Virtual Verduria

Verdurian Texts

This is a fairly miscellaneous collection of texts in Verdurian, discovered or translated over the years for various reasons. They're intended mostly for practice in Verdurian, and are presented in order of difficulty.
My father's week
New Testament texts
The Tower of Babel
The birth of Jesus
The launch of the Tellädec Alati
The elopement of Lady Išária
The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld
Erruk
The Lord of the Rings
The Hollow Men

My father's week [To Index]

A reading intended for the next (11th) lesson in the Practical Course. It's intended to teach the days of the week, time expressions, and participles (present, past, and gerund). The title character is a baron or other minor lordling in a rural area of Verduria province-- so rural, in fact, that the name of the town (Buyel) has become the Verdurian word for a rural lout or country bumpkin.

So hepdën pirei esë

Piro esë e fascotene uestu. E so sanno Buyelei, im dáluan Verdúrë. Eluá, mun racontretu, er lelmo tal fascotene e.

Scúreden, zet ečite fruece er hicete soem bouem pro utron. Eššane ti-velec atüčy velne ana is can nočín.

Širden, rihe soa dumora domei cum hozënán taë er miran esë. Oce lyö faše er mis dy eu trodonecî, dy e gašul uestu, dy deve vagir soi ďiteli com precun feyämán. Nikto řo nime cuesan eta so lešel šualië, escatelië er vinei lië.

Fidren, aude druki mažtane. Can de tošec prando er imbušäm vin, er tuyu tuyošarë. E desî iverî, hotu zet feyne dy so vin fue meyul. Tu řo ilun cuesne onžanen, hoyan e orest dy so vin e meyul.

Calten, ásue com šriftom ke ilun imbeme aluatas. E lyö agoläm šrifec so aluatas, mis, prokena sam ilun řo šris soa mezinä metan loži lë.

Zëden, pasete soa besya zië, ke e redelcë lyö ditaväma, ížece ana soië muďe ditavulië režžinië lië, er nun imbemeca im aldean. Maris lië tromul prolaže noscadam lië ab urokir dafrom pro piron esë.

Néronden, läde ne merš. Řo eme niš; zet kaše pro lelen esli so hozën taë, Geric, eme šozi pradece er arastece pro domán.

Ceďnare, ore Enäronán, esli Enäron ilun colaprece pro hepdënán. Esli řo, ore Calton, pro imbeman urek Enäronán. Iy esli otál Calto fue řocunësäm, ore Iširan.

Ši-hepdënán piro taë e tal fascotene.

My father's week

My father is a busy man. He is the lord of Buyel, in the kingdom of Verduria. Here, I will tell you, and you will see how busy he is.

On scúreden, he rises early and counts the cows for the whole morning. Perhaps some thieving rascal has stolen one of them during the night.

On širden, he looks at the house receipts with our steward and my mother. He becomes very angry and says that they are spendthrifts, he is a ruined man, he will have to wander the roads like a pitiable beggar. No one dares to ask about the cost of his horses, tapestries, and wine.

On fidren, he receives friends from the city. He gives them a satisfying dinner and a savory wine, and they smoke pipeweed. A few winters ago a guest complained that the wine was watered. He was not asked to return, though it is true that the wine is watered.

On calten, he sits with a scholar who teaches him grammar. It is very important to know grammar, he says, because without it you do not know in what order to put your words.

On zëden, he visits his mistress, formerly one of his favorite servants, and now a teacher in the village. Her deluded husband earned her bride-price by building furniture for my father.

On néronden, he goes to the market. He does not buy anything; he hides in order to see if our steward, Geric, is buying things for the house in an honest and painstaking fashion.

On ceďnare, he prays to Enäron, if Enäron has helped him during the week. If not, he prays to Calto, to teach Enäron a lesson. Or if Calto has also been unworthy of trust, he prays to Išira.

Every week my father is this busy.

New Testament texts [To Index]

Our New Testament (called the Ivro Iesui, the Book of Jesus) is one of the three scriptures of the Eleďe religion; the others are the Book of Eleď (Ivro Eleďei), which are the ancient Cuzeian holy works, the scripture of the Arašei religion; and the Book of Mihel (Ivro Mihelei), which chronicles the arrival and work of the Elenicoi in Avéla, the struggle against the Kebreni who were then oppressing Érenat, and the eventual union with the Arašeî.

The books of the Ivro Iesui are not divided into chapters and verses, but into named sections, which correspond to one to three of our chapters. For instance, the Sermon on the Mount is known as Parna. If a more precise citation is needed (as for instance in a concordance, or to distinguish two verses within a section), the line number is given.

Crivelî Ivrei Iesui

Cuesano, er mun dome; telleno, er tróumo; keyeno, er mun uvrete. Prokena fsya ke cuese delažte, er ke telle tróume, er ke keye tu ilun uvrete.

--Mateo, Parna

Er ilun miže, --Veaďeno so Sannam, Aď mun, cum tësen uemán muë, er cum tësen lerian muë, er cum tësen itianán muë. Eto e so cadeo este er pere. So ftore e com ilun, Veaďeno óuand muë com mun. Ci-ďunî cadeî cumprenu so perä Amrab er soi Žantomi.

--Mateo, Fariseî

Im debután esne so Log, er so Log esne cum Aďán, er so Log fue Aď. Ilu esne im debután cum Aďán. Fsë dësne ab ilun, er až ilun niš dësne ke ya dësne. Im ilun esne elir, er so elir fue soa selta uestuë. Er soa selta iluvne im šorun, er so šoru řo ilat cumprenne.

--Ihano, So Log

--Eluá, teku ne ďerán er keyai; esli nibke slušcele vuá esë er uvrete so ďer, ilun voitte, er prandretu cum ilun, er ilu cum sen.

--Dekaši Ihanon, Lädica

Piro tan ke ei im Oränan, iřodom esane nom lë. Dálua lë žanene, vulei lë zet suvane, sur Almean com im Oränan. Tam danei eludëno tutan yon taë. Er tan ďiloranei devämi taë, com otál ta ďiloram deveci taë. Er řo tam duisireu im iskuša, ac tam imřisanei is cheltán.

--Mateo, Parna

New Testament texts

Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened.

--Matthew 7:7-8

And he said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your mind, and with all your soul.' This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."

--Matthew 22:37-40

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was with life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

--John 1:1-5

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me."

--Revelation 3:20

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

--Matthew 6:9-13

The Tower of Babel [To Index]

Translated by Francesco Felici. (The English version is a retranslation from the Verdurian.)

So gorat Babelei

1. Soa pera almea Ekaiei tence ana anisä sfaha er soi nenóm loži.

2. Dezike siča žannu sarei, uestî tróunu etald im scurin Sennärei er cečel lacunu.

3. Mižu pere ftoren, --Žaneno, fassecom ladriyom er cam tšuranam ab tšurán." Er bruhnu soi ladriyom com ďumen er soa përšruma com përmácon.

4. Proše mižu: --Žaneno, tan satenam mážula er gorat, kiei finta attróue so syel er tan lažecom brac, pro dy řo ažlädam fne soa pera almea Ekaiei.

5. Ac Aď žanne hipán pro lelen mážula er gorat, kaëm soî uestî siča satnu.

6. Aď miže: --Eluá, ca eu an anise žen er tësî tenu ana anisä sfaha; eluá so debút soe bende caë er tot, kiom nameru fassec, can řo esme řoeššane.

7. Lädanam hipán, urë, er akoteranam soa sfaha caë, pro dy an řo cumprene soa sfaha telei."

8. Aď cam imažlädan cečelei fne soa pera almea Ekaiei er ca dešnu saten mážula.

9. Urë tu ilat ya nomne Babel, prokena Aď akoterne cečel soa sfaha pere almee Ekaiei er cam imažläzne cečelei fne soa pera almea Ekaiei.

The Tower of Babel

1. The whole earth (Literally 'Ekaia's world'; in Eleďe theology our Earth is the site of the rebellion of Ekaia, that is, Satan. ) had just one speech, and the same words.

2. As they came from the east (Some versions have 'to the east', which would be sarán.), men found a plain in the land of Sennär and settled there.

3. They said one to another, "Come, let us make bricks and bake them with fire (Some versions have 'thoroughly', which would be teplenece.)." And they used bricks as stone and bitumen as cement.

4. Then they said: "Come, let us build a town and a tower, whose top will reach the heavens; and let us get ourselbes glory, so that we are not scattered across all the earth."

5. But God came down to see the town and the tower, which the men were building.

6. God said: "Behold, they are just one people and all of them have just one speech; behold the beginning of their works; everything they dare to do, it will not be impossible for them.

7. Let us go down, then, and confuse their speech, so than one does not understand the speech of the other."

8. God scattered them from there all across the earth, and they left off building the town.

9. Thus it was called Babel, because God confused the speech of all of the earth there, and scattered them from there all across the earth.

The birth of Jesus [To Index]

Translated by Philip Newton, from Luke 2:1-21. (The English version is a retranslation from the Verdurian.)

The text in Verdurian script

So nes Iesui

Žanne im ce-dënin dy ažläzne befel Caisarei Ávustei dy imbineyene pera almea. Ce-perë imbineyesa žanne kiam Kurenio fue sažuro Surë. Er tësî prosiznu pro dy zet imbineyen, chil ad prosüran mažtanan zië. Er Iosif otál irläzne de Galilean, is mažtanan Nazareď, im Iouďea, ad mažtanan Ďavídei kio zet nome Veďleem, prokena fue de domán er ženatán Ďavídei, pro zet imbineyen cum Marian, nosäman zië, ke fue nasitsë. Žanne kiam fueu cečel, dy adžanne so dën and keďen lië, Er keďne meď zië, soa pernesa, er ilet imbresne ab bresin er ilet imbarucre im nuržošán, prokena im prusin řo can esne reďunát.

Er esnu motucömî im soán nenén pažianán, kaë siča kešnu im soan mestin er siča hežnu nočín motorem zaë. Er eluá, anëly sannei can adžanne er brac sannei iluvne fšircau can, er nkašnu arašó. Er so anëly can miže, <Řo nkašano! Eluá, mun ametai beldobrä leba estëi zule, kio esme and perén ženán, prokena mun nesne eludëno im mažtanan Ďavídei spasiec ke e Eleď sanno. Er eto mun esme dorot, tróumo imfát imbresul ab bresin er barucec im nuržošán.> Er sitrece esne cum soán anëlín bolyášë oränisë falata ke eglérce Aď er miže, <Brac Aďán im altatán er pé sur almean im uestuin volemátei.>

Er žanne dy kiam soî anëlî ažläzne až can ad soan oränan, soî motucömî mižu pere ftoren, <Lädanam syad Veďleemán er lelenam eto kio žanne er kiom so sanno tan šesne šrifec.> Er žannu sfutece er tróunu Mariam er Iosif er so imfát ke barucre im nuržošán, er kiom lelneru, inclarü eto kiom so anëly can mižere eta so imfát. Er tësî kaë acincu miurnu eta fsë kiom soî motucömî can mižere. Ac Maria řandre tësi ci-šozi er cam ašre im uemán zië. Er soî motucömî onžannu, še onten brac Aďán er ilet eglérec pro fsën kio acinceru er lelneru, com tu can mižere.

Er apros žoc dënin, tu šircautranne so imfát er ilet done so nom Iesu, so nom dy so anëly donere iž dy zen leblirce im soan auvan.

The birth of Jesus

It happened in those days that there went out an order from Caisar Ávusto that the whole earth be registered. This first registration came when Kurenio was governor of Suria. And everyone travelled in order to be registered, each one to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilea, out of the city of Nazareď, into Iouďea, to the city of David which is called Veďleem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to be registered with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant. It happened when they were there, that her day arrived to give birth, and she bore her son, her firstborn, and she wrapped him in cloths and laid him in a manger, because in the inn there was no room for them.

And there were shepherds in the same country, who were staying in the field and were guarding their flocks. And behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone all around them, and they feared much. And the angel told them, "Don't fear! Behold, I bring you wonderful news of great joy, which will be for all people, because there was born to you today in the city of David a saviour, who is Eleď the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a great celestial army which praised God and said, "Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth among men of good will."

And it happened that when the angel had departed from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go up to Veďleem and see what happened, which the lord made us know." And they came quickly and found Mary and Joseph and the baby who lay in a manger, and having seen this, they revealed what the angel had said about the child. And all who heard wondered about everything that the shepherds told them. But Mary kept all these things and considered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying God and praising him for all that they had heard and seen, as it was told to them.

And after eight days, the child was circumcised and given the name Iesu, the name that the angel had given before he was conceived in the womb.

The launch of the Tellädec Alati [To Index]

An article from a Verdurian newspaper, So Sanno Lebë (the Lord of News), néronden, 10 olašu 3480. The respectful tone of the article is typical for articles which report the doings of the King. And the comings and goings of large-scale commerical expeditions, with details about the ship, the organizers and the crew, are naturally important news in a port city.

Note that the title of a Verdurian newspaper article also functions as its first sentence.

So Dalu er soa Ana daluy esnu ne isuvean <Tellädece alatë>

Soa navira, ana is soië muďe guéssië im soan naviroran celdonisen, bruhme alihar soië čorië sarán demeče duisir Moreon Ašcain, scafir u Leanán, er proše řekan soa zëa nanei ad Belesaon, ktë zet vižie esta celdona verdúrii žusämei keďnáei pro lácatin belesaei, sfetoin, čain, selán, er laželin selonei. So prosizel onžanme im peletin.

Alric Dalu miže kalloga soan rëcoran, eglérce so trastoštát nabrei Dorotáďei Müseii, ke befelme so prosizel, er soa řavica er soi zoni facore lië. Soa ana daluy, Tilye saza, cumlädne piro zië, er so tihy medro zië cum soen kallogin er orátin incretre soem uemem beďecië.

Soa <Tellädeca alati> e gliny po padec čimen, com par albin er ďinen cirnuin ir nasinnáen. Až nabron Müseín, lunurulî lië eu Kazum Mizrahi, kebrén, er Calto Dineoney Belušatë. Eu suedec uestî im facoran, ke cumprene pan redelcen: soen ciren ďunië lunurulië, rälom, er ďunin ebrákin. E an sul decďun verdúryië navirië ke epan řekan ad Belesaon. Ya řekne abbosnece e ďunî zonî; dernén zonán veturne Šuran, Ineksán, er Nanán.

So prosizel ilet hipcure cumbutát ďindec keladecië, ke zet colre ne Säten i soî Celdonecî zëë, er tene bemát po ir 30 000 ořulen, er teplenem akešua Celdonecië zëë er par bolëdië kunnáië.

The King and the Crown Princess are present at the launch of the Tellädeca Alati.

The ship, one of the most powerful of the merchant service, will take advantage of the easterly spring currents to make for Moreo Ašcai, put in at Leán, and then cross the northern ocean to Belesao, where a great trade in Verdurian manufactures for Belesao cotton, spices, tea, salt, and bronze goods is expected. The expedition will return in the fall.

King Alric addressed those present, commending the excellence of Captain Dorotáď Müsey, the commander of the expedition, and the courage and experience of his crew. Crown Princess Tilye accompanied her father, and her quiet dignity amid the speeches and prayers gladdened the hearts of observers.

The Tellädeca Alati is fifty paces long, with four masts and three decks above the hold. Besides Captain Müsey, its chief officers are Kazum Mizrahi, a Kebreni, and Calto Dineoney of Belušati. There are sixty crew members, including five women: the wives of two officers, a cook, and two cabin girls. It is one of only a dozen Verdurian vessels capable of the crossing to Belesao. It has made the crossing successfully before, two years ago; last year it travelled to Skouras, to Inex, and to Nan.

The expedition is financed by a consortium of thirty investors, organized at the Hall of the Sea Traders, and reflects a capitalization of over 30,000 ořuli, fully insured by the Sea Traders and four major banks.

The elopement of Lady Išária [To Index]

Another article from So Sanno Lebë (from the same issue). Gossipy stories about the aristocracy are a mainstay of Verdurian journalism.

Note that one refers to the Count as Ažirey cont Ramar-- Ažirey, Count Ramar-- or, more shortly, Ažirey cont or cont Ramar. Ramar is the title, not the family name (ženata); titles are always used rather than ženatî-- but only for those who have them. The daughter is thus telnë Išária Lutúlia-- Lady Išária Lutuliy, or simply telnë Išária. (Lutúlia is the feminine form of the name Lutuliy, itself nominalized from the genitive of lutuli 'meadow'.)

From the Caďinorian given names it can be guessed that both the Lutuliî and the suitor are pagans. The relevant customs of the nobility are evident enough from the story itself, but it may be worth underlining the impossibility of the match. Noble marriages are alliances of families; Cupid--or Fifel, to give the cultural equivalent-- need not apply.

Telna Išária Ažireii Lutúlia velaíre com iscunán Anaserë

Soa frälina suletë melaštë, ke řo tene sul dechép zonin, zaprinimce soa fsora Lonricei Altuneonei, ftore meď reďei kunnáei im Anaserin, er islelne cum ilun. Šese itësir bolëce soin ďunin ženátin.

Mira lië, Susluoma conta Ramara, acinom, e cumpogulece sadëžula, e řo epe dénuo imprilen čilisem isuváti zië, dezike piro lië, Ažirey cont Ramar, proete nizener gövtenece Altuneon, esli ya prenne so paktrogulam mece lië-- čascuro ke, hoyan, beďecî sënze uestuë řo vižicele dy zet imprilcele. So cont voyre voyaki sur šualán co berda soië ďunië, ac řo cam tróunu.

So sulete Altuneon fue inďulom alaďee telnan Išárian; ilet mondne e žocî iliažyošî ilan imbemec er soa teclora er soa kena. Prokena so ženát zië soî Lutuliî ilet šrifce, er tence pisá cuesrëcore telië ženátië melašteë, řo zet ašre ke fayre irlelec pro ašen caë inďulátei. Acotál Susluoma conta esne ne mušen, prokena so lekaro lië ilan konsre dy oe soa alaďea kenië pro imželen so hum zië, ke e sotse.

Cumloëc Altuneonei tam sfahce dy so sulete zalübce soa suletä melaštä syapros so debután snucátei zië, er dy so raspuyo lië tróune plic, ke ilun done bolä lérežan. Sedau, dénuo suspilavne bolëce še šrifec dy so cont Ramar nikagdá řo prinimcele celftena mece zië nosan inďulom alaďee sam kunan, er dy so piro zië ilun konsre řo gasfir dunea lië im mevin samsubrelen.

Telna Išária tene ďunem sädren muďe bomem, kaë soî ďunî caë ya marinu im dernëin ďunin zonin-- mevî kaë šesnu sënuléce ečitan soán krofán suletëi melaštëi, hoyan so sör befelne dy nikto řo ulelne. Otál tene baraďum muďe bom, telne Ružnes, ke dénuo snuce im naviroran.

Soî uestî contei ya gravnu soi ďiteli fetöre, er ronnu im prusin fsa soan mažtanan; ac tam mifam mizec dy řo abbosmu cum ci-žuuin. Im soen coeliboen soî besyunî kaëm so sör sadëže tróuu ošaa im ruden skalen, zam imbrakü im nuven stävei; soa melašte šuščolote eššane telnëra zië. Ac Altuneon řo fue otál nrüsk, ředom, duisir besya zië im nižnyatán. Ředom dy ilu-- er ila-- zam tróuu im domán melašten, lyö otinimaše mondecei ižeďei. Řo e so elir ket vižicele telnë Išária, ac tente lübor zië, plerom zië, er nuva iëžuë.

Lady Išária Lutuliy has eloped with a commoner from Anaseri.

The young noble maiden, who is just seventeen years old, accepted the suit of one Lonric Altuneon, the second son of a brokerage clerk from Anaseri, and vanished with him into the him, to the distress of both families.

Her mother, the Countess Ramar, is said to be utterly distraught, and has been unable to attend her usual social engagements, while her father, Ažirey Count Ramar, vows to exact a terrible revenge upon Altuneon if his daughter's virtue is not preserved-- a hope which, however, observers of human nature would not expect to be fulfilled. He has sent horsemen on the trail of the couple but they have not been found.

Young Altuneon was Lady Išária's music tutor; he was engaged eight months ago to teach her both the clavier and the flute. Because his family was known to the Lutilii, and because he had letters of recommendation from other noble families, it was not thought necessary to provide a chaperon for their tutoring sessions. Countess Ramar attended many of them in any case, as her doctor had advised that she listen to the music of flutes to calm her nerves, which are high-strung.

A fellow lodger of Altuneon's has told us that the young man fell in love with the young noblewoman soon after he was hired , and that his sentiments were returned and that his sentiments were returned, to his great happiness. However, he suffered greatly knowing that Count Ramar would never consent to his daughter's engagement with an impecunious music tutor, and that his own father had advised him not to waste his energy on futile pursuits.

Lady Išária has two older sisters, both of which married in the last two years-- events which must have quickened the young noblewoman's blood, though, fatally, none perceived it. She also has an older brother, Lord Ružnes, currently serving in the Navy.

The Count's men have scoured the highways of the province, and checked inns across the city; but they will not, we venture to say, succeed with these methods. In romances lovers frowned upon by fate find a haven in rude hovels, embracing in straw beds, the lady crying, perhaps, over her lost lifelost luxuries. But Altuneon was not, we believe, so foolish as to simply lead his beloved into misery. We believe he-- and she-- will be found in a noble house, most likely a former patron's. It is not the life Lady Išária may have expected, but she will have her love, her pleasures, and a feather bed.

The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld [To Index]

A prejudiced selection from "that loveable old skeptic," translated from the French. The cultural gap is small: France of the 1680s is not so different from Verduria. Concepts are not always shared, however: how to translate esprit? I've had to use hüm, tisirát, itian, as the context seemed to demand.

Fransis Suese Šoh i Larošfucól: Lertloži

89. Fsya zet feye eta suzán zië, er nikto řo zet feye eta celëtesa zië.

104. Uestî er sënza tenu čel leleëi; eu ca dy faye lelen is pakán pro dobrece cam celëtir, er ca dy tu řo celëte dobrece sul is retán.

132. E muďe fasil esan mudray pro telen dy pro zen.

140. So tisire uestu nirto zet bobrcele sam rëcoram nrüskië.

149. Agečir soi egleri e vulir cam delažec ďunî fuaî.

150. So idureo valec soi egleri kiom tu tam de imzole aelutrát taë, er soî eglerî kiom tu de humán, řavican, er beluan colapru cam increšir.

167. Šupoát muďe akläde so clesnát dy soa trodona.

174. Muďe vale bruhan itian taë pro adferien soem malbosem kio tam žanu, dy ižlelen tot kio epu tam žanen.

190. Řo tenu soem estem maucruseom sul soî estî uestî.

204. So retát redelcië e addobre e fäbrau dy ca surmetu beluan zaë.

208. Eu niruisî uestî kaë zam oteru, er bruhu munénece niruisát zië.

214. Soa řavica e, cum smirein voyakin, soa munëi väremë dy suvu pro lädan sa elirán.

218. Soa maldobre e hiponto kiom de so prigët aelutratán.

219. Bengî uestî zam ciscü soa šušča im belgon isu pro řaner so lon zaë, ac peî vulu fsëgdá fassec otál dy faye pro dy soa ftena abbošele pro kiom zam ciscü.

226. Raženi tro bolyášë urokešen deväm e kest řomelnitatei.

228. So orgöl řo vule devir, er soa zetšatabi řo vule platir.

238. Řo e otál väreme mevan čeltei bengein uestuin dy cam dan tro dobrei.

249. Řo e muán eyurcrivát im kielsfahen, im yen, er im zetteneon, dy im divean ložië.

277. Redelcî zam ředu nirto lübec, kiam řo lübu; soa sënza zizigese, soa živesa hümei kiom de soa corëne fsora, so mezine plero zam ašir lübulî, er so malvolemát agečir, cam imagrenü dy tenu ďorina, hoyan řo tenu sul piflát.

284. Eu zutî kaë ešelu muán väremî esli řo tenu suim aelutul.

380. Soa bunori šese lelen aelutuli er prigom taë, com soa selta šese lelen soi laželi.

384. Řo vale řuyan sul cumepan elnora řuyan.

389. Kio faite řoadfere so zetbracát telië, e dy važe tot taë.

432. Eglérec volemece beluani mevi e tižuy suvan žuca im can.

436. E muďe fasil oteran etapérece soi uestom dy oteran etasúlece an uestum.

450. Orgöl taë creše nirto ab kion onirzovom de fäsulin maucruseoin taë.

451. Řo eu nrüskî otál agasî dy tot kaë tenu tisirát.

469. Tu řo idure skičisece kiom tu řo idure sul pro curayan.

471. Im peren fsororen redelcî lübu so besyun; im aprosten lübu lübor.

477. So nenë teřemát ke zet bruhe pro aklädan lübor zet bruhe otál pro ilet faitan olotëte er tralirë; ďorina fsëgdá šese friser soem cišitem, ac macretece tana cam kese.

496. Soî žicoî řo tralircelu otál lengece, esli so ďam řo e sul anei cotei.

559. E muďe řofasil kašir soem olotem kiom tu tene, dy zamben tot kiom tu řo tene.

François VI, Duc de La Rochefoucauld: Maximes

89. Tout le monde se plaint de sa mémoire, et personne ne se plaint de son jugement.

104. Les hommes et les affaires ont leur point de perspective; il y en a qu'il faut voir de près, pour en bien juger; et d'autres dont on ne juge jamais si bien que quand on en est éloigné.

132. Il est plus aisé d'être sage pour les autres que de l'être pour soi-même.

140. Un homme d'esprit serait souvent bien embarrassé sans la compagnie des sots.

149. Le refus des louanges est un désir d'être loué deux fois.

150. Le désir de mériter les louanges qu'on nous donne fortifie notre vertu, et celles que l'on donne à l'esprit, à la valeur, et à la beauté contribuent à les augmenter.

167. L'avarice est plus opposée à l'économie que la liberalité.

174. Il vaut mieux employer notre esprit à supporter les infortunes qui nous arrivent qu'à prévoir celles qui nous peuvent arriver.

190. Il n'appartient qu'aux grands hommes d'avoir de grands défauts.

204. La sévérité des femmes est un ajustement et un fard qu'elles ajoutent à leur beauté.

208. Il y a des gens niais qui se connaissent, et qui emploient habilement leur niaiserie.

214. La valeur est, dans les simples soldats, un métier périlleux qu'ils ont pris pour gagner leur vie.

218. L'hypocrisie est un hommage que le vice rend à la vertu.

219. La plupart des hommes s'exposent assez dans la guerre pour sauver leur honneur; mais peu se veulent toujours exposer autant qu'il est nécessaire pour faire réussir le dessein pour lequel ils s'exposent.

226. Le trop grand empressement qu'on a de s'acquitter d'une obligation est une espèce d'ingratitude.

228. L'orgueil ne veut pas devoir, et l'amour-propre ne veut pas payer.

238. Il n'est pas si dangereux de faire du mal à la plupart des hommes que de leur faire trop de bien.

249. Il n'y a pas moins d'éloquence dans le ton de la voix, dans les yeux, et dans l'air de la personne, que dans le choix des paroles.

277. Les femmes croient souvent aimer, encore qu'elles n'aiment pas : l'occupation d'une intrigue, l'émotion d'esprit que donne la galanterie, la pente naturelle au plasir d'être aimées, et la peine de refuser, leur persuadent qu'elles ont de la passion, lorsqu'elles n'ont que de la coquetterie.

284. Il y a des méchants qui seraient moins dangereux s'ils n'avaient aucune bonté.

380. La fortune fait paraître nos vertus et nos vices, comme la lumière fair paraître les objets.

384. On ne devrait s'étonner que de pouvoir encore s'étonner.

389. Ce qui nous rend la vanité des autres insupportable, c'est qu'elle blesse la notre.

432. C'est, en quelque sorte, se donner part aux belles actions que de les louer de bon coeur.

436. Il est plus aisé de connaître l'homme en général, que de connaître un homme en particulier.

450. Notre orgueil s'augmente souvent de ce que nous retranchons de nos autres défauts.

451. Il n'y a point de sots si incommodes que ceux qui ont de l'esprit.

469. On ne souhaite jamais ardemment ce qu'on ne souhaite que par raison.

471. Dans les premières passions, les femmes aiment l'amant; et dans les autres, elles aiment l'amour.

477. La même fermeté, qui sert à résister à l'amour sert aussi à le rendre violent et durable, et les personnes faibles, qui sont toujours agitées des passions, n'en sont presque jamais véritables remplies.

496. Les querelles ne dureraient pas longtemps si le tort n'était que d'un coté.

559. Il est plus difficile de dissimuler les sentiments que l'on a que de feindre ceux que l'on n'a pas.

Erruk [To Index]

The selection is from a fantastic novel of the Verdurian writer Koldorot Idor, though the passage describes the real history of the castle of Erruk, whose ruins lie about 85 km south from Verduria-city along the Eärdur Road.

We might add to Idor's account that across the river from the castle lies the ruined city of Tothios, one of the leading cities of the pre-Caďinorian realm of Ažimbea. It had declined by Ervëa's time and disappeared in one barbarian invasion or another. The nearest modern settlement is the village of Ďunselî, across the river and 5 km to the north.

(Hey, there's a reading in the Practical Course about Erruk! Well, Erruk has a special place in the external history of Verduria-- it's the dungeon where many of the D&D adventures took place. (I named it, but it was actually Chris Vargas's dungeon.))

Koldorot Idor: Erruk

So caln i Erruk zet tróue sur esten falezán ke irlele so imčor soië Eärdurei er Svetle, er mife sannon zië, esli iler vulcele, iresan celdona sur ci-selen.

Erruk ilet satne im zonán 1628 [mil suešatem dvadežóc] Ervëa Este, elordalu Caďinasei. Řo fue sul an im soán esten tsepán calnië kiom satne pro akežan so naž zië. Zet nomne perece , Er řuk, er pro zonin hežne soem selem er colaprene akežan soa eloria.

Ac obadát lië řo tralirce. Malsfaomî incušcu; Caďinas ocne detombe, er belgomáš apros belgomáš imesne Erruk. Ilet nun lebeřandre řo soa eloria; imocne ocdurnen.

Pařa im zonán 2450 [ďun mil češatem padec] soî telî malsfaomî golrü Erruk, ab esten šutkrofán; soi tësem cumbrigeci can keknu. So caln tekre sanžene pro mušein zonin, prokena tu ilet ašre proklul, pro bünatán soe takne.

Šekešan, bort šrayomië prenne so řuk er iler imesne; Erruk siča hipläzne im berisel er alcedla, dezike soî šrayomî indolrü potece im soin géculin. So řuk ir polán siča tombre čačece im gašiam; puil surošne soi poli; elnora zet lelnu soî hostorî er carďî soië dernëë cumbrigecië řukei. Peî uestî nimcu appakan so řuk.

Apros dy žannu seclorî, soa dálua i Verdúria ocne guessë. Desin fuáuin soî sannoi Verdúrë imesnu soa gašiam Errukei, ac nikagdá řo nožuvnu lengece, er nikagdá řo banrü retece im géculi lië. Sënulece paretre pavece agoläm, er dénuo esnu telî řukî kaë hežnu so naž. Erruk zet řandre, fužula čuca im claen mestin Verdúrë, žes ďëfkuë er alcedle.

Erruk

The castle of Erruk is situated on a great cliff commanding the confluence of the Eärdur and Svetla rivers, permitting its master, if he wishes, to control the trade on these rivers.

Erruk was built in 1628 by Ervëa the Great, Emperor of Caďinas, as only one in the great chain of forts which he built to secure his realm. It was at first named [in Caďinor] Aer krukh, Southhold, and for years it guarded the rivers and helped to protect the Empire.

But its prosperity was not to last. Barbarians invaded; Caďinas grew decadent, and one warlord after another occupied Erruk. It was no longer maintained by the Empire, and began to deteriorate.

Sometime around 2450 Erruk was sacked by the Western barbarians, with great bloodshed; all the defenders were killed. It stood vacant for many years, as it was considered cursed by the violence of the battle.

Finally, a band of wizards took the castle and occupied it; Erruk sank in mystery and sorcery as the wizards delved deeply into the dungeons. The castle aboveground slowly fell into ruin; the floors were covered with dust; the skeletons and swords of the castle's last defenders were still visible. Few men dared to approach the castle.

Centuries passed, and the kingdom of Verduria became powerful. Several times the lords of Verduria occupied the ruins of Erruk, but they never stayed long, nor penetrated far into its dungeons. Certainly it seemed of little importance, and there were always other castles to guard the realm. Erruk kept to itself, a dark spot in the bright fields of Verduria, the abode of monsters and magic.

The Lord of the Rings [To Index]

In an appendix (kindly sent to me by one Gildor Inglorion), Tolkien notes that Frodo's name was really Maura, a name which meant nothing in Westron, but in the language of Rohan meant 'wise, experienced'. Frodo is an old Germanic name of the same meaning. A proper Verdurian translation might use the OV name element gar 'good sense'; but this is rather too recognizable, due to words like gareme 'sensible'. Better, then, is Cöpro, from Cuêzi Cueporo.

Similarly Tor for Sam is an abbreviation for Tormudray 'part-wise', an equivalent of Tolkien's Old English Samwís or Westron Banazîr, both meaning 'half-wise.'

The more exotic words Sammath Naur, Barad-dûr, and Nazgûl have simply been transliterated into Verdurian. The diacritic ^ seen in û (û) is used in Verdurian to transliterate foreign sounds.

(As a glimpse behind the scenes, Tolkien's "Westron" inspired two Verdurian words: the words uestu řon 'man-speech' were chosen to provide a meaning for the name of Tolkien's language of men.)

Ihano Tolcien: So mašrom aneloë

Soa selta on neletne, er cečel, ne řaín mügui, ne ya Sörčiran, tekre Cöpro, mlake sur ëclaen, skičy er řodeďëse, ac ďonde com tu ilet faitnere im ďumä.

--Sanno! kridne Tor.

Proše Cöpro bežulne er sfahce cum yasnyan vuán, ya cum vuán muďe yasnyan er muďe guessen dy Tor ilet šrifcere ifkiam bruhan, er lialne ir caturon er ulgašán Parene Sörei; glonyece imir žof er letuem.

--Ai zdesy, miže. Ac nun řo diveu fasstao, kiom žanmai fassec. Ci-meván et denomai. So Anelo e esë!-- Er sitrece, dezike ya ilet metne sur doča, islelne is leleen Torei. Tor hüyne, ac řo tence cairam kričen, prokena ci-piyan bolše žanne.

Što tävne Tor bünece sur dosán, imvalitne cruri lië, er ilet ledre cotán; bem zië sytävne so ďumetem pol, dezike šoruan eidolo neletnu ir ilun. Barucre ďonde, er piyulan fsë siča fue mlake.

Er lyö ret, dezike Cöpro imuverne so Anelam er bäzce pro ilun, ya im Sammath-Naurán, so uem nažei zië, so Gués Barad-dûrei frisre, er so Gorat skičre er ne polfondán zië er ne cistilan zië orgölsen er embren. So Šoruan Mašrom ilet ulelne sitrece, er soa Yë zië ke prozne ši-umbrem rihne tra etaldán so ďer ket urokree, er so estát niruisátei lië tu ilun dekašre im sfešá n deyeecán, er soem kensem vrakië zië šekešan lelne polnem. Proše ktuď lië siča tšurne im ogonán imbruřecán, ac nkaš lië lialne com nižán noroumán er mlaken ilun gagan. Prokena šrifce so šuštanä muyam im ktën esne, er so fil ktëi so sör zië fořne.

Is ši-guézzovem er gečem lië nkašei er traese, is ši-kensem er belgom leria lië boďne řisatán, er fsa soán nažán lië žanne friseo. Basomî lië dubrü, er falatî lië kešnu, er alčiroi lië, sitrece sam dusán ni vulein, cierceynu er časiššelcu. Prokena cam ublinere. Soî perî leria er namerát soei Guései ke cam clasmire nun surčelnu cum imnižnyan vyožan eta soa Parna. Še vocetán lië, orivnu cum šciecan kričan, im dernén sankusen ďiecán siča letnu, muďe ruřece dy so ďacî, soî Nazgûlî, soî Anelofantî, er cum oraž ožrië zam fežrü erán Parnan Sörei.

J.R.R. Tolkien: The Lord of the Rings

The light sprang up again, and there on the brink of the chasm, at the very Crack of Doom, stood Frodo, black against the glare, tense, erect, but still as if he had been turned to stone.

'Master!' cried Sam.

Then Frodo stirred and spoke with a clear voice, indeed with a voice clearer and more powerful than Sam had ever heard him use, and it rose above the throb and turmoil of Mount Doom, ringing in the roof and walls.

'I have come,' he said. 'But I do not choose now to do what I came to do. I will not do this deed. The Ring is mine!' And suddenly, as he set it on his finger, he vanished from Sam's sight. Sam gasped, but he had no chance to cry out, for at that moment many things happened.

Something struck Sam violently in the back, his legs were knocked from under him and he was flung aside, striking his head against the stony floor, as a dark shape sprang over him. He lay still and for a moment all went black.

And far away, as Frodo put on the Ring and claimed it for his own, even in Sammath Naur the very heart of his realm, the Power in Barad-dûr was shaken, and the Tower trembled from its foundations to its proud and bitter crown. The Dark Lord was suddenly aware of him, and his Eye piercing all shadows looked across the plain to the door that he had made; and the magnitude of his own folly was revealed to him in a blinding flash, and all the devices of his enemies were at last laid bare. Then his wrath blazed in consuming flame, but his fear rose like a vast black smoke to choke him. For he knew his deadly peril and the thread upon which his doom now hung.

From all his policies and webs of fear and treachery, from all his stratagems and wars his mind shook free; and throughout his realm a tremor ran, his slaves quailed, and his armies halted, and his captains suddenly steerless, bereft of will, wavered and despaired. For they were forgotten. The whole mind and purpose of the Power that wielded them was now bent with overwhelming force upon the Mountain. At his summons, wheeling with a rending cry, in a last desperate race there flew, faster than the winds, the Nazgûl, the Ringwraiths, and with a storm of wings they hurtled southwards to Mount Doom.

The Hollow Men [To Index]

Translated by John Minot.

T.S. Eliot: Soî dolî uestî

Graždenom Curts-- iwu šuštne.
Stan pro soan Bomulen

1

Am soî dolî uestî
Am soî farsulî uestî
Raspuyam nočula
Bemtor plene stävei. Iosu!
Vuî imšešulî taë, kiam
Sosum nočula
Eu otál ďondî er řozadetî
Dy ďac im sešen travan
Iy naži gutië ir brisulán steklon
Im sešen caven taë

    Eidolo sam mencan, fužulát sam oralen,
Bufauhe pegeo, manačel sam bežian;

    Kaë yatá řeknu
Cum iscunen yën, telen Dáluan šuščei
Tam suzanu-- esli tižuy-- řo še itianin
Maucrusecin bünein, ac sul
Še soin doluin uestuin
Soin farsulin uestuin.

2

Yî, kion řo nimao rëcen im sonin
Im soan dáluan sonië šuščei
Eto řo imlelu:
Cečel, soî yî eu
Selta Ënomaë sur brisulan cëmuran
Cečel, e foravec arb
Er vuî eu
Im šantán soei ďacei
Muďe retî er muďe išetî
Dy curulë kio defuce.

    Ut ešelai řo muďe pak
Im soan dáluan sonië šuščei
Ut otál imuvercelai
Talem curiulem kažgoukem
Pautam gutei, poln coecië, bastoni řekuli
Im mestin
Še et duisir com so ďac zet duise
Řo muďe pak--

    Řo ce-audát dernë
Im dáluan crefuselte.

3

Eto e so scuri šuščata
Eto e scuri čižië
Zdesy tu lialue
Soi impliseli ďumëi, zdesy colü
Soi preseli manei šuščatei
Hip tsisian curulëi kio defuce.

    Esce e ozë
Im soan telen dáluan šuščei
Ečitam sulî
Soan horan kiam siča
Frisum cum aželan
Levî kio vulü levatir
Gaiu oráti brisulan ďumen.

4

Soî yî řo eu zdesy
Řo eu yî zdesy
Im ci-dolinan curulië kio šušču
Im ci-dolinan dolyan
Ci-mahian brisulan dáluië iššelulië taë

    Im ci-dernan rëconáen
Maneseyum nočula
Er kodam sfaha
Imoligulî ne ci-stranan soe garardule selëi

    Samlelî, esli
Soî yî řo on imlelmu
Com soan řezyan curulen
Řas mušlëpe
Dálue crefuselte šuščei
So čascuro sul
Šažuë uestuë.

5

Ec situriam soa čura šnineca
Čura šnineca čura šnineca
Ec situriam soa čura šnineca
Panen horen utrei.

    Cel soan yelan
Er soan priloran
Cel soan bežian
Er soán meván
Tombe soa Umbra

Prokena lë e soa dálua

Cel soan ftenan
Er soan creisan
Cel soan oloten
Er soán advečelán
Tombe soa Umbra

So elir e lyö lenge

    Cel soán idureon
Er soán tosceion
Cel soan cumepesan
Er soan dembrean
Cel soán ftacon
Er soan hiplädecan
Tombe soa Umbra

Prokena lë e soa dálua

    Prokena lë e
Elir e
Prokena lë e soa

    Soa almea urokešme ozë
Soa almea urokešme ozë
Soa almea urokešme ozë
Řo cum křumbeon ac cüncünin.

T.S. Eliot: The Hollow Men

Mistah Kurtz-- he dead.
A penny for the Old Guy

I

We are the hollow men
We are the stuffed men
Leaning together
Headpiece filled with straw. Alas!
Our dried voices, when
We whisper together
Are quiet and meaningless
As wind in dry grass
Or rats' feet over broken glass
In our dry cellar

    Shape without form, shade without colour,
Paralysed force, gesture without motion;


Those who have crossed
With direct eyes, to death's other Kingdom
Remember us-- if at all-- not as lost
Violent souls, but only
As the hollow men
The stuffed men.

II

Eyes I dare not meet in dreams
In death's dream kingdom
These do not appear:
There, the eyes are
Sunlight on a broken column
There, is a tree swinging
And voices ae
In the wind's singing
More distant and more solemn
Than a fading star.

    Let me be no nearer
In death's dream kingdom
Let me also wear
Such deliberate disguises
Rat's coat, crowskin, crossed staves
In a field
Behaving as the wind behaves
No nearer--

    Not that final meeting
In the twilight kingdom.

III

This is the dead land
This is cactus land
Here the stone images
Are raised, here they receive
The supplications of a dead mans's hand
Under the twinkle of a fading star.

    Is it like this
In death's other kingdom
Waking alone
At the hour when we are
Trembling with tenderness
Lips that would kiss
Form prayers to broken stone.

IV

The eyes are not here
There are no eyes here
In this valley of dying stars
In this hollow valley
This broken jaw of our lost kingdoms

    In this last of meeting places
We grope together
And avoid speech
Gathered on this beach of the tumid river

    Sightless, unless
The eyes reappear
As the perpetural star
Multifoliate rose
Of death's twilight kingdom
The hope only
Of empty men.

V

Here we go round the prickly pear
Prickly pear prickly pear
Here we go round the prickly pear
At five o'clock in the morning.

    Between the idea
And the reality
Between the motion
And the act
Falls the Shadow

For Thine is the Kingdom

    Between the conception
And the creation
Between the emotion
And the response
Falls the Shadow

Life is very long

    Between the desire
And the spasm
Betweent the potency
And the existence
Between the essence
And the descent
Falls the Shadow

For Thine is the Kingdom

    For Thine is
Life is
For Thine is the

    This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.

Virtual Verduria