăfíyya m-ɛkàlux?ˈ

mə́re ʾɛ-kăfìyya ya-bábiˈ ʾəstáḏta Nasìmola mnuqášta.ˈ ʾu-ʾána ʾanna-šawwá-šənne hon-ṯàyaˈ ʾína kupáli píšla šmìṭṭaˈ ʾu-piláwe píšla šmìṭe.ˈ júlli lítli t-lošèna.ˈ bắyən xázən xáṯi Nasìmoˈ xóš mɛṯèna!ˈ mə́ra hàtxa,ˈ ʾáwwa xònile.ˈ síqtɛla l-ṭábaq t-ṭḷàṯa.ˈ zdíṯəlla gána dìyaˈ kəsle-dìye.ˈ mə́re ʾána bəd-mɛ̀ṯena.ˈ mə́ra ʾáp-ʾana bəd-mɛ́ṯən gòtux.ˈ zədyála gána díya tàmaˈ tə́rna mítla kəs-ġḏàḏe.ˈ ʾɛ́-ga ṯéla qəm-xazɛ̀laˈ mòdile?ˈ mòdile?ˈ ʾánna mə́ra hàtxɛle bə́rya.ˈ … mə́ra mɛ́ṯəx ʾùpraˈ mxamə̀xla.ˈ ʾáyya šuqáli táma ʾu-ṯéli làxxa.ˈ

Translation:

There was a girl called Nasimo. Mass was performed in church, so that she had to go to take communion. She did not go out for days, since she was so beautiful, her hair flowing down to here. She had seven brothers. They said ‘Our sister will not go out of the house. We shall take her’. They went off. They did not come back early, they were delayed. She said ‘Well, I shall go to church. These brothers (of mine) have not come back’. She went to church to take communion and the plain filled with Arab horsemen. The plain filled with Arabs. They came and kidnapped her and took her away. Her eldest brother came back and did not find his sister. She (was always) sitting like a lady at home. He did not see her. He said:

‘Oh mother, may I be your ransom, mother
Oh where is my sister Nasimo?’
She said ‘My dear, your sister Nasimo
fasted fifty days
without taking communion.
The day she was taking communion
The plain filled with horsemen.
Your sister Nasimo has been captured by Arabs.
They took her down to the land of the (dwellers in the) low places’.

He wept and became sad. He sat down weeping. The other (brother) did the same, the other the same. The youngest came back. He also cried:

‘Oh mother, may I be your ransom, mother
She said ‘My dear, your sister Nasimo
fasted fifty days
without taking communion.
The day she was taking communion
The plain filled with horsemen.
She went to the land of the Arabs.
They took you sister Nasimo down to the land of the (dwellers in the) low places’.
Where is my sister Nasimo?

He said ‘Mother, I shall go and bring her back’. She said ‘My dear, the place is very far. How will you go?’ He said ‘Mother, it is impossible for me not to go and find my sister’. He went off, he took himself off, my dear, he took an iron stick, he put a hat of iron on his head and took iron shoes (to wear) on his feet. He went out into the world. He bade them farewell ‘Remain in peace! I am going. Perhaps it is the road of no return’. He went a long way and arrived at a village. He said ‘Is this the village of such-and-such a person?’ He said ‘Yes’. He said ‘Where is his residence, his house?’ He said ‘That is his residence over there’. He went up there and stood outside the house. He had an embroidered handkerchief, which was woven by his father on the wood (of the loom) and embroidered by his sister. He held it in his hand, weeping, shedding tears and wiping his eyes. He sat there and started to sing dirges:

Oh this handkerchief,
was woven by my father
and embroidered by my sister Nasimo.

Her servant girl heard. From downstairs she (Nasimo) said ‘Servant!’ ‘Right away madam’. She said ‘Who is that old man?’ He had become an old man. Now, he had travelled on the road for seven years, his shirt was worn out, his shoes had fallen apart. He had become a poor wretch. He could no longer reach any place. He was lucky to arrive in that village. He reached that village. It was the village of those people. He sat there. She said ‘What does that man want?’ She said ‘Madam, he is weeping and singing dirges, saying “This handkerchief was woven by my father and embroidered by my sister Nasimo”. ‘Who is he? Wait, wait, wait. I shall go down. Wait, wait. I shall talk to him’. She went down and spoken to him:

Oh old man, get up and flee from there!
My dog will eat you.
My cat will gnaw you.
From where have you got this handkerchief?

He said ‘This handkerchief, my dear, was embroidered by the lady Nasimo. I have been been coming (on my way here) for these seven years. Look, my stick has broken and my shoes have broken, I have no shoes to wear. I just want to see my sister Nasimo, then let me die!’ She said ‘If that is the case, he is my brother’. She went up to the third floor and threw herself down beside him. He said ‘I want to die’. She said ‘I also shall die by your side’. She threw herself down there and both died together. When they came and saw them (they asked) ‘What is it? What is it?’ They said such-and-such has happened. They said ‘Let us bring soil and bury them’. I have left it there and come here.