The Nikolaic Theophany
conlang poem 3
Last month, I posted the Ritual of Un-Descent, written in my reconstruction of Ancient Thracian, featured in chapter 19 of my novel Wealthgiver.
If you read chapter 19, you’ll know that the ritual goes sideways and the Unseen One delivers a personal message to Nikolai, the high priest:
Árbeie! Bilospelé!
Kapēssophiá, klyié
Méan. Klyié iós tan
Idexétai éis tomón.
Deseí ke gorê tón 5
Ásan tói tymí ión!
Staiýn ni tai pór tói ke pós
Zēltón tón ke sós ganós.
Dégmōn iadí. Mē
Ápseran pouteté. 10
Literally, that’s:
Orphan! Word-friend!
Passion-drunkard, listen
To me. Listen to he who
Welcomed you into (his) house.
Welcome and rejoice in that 5
which I gave to you!
There stand before and behind you
Gold and Death.
The Welcomer rides. Do not
Pule back (in response). 10
And the poetic translation:
Listen, Orphan, Friend to Words
Hear me now, Passion-Drunkard.
I and I alone am who
welcomed you this house into.
Death or treasure will you find. 5
One before you, one behind.
The Host will ride upon the ground.
Do not complain. And turn around. 10
Doggerel? Yes, but it’s pretty good considering what all was going on.
If this translation has tickled your curiosity, why not…
…and ask your own question?
To read this poem in the context of the story of Wealthgiver:
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