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The king and the god
“The king and the god” is the fictional dialogue loosely based on episode of Indian sacred hymns “Aitareya_Brahmana”. This dialogue was translated by various linguists into their versions of Proto-Indo-European language on request by S. K. Sen.
English translations
The are several translations of this text into English.
Version 1
This version was used by S. K. Sen and E. P. Hamp:
Once there was a king. He childless was. This king a son desired. He his priest (pourer) asked: "(Let) son to me be born!" The priest the king said: "pray to the god Varuṇa". The king to the god Varuṇa approached now to the god to pray: "Hear me father Varuṇa!" The god Varuṇa down from heaven came. "What do you wish?" "I want a son." "(Let) this be (so)," said the bright god Varuṇa. The king's lady a son bore.
Version 2
This version was used by A. Byrd
Once there was a king. He was childless. The king wanted a son. He asked his priest: "May a son be born to me!" The priest said to the king: "Pray to the god Werunos." The king approached the god Werunos to pray now to the god. "Hear me, father Werunos!" The god Werunos came down from heaven. "What do you want?" "I want a son." "Let this be so," said the bright god Werunos. The king's lady bore a son.
Version 3
This version will be used for Nûrlâm's translation, it will be closer to 1st version.
A king was once. He was without child. The king a son wanted. He asked his priest: "May a son to be born for me!" The priest to the king said: "Beg to the Dark Lord". The king to the altar came to pray to the god now. "Hear me, father Dark Lord!" The Dark Lord (telepathically) to the king spoke: "You wish what?" "I want a son." "Let it be so," the wise Dark Lord said. The wife of the king a son bore.
Translation into Nûrlâm
The translation will keep the 1st version's archaic style with Subject–Object–Verb word order. “Varuna/Werunos” will be replaced with “Dark Lord”. The story will be moved into Númenór (The Second Age) as the excuse for starting the cult of Morgoth.
| Nûrlâm | Glossing |
|---|---|
| Ash arn kuzâ nokh. Takuz khindshanar. Arnum ash nondish hizuzâ. | One king be.PST-3SG once. 3=be.PST child=with=NEG. King-DEF one son-ACC want-PST-3SG.SBJ |
| Tamarkhuz gorthaltabish: | 3=ask-PST priest=3.GEN-ACC |
| “Gâkh ash nond nozdat dazûr!” | May one son beget-GERV 1-DAT |
| Gorthalum arnumûr gashnuzâ: | Priest-DEF king-DEF-DAT say-PST-3SG.SBJ |
| “Has Morgothumûr.” | Beg Dark.Lord-DEF-DAT |
| Arnum gorthinu skâtuzâ hasat Balmâgzûr zil. | King-DEF altar-ALL come-PST-3SG.SBJ beg-GERV god-DAT now |
| “Koziz, krank Morgoth!” | Hear=1.OBJ father Dark.Lord |
| Morgothum arnûr gashnuzâ: | Dark.Lord-DEF king-DAT say-PST-3SG.SBJ |
| “Fi irm mash?” | You wish what? |
| “Da irm ash nondish.” | I want one son-ACC |
| “Gâkh”, Morgothum golûrz gashnuzâ. | Let.it.be.so Dark.Lord-DEF wise-ADJ say-PST-3SG.SBJ |
| Firnizum arnob ash nondish nozduzâ. | Wife-DEF king-GEN one son-ACC beget-PST-3SG.SBJ |
Thanks to user Onkmokhob Duhalarn for pointing out this text and for his attempt at translating it into Nûrlâm!
