Translated Song - The Herald, by Comus (1971)

Started by Kayrìlien, August 23, 2010, 12:55:28 PM

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Kayrìlien

The Herald, by Comus (1971)

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As a single star glides swiftly down the night
A soft wetting note issues from the time-worn flute.
Frowning slightly, the herald listens wistful across the night.
And from way back behind the day comes the echoed answer.

The day advances oh so softly
His shadow lengthens and his voice is mute
But clear his flute.
And sadly walks forward followed by the day.
Herald of morning walks across the earth eternally.

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And somewhere in the black distance, another herald puts down his flute.
And the dewy dawn creeps on, and the night withdraws.

The day advances oh so softly
His shadow lengthens and his voice is mute
But clear his flute.
And sadly walks forward followed by the day.
Herald of morning walks across the earth eternally.

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Tsakrr tanhì txonkxamlä tswayon,
Pamtsyìp a'ango 'ong tamfa yapamsiyu aspuwin.
Mungeyu tängìng mikyun nìtstunwi txonka.
Ulte ta tseng a tok uo trr, za'u tì'eyng asyawnaw.

Saleiew trr nì'ango; tìvawmrel peyä tsawl slu ulte ftang mokri, slä law yapamsiyu lu.
Nìkeftxo tìrängan poan; lu nawnonga tute trrä.
Mungeyu rewonä tìran ka 'Rrta tì'i'avay krrä.


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Mì sengo alayon, lahea mungeyul yapamsiyut tungzup.
Lepaya trr'ong reiyikx, ulte txon tìng tseng.

Saleiew trr nì'ango; tìvawmrel peyä tsawl slu ulte ftang mokri, slä law yapamsiyu lu.
Nìkeftxo tìrängan poan; lu nawnonga tute trrä.
Mungeyu rewonä tìran ka 'Rrta tì'i'avay krrä.


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Notes:

1)   pamtsyìp // sound-DIM // "note"

2)   tamfa (ta-mìfa) // from-inside // "from inside"

3)   yapamsiyu // air-sound-maker // "flute"

4)   mungeyu // bring-AGENT // "herald"

5)   syawnaw // call<P.PART> // "echoed"

6)   tìvawmrel // darkness-image // "shadow"


Yes, I know I've taken a couple liberties here, especially with yapamsiyu, "air-sound-maker", but I wanted to make sure I captured the meaning of the song while keeping at least some semblance of rhythm. Besides, the only word for flute that we have comes from the ASG and contains illegal orthography. Of course, omati s'ampta could be written as omati sì'amta, but I figured that this way, I'm at least using something derived from purely Frommerian sources.

Hopefully, if you actually took the time to look this over, you've bothered to go to YouTube or something like it and listen to the song. In my opinion, it's hauntingly beautiful, and a stark contrast to the more aggressive music on the rest of the album. If early '70's folk music isn't your thing, well...hopefully you enjoyed reading the translation.

YouTube Links:  
By the way, if you see any really stupid errors (which I am prone to make), please make me aware of them so that I can correct them as soon as possible.

Sìlpey oe tsnì Eywal ayngati kame tì'i'avay krrä,

Kayrìlien