The ugly duckling
Notes
The Ugly Duckling (Den grimme ælling), by Hans Christian Andersen (1844). (Danish: https://da.wikisource.org/wiki/Den_grimme_%C3%86lling)
Ongoing translation project by Chaered, first posted on VL. Not reviewed yet. English text 3593 words, Quenya 2823, Danish original 3358.
I started out with a different English translation, but looking at the Danish original it seemed a very free translation. The one below by M.R. James from 1930 seems to stick much closer to the original. The Quenya translation sometimes follows the Danish original more closely than the English translation given here.
Wordplay:
The so-called Spanish duck is called "svær" which means both "heavy" and "great". It may refer to raising her for Seville-style paella.
Text
| No. | Quenya | Tengwar | Means | 1 | Nánë anfastima ettë mi restassë. | | It was very pleasant out in the country. | 2 | Nánë lúmë laireo, i ori nánë malina, i porë laica, i sardë nánë hamnainen i laicë salquenórissen, ar tassë i tópocáno os·patanë andu carnu telcuryanten ar quentë mirrandorin. | | It was summer time, the corn was yellow, the oats green, the hay was stacked down in the green meadows, and there the stork walked about on his long red legs and talked Egyptian. | 3 | Páriénes i lambë amilyallo. | | He had learnt the language from his mother. | 4 | Os i palari ar salquenóri enger altë tauri ar mi tai enger lúvi: é, nánë fastima ettë mi restassë. | | Round the fields and meadows there were large woods and within them deep lakes: indeed, it was pleasant out in the country. | 5 | Aqua árissë, yára oromar tarnë, oscaitaina ló tumna celma, ar i rambaivë tallo téravë i nenna, hoë palda-lasseä naxalaiqui olaner--tallë hallë i níca hína pollë tarë téra nu i anhöa taio. | | Full in the sunshine, an old manor house stood, surrounded by a deep moat, and from the base of the walls right down to the water great dock plants grew--so tall that a little child could stand upright under the largest of them. | 6 | Nánë ta eresseä imbë tai ve mí amnelca taurë; ar tás Quá háranë aiwesteryassë. | ; | It was as lonely in among them as in the thickest wood; and there a Duck was sitting on her nest. | 7 | Maunë sen lerya othello nícë Quainciryar mal silumë nánes amna lumba san, hapyeältë tallë anda pá sa, ar cáves mancë naþumor. | | She had got to hatch out her little Ducklings, but by this time she was well nigh tired out, they took so long about it, and she had very few callers. | 8 | I hyanë quár tyasser os·lutië i celma arya epë tulië ama i harië nu naxalaique-lassë na nyatë ósë. | | The other Ducks preferred swimming about the moat to coming up and sitting under a dock-leaf to chat with her. | 9 | 10 | Yallumë, ohtë min ar enta rúviéla, ar equë: “Pip! pip!” | | At last, one egg after another cracked, and said: "Pip! pip!" | 11 | Illi i ohte-maldion coiruyéner ar rásaner carinta. | | All the egg-yolks had come to life and were sticking their heads out. | 12 | 13 | “Quaqua, quaqua!” eques, ar intë aryë equë sa, ta mai ve polleltë, ar tirner ildomenna os intë nu i laicë lassi; ar amilinta lávë ten tirë ta amë ve tyasseltë, pan laica ná mára hendun. | ; | "Quack, quack!" said she, and they said it too, as well as they could, and looked all round them beneath the green leaves; and their mother let them look as much as they liked, for green is good for the eyes. | 14 | 15 | “Tallë alta nómë, arda ná,” equë illi i vinyaron: pan tancavë engë ten amë amba latsë sí epë yá cainiéneltë ohtessë. | | "What a big place the world is," said all the young ones: for to be sure they had a great deal more room now than when they lay in the egg. | 16 | 17 | “Ma quistaldë i si ná quana arda?” equë amilinta; “A, latis esta palla i hyana permë i tarwo, téra mina i airimo palar--mal allumë anaiën tás. | ; | "Do you suppose this is all the world?" said their mother; "why, it stretches out far beyond the other side of the garden, right into the parson's field--but I've never been there. | Eldë eär illi, quistan?” ar tolunes. | | You're all there, I suppose?" and she got up. | 18 | “Lá, sa lá quana; tassë caita i anhöa ohtë ena. | ; | "No, that's not all; there lies the biggest egg still. | Yallë anda hapyauvas? | | How long will it take? | Nanwavë nanyë amba lumba san,” ar epta harunes ata. | | I'm really almost sick of it," and with that she sat down again. | 19 | 20 | “Mára, mallë sí nalyë?” máquentë enwina Quá ye tullë cecenna se. | | "Well, how goes it?" asked an elderly Duck who came to call on her. | 21 | “A, sina min ohtë hapyeä nairavë anda lúmë,” equë i harila Quá; “uissë a-racë. | ; | "Oh, this one egg takes a dreadful long time," said the sitting Duck; "it won't break. | Mal si möa nin tirë i hyanar! | | But just you look at the others! | Intë nár i icíti Quainci i ummanan ecéniën; naltë illi poicavë ve þaura atarinta, ye allumë tulë cenitan.” | ; | They are the sweetest Ducklings I've ever seen; they're all just like their wretch of a father, who never comes to see me." | 22 | 23 | “Á apanta nin i ohtë ya lá rúla,” equë i enwina Quá; “ecë nin ná tanca i sa ná peceto ohtë. | ; | "Let me look at the egg that won't hatch," said the old Duck; "you may be sure that's a turkey's egg. | Néya tallë carnë inyë ve aut, ar sámen estatiënya tarastiéno ar tírelë ó i vinyar, quetuvan lyen, pan þoryaltë i nén. | | I was made a fool of once that way, and I had my share of trouble and anxiety with the young ones, I can tell you, for they are afraid of the water. | Únenyë pollë tyarë te mitta! | | I couldn't get them to go in! | Quanquen ar irtanen, mal sa únë alya. | | I quacked and I pecked, but it was no good. | Á lavë nin cenë i ohtë. | | Let me see the egg. | A, ná, sa ná peceto ohtë; ályë hehta sa caitaila ar peänta i hyanain lutië.” | ; | Ah, yes, that's a turkey's egg; you just let it lie and teach the rest to swim." | 24 | 25 | “A, haruvan sassë enwa nicë ambë,” equë i Quá. | | "Oh, I'll just sit on it a bit longer," said the Duck. | 26 | “Háriénen tallë andavë, san mai ecë nin enetya lú!” “Sívë fastuvassel,” equë i enwina Quá, ar patanë öa. | | "As I've sat so long, I may as well give it a Whitsun week!" (1) "Just as you please," said the old Duck, and walked off. | 27 | 28 | Teldavë i höa ohtë palyanë. | | At last the big egg opened. | 29 | “Pip! pip!” equë i vinya, ete·peltaila; nánes anhöa ar úvanima. | ; | "Pip! pip!" said the young one, scrambling out; he was very big and ugly. | 30 | I Quá tirnë se: “Sa ná nairavë höa Quaincë, ta ná,” eques. | | The Duck looked at him: "That's a fearfully big Duckling, that is," she said. | 31 | “Uiya i hyanaron nemë tallë. | | "None of the others look like that. | Inteänyë i uis polë ná pecet hilmë! | | I suppose it can't be a turkey poult! | Mára, rongo cenuvalvë; menuvas mina i nén, aryë cé möa imnin ete·lahë se.” | ; | Well, we'll soon see; into the water he shall go, if I have to kick him out myself." | 32 | 33 | Neuna ressë i vilwis nánë ammaira: anar caldë ildomë i laicë naxalaiquennar, ar i amil Quá ar quana orenderya ettuller, ar tal i celmanna. | | Next day the weather was perfectly delicious: the sun shone all over the green docks, and the mother Duck and all her family came out, and down to the moat. | 34 | Falas! Mennes mina i nén. | | Splash! Into the water went she. | 35 | “Quaqua, quaqua!” eques, ar en Quaincë ar enta campë nenna. | | "Quack, quack!" she said, and one Duckling after another plumped in. | 36 | I nén mennë or carinta, mal eppeltë ata apa þenwa ar lunteltë maitë. | | The water went over their heads, but they were up again in a moment and swam beautifully. | 37 | Telcuntat mótaner intunen, ar sí quanë intë nár i nenessë, ar éta i úvanima þinda lútanë ótë. | | Their legs worked of themselves, and now they were all out in the water, and even the ugly grey one was swimming with them. | 38 | “Lá, lá, sa lá pecet,” eques. | | "No, no, that's no turkey," she said. | 39 | “Á cenë yallë maitevë yuhteäs telcuryat, ar yallë mai tuluhtas insë. | | "Look how nicely he uses his legs, and how well he holds himself up. | Sa ná onya! | | That's my own child! | Nás nanwavë faren vanya yá tiril se mára. | | He's really quite handsome if you look at him properly. | Quaqua, quaqua! Á tulë ara ónyë ar et·tulyauvan le mina i arda ar sítauvan le i quá-santan, mal riþá ar reþá areä ar' inyë itan alquen patuva lessë, ar ná tirítë pá i miuë.” | | Quack, quack! Come along with me and I'll take you out into the world and introduce you to the duck-yard, but mind and keep close to me so that nobody can tread on you, and do look out for the cat." | 40 | 41 | San menneltë mina i quá-santa. | | So they went into the duck-yard. | 42 | Engë romya mahtalë tassë, pan nossë atta costeáner pá lingwileucava cas--ya i miuë ñentë teldavë. | | There was a terrible commotion there, for two families were quarrelling over an eel's head--which the cat got after all. | 43 | 44 | “Á tirë, sa ná yallë arda menë,” equë i amil Queä--ó nicë recca memessë, pan issë insë tyáþiévanë i lingwileucava cas. | | "Look, that's the way the world goes," said the mother Duck--her beak watering a little, for she would have liked the eel's head herself. | 45 | “Aryë sí, yuhtá telculdat,” eques; “riþá ar nemá coivë, ar cuvá langolda i enwina Quán entassë, issë ná i ammirtaina illio sissë; nás Hyarnúna Nórello, san nás minima, ar cená, cólas carnë seres os telcurya. | ; ; | "Now then, use your legs," she said; "mind and look alive, and stoop your necks to the old Duck over there, she's the most distinguished person here; she's of Spanish descent, so she's something special, and you see she's got a red rag round her leg. | Sa ná ammaira engwë, i anhöa orhalië ya ecë quán harya; teäs í lië yestar hapë se, ar möa atsinta se cuivain yo atanin. | ; | That is an extraordinarily splendid thing, the greatest distinction any duck can have; it means that people can't do without her, and she must be recognized by animals and men alike. | Silumë, nemá coivë! Vá querë pireldar mitta! | | Now then, look alive! Don't turn your toes in! | Quaincë ye ná máravë oltaina hapë telcuryat palan permenta, ve atar ar amil. | | A duckling that's properly brought up keeps its legs wide apart, like father and mother. | Rísë! Áldë sí! Cará cungorda ar quetá quaqua.” | | Look here! Now then! Make a bow and say quack." | 46 | 47 | Tallë carneltë; mal i hyanë quár os te tirner te ar equë, faren romyavë, “Á tirë tár! | ; | So they did; but the other ducks round them looked at them and said, quite loud, "Look there! | Sí mén uvas sana quana úmë ambë, vequi únë nollo eä faren elmeo; ar fó, mallë nemë tana quaincë! | ; | Now we've got to have all this mob on the top of us, as if there weren't enough of us already; and poof! what an object that duckling is! | Úvalmë lavë sen eä”; ar quá alahtanë senna ar nancë se langoryassë. | ; | We can't stand him"; and a duck rushed at him and bit him in the neck. | 48 | 49 | “Á lavë se serë,” equë amilya; “cáras allë.” “Náto, mal nás acca höa ar aia,” equë i quá ye náciénë se; “tallë möa sen a-palpa.” | ; ; | "Let him be," said his mother; "he isn't doing any harm." "Yes, but he's too big and odd altogether," said the duck who had bitten him; "so he's got to be smacked." | 50 | 51 | “Tanar nár vanimë quainci, i amil samë,” equë i enwina Quá ó i seres telcuryassë; “ilyë faren vanimë enga tana, alaiës hrityula. | ; | "Those are pretty ducklings that mother has," said the old Duck with the rag on her leg; "all quite pretty except that one. | Mériévanen í amil polë vista se.” | | He hasn't been a success; I could wish the mother would alter him." | 52 | 53 | “Sa únat, a heri,” equë i amil Quá. | | "That can't be done, your grace," said the mother Duck. | 54 | “Lás vanya, mal nás máre-honda, ar lutis ta mai ve ilya hyanaron, hya, sillë varyan quetë, nit arya. | | "He's not handsome, but he has a really good disposition, and swims as nicely as any of the rest, even better, I venture to say. | Savin i oluvas vanya, hya nai apalúmessë oluvas nicë tiura; acainiës acca anda mi i ohtë, ar san uiës anya mára canta.” | ; | I believe he will grow handsome, or perhaps in time he will grow even somewhat smaller; he has lain too long in the egg, and so has not acquired a proper shape." | 55 | Ar lampes langoryassë ar pastanë se. | | And she picked at his neck and smoothed him down. | 56 | “Entë, nás yondo,” en eques, “san sa ui valda tallë amë; | ; | "Besides, he's a drake," she went on, "so it doesn't matter quite so much. | savin i turyauvas, ar mai voruvas.” | | He has, I believe, a good constitution and will win through in the end." | 57 | 58 | “I hyanë quainci nár lúceärwë,” equë i enwina heri. | | "The other ducklings are charming," said the old lady. | 59 | “Mai, á carë imlë maryë, ar qui nai túvaldë lingwileucava cas, ecë len tulya sa nin.” | | "Well, make yourselves at home, and if you happen to find an eel's head, you can bring it to me." | 60 | 61 | San carneldë intë maryë. | | So they made themselves at home: | Mal pá i almelóra Quaincë ye túliénë métima et i ohtello ar nemnë tallë úvanima, i holyer yo i quár hapaldë nancer se ar áner nistar sen ar ar yaitar se ve aut. | | but the poor Duckling who had come last out of the egg and looked so ugly, was bitten and buffeted and made to look a fool by the hens and the ducks alike. | 62 | “Nás acca höa,” ilyar equë; ar i pecet-hollo, ye óniénë ó tal-necelu, ar ye siro nemnë insë ná tararan, pusultanë insë ve cirya véluyéla ilyë velunti ar mennë téra i Quaincinna, lan pecet-ómanen quanquë ar caranyanes cas. | ; | "He's too big," they all said; and the turkey cock, who was born with spurs, and considered himself an emperor on the strength of it, blew himself up like a ship under full sail and went straight at the Duckling, gobbling and getting quite red in the head. | 63 | I almelóra Quaincë únë ista yassë serë hya yanna menë, nánes tallë angayanda pan nánes úvanima ar cávë yaiwë i quana quá-santallo. | | The poor Duckling didn't know where to stay or which way to go, he was so miserable at being ugly and the butt of the whole duck-yard. | 64 | 65 | Sa nánë i minya ré, ar lan lúteánes sa ollo urra en amurra. | | That was the first day, and as time went on it got worse and worse. | 66 | Ilquen roinë i nainima Quaincë, ar éta amilya ar néþaryar náner olcë sen, ar quequettaner: “Merin í miuë atuva tye, etyë úvanima rauco.” | | The wretched Duckling was chased about by everybody, and even his mother and sisters were nasty to him, and kept saying: "I wish the cat would get you, you ugly devil." | 67 | Ar amilya equë: “Merin naitatya haiya”; ar i quár nancer se ar i holyer irtaner se, ar i wen yen möa matya i cuimar laccë senna. | ; | And his mother said: "I wish you'd get right away"; and the ducks bit him and the hens pecked him, and the maid who had to feed the creatures kicked at him. | 68 | Etta nornë öa, ar villë lanna i peltas. | | So he ran away, and flew over the fence. | 69 | I nícë aiwi i tussassen amaviller vilyanna þosseävë. | | The little birds in the bushes shot up in the air in a fright. | 70 | “Sa ná pan nanyë tallë úvanima,” i Quaincë sanna, ar holtanë hendyat, mal nornë ener immal, mennai ananyë ettë mina i yána motto yassë i hrávë quár máreáner; ar tassë caines ter quana lómë, pan nánes amalumba ar angayanda. | ; | "That's because I'm so ugly," the Duckling thought, and shut his eyes, but ran on all the same, till he got out into the wide marsh where the wild-duck lived; and there he lay all night, for he was very tired and very unhappy. | 71 | 72 | Amauressë i hrávë quár amavillë ar tuntaner vinya málonta. | | In the morning the wild-duck flew up and caught sight of their new comrade. | 73 | “Manima mo elyë?” máquenteltë; ar i Quaincë quernë sir ar tar, ar suilanë te ta mai ve ecë sen. | ; | "What sort of a chap are you?" they asked; and the Duckling turned to this side and that and greeted them as well as he could. | 74 | “Natyë aqua úvanima,” equë i hrávë quár; “mal ta ui valda men quí úvalyë verya mo nossemmo.” | ; | "You're precious ugly," said the wild-ducks; "but that doesn't matter to us as long as you don't marry into our family." | 75 | Almelóra úna mo! | | Poor wretch! | Únes sanaila amë pá vesta, lan rië ecë lavë sen caita imbë i lisci, ar yulë nicë motto nén. | | He wasn't thinking much about marrying, as long as he could be allowed to lie among the reeds, and drink a little marsh water. | 76 | Tás caines ter quanë ré atta, ar tá tuller hrávu vánu, attië hanúto: éfiénet ohtello lanéya, ar san nánettë tallë neþyu. | | There he lay two whole days, and then came a pair of wild geese (or rather wild ganders, for they were both he's): they hadn't been hatched out very long, and so they were particularly lively. | 77 | “Yé, málo,” quentettë, “nalyë tallë úvanima i faren tyasinyel. | | "Here, mate," they said, "you're so ugly I quite like you. | Ma tuluvalyë arë ar nauvalyë lenwetula? | | Will you come along and be a migrant? | Areä hyana mottossë eär icíti vanimë hrávë vánéli--ilyë vinyë herissi i pollë quetë Quaqua. | | Close by in another marsh there's some sweet pretty wild geese--all young ladies that can say Quack. | Nalyë tallë úvanima i nai ecë nin tuvë ecestalya ótë.” | | You're so ugly you could make your fortune with them." | 78 | Talumë engë Pán! Pán! ar i hrávu vánu lananter qualinu imbë i liscennar, ar i nén ollë serce-carnë. | | At that moment there was a Bang! Bang! and both the wild geese fell dead among the reeds, and the water was stained blood red. | 79 | Enta pán! pán! ar quanë umbar vánion viller ama i liscellon, ar engë enta pán! | | Another bang! bang! and whole flights of geese flew up from the reeds, and there was yet another bang! | Nánes alta farasta. | | a great shoot was afoot. | 80 | I farastari cainer os i motto, é mo harilë ama imbë i olbar aldaron yar lanter ambela or i lisci. | | The sportsmen were all round the marsh, some even sitting up among the branches of trees that stretched out over the reeds. | 81 | I luinë quonda luntë ve lumbor, imbë i lúnë þirpi, ar linganë landavë or i nén. | | The blue smoke drifted like clouds, in among the dark stems, and hung far out over the water. | 82 | I ronyor menner falas! falas! mina i loxo, ar i lisci ar virsalqui tananter sir ar tar; þostanes i almelóra Quainciën, ye loncë langorya na cuvë sa nu rámarya, yá onallumë, areä sen, engë aica höa röa; lambarya linganë téra et antorya ar hendyat sillë hrúvavë. | ; ; | The dogs went splash! splash! into the mud, and the reeds and rushes swayed hither and thither; it was terrible for the wretched Duckling, who was bending his neck to get it under his wing, when all at once, close to him, there was a fearful big dog with his tongue hanging right out of his mouth and his eyes shining horribly. | 83 | Nirnes mundorya téra na i Quaincë ar apantanes maicu carcaryat--en--falas! | | He thrust his muzzle right at the Duckling and showed his sharp teeth--and then--splash! | 84 | Mennes öa pen mapa se. | | Off he went without seizing him. | 85 | 86 | “A, laitalë Erun,” sinquë i Quaincë; “Nanyë tallë úvanima, i aryë i röa ui yesta nacë ni!” | ; | "Oh, thank goodness," sighed the Duckling; "I'm so ugly, even the dog doesn't like to bite me!" | 87 | Mal tassë cainë poicavë rua lan i quahta-umbar alacanter mí lisci ar narcarma en narcarma holtanë. | | But there he lay perfectly still while the duck shots rattled in the reeds and gun after gun banged out. | 88 | Rië telwina ressë entullë ruë, mal i colonda aiwi enwa únë verya tyulya. | | It was well on in the day before all was quiet, but the unhappy bird dared not get up even then. | 89 | Hornes lúmeli tenta, apa ostirnes, ar tá ronganes öa i mottollo ta lintië ve polles, norila lanna palari ar salquenóri, ar taitë vaiwë oronyë i engë sen mólomë na etemenë. | | He waited several hours yet, before he looked about him, and then he hurried away from the marsh as fast as ever he could, running over fields and meadows, and such a wind got up that he had hard work to get along. | 90 | Undómessë nánes areä ar' úna níca cöa, ya nánë tallë hwinda i únes sana manna atalta, san sa handë tarila. | | Towards evening he was near a poor little cottage, so crazy was it that it didn't know which way to tumble down, so it remained standing. | 91 | I vaiwë alacantë tallë valca os i Quaincë i möa sen haru pimperyassë na termarë anat sa, ar olles urda en amurda. | | The wind howled so fiercely round the Duckling that he had to sit down on his tail to keep facing it, and it grew worse and worse. | 92 | Tá tuntanes i min queren i fenno nánë vanwa, ar sa linganë tallë raica i polles hlicë mir ter i cirissë, ar san carnes. | | Then he noticed that one hinge of the door was gone, and it hung so crooked that he could slip indoors through the crack, and so he did. | 93 | 94 | Sinomë enwina nís marnë ó miuë ar holyë. | | Here lived an old woman with a cat and a hen. | 95 | I miuë, ye estanes Yonyo, pollë orta heletserya ar murra, ar aryë etehatë tinwi, mal na si möa palta se canna. | | The cat, whom she called Sonny, could set up his fur and purr, and also throw out sparks, but for this he had to be stroked backwards. | 96 | I Holyë sámë anþennu nícu telcut, ar etta estaner “Holyë þennu telcuto”. | | The Hen had very short little legs, and was consequently called "chicky short legs". | 97 | Nosteánë márë ohti, ar i nís nánë méla ta issen ve inseo hínan. | | She laid good eggs, and the woman was as fond of her as of a child of her own. | 98 | 99 | Neuna amauressë ú-pusto tuntanet i aia Quaincë, ar i miuë yesentë murra, ar i Holyë carnë cehtecet. | | Next morning the strange Duckling was noticed at once, and the cat began to purr, and the Hen to cluck. | 100 | “Mana eä?” equë i enwina nís, tirila quanna os insë. | | "What's the matter?" said the old woman, looking all about her. | 101 | Mal cenya lánë mára, san nóquistanes í Quaincë nánë tiuca quá ye raniénë öa. | | But her sight wasn't good, so she took the Duckling for a fat duck that had strayed away. | 102 | “Sa ná maira farna,” eques: “sí ecë nin ñetë quá ohti, au lás hanu! | | "That's a splendid catch," she said: "now I can have duck eggs, if only it isn't a drake! | Möa ven carë tanca pá sana.” | | We must make sure of that." | 103 | Etta hampes i Quaincë tyastiën ter otsolar neldë, mal ohti úner tulë. | | So the Duckling was taken in on approval for three weeks, but no eggs came. | 104 | 105 | I Miuë nánë i heru i mardo ar i Holyë i heri, ar illumë quentettë pá “inquë ar i arda”; pan ettë nemner i nánettë peresta ardo, ar amë i arya peresta. | ; | The Cat was the gentleman of the house and the Hen the lady, and they always talked of "we and the world"; for they considered that they were half the world, and much the best half. | 106 | Nemnë i Quainciën i liëli nai sanar hyallë, mal i Holyë únë pollë lavë si. | | It seemed to the Duckling that some people might think differently, but this the Hen could not tolerate. | 107 | 108 | “Polil yavë ohti?” máquentes. | | "Can you lay eggs?" she asked. | 109 | “Ui! San rundavë á hapë lambalya.” | | "No! Then will you kindly hold your tongue." | 110 | 111 | Ar i Miuë equë: “Polil orta heletsinya, hya murra, hya hatë tinwi? | | And the Cat said: "Can you put up your fur, or purr, or give out sparks? | Ui! Itas ui lyen immaro anta intya yá sailë lië quétar.” | | No! Then you've no call to have an opinion when sensible people are talking." | 112 | 113 | Etta i Quaincë cainë neltessë ar nánë amaluitë. | | So the Duckling lay in a corner and was in the lowest spirits. | 114 | Yesentes sana pá i virya vilya ar árë, ar tallë aia xarië lutiën i nenessë tullë sen i teldavë únë pollë lína, maunë sen nyara i Holyen. | | He began to think of the fresh air and sunshine, and such a strange longing to swim in the water came on him that he could not help telling the Hen. | 115 | 116 | “Ma súta lye?” máquentes. | | "What's the matter with you?" she asked. | 117 | “Samityë munta cariéo, ta ná yallo ñetityë sinë incar; rië átyë yavë ohteli, hya murra, ar auvat.” “Mal lutië i nenessë ná tallë írima,” equë i Quaincë; “tallë fastima, ñetë sa or cas ar tumba nunna talda.” | ; ; | "You've nothing to do, that's why you get these fancies; you just lay some eggs, or purr, and they'll pass off." "But it is so delicious to float on the water," said the Duckling; "so lovely to get it over your head and dive right down to the bottom." | 118 | 119 | “A náto, anfastima, aþahanyë!” equë i Holyë. | | "Oh yes, most delightful, of course!" said the Hen. | 120 | “Eë etyë ná aqua hwinda! | | "Why, you're absolutely mad! | Á máquetë i Miuen--issë ná i anfinya nér ye istan--quima issë tyasë lutë i nenessë hya tumba nunna; ványë quetë pá imni. | ; | Ask the Cat--he's the cleverest man I know--whether he enjoys floating on the water or diving down; I say nothing of myself. | Eë, á máquetë herityan, i enwina nís; ardassë ui eä mo ansaila epë sé--ma quistal i issë yesta lutë ar ñetë i nén or carya?” | ; | Why, ask your mistress, the old woman; there's no one in the world cleverer than her--do you suppose she wants to go swimming and getting the water over her head?" | 121 | 122 | “Uildë hanya ni,” equë i Quaincë. | | "You don't understand me," said the Duckling. | 123 | 124 | “Mai, cé elmë uir hanya tye, san man hyana hanyauva tye? | | "Well, if we don't understand you, who is going to understand you, pray? | Allumë nauvatyë ansaila epë i Miuë ar i nís, ar an atestaniën imni. | | You'll never be cleverer than the Cat and the woman, to say nothing of me. | Vá nenta valdë, onna, mal á hanta Ahtotya pá quana ofelmë ya lië acáriër tyen. | | Don't give yourself airs, child, but thank your Maker for all the kindness people have done you. | Ma ú ityë utulië lauca sambenna imbë olië illo polis parë ma? | | Don't you live in a warm room among company you can learn something from? | Mal ela! Natyë alwarë engwë, ar hraië eä laltië yonávetyallo. | | But there! You're a rubbishy thing, and there's little entertainment in your company. | Ecë tyen savë ni! Míneän mai tyen, ar quétan tyen naica nanwië, ar ta ná mallë ecë liën atsinta naiti málontar. | | You may take it from me! I mean well by you, and I'm telling you home truths, and that's how people can see their true friends. | Sí á ricë yavë ohti, hya á parë murra hyaqui hatë tinwi.” | | Now just do take pains to lay eggs, or learn to purr or else give sparks." | 125 | 126 | “Sáneän i ete·menuvan mina i yána arda,” equë i Quaincë. | | "I think I'll go out into the wide world," said the Duckling. | 127 | 128 | “Ilvana, á carë sa,” equë i Holyë. | | "Very well, do," said the Hen. | 129 | 130 | San i Quaincë lenwentë; luntes i nenessë ar tumbanes nunna; mal ilyë cuimar avanéver se pan nánes úvanima. | ; ; | So the Duckling went off and swam on the water and dived into it; but he was looked down upon by all the creatures because of his ugliness. | 131 | 132 | Lasselanta sí tullë: i lassi i taureo oller varnë ar malwë, i vaiwë mapanet ar tyarnë tai lilta rimbi, ar orro menel nemnë ringë, yassë i lumbor linganer lungë helexeo ar hrisseo, ar i peltaxessë i carapan handë ar holtunë “Quáquá!” cahtallo niqueo. | | Autumn now came on: the leaves of the wood turned brown and yellow, the wind caught them and made them dance about, and above the sky looked cold, where the clouds hung heavy with hail and snow, and on the fence the raven perched and cried "Caw! Caw!" for the mere cold. | 133 | Eë, encë mon nanwavë helë sanastanen os ta. | | Indeed, it regularly gave you the shivers to think of it. | 134 | I luitë Quaincin nánë lai urda. | | The unhappy Duckling had a very hard time. | 135 | 136 | Min þindessë, yá engë maira andúnë, quana lamnarë vanimë túrë oiwion oronyë et i tussallon. | | One evening, when there was a lovely sunset, a whole flock of beautiful great birds rose out of the bushes. | 137 | I Quaincë allumë céniénes mo tallë maira. | | The Duckling had never seen any so handsome. | 138 | Náneltë alcarinquavë fáni, ó andë cúvulë langor. | | They were brilliantly white, with long supple necks. | 139 | Náneltë alquar, ar carneltë aia láma ar pantaneltë mairu andu rámaltat ar viller vaháya i ringë yondello laucë norelinnar, ar helcencë ailininnar. | | They were swans, and they uttered a strange sound and spread their splendid long wings and flew far away from the cold region to warmer lands, and unfrozen lakes. | 140 | Oronyet tallë orro, tallë orro í úvanima níca Quaincë ollë aiavë awalda indossë; hwinde-quernes i nenessë ve querma, eteracantë langorya téravë ama mina i vilya tenna ar carnë hollë, tallë romya ar aia, i sa faren þostanë insë. | ; | They mounted so high, so high that the ugly little Duckling was strangely moved; he whirled himself round in the water like a wheel, he stretched his neck straight up into the air after them and uttered such a loud cry, so strange, that he was quite frightened at it himself. | 141 | A, únë ecë litya sen tanë vanimë oiwi, tanë herenyë oiwi! | | Oh, he could not forget those beautiful birds, those wonderful birds! | 142 | Ar éya náneltë et cen, tumbanes téra nunna talda i nén, ar yá eppes ata, nánes et sinya indorya. | | And the moment they were out of sight he dived right down to the bottom of the water, and when he came up again he was almost beside himself. | 143 | Únes ista mana estar i oiwi hya yanna vílaneltë, mal mellesset ve allumë méliénes aima fai. | | He didn't know what the birds were called or which way they were flying, but he loved them as he had never loved anything yet. | 144 | Pennes hrúcen ten--mallë pollë mitta órerya mermë taitë vanië insen--aláriévanes au i quár láviévaner sen mina oliënta--almelóra úvanima cuima. | | He was not envious of them--how could it enter his mind to wish for such beauty for himself--he would have been happy if even the ducks had let him into their company--poor ugly creature. | 145 | 146 | Hrívë ollë lai amaringa: maunë i Quainciën lutë i nenessë na nuhta sa helë qua holla, mal ilya lómessë i assa yassë luntes ollë níca en amníca. | | The winter grew very very cold: the Duckling was obliged to swim about on the water to keep it from freezing quite over, but every night the hole he swam in became smaller and smaller. | 147 | Hellë tallë poldavë í helce-norma hyallë rice-race-ron; maunë i Quaincin voro as·levë na hepë i nén láta, tenna yallumë lumbáriénes ar handes rua, ar nánes helina tancavë i helcessë. | ; | It froze so hard that the ice cracked again; the Duckling had always to be moving about to keep the water open, till at last he was tired out and sat still, and was frozen fast in the ice. | 148 | 149 | Ambarónessë molindo tullë tana menessë, cennë se, mennë helcessë ar tau·hyapatyanen terhantë sa ar collë i Quaincë mar vesseryan, ar tár nantulya se coiviën. | | Early in the morning a labourer came that way, saw him, went on the ice and with his wooden shoe broke it up and carried the Duckling home to his wife, and there he was brought to life again. | 150 | I híni merner tyalë ósë, mal sannes i þelleltë hyanitas, ar þosseryassë alahtanes téra mina i ilin-calpa ar tyarnes i ilin ete·falarya mina i þambë. | | The children wanted to play with him, but he thought they meant to hurt him, and in his fright he dashed right into the milk-pan and made the milk splash out into the room. | 151 | I nís holtunë ar ama·hantë máryat. | | The woman screamed and threw up her hands. | 152 | En villes mina i per-rotsë yassë engë mandya, ar tá nunna mina i mulma-colca ar amba ata. | | Then he flew into the butter-tub and after that into the meal-bin and out again. | 153 | Ela, issë nánë taitë cen! | | Goodness, what a sight he was! | 154 | I nís holtunë ar pentë senna i nápuonnen, ar i híni lananter mo lá hye, ar rincer atë se, lalailë, holtuile--almareryanen i fenna nánë láta, ar hlintes etsenna mina i tussar, to i vinya lossë, ar tassë caitanes ve lortalessë. | | The woman screamed out and hit at him with the tongs, and the children tumbled over one another trying to catch him, laughing, calling out--by good luck the door stood open, and out he rushed into the bushes, on the new fallen snow, and there he lay almost in a swoon. | 155 | 156 | Mal nauva acca naireä quíta nyarë os ilyë penië ar angayassi i möa sen tavë tana urda hrívessë. | | But it would be too sad to tell of all the hardships and miseries which he had to go through in that hard winter. | 157 | Yá anar yesentë ata calë lauca ar i lirulíni yesenter lirë, cainuánes imbë i lisci i mottossë, ar engë i vanima tuilë. | | When the sun began once more to shine out warm and the larks to sing, he was lying among the reeds in the marsh, and it was the beautiful spring. | 158 | Tá óqua ortanes rámaryat, ar hyastanettë ambë poldavë epë fai, ar lintië coller se öa; ar nó sínuyénes, nánes mi yána tarwa yassë enger lótië orva-ardar, ar niþilië raiweloþi linganer aldë laicë olbassen qua tal i li·cúna celmanna. | ; | Then all at once he lifted his wings, and they rustled more strongly than before, and bore him swiftly away; and before he knew it he was in a spacious garden where were apple trees in blossom, and sweet-smelling lilacs hung on long green boughs right down to the winding moat. | 159 | A, sís nánë lúceärwa, ar venya tuilenen; ar téra pono se, et laimellon, tuller vanimë fáni alquar neldë ó hyastaila pilintelë lutulindë i nenessë. | ; | Oh, it was lovely here, and fresh with spring; and straight in front of him, out of the shadows, came three beautiful white swans with rustling plumage floating lightly on the water. | 160 | I Quaincë atsinintë i mairë cuimar, ar aia nairë lungë se. | | The Duckling recognized the splendid creatures, and a strange sorrowfulness came over him. | 161 | 162 | “Viluvan tenna, sinë aranyë oiwi, ar irtauvalten qualmeävë pan inyë, ye ná tallë úvanima, verya analelya le; mal uis valda; a-qualta ló intë ná arya epë a-narcuë ló i quár ar a-irta ló holyer ar a-lahë ló i núrë ye riþë i oiwe-santa, ar ñwalë ter quana hrívë.” | ; ; | "I will fly to them, these royal birds, and they will peck me to death because I, who am so ugly, dare to approach them; but it doesn't matter; it's better to be killed by them than to be snapped at by the ducks and pecked at by hens and kicked by the servant who looks after the poultry-yard, and suffer all the winter." | 163 | Etta villes mina i panta nén ar luntë i orhaldë alquannar, ar intë cenner sé ar ronganer ó puluila pilintelë na omenë se. | | So he flew out into the open water and swam towards the stately swans, and they saw him and hastened with swelling plumage to meet him. | 164 | “Þá, á qualta ni,” i almelóra cuima equë, cúvë carya tal nenna, ar hornë qualmë. | | "Yes, kill me," the poor creature said, bowing his head down to the water, and waited for death. | 165 | Mal mana cennes i liquisteä nenessë? | | But what did he see in the clear water? | 166 | Cennes véra antarya, mal sa únë ena ma auqua nurno þinda aiweo, úvanima ar voruhtima. | | He beheld his own image, but it was no longer that of a clumsy dark grey bird, ugly and repulsive. | 167 | Issë nánë alqua. | | He was a swan himself. | 168 | 169 | Aqua uis valda quima onyalyë i quá-santassë, cé aryë óriëlyë alquo ohtello. | | It doesn't matter in the least whether you are born in the duck-yard, if only you've lain in a swan's egg. | 170 | 171 | Naitië alaranyes sanastassë pá ilya penië ar ñwalmë yar vóriénes, sí yá mai polles tunta almerya ar quana vanessë ya suilanë se. | | It really delighted him now to think of all the hardships and adversities he had suffered, now he could rightly discern his good fortune and all the beauty that greeted him. | 172 | I túrë alquar lunter os se ar palanter se memeltanen. | | The great swans swam round him and caressed him with their bills. | 173 | Vinyë hínéli sí tuller mina i tarwa ar hantë massa ar ori mina i nén, ar i amníca inteo holtunë: “Ea vinya!” | | Some little children now came into the garden and threw bread and corn into the water, and the smallest of them cried: "There's a new one!" | 174 | Ar i hyanar holtuner fastavë: “Nása, vinya utulië!” | | And the others called out in delight: "Yes, there's a new one come!" | 175 | Intë patahtaner máltanten ar liltaner ar norner atarintanna ar amilintanna. | | They clapped their hands and danced about and ran to their father and mother. | 176 | Hanter amba massa ar lissimbas mina i nén, ar ilquen equë: “I vinya ná i ammairë illio; tallë vinya ar vanima nás!” | ; | More bread and cake was thrown into the water, and everyone said: "The new one is the handsomest of all; how young and beautiful he is!" | 177 | Ar i anyárë alquar cúver pono issë. | | And the elder swans bowed before him. | 178 | 179 | Tanallo felles faren alaþiëssë, ar tumpë carya rámaryanten, ar únes ista mana caruvas. | | At that he felt quite ill at ease, and covered his head with his wings, and knew not what to do. | 180 | Lai alaranyes, ananta únes valateä, pan mára hón allan tyuya. | | He was more than happy, and yet not proud, for a good heart is never puffed up. | 181 | Sannë pá yallë naitaina ar luina naiénes, mal sí hlasses ilquen quetila i nás i anvanima ilyë vanimë oiwion. | | He thought how persecuted and depressed he had been, yet now he heard everyone saying he was the most beautiful of all beautiful birds. | 182 | Ar i raiweloþi cúver olbantar tal i nenna, ar anar caldë lauca ar fastima, ar pilintelerya hyastaner, ar ortanes lelya langorya, ar holmo eques alasseä: “Taitë alassë allumë ólanë nin yá nánen i Úvanima Quaincë.” | | And the lilacs bowed their branches down to the water, and the sun shone warm and pleasant, and his plumage ruffled, and he raised his slender neck, and from his heart he said joyfully: "Such happiness I never dreamed of when I was the Ugly Duckling." |
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Extra
(original Dan>Eng translation note) (1) This needs a note, for the gist of which I have to thank kind friends in Denmark. 'Whitsun week' is meant to render 'Dyrehavstid', which should be 'Dyrehavsbakketid'. Dyrehavsbakken is a place of amusement near Klampenborg, which used to have a 'season' from Midsummer Day (June 24), to the feast of the Visitation (July 2). // Neologism: lutulinda < lut-, cf. norolinda // Neologism: hyale rice-race-ron for "to creak" (of ice sheet): lit. "to ring out twist-break-soon", also i-a-o onomatopoeia.