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IX. The Queen of the Field Mice

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This is a translation in progress by chaered. It is INCOMPLETE and UNREVIEWED! (Caveat lector.)

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No. Quenya Tengwar Means
1 “Uilvë polë ná anhairë i mallello maldë tesarion, sí,” equë i Corcurco, lan tarnes ar' i vendë, “pan utúliëlvë amna ta háya ve i sírë aucollë ve.”                                   “We cannot be far from the road of yellow brick, now,” remarked the Scarecrow, as he stood beside the girl, “for we have come nearly as far as the river carried us away.”
2 I Latúcen Ornendur hanquetúvanë yá hlasses tumba yarra, ar quériéla carya (ya lévë lelya querendelínen) cennes i aia hravan tullë capila ?? i salquë tenna. Nánes, é, velca malda Hrambiuë, ar i Ornendur sannë i hye é roiteánë ma, pan hlaryat caiteáner areä ara carya ar antorya nánë pantavë láta, apantaila carcanet úvanimë nelcion, lan carnu hendyat callë ve pambat úreo. Lan mennes areä, i Latúcen Ornendur cennë i norilë pó i hravan eä nípa þinda palar-nyarrincë, ar anahtai pennes hón, sintes i nánë ulca í Hrambiuë rícanë qualta tallë netya, alaraxeä veo.                                                                                                            The Tin Woodman was about to reply when he heard a low growl, and turning his head (which worked beautifully on hinges) he saw a strange beast come bounding over the grass toward them. It was, indeed, a great yellow Wildcat, and the Woodman thought it must be chasing something, for its ears were lying close to its head and its mouth was wide open, showing two rows of ugly teeth, while its red eyes glowed like balls of fire. As it came nearer the Tin Woodman saw that running before the beast was a little gray field mouse, and although he had no heart he knew it was wrong for the Wildcat to try to kill such a pretty, harmless creature.
3 Etta i Ornendur ortanë hyaldarya, ar lan i Hrambiuë nornë arë, ánesses linta ?? ya hócirnë i hravanwa cas poicavë pulcoryallo, ar peltanë to talyanta ve luppo atta.                                 So the Woodman raised his axe, and as the Wildcat ran by he gave it a quick blow that cut the beast’s head clean off from its body, and it rolled over at his feet in two pieces.
4 I palar-nyarrincë, sí yá nánes léra cottoryallo, nuhtanë insë; ar tairavë meníla i Ornendurenna quentes, quíneä nípa ómanen:           ;            The field mouse, now that it was freed from its enemy, stopped short; and coming slowly up to the Woodman it said, in a squeaky little voice:
5 “A, hantanyel! Hantanyë lye langë i erehtiëlyë coiviënya.”            “Oh, thank you! Thank you ever so much for saving my life.”
6 “Ui maurë atesta sa, holmo iquiryan,” hanquentë i Ornendur. “Penin hón, istal, etta nanyë añcimbaila i alyauvan illi i nai maura málo, equi tullua i ná rië nyarrincë.”                                      “Don’t speak of it, I beg of you,” replied the Woodman. “I have no heart, you know, so I am careful to help all those who may need a friend, even if it happens to be only a mouse.”
7 “Rië nyarrincë!” holtunë i nípa celva, nicë ruxa. “Eë, nanyë Tári—i Tári i ilyë Palar-Nyarrincion!”                     “Only a mouse!” cried the little animal, indignantly. “Why, I am a Queen—the Queen of all the Field Mice!”
8 “A, é,” equë i Ornendur, cuvila.            “Oh, indeed,” said the Woodman, making a bow.
9 “Etta elyë acárië velca carda, an verya, i rehtiénen coiviënya,” napannë i Tári.                   “Therefore you have done a great deed, as well as a brave one, in saving my life,” added the Queen.
10 Talumë nyarrincili ettuller, norilë sir ta lintië ve tittë telcuntar poller colë te, ar yá cenneltë Tárinta, holtuneltë:                       At that moment several mice were seen running up as fast as their little legs could carry them, and when they saw their Queen they exclaimed:
11 “A, tárilma meletya, sávelmë i qualtauvanë lyé! Manen hritinyel uþë i velca Hrambiuë?” Ilyë intë cúver tallë núta i picina Tárin i lé amna tarner carintassen.                              “Oh, your Majesty, we thought you would be killed! How did you manage to escape the great Wildcat?” They all bowed so low to the little Queen that they almost stood upon their heads.
12 “Sina laltaula latúcen nér,” hanquentes, “qualtanë i Hrambiuë ar rehtanë coiviënya. Etta epsi möa ilyë elden veuya se, ar nurë umma mermerya.”                              “This funny tin man,” she answered, “killed the Wildcat and saved my life. So hereafter you must all serve him, and obey his slightest wish.”
13 “Caruvalmë!” holtuner i ilyë nyarrinci, ve terevë onyeli. Ar tá vininteltë ilyë mentiënnar, pan Ilwë eccuinuyénë loriëryallo, ar cenila ilyë sinë nyarrinci os insë, ánes alasseä hu ar campes téra i endenna i comeo. Ilwë illumë méliénë roita nyarrinci yá máranes Hyarveästassë, ar cínes i sa penë harnalë.                                                         “We will!” cried all the mice, in a shrill chorus. And then they scampered in all directions, for Toto had awakened from his sleep, and seeing all these mice around him he gave one bark of delight and jumped right into the middle of the group. Toto had always loved to chase mice when he lived in Kansas, and he saw no harm in it.
14 Mal i Latúcen Ornendur antë i röa rancuryatsë ar hampë se tunga, lan holtunes i nyarrincin, “Á entulë! Á entulë! Ilwë úva hyanë lye.”                             But the Tin Woodman caught the dog in his arms and held him tight, while he called to the mice, “Come back! Come back! Toto shall not hurt you.”
15 Ó si i Tári i Nyarrincion rassë carya o nu umbo salquë ar maquentë, numbeä ómanen, “Nalyë tanca i úvas nacë men?”                         At this the Queen of the Mice stuck her head out from underneath a clump of grass and asked, in a timid voice, “Are you sure he will not bite us?”
16 “Inyë úva lavë sén,” equë i Ornendur; “etta váldë þorya.”         ;      “I will not let him,” said the Woodman; “so do not be afraid.”
17 Min ar enta, i nyarrinci nantuller lenca, ar Ilwë únë hu ata, anahtai rinces uþë i Ornenduro rancunta, ar náciévanesses quíta únes mai-ista i hye nánë latucenda. Teldavë mo i i-altë nyarrincion equë.                                        One by one the mice came creeping back, and Toto did not bark again, although he tried to get out of the Woodman’s arms, and would have bitten him had he not known very well he was made of tin. Finally one of the biggest mice spoke.
18 “Ma eä aima ya polilmë carë,” maquentes, “na paitya lyen rehtiën i coiviéo Tárilmo?”                  “Is there anything we can do,” it asked, “to repay you for saving the life of our Queen?”
19 “Munta ya nauyan,” hanquentë i Ornendur; mal i Corcurco, ye ríciénë sana, mal únë polë pan carya nánë sañquanta sardenen, equë, lintië, “A, þa; eldë polir rehta málolma, i Úverya Rauro, ye ná lorna i lórelot-lóþossë.”        ;                        ;                 “Nothing that I know of,” answered the Woodman; but the Scarecrow, who had been trying to think, but could not because his head was stuffed with straw, said, quickly, “Oh, yes; you can save our friend, the Cowardly Lion, who is asleep in the poppy bed.”
20 “Rauro!” holtunë i picina Tári. “A, issë quavë ai matuva ilyë me.”                 “A Lion!” cried the little Queen. “Why, he would eat us all up.”
21 “A, ui,” etequentë i Corcurco; “sina Rauro ná úverya.”        ;       “Oh, no,” declared the Scarecrow; “this Lion is a coward.”
22 “Nanwavë?” maquentë i Nyarrincë.      “Really?” asked the Mouse.
23 “Issë insë quetë tallë,” hanquentë i Corcurco, “ar allumë é hyanuvas mo ye ná málolma. Qui alyauvalyë me rehta le, vestalyë i mahtauvas ilyë eldë naþimavë.”                                  “He says so himself,” answered the Scarecrow, “and he would never hurt anyone who is our friend. If you will help us to save him I promise that he shall treat you all with kindness.”
24 “Lai mai,” equë i Tári, “sataryalmel. Mal mana caruvalmë?”              “Very well,” said the Queen, “we trust you. But what shall we do?”
25 “Ma eär linë sinë nyarrinci i estar lye Tári ar áþeär nurë lye?”              “Are there many of these mice which call you Queen and are willing to obey you?”
26 “A, þa; eär húmë,” hanquentes.   ;       “Oh, yes; there are thousands,” she replied.
27 “Tá á yalë ilyë intë tulë simen éya cárima, ar á ilya tulya anda nihta þermo.”                    “Then send for them all to come here as soon as possible, and let each one bring a long piece of string.”
28 I Tári quernë i nyarrincin i veuner se ar quentë ten menë ú-pusto ar ócomë ilyë liërya. Éya intë hlasser canwaryar, hónorneltë ilya mentiënna ta lintië ve cárima.                                The Queen turned to the mice that attended her and told them to go at once and get all her people. As soon as they heard her orders they ran away in every direction as fast as possible.
29 “Sí,” equë i Corcurco i Latúcen Ornenduren, “möa lyen menë tanë aldar ara i sírë ar carë raxa ya coluva i Rauro.”                            “Now,” said the Scarecrow to the Tin Woodman, “you must go to those trees by the riverside and make a truck that will carry the Lion.”
30 Etta i Ornendur mennë ú-pusto i aldannar ar yesentë móta; ar rongo fintanë norollë i lenquellon aldaron, yallon auhahyandes ilyë i lassi ar olbar. Tances sa uo toinë taxelínen ar carnes i quermar canta þennë nihtallon alta alda-pulco. Tallë lintië ar tallë mai mótanes i yá i nyarrinci yesenter anya i raxa nánë quavë ferina ten.          ;                                                   So the Woodman went at once to the trees and began to work; and he soon made a truck out of the limbs of trees, from which he chopped away all the leaves and branches. He fastened it together with wooden pegs and made the four wheels out of short pieces of a big tree trunk. So fast and so well did he work that by the time the mice began to arrive the truck was all ready for them.
31 Tulleltë ilyë mentiëllon, ar náneltë húmë: altë nyarrincili ar picinë nyarrincili ar endeä höasseo nyarrincili; ar ilya tulyanë nihta þermo mi antorya. Os silumë Valanna eccuinunë anda loriëryallo ar apantanë hendyat. Nánes lai aitaila tuviën inseo caitaila i salquessë, ó húmë nyarrinci ostarilë ar tirilë se numbeávë. Mal i Corcurco nyarnë sen os ilqua, ar quernes i orhalda níca Nyarrincinna, an eques:                 ;                                                       They came from all directions, and there were thousands of them: big mice and little mice and middle-sized mice; and each one brought a piece of string in his mouth. It was about this time that Dorothy woke from her long sleep and opened her eyes. She was greatly astonished to find herself lying upon the grass, with thousands of mice standing around and looking at her timidly. But the Scarecrow told her about everything, and turning to the dignified little Mouse, he said:
32 “Á lavë nin síta elyen meletyanta, i Tári.”            “Permit me to introduce to you her Majesty, the Queen.”
33 Valanna cascúvë lungavë ar i Tári carnë cungorda, epë yassë olles faren naþima ó i nettë.                   Dorothy nodded gravely and the Queen made a curtsy, after which she became quite friendly with the little girl.
34 I Corcurco ar i Ornendur sí yesenter tacë i nyarrinci i raxassë, yuhtaila i hempar yar tuliéneltë. Nuntettë mentë min hempo os i lango ilya nyarrincio ar i ollë mentë i raxassë. Aþahanya i raxa nánë tuxainellumë höa epë ilya i nyarrincion ye tucúvaner sa; mal yá ilyë nyarrinci coltainë lattastanen, polleltë tucë sa faren aþcarë. ?? i Corcurco ar i Latúcen Ornendur poller harë sassë, ar aië picinë roccontar lintië luncer te i nómenna yassë i Rauro cainë lorna.                                                ;                                        The Scarecrow and the Woodman now began to fasten the mice to the truck, using the strings they had brought. One end of a string was tied around the neck of each mouse and the other end to the truck. Of course the truck was a thousand times bigger than any of the mice who were to draw it; but when all the mice had been harnessed, they were able to pull it quite easily. Even the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman could sit on it, and were drawn swiftly by their queer little horses to the place where the Lion lay asleep.
35 Epë amë urda mólë, pan i Rauro nánë lunga, mahtaneltë ñetë se ama to i raxa. Tá i Tári rongaila canyanë liërya patuë, pan þoryanes i cé i nyarrinci reþúvaner imbë i lórelóti acca anda san intë yú lorúvaner.                                             After a great deal of hard work, for the Lion was heavy, they managed to get him up on the truck. Then the Queen hurriedly gave her people the order to start, for she feared if the mice stayed among the poppies too long they also would fall asleep.
36 Minyavë i picinë veor, anahtai náneltë linë, hraië poller rumë i lungavë colonda luqua; mal i Ornendur ar i Corcurco yúyu nirner tellessë, ar menneltë aryavë. Ron peltaneltë i Rauro i lórelot-lóþollo i laicë palarinnar, yassë polles nefë i lissë, virya vista ata, minomë i hloima niþilë i lottion.                ;                                          At first the little creatures, many though they were, could hardly stir the heavily loaded truck; but the Woodman and the Scarecrow both pushed from behind, and they got along better. Soon they rolled the Lion out of the poppy bed to the green fields, where he could breathe the sweet, fresh air again, instead of the poisonous scent of the flowers.
37 Valanna tullë omenë te ar hantanë i picinë nyarrinci laucavë pá i rehtië menendilyo quelmello. Óliénes tallë tyaþila i alta Rauro i alaranyes i rehtiéner hye.                             Dorothy came to meet them and thanked the little mice warmly for saving her companion from death. She had grown so fond of the big Lion she was glad he had been rescued.
38 Tá únunter i nyarrinci i raxallo ar vininteltë öa ter i salquë mardar. I Tári i Nyarrinci nánë i telda ye öantë.                         Then the mice were unharnessed from the truck and scampered away through the grass to their homes. The Queen of the Mice was the last to leave.
39 “Cé ailumë maural me ata,” eques, “á ettulë mina palar ar holtu, ar elmë hlaruvar lye ar tuluvar na alya lye. Namárië!”                            “If ever you need us again,” she said, “come out into the field and call, and we shall hear you and come to your assistance. Good-bye!”
40 “Namárië!” ilyë hanquenteltë, ar i Tári hónornë, lan Valanna hampë Ilwë tulcavë itan únë ecë hye norë cata se ar þosta se.                          “Good-bye!” they all answered, and away the Queen ran, while Dorothy held Toto tightly lest he should run after her and frighten her.
41 Apa si haruneltë ar' i Rauro mennai eccuinúvanes; ar i Corcurco tulyanë Valannan yáveli areä aldallo, yar mantes ve ahtumatya.        ;               After this they sat down beside the Lion until he should awaken; and the Scarecrow brought Dorothy some fruit from a tree near by, which she ate for her dinner.

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