The elf of the rose

【1】 I elda i merilleo

   

► The Elf of the Rose

【2】 --



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【3】 Tarwo endessë aldë lóteä merillë-alda, ar i amírimassë ilyë merillion marnë elda.

             

► In the midst of a garden grew a rose-tree, in full blossom, and in the prettiest of all the roses lived an elf.

【4】 Nánes tallë níca titta veo, i uia atanwa hen pollë cenitas.

            

► He was such a little wee thing, that no human eye could see him.

【5】 Cata ilya lassë i merilleo haryanë caimaþan.

       

► Behind each leaf of the rose he had a sleeping chamber.

【6】 Nánes ta mai-canta ar ta vanima ve ecë níca hinin, ar hanyanë rámat yat ananyet almoryallo talyanta.

                  

► He was as well formed and as beautiful as a little child could be, and had wings that reached from his shoulders to his feet.

【7】 A, tallë niþilë engë þamberyassen! Ar tallë poicë ar vanimë náner i rambar! Pan náneltë i ?? lassi i merilleo.

                     

► Oh, what sweet fragrance there was in his chambers! and how clean and beautiful were the walls! for they were the blushing leaves of the rose.

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【9】 Ter quanna ré fasantë se lauca árissë, villes alballo albanna, ar liltanes i vililë vilarindívë rámassen.

                  

► During the whole day he enjoyed himself in the warm sunshine, flew from flower to flower, and danced on the wings of the flying butterflies.

【10】 Tá lestanes manotë tyeller möa sen lelya ter i tiër ar ómeni yai eär niërmeldo lassessë.

                

► Then he took it into his head to measure how many steps he would have to go through the roads and cross-roads that are on the leaf of a linden-tree.

【11】 Ya elvë estar i lassenelli lassessë, sen nemir malli; é, ar amandë malli náneltë sen; pan nó acáriës peresta rincumarya, Anar núnë: yesentiénes mólerya acca telwa.

                                

► What we call the veins on a leaf, he took for roads; ay, and very long roads they were for him; for before he had half finished his task, the sun went down: he had commenced his work too late.

【12】 Olanë amaringa, i rossë lanantë, ar i vaiwë vannë; san sannersn í arya ya polles carë nánë entulitarya mar.

                      

► It became very cold, the dew fell, and the wind blew; so he thought the best thing he could do would be to return home.

【13】 Hlintes yandë polles; mal túves ilyë merilli pahtë, ar únes pollë mitta; ú erinqua merillë tarnë panta.

                    

► He hurried himself as much as he could; but he found the roses all closed up, and he could not get in; not a single rose stood open.

【14】 I almelóra níca elda lai þoronyë.

      

► The poor little elf was very much frightened.

【15】 Allumë fai naiénes ettë lómessë, mal illumë lóriénes halda cata i laucë merillë-lassi.

              

► He had never before been out at night, but had always slumbered secretly behind the warm rose-leaves.

【16】 Ai, si tancavë nauvanë quelmë sen.

       

► Oh, this would certainly be his death.

【17】 Sintes i tarwo etwa hrimassë, engë lassirondo, ó vanimë rombuiler.

            

► At the other end of the garden, he knew there was an arbor, overgrown with beautiful honey-suckles.

【18】 I lóti veältaner altë quilyainë rómar; ar sannes i loruvas mi ma sinaron tenna arin.

                

► The blossoms looked like large painted horns; and he thought to himself, he would go and sleep in one of these till the morning.

【19】 Villes tanna; mal “tá!” quenu eä i lassirondossë, vanima vinya nér ar írima nís.

                

► He flew thither; but "hush!" two people were in the arbor,- a handsome young man and a beautiful lady.

【20】 Handettë permë permessë, ar mernettë i allumë mauva tun cilta.

           

► They sat side by side, and wished that they might never be obliged to part.

【21】 Mellettë atwë etwa laca han yandë ecë arya onna melë atarya ar amilya.

             

► They loved each other much more than the best child can love its father and mother.

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【23】 “Mal möa inquen cilta,” equë i vinya nér; “hánolya munë vérenqua, ar saro mentassen tallë vaháya caraitiën, lá oronti ar eäri.

                         

► "But we must part," said the young man; "your brother does not like our engagement, and therefore he sends me so far away on business, over mountains and seas.

【24】 Namárië, lissë indissinya; pan taitë nalyë nin.”

         

► Farewell, my sweet bride; for so you are to me."

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【26】 Ar tá minquet atwë etwa ar i nettë nítë, ar ánes sen merillë; mal nó carnesses, nirnes miquë tó sa tallë felminqua í alba pantanë.

                            

► And then they kissed each other, and the girl wept, and gave him a rose; but before she did so, she pressed a kiss upon it so fervently that the flower opened.

【27】 Tá i níca elda villë mir, ar niryanë caryanen i lelyë, niþilë rambar.

               

► Then the little elf flew in, and leaned his head on the delicate, fragrant walls.

【28】 Sissë polles mai hlarë quetitatta, “Namárië, namárië;” ar appanes i merillë a-sesta i vinya neriva amborenna.

                   

► Here he could plainly hear them say, "Farewell, farewell;" and he felt that the rose had been placed on the young man's breast.

【29】 A, tallë homya tompanë!

    

► Oh, how his heart did beat!

【30】 I níca elda únë polë loruë, tompanes tallë romya.

          

► The little elf could not go to sleep, it thumped so loudly.

【31】 I merillë únë cainë amboressë andavë, i nér nampë sa lan patanë ter i lúna taurë erinqua, ar minquë i alba tallë rillumë ar tallë poldavë, i amna maldë i níca elda.

                                   

► The young man took it out as he walked through the dark wood alone, and kissed the flower so often and so violently, that the little elf was almost crushed.

【32】 Encë sen appë ter i lassë yallë laucu i vinya nerivu peu nánë, ar i merillë apantiénë, vequi i endaureo arano árinen.

                        

► He could feel through the leaf how hot the lips of the young man were, and the rose had opened, as if from the heat of the noonday sun.

【33】 --



► --

【34】 Tullë hyana nér, ye nemnë lumba ar olca.

         

► There came another man, who looked gloomy and wicked.

【35】 Nánes i olca háno i vanima wendeo.

       

► He was the wicked brother of the beautiful maiden.

【36】 Ettunces maica cirma, ar lan hye míquánë i merillë, i olca nér ehtanë se qualmeä; tá hócirnes carya, ar ?? sa ó i hröa i maxa cemendë nu i niërmelda.

                                  

► He drew out a sharp knife, and while the other was kissing the rose, the wicked man stabbed him to death; then he cut off his head, and buried it with the body in the soft earth under the linden-tree.

【37】 --



► --

【38】 “Sí nás vanwë, ar rongo lityuva,” sannë i olca háno; “aluvar nanwenuvas ata.

                

► "Now he is gone, and will soon be forgotten," thought the wicked brother; "he will never come back again.

【39】 Lelyúvanes anda lendanen lá oronti ar eäri; aþcarë ecë nerin firë taitë lendassë.

              

► He was going on a long journey over mountains and seas; it is easy for a man to lose his life in such a journey.

【40】 Néþanya intyuva i hye vanwa; pan hye ui polë nanwenë, ar úvas verya maquetë nin pá hye.”

                   

► My sister will suppose he is dead; for he cannot come back, and she will not dare to question me about him."

【41】 --



► --

【42】 Tá vinintë i parcë lassi i néca cemendë talyanen, ar mennë mar ter i morë; mal mennes ú erinqua, yallë sannë, - i níca elda armennë se.

                               

► Then he scattered the dry leaves over the light earth with his foot, and went home through the darkness; but he went not alone, as he thought,- the little elf accompanied him.

【43】 Handes mi parca ??-?? niërmelda-lassë, ya alantiës i aldallo i olca nériva carenna, lan rótanes i sapta.

                   

► He sat in a dry rolled-up linden-leaf, which had fallen from the tree on to the wicked man's head, as he was digging the grave.

【44】 I carpë nánë to i cas sí, ya carna sa amalúna, ar i níca elda irnë þossenen ar ?? pa i hrúa carma.

                         

► The hat was on the head now, which made it very dark, and the little elf shuddered with fright and indignation at the wicked deed.

【45】 --



► --

【46】 Ea ambarónë nó i olca nér aranyë maryë; haitanë carparya, ar mittanë néþarya þambë.

                

► It was the dawn of morning before the wicked man reached home; he took off his hat, and went into his sister's room.

【47】 Tassë cuinë i vanima, lostaila nettë, yen óleánë pa hye ye melles tallë, ar ye sí, indyanes, leléleánë háya lá oronti ar eäri.

                            

► There lay the beautiful, blooming girl, dreaming of him whom she loved so, and who was now, she supposed, travelling far away over mountain and sea.

【48】 Olca hánorya cúnanë or se, ar landë yelwavë, ve raucor rië polë lala.

               

► Her wicked brother stopped over her, and laughed hideously, as fiends only can laugh.

【49】 I parca lassë lanantë findesseryallo i töallenna; mal únes tunta sa, ar mennes na níca lorë i amaureva lúmessë.

                     

► The dry leaf fell out of his hair upon the counterpane; but he did not notice it, and went to get a little sleep during the early morning hours.

【50】 Mal i elda hlincë et i hessa lassë, sestanë insë ar' i lorna netteva hlas, ar quentes sen, ve lóressë, pá i ñorta qualtië; ostences i nómë yassë hánorya náciénë melindorya, ar ?? hröarya; ar quentes sen pá i lóteä niërmelda ya tarnë areä.

                                                   

► But the elf slipped out of the withered leaf, placed himself by the ear of the sleeping girl, and told her, as in a dream, of the horrid murder; described the place where her brother had slain her lover, and buried his body; and told her of the linden-tree, in full blossom, that stood close by.

【51】 --



► --

【52】 “Itan úvalyë sana i si reä lórë ya equéiten lyen,” eques, “túvalyë caimalyassë hessa lassë.”

                 

► "That you may not think this is only a dream that I have told you," he said, "you will find on your bed a withered leaf."

【53】 --



► --

【54】 Tá eccuines, ar túvë sa tas.

       

► Then she awoke, and found it there.

【55】 A, manotë naicë niër ulyanes! ar únë maunë sen apanta órerya aiquenen na cólolantë.

               

► Oh, what bitter tears she shed! and she could not open her heart to any one for relief.

【56】 --



► --

【57】 I lattin nánë panta ter quanna ré, ar nai aþcarë encë i níca eldan arya i merilli, atwa aiana i albaron;

                       

► The window stood open the whole day, and the little elf could easily have reached the roses, or any of the flowers;

【58】 mal únë ecë sen ?? ?? homyassë hehta mo ye tallë moia.

            

► but he could not find it in his heart to leave one so afflicted.

【59】 I lattiniëssë tarnë tussa colila anda·lostaulë merilli.

       

► In the window stood a bush bearing monthly roses.

【60】 Harunes min i albaron, ar tirnes i almelóra nettë.

          

► He seated himself in one of the flowers, and gazed on the poor girl.

【61】 Hánorya lillumë tullë mina i þambë, ar nánë taita alasseä ar þaura yairo; etta hye únë verya quetë sen quetta pa homyo nyérë.

                         

► Her brother often came into the room, and would be quite cheerful, in spite of his base conduct; so she dare not say a word to him of her heart's grief.

【62】 --



► --

【63】 Mórilantassë, hlinces et i mardallo, ar mennes mina t taurë, i nómenna yassë i niërmelda tarnë; ar apa haitanes i lassi hunello, sampë nunna sassë, ar tassë túves i qualtaina.

                                    

► As soon as night came on, she slipped out of the house, and went into the wood, to the spot where the linden-tree stood; and after removing the leaves from the earth, she turned it up, and there found him who had been murdered.

【64】 Ai, tallë nínes ar hyamnes i issë firúvanë!

        

► Oh, how she wept and prayed that she also might die!

【65】 Írenen cóliévanes i loico mar óssë; mal ta nánë lacárima; epetai nampes i almelóra cas ó i pahtu hendu, minques i ninquet peu, ar quassë i sauma et i vanima findessello.

                                   

► Gladly would she have taken the body home with her; but that was impossible; so she took up the poor head with the closed eyes, kissed the cold lips, and shook the mould out of the beautiful hair.

【66】 --



► --

【67】 “Hepuvan si,” eques; ar éya utúpiës i loico ata i cemenen ar lassínen, nampes i cas ar níca níþilosso tuillë ya lostanë i tavastessë, areä ar' i nómë yassë ?? ?? ??, ar collesset mar óssë.

                                         

► "I will keep this," said she; and as soon as she had covered the body again with the earth and leaves, she took the head and a little sprig of jasmine that bloomed in the wood, near the spot where he was buried, and carried them home with her.

【68】 Éya nánes þamberyassë, nampes i anhöa cembaron ya encë sen túvë, ar sinna sestanes i qualin neriva cas, tumpesses cemanen, ar aldes níþilosso tuista tanna.

                             

► As soon as she was in her room, she took the largest flower-pot she could find, and in this she placed the head of the dead man, covered it up with earth, and planted the twig of jasmine in it.

【69】 --



► --

【70】 “Namárië, namárië,” hlussanë i níca elda.

        

► "Farewell, farewell," whispered the little elf.

【71】 Únë ecë sen tauva vetta ener sina quanna nyérë, epetai villes öa merilleryanna i tarwassë.

                

► He could not any longer endure to witness all this agony of grief, he therefore flew away to his own rose in the garden.

【72】 Mal i merillë hwiriénë; rië sempë parcë lassi enwa himinyer i laica ceä ca sa.

                

► But the rose was faded; only a few dry leaves still clung to the green hedge behind it.

【73】 --



► --

【74】 “Ai! tallë rongo ilqua ya ná mára ar vanima auta,” sinquë i elda.

              

► "Alas! how soon all that is good and beautiful passes away," sighed the elf.

【75】 --



► --

【76】 Apa lúmë túves hyana merillë, ya olanë marya, pan imbë lelyë níþimë lassiryar ecë sen marë varna.

                   

► After a while he found another rose, which became his home, for among its delicate fragrant leaves he could dwell in safety.

【77】 Ilya amauressë villes i lattinna i almelóra netteo, ar illumë hye táranë nítaila ara i cemba.

                 

► Every morning he flew to the window of the poor girl, and always found her weeping by the flower pot.

【78】 I naicë niër lananter i níþilosso tuistannar, ar ilya ressë, lan ninquentanes tyellínen, i tuillë nemnë ola amalaica ar anvenya.

                       

► The bitter tears fell upon the jasmine twig, and each day, as she became paler and paler, the sprig appeared to grow greener and fresher.

【79】 Tuista min ar enta tuiluner, ar nícë fáni tuimar lostaner, yai i almelóra nettë minquë melima.

                  

► One shoot after another sprouted forth, and little white buds blossomed, which the poor girl fondly kissed.

【80】 Mal olca hánorya naityanë se, ar maquentë sen quima óleäs hwinda,

            

► But her wicked brother scolded her, and asked her if she was going mad.

【81】 Únë ecë sen intya yaro níteánes pa sana cemba, ar sa itiþyanë se.

              

► He could not imagine why she was weeping over that flower-pot, and it annoyed him.

【82】 Únes ista yevat pahtu hendu nánë tassë, yula manu carnu peu quélanë nu i cemen.

                

► He did not know whose closed eyes were there, nor what red lips were fading beneath the earth.

【83】 Ar ressë min handes ar niryanë caryanen i cemba, ar i níca elda i merilleo túvë se lorna.

                   

► And one day she sat and leaned her head against the flower-pot, and the little elf of the rose found her asleep.

【84】 Tá harunes ara hlarerya, quentes hyen pá sana undómë i lassirondossë, pá i lissë niþilë i merilleo, ar i emel i eldaron.

                         

► Then he seated himself by her ear, talked to her of that evening in the arbor, of the sweet perfume of the rose, and the loves of the elves.

【85】 Sérinquavë ólanë sen, ar lan ólanë, coiviërya vánë calaina ar moica, ar feärya nánë ó ye melles, ildumassë.

                      

► Sweetly she dreamed, and while she dreamt, her life passed away calmly and gently, and her spirit was with him whom she loved, in heaven.

【86】 Ar i níþilos apantanë altë fáni calongaryar, ar rendë niþilerya; pennes hyana men na tana nyérerya i vanwat.

                    

► And the jasmine opened its large white bells, and spread forth its sweet fragrance; it had no other way of showing its grief for the dead.

【87】 Mal i olca háno tirnë i vanima lostaila laima, nampë sa óssë, ve aryonië, ar sestanesses caimaþamberyassë, areä ara caimarya, pan nánes írima nemensto, ar i niþilë nánë lissë ar fastima.

                                     

► But the wicked brother considered the beautiful blooming plant as his own property, left to him by his sister, and he placed it in his sleeping room, close by his bed, for it was very lovely in appearance, and the fragrance sweet and delightful.

【88】 I níca elda i merilleo holyanë sa, ar villë alballo albanna, ar nyarnë ilya níca tavarilen ye marnë tassen i quenta pá i qualtaina vinya nér, yeva cas sí nánë quelehtë i hunessë, ar pá i olca háno ar i almelóra néþa.

                                              

► The little elf of the rose followed it, and flew from flower to flower, telling each little spirit that dwelt in them the story of the murdered young man, whose head now formed part of the earth beneath them, and of the wicked brother and the poor sister.

【89】 “Istalmes,” equë ilya níca tavaril i albassen, “istalmes, an utuiluyelmë é hendullo ar peullo i qualtainaivë.

                   

► "We know it," said each little spirit in the flowers, "we know it, for have we not sprung from the eyes and lips of the murdered one.

【90】 Istalmes, istalmes,” ar i albar quasseltë cariltanen aia lenen.

           

► We know it, we know it," and the flowers nodded with their heads in a peculiar manner.

【91】 I elda i merilleo únë polë hanya yanen polleltë serë tallë anúvaldë, etta villes i niërinnar, i hosteáner lís, ar quentë ten pá i olca háno.

                             

► The elf of the rose could not understand how they could rest so quietly in the matter, so he flew to the bees, who were gathering honey, and told them of the wicked brother.

【92】 Ar i niëri quenter sa táriltan, ye canyanë í neuna amauressë menuvaltë qualta i nahtar.

                

► And the bees told it to their queen, who commanded that the next morning they should go and kill the murderer.

【93】 Mal lómessë, i minya apa i néþo effírië, lan i háno lóranë caimaryassë, areä ar' yassë sestaniénes i níþima níþillos, ilya alba yulma apantanë, ar úcénimavë i nícë tavarili ettuller, ó hloirië ehti.

                                       

► But during the night, the first after the sister's death, while the brother was sleeping in his bed, close to where he had placed the fragrant jasmine, every flower cup opened, and invisibly the little spirits stole out, armed with poisonous spears.

【94】 Haruneltë ar' i lorno hlas, quenteltë sen nairë ololli, ar tá villeltë or peurya, ar nasanter lambarya hloirië ehtintainen.

                      

► They placed themselves by the ear of the sleeper, told him dreadful dreams and then flew across his lips, and pricked his tongue with their poisoned spears.

【95】 “Sí apairetaniëlmë i qualin,” quenteltë, ar viller nan mina i fánë indyeli i níþillosso albaron.

                 

► "Now have we revenged the dead," said they, and flew back into the white bells of the jasmine flowers.

【96】 Yá arin tullë, ar éya pantanë i lattin, i merillë elda, ó i tári niër, ar i quanna umba niërion, alacantë mir na qyalta se.

                            q  

► When the morning came, and as soon as the window was opened, the rose elf, with the queen bee, and the whole swarm of bees, rushed in to kill him.

【97】 Mal tensi nánes qualin.

    

► But he was already dead.

【98】 Lië táraner os i caima, ar quétaner í níþillosso niþilë qualtaniénë se.

             

► People were standing round the bed, and saying that the scent of the jasmine had killed him.

【99】 Tá i merilleo elda hanyanë i pairë i albaron, ar rastanë sa i tári niëren, ar sé, ó i quanna umba, vuranë os i cemba.

                             

► Then the elf of the rose understood the revenge of the flowers, and explained it to the queen bee, and she, with the whole swarm, buzzed about the flower-pot.

【100】 Únë ecë tyarë i niëri lóya.

      

► The bees could not be driven away.

【101】 Tá nér nampë na haita sa, ar min i niërion nasantë se massë, itan láves i cemba lanta, ar rancë sa.

                        

► Then a man took it up to remove it, and one of the bees stung him in the hand, so that he let the flower-pot fall, and it was broken to pieces.

【102】 Tá illi cenner i ninquitaina corpë, ar sinteltë í qualin nér i caimassë nánë nahtar.

                

► Then every one saw the whitened skull, and they knew the dead man in the bed was a murderer.

【103】 Ar i tári niër omnë vilyassë, ar lirnë pá i pairë i albaron, ar pá i elda i merilleo, ar equë i cata i amaníca lassë marë mo, yen ecë tuvë hrúë carmar, ar parmeta tai aryë.

                                          

► And the queen bee hummed in the air, and sang of the revenge of the flowers, and of the elf of the rose and said that behind the smallest leaf dwells One, who can discover evil deeds, and punish them also.