[1.1] Give ear, all of you, to the things which the gods teach to a few. [1.2] In the cruel war, in which many men die, the gods guide us. [1.3] The plants that grow from the flesh of Parabas feed on the blood of mortals. [1.4] Hear this, Telmithrians, so that they may give you victory and protect you too.
[2.5] Gigar's mother's brother went up to the top of Latpserchus to bury their brother, [2.6] Balimpolous, the younger at Ipharmeler, who was killed by a Merinian's dagger at Taene. [2.7] Oconlumpicous prayed to Rhocous, who carries swiftly the messages of the Fartans [2.8] to the gods of Plaerx, saying these painful words:
[3.9] -"I call to you, god of flying feet, because the pain within my chest is very great, [3.10] because my beloved brother died fighting against a Merinian, which took his life. [3.11] My two brothers and I have always served those who do not die and we ask you to repair [3.12] this dishonor for us."
So the young god granted his request and set out for the Plaerx. [4.13] And flying through the stars he reached the highest cesne[1] of the crystal castle, [4.14] on whose walls the reflection of the water of the sea of blood[2] [4.15] was drawn in its entirety and, against whose roof, the light of Athur[3] struck, thus producing, in multitude, of countless colors, [4.16] great flashes of flame, among the whitest clouds of the sky. [5.17] And, the announcement of his arrival having resounded furiously through the rooms of the castle, [5.18] in this way, the enormous crystal doors slowly opened, without noise, [5.19] because the walls venerated him greatly, and, with the light of the stars passing through them, [5.20] in the middle of the room, Stix was then waiting for him, covered by a beautiful golden mantle. [6.21] His eyes were fixed on him and Rhocous, having reverenced him, spoke to him saying:
[6.22] -Father, I have come to you now with an urgent (message) from a mortal, Oconlumpicous of Ipharmeler. [6.23] He desperately requests your protection, because his brother died, brutally assaulted by a Merinian. [6.24] For this reason, Oconlumpicous, with his chest full of pain, begs you for intervention. [7.25] But this did not interest Stix, because the pain of man is as normal to him [7.26] as the daily journey of Athur; nevertheless, his voice resounded in the mountains and said:
[7.27] -A Merinian murdered a Symbaian? The fury of mortals seems to me to never end [7.28] What do you expect from me, Rhocous? It is not my task to reestablish the concord of mortals- [8.29] Rhocous, with his head towards the feet of Gadaggenax[4], said to him:
-I understand your pious words, [8.30] but it is the task of those who do not die to maintain order; and Oconlumpicous [8.31] resolved to face (his) destiny and many men are under his control [8.32] and rage can bring many sorrows to those who live in Meriny- [9.33] And Stix, then, after a few long silent moments, said calmly to Rhocous:
[9.34] -So it shall be. I will defend Oconlumpicous from the sharp blade and from madness, [9.35] but let him not expect pity from me, because the shadow he seeks [9.36] will be darker than the one he imagines and, if his desire for blood directs him, this will be a burden he will bear.
[10.37] And Rhocous received the message, knowing that the only thing that could keep a man lost in fury from death [10.38] was the protection of Stix and, having left the castle, he went down to Parabas, [10.39] then looking for Oconlumpicous. And he found him on the beach of Thambo, his soldiers, [10.40] leading and, approaching him, the young god with the flying feet said to him:
[11.41] Strong man, I have moved among the stars to bring you the answer of Gadaggenax. [11.42] Your pain has been heard, but you must understand that what you seek will not be easy. [11.43] Indeed, the shadow that pursues you, fueled by your rage, [11.44] will not be as light as you imagine. Stix will defend you from the sharp blade and from madness. [12.45] But do not expect his compassion, for he seeks that you do not cause pain to the people of Meriny. [12.46] Tarkan[5] and justice, the gods protect, however, the pain that the murder by the hand of a mortal [12.47] causes to another mortal, none of them heals.
[12.48] Oconlumpicous did not understand what the god said, but he accepted it nonetheless. [13.49] Then he called his host, who boarded the ship and set out for Meriny. [13.50] Among the ipautcauds[6] was Dutous, who had been begotten by Ercathy of Balimpolous. [13.51] He joined the host because he had heard of his father's death from the voice of Oconlumpicous. [13.52] And he left the mother with Tigy, to protect her while he was not Ipharmeler. [14.53] There was also, then, among the ipautcauds of Oconlumpicous, his son, Cirde, [14.54] who was king of Ipharmeler when his father gave him the throne, because the brother, [14.55] Paenagadrous, was younger than him and too young, too, to (be) king. [14.56] He was a general on the same day that he was king and fought with Balimpolous. [15.57] Within the waters of Thambo was, then, the fatal beast that the one from Thunday[7] killed, [15.58] the one made of the blood of Gale[8], which sank its head in them, but, when a ship [15.59] approached it, it raised its head high towards the sky, blocking the light of Athur. [15.60] The crew of Oconlumpicous then arrived at the place where she was, without their knowing it. [16.61] The light of Coray[9] was drawn on the dark waters of the surface, with a cold shine. [16.62] The waves beat lightly against the wooden hull of the ship. [16.63] Suddenly, the great shadow of Thaurhelay emerged from the depths, with a sharp bark. [16.64] She rose up, like a living mountain, whipping the waves with her horrible arm. [17.65] Through the rough and shiny set of scales that covered her body, [17.66] the waters that had been raised by her head flowed quickly, falling to the sea. [17.67] And, seeing this then, Oconlumpicous clung to the rusca[10] and the crew, up to their weapons, [17.68] ran quickly, but the bravest were afraid of the imposing image of Thaurhelay. [18.69] Cirde was the first to attack, throwing the dumo[11] straight at the eyes. [18.70] But Thaurhelay was too fast for him and she tilted her head at once, [18.71] so that the dumo bounced off the scaled thenacai[12] with a clang like old bronze, [18.72] and she threw her arm at the ship, knocking down three masts, and three men falling into the water. [19.73] Then Dutous watched from the stern and shouted [19.74] to the crew to attack her left side, thus pointing out a gap in the scales. [19.75] They did as he ordered and shot their arrows at that spot. [19.76] They pierced her flesh, and through the wound the beast's blood flowed as black as an eye. [20.77] Then Oconlumpicous took hold of his rusca and stabbed the arm that had collided with the ship. [20.78] It was the last time he took hold of it, for the beast will escape, down to the bottom of the sea, with the weapon in her flesh, [20.79] and, there, the weapon will remain held by the flesh that beat against the blade, which hurt it, [20.80] until the beast of Thambo attacks Dinax and his crew one day. [21.81] The man from Thunday then threw himself upon the beast's arm, and, taking Oconlumpicous' rusca, [21.82] pulling it out of the flesh, climbed up her arm, reaching the scaly mantle [21.83] and began to tear off the scales that covered her neck with his weapon, [21.84] throwing them into the water and immediately sticking them again into the beast's flesh. [22.85] Then, shouting, he said "Arrows!" and the archers [22.86] launched countless sharp points quickly towards the flesh of the beast, [22.87] which, then inert and dead, fell to the bottom of the great Thambo Sea. [22.88] Thus Thaurhelay died then, by the hand of Dinaz. She did not die by that of Oconlumpicous. [23.89] Then, with a bark that made the whole of the ship's floor vibrate, [23.90] the beast stirred up the waters, causing a whirlpool that swept the ship down into the depths. [23.91] At that moment Cirde, seeing the danger at hand, went to the bow [23.92] and, sticking the dumo into the wood, raised both his hands high toward sky and prayed to Stix. [24.93] Stix, hearing him and remembering what he had promised Oconlumpicous, made the weapon [24.94] longer, which stuck into the sea floor, fixing the ship in place. [24.95] Then Thaurhelay barked for the last time, moving her huge tail, [24.96] causing waves to carry the ship swiftly to Pymphous. [25.97] Finally, on a blue morning, they saw the beach, which rose above the waves in front of them, [25.98] like a promised refuge. The waves pushed the ship to the shore and the crew [25.99] descended from it, setting foot for the first time in that distant land of strangers, [25.100] being greeted by a deer of the king's wife, which led her to his palace. [26.101] There, Ezurery then received them in a large hall, adorned with veils, that recounted old battles [26.102] and exploits of those from Symbay. They ate [26.103] on a wooden table and, while the food flowed in this way through the throat and the voices conversed, [26.104] Ezurery told Oconlumpicous and the crew a story that hurt the people.
[27.105] -Listen, warriors, she said. I will tell you the story of my son, Palenous. [27.106] He was a gallant young man who headed to Lunde, because he had heard that a divine beast lived there that would give him fame. [27.107] And she was the last daughter of Stix and Bosphy[13], [27.108] who frightened with fury and devoured the Sfomirs. [28.109] These are known for their impiety, they do not speak the language of the Symbaians [28.110] nor do they worship the gods. They are unaware of divine justice, [28.111] so their mere existence could bring despair and chaos and, [28.112] even though the Sfomirs could not understand his speech, he then saw what she did to them. [29.113] Although he truly tried to protect them, the work was in vain, [29.114] because Garchy did not fall then. The heralds told me that the beast devoured him, but my [29.115] pained and weary chest certainly carries within, with love, the hope that he still lives. [29.116] Having heard this, Oconlumpicous, with his moved chest, told him then he said:
[30.117] -Oh, good woman! What you have said filled my chest with compassion for the pain, [30.118] for I truly understand you, because a Daelian[14] dagger took the soul of my beloved brother. [30.119] Therefore, I will go to Lunde to look for your son and, if the gods protect him [30.120] and if they keep him alive, I will bring him to your court, so that your arms may embrace him.
[31.121] Then Ezurery ordered one of her hosts to accompany them; It was made up of one hundred and twenty uskums[15] who lived in Pymphous [31,122] and was led by General Mer, the strongest among them, who was born in Abirde. [31.123] They gave them two horses. the one who led Oconlumpicous had the name Oramegrus, [31.124] who was the brother of Rescere, who then led Mer, because he was also the strongest.
[32.125] After twenty-four days they came to the meadow that was beside the walls of Lunde. [32.126] The wall facing Demure's place[16] was broken down and the streets of the city were empty. [32.127] Then Mutude, who was the son of Mer, and Dutous entered the city carefully, [32.128] going through the streets, and on one of these (was) the thenacai of Palenous, [33.129] which Mutude recognized. In it were many tooth-shaped holes in it, but only in the part that covered the abdomen and the back, [33.130] the one that covered the chest and the neck (was) whole. [33.131] Mutude knew that it was not Garchy who had devoured Palenous, for she was taller than men, [33.132] but the Sfomirs, for their head was on a level with the abdomen of men. [34.133] These then came out of their homes and attacked the Symbaian and the Merinian, [34.134] destroying their thenacais with their teeth and devouring their flesh. [34.135] So then Balimpolous and his son died in Meriny, in a land that did not belong to the Symbains, [34.136] by the murderous edge of those whom the gods of Plaerx do not protect. [35.137] Then Oconlumpicous, Cirde and Mer climbed a mountain, seeking Garchy. [35.138] Thus the ipharmelerhian saw on Rescere's back a wound shaped like an aesg[17], [35.139] which was the shape that Balimpolous' ipauto[18] then caused his enemies, [35.140] for he attacked by bringing the weapon down to the right and then down to the left, [36.141] so that in this way he recognized in his traveling companion the murderer of his beloved brother [36.142] and this, with hatred and despair, filled his old chest. [36.143] Then Mer moved ahead of the group, without looking back, where Cirde moved close by, [36.144] going far from the crew, close to the highest rock, whose shadow covered the three of them. [37.145] Oconlumpicous, who was then following them both, saw a loose piece of the rock, whose shadow [37.146] covered Mer and the horse, but not him, Cirde or Oramegrus. [37.147] Oconlumpicous, without thinking, then shot an arrow straight at the base of the rock, [37.148] with enough force to make the piece break off and fall entirely on Mer. [38.149] But the rock was really too weak and it fell entirely on the three of them. [38.150] But the strength of Mer and Rescere was sufficient and they held the piece over themselves and over Cirde. [38.151] Oramegrus, sensing at that moment the danger for his brother, swiftly, [38.152] ran towards it and the ipharmelerhian fell under the piece that touched the ground.
[1] késne, watchtower of forts of Vermaric origin.
[2] This expression referred to the sky, since the Symbains believed that this was a sea made up of the blood of Pleus, the sky-god. See Paladasty 16.63-64.
[3] God of the sun.
[4] Gadaγénax, "Father of men" is an epithet of Stix.
[5] Tárkans, the cosmic order of Vermaric origin.
[6] ipaýtkayζ, soldier carrying the ipauto, a battle weapon consisting of a sharp metal wedge attached to a long rope. It was used to knock down enemies on horseback.
[7] Se the Epistle of Sphiod §14.
[8] Ibid §8.
[9] Goddess of the moon.
[10] ryská, Symbaian semi-long sword.
[11] dýmω, Symbaian hunting spear.
[12] fzηnákaï, Symbaian chest armor.
[13] Cf. Paladasty 54.214-216.
[14] The word daílios was the term with which the Symbaians referred to the Merinians.
[15] ýskyms (from Merinian, uskum), Merinian soldier.
[16] Volter goddess of the east (cf. Epistle of Sphiod §16). The expression “Demure's place” refers to this cardinal point.
[17] Letter of the Symbaian alphabet, which corresponds to the phoneme [a:] (see “graphemes” in the Symbaian language).
[18] ipaýtω, battle weapon consisting of a sharp metal wedge attached to a long rope, which was used to knock down enemies on horseback.