Cairene and Upper Egyptian Folk-Lore.
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if you had been with the iron you (too) would have become dust; you had better go home.” My informant evidently forgot that at the beginning of the story he described “the bar” of iron as a “brick.”
XIV.[1]
“There was a merchant who had two sons; one of them, the elder, married his cousin (uncle’s daughter); the younger of them married a white (Turkish) slave. After a little while their father divided the property, half of it being
- ↑ Kan fî wâhid râgil tâgir. mukhallif etnân weled; wâhid minhum el-kebîr
mitgawwiz bint ‘ammu; el-zerhaiyer minhum mitgawwiz gâra bêda.
Ba‘de shwoyya min el-iyyâm abûhum qassam el-mâl, nusso fîl-bêt
wenusso fîl-lokâl. Lamma mât abûhum el-zerhaiyer akhad el-okala
wel-kebir akhad el-bêt. El-zerhaiyer ‘amal et-tâgir zê abû; el-kebîr
dâr yiskar weḥashshash lamma raḥet el-fulûs beta‘o. Rigi‘ ‘al-bêt;
yebî‘o. Lamma akhû el-zerhaiyer shâf el-dallâl yebî‘ha el-bêt ishterâh
bemîyet maḥbûb, ukatab el-bêt ‘alashan bint ‘ammu. Lamma akhû
‘arif el-bêt beism merâto ḥobb yebî‘o. Hiya qalet: “la! ibn ‘ammi
ishterâ ‘alashanî: shûf enta el-fulûs betâ‘k; waddêtha fên tiskar
wetḥashshash lamma dâ‘eta el-fulûs.” Akhû el-zerhaiyer yîgî kûl
yôm fîl-bêt; yis’al izakan ‘auzîn ḥaga. Wâhid yôm akhû el-kebîr
gi min barra ‘alêha; “dilwaqti ana ta‘bt, ya bint ammi!” Qaletlu:
“tayyib! min ta‘b tâb Allah ‘alêh!” Huwa gi za‘lân; mandûsh
fulûs, mandûsh ḥudûm, gi‘ân, mandûsh ḥaga. Qal: “aḥsan atla,
fîl-gebel wamût; wâhid dab‘ yakulni lagha nimda min ed-dunya”;
wehuwa mashi fîl-gebel; laqa wâhid sebîl; fî wâhida segara. Qa‘d
taḥt es-segara, ufî gêbo wâhid rarhîf. Talla‘ er-rarhîf min gêbo wa‘âd
akal. Ba‘d ma ’kal ushirib bass be‘ayno: laqa arba‘în fidâwi gayyîn:
talla‘ fôq es-segara. Lamma dakhalu le-marhâra qa‘dum arba‘în. Ba‘de
shwoyya lamma tili‘u min el-marhâra ‘addahum arba‘în. Nizil min
es-segara uraḥ fîl-marhâra; fattaḥ el-marhâra, laqaha melyâna min
el-fulûs, min el-fodda, umin el-dahab. ‘Alla el-galabiya betâ‘o urabat
ekmâm el-galabiya umalaha min ed-dahab; shalha umishi ‘ala bêto.
Lamma wassel el-bêt khabat el-bâb; lamma khabat el-bâb merâto
qalet: “Mîn?” Huwa qaleha: “Ana! iptaḥi qawam.” Hiya
qalet: “Dê di? Khabar ê el-lêla? enta gayib ê wayak?” Bâdên
hiya nizilet fataḥetlu, utili‘u ‘ala foq. Nazzal el-galabiya min ‘ala
raso; qalleha: khodi; ishterî lena laḥma uferâkh weḥamâm uqamḥ."
Qaletlo: “min ên gibt el-fulûs?” Qaleha: “gibtu min ed-dunya.”
Sabaḥ fî-subḥ, akhad wâhid muktaf, weakhad rhada, umishi raḥ taḥt
es-segara; ‘ad itrhada ushirib lamma el-fidâwiya gûm; lamma khashshu fîl-marhâra ‘addahum arba‘în ulamma tili‘u ‘adduhum arba‘în. Huwa nizil min es-segara uraḥ fattaḥ el-marhâra, dakhal guwa, mala ’m-muktaf min ed-dahab ushâlu. Lamma till‘ min el- marhâra qafalha zê ma kan, umishi ‘al-bêt. Khabat el-bâb ; merâto qalet: “Mîn?” qalleha: “Ana!” Qaletlo “Ḥâder! “Nizilet bil-‘agl, fataḥetlo. Lamma fataḥetlo tili‘u ‘ala fôq. Nazzal el-muktaf uqa‘d. Qallaha: “Nit‘asha.” Gabetlo laḥma, okhdar, waḥamâm. B‘ad ma it‘asha urhasal idên qalleha: “Mafîsh hina, wâhid kêla.” Qaletlo: “lâ”! Qaletlo: “nerûḥ bêt akhûk; negîb el-kêla min henak.” Qalleha: “Tayyib.” Lamma raḥet bêt akhû khabatet el-bâb; qaletluhum: “ana ‘auza el-kêla ‘alashan nikayyil shwoyet qamḥ.” Er-râgil qalleha: “Tayyib.” Qalleha: “akhuya gi?” Qaletlo: “aiwa.” Huwa qal limrâto “iddîl’ha el-kêla, weddîl-’ha shwoyet akl ‘alashanhum.” Iddêthum wâhida sultanîya melyâna min et-tabîkh u etnên rarhif ‘êsh. Lamma gât tiddîleha el-kêla dahnet el-kêla bil-‘asal ‘alashan teshûf yekayyilu ê. Akhadet el-kêla weraḥet fîl-bêt. Lamma kailu el-fulûs, el-fulûs lizqa fîl qa‘r el-kêla. Lamma waddet el-kêla marat akhû shafet el-kêla, laqet el-fulus lazqa fîl-kêla. Qalet legôzha: “shûf, di mûsh rhalla; di fulûs!” Qalleha: “ezê?” Qaletlo: “ana ḥottet ‘asal fîl-kêla ‘alashan ashûf huma yekayyilu ê; laqet ‘ashera gine lezqîn fîl-kêla: lazim terûḥ ‘and akhûk; teshûf huwa gab el-fulûs min ên; lazim tegib zêo.” Sabaḥ fîs-subḥ bedri; raḥ ‘and akhû; qallu: “neharek sayyid!” Qa‘d lamma shiribu qaḥa sawa; ba‘d ma shiribu el-qaḥwa sa‘al qallu: “Ya khûya, enta gibt el-fulûs min ên?” Qallu: “Tayyib; dilwaqti awarrîlak.” Qallu: “Rûḥ, khad muqtaf uta‘ala.” Lamma gi khadû ba‘dehum wetili‘u fîl-gebel. Lamma wassalu ‘and es-segara qa‘adu. Ba‘de shwoyya el-fidawîya gûm; lamma shafuhum tili‘u fôq es-segara; wehuma dakhelin em-marhâra; ‘adduhum arba‘în; lamma tili‘u ‘adduhum arba‘în. Ba‘dma raḥu ba‘îd nizilu min es-segara, weraḥu fattaḥu em-marhâra, u dakhalu guwa u malu kûl wâhid em- muqtaf betâ‘o. Lamma malau em-maqatîf shalû uqafalu em-marhâra zê ma kan, utannu mashîn lamma wassalu ‘ala el-bêt. Lamma wassalu el-bêt el-kebir qal lakhû: “Yakhûya, biziyâda ‘alêna; matroḥshi tâni noba.” Qallu: “tayyib!” Lamma rawwaḥ el-bet ’mrâto qaletlo: “lazim terûḥ tegîb telâta noba zê akhûk.” Qalleha: “Tayyib!” Lamma sabaḥ fîs-subḥ saḥi bedri ketir khad em-muqtaf utanna mâshi wâhido lamma gi ‘and es-segara; lamma shâf el-fidawîya gayyîn tili‘ fôq es-segara, wehuma dakhalu em-marhâra, we ‘adduhum arba‘in; we huma tila‘în, we‘adduhum arba‘în. Ba‘d ma mishu nizil min es-segara weraḥ fattaḥ em-marhâra; raḥ kabash, mala em-muqtaf min ed-dahab: memsikshi bimsawwiya zê akhû. Ba‘d ma shal em-muqtaf uqafal el-bâb zê ma kan; ba‘d ma huwa raḥ rig‘u el-fedawîya, laqu ed-dahab rayyiḥ minhum. Qalu: “Yulad! fî nâs ya‘rifu em-matraḥ betâ‘na; lazim wâhid minna yistanna hina; yeshûf min ya‘rif em-matraḥ betâ‘na.” Es-shêkh betâ‘hum qalluhum: “ana astanna.” Qalulu: “Tayyib! enta tistanna wihna nisraḥ.” Lamma tâni sabaḥ fîs-subḥ akhad em-muqtaf bedri utanna mashi ‘al-gebel. Lamma wassal liḥad es-segara qa‘d. Lamma gûm el-fedawîya ma‘adduhumsh ze el-‘âda. Ba‘d ma tili‘u min el-marhâra huwa akhad el-muq‘taf uba‘den raḥ fîl-marhâra. Lamma dakhal el-fîdâwi raḥ misku. Qallo: “Enta tîgî tisraq el-fulûs betâ‘na?” uqata‘o ḥettet ḥetta. Lamma rig‘u el-fidâwîya, qalulu: “Malqetshi ellî ya‘rif em-matraḥ beta‘na?” Qalluhum: “Aho fîl-muqtaf ḥettet ḥetta.” Akhû fîl-marhrib raḥ sa’al ‘alêh fîl-bêt: qalulu: “magash!” Fîl-‘asha raḥ sa’al ‘aleh: qalûlu: “magash!” Akhû ‘araf el-fidawîya mawwatû. Sabaḥ fîs-subḥ bedri, tanna mashi il’ el-gebel. Lamma wassal liḥad es-segara qa‘d. Lamma shafhum min bo‘d tili‘ fôq es-segara. Lamma dakhalu em-marhâra ‘adduhum arba‘în, lamma tili‘u ‘adduhum arba‘în. Lamma raḥu ba‘îd nizil min es-segara uraḥ fattaḥ em-marhâra. Dakhal guwa, laqa akhû bil-muqtaf: shâlu uqafal em-marhâra zê ma kan, ukhad akhû utannu mashi il’ el-bêt. Lamma dakhal fîl-bêt qal limrâto ûmrat akhû: “maḥaddish yeza‘q.” Raḥ gab wâhib mezayin shater, es-shêkh betâ‘ em-mezêyenîn; iddâlu ‘ashera maḥbûb, uqallo yekhayyat kul wahida ḥetta betâ‘o. Lamma khayyeto sabaḥu fis-subḥ; qalu: “dă mât.” Ba‘d ma dafanû huwa qa‘d fîl-ôkala we‘amal et-tâgir bidal akhu, umitgawwiz ‘mrat akhû ukhallahum letnên ‘âdîn waya ba‘d. — Yirga‘ kalâmna lil-fidawîya.
Lamma gûm wedakhalu fîl-marhâyir malaqush em-muqtaf wala er-râgil: qalu: “lazim fî nâs ’llî ‘arifîn em-matraḥ betâ‘na; lazim nenzil fîl-bilâd wenisa’al ‘alashan na‘rif min misik er-râgil.” Es-shêkh betâ- ‘hum qalluhum: “ruḥu entum min hina weana anzil min hina; lamma nizil fî beled bender dâr webuss min hina umin hina, lamma laqa wâhid mezayyin nadîf.” Raḥ dakhal fîl-dokkan betâ‘ ’m-mezayyin; em-mezayyin sa’alu, qallu: “terîd tesullaḥ?” qallo: “aiwa.” Shal el-‘amma min ‘ala raso weḥalaq raso. Ba‘de ma khallas ‘auz yesullaḥ-lu daqnu: er-râgil darab em-mezayyin wâhid kaff; em-mezayyin qallo “álashanê?” qallo: “aiwa, di wâhid yôm wedi wahid yôm.” Qallo: “tayyib.” Hat îdo fi gêbu widdâo mît maḥbûb. Lamma rigu‘ kulluhum ila em-marhâra sa‘alû; qalûlu: “malqetshi ellî misik er-râgil!” Qalluhum: “ba‘dên!” Sabeḥu fîs-subḥ tâni yôm; huma saraḥu wehuwa akhad mît mahbûb fî gêbo, wenizil fîl-beled· Lamma raḥ ‘and em-mezayyin, em-mezayyin qallo: “aḥlan wesaḥlan!” ugablu qaḥwa. Ba‘dma shirib el qaḥwa qallu: “terîd tesullaḥ daqnak?” Qallu: “aiwa.” Ba‘d ma sullaḥ daqnu iddâlu mît maḥbûb, uqallu: “Ê akhî? mafîsh wâhid gab wâhid ‘andukum mekassar ḥettet-hetta?” Qallu: “aiwa! fî wâhid ‘andina, tâgir betâ‘ zêt, gab akhû kida.” Qallu: “taiyyib; ‘amal ma‘rûf we warrîni.” Qallu: “taiyyib! emshi wayâya.” Fidilum mashin lamma wassalu ‘and el-ôkala. Qallu: “di yistanna fîl-wish.” Qallo: “taiyyib.” Er-râgil raḥ gab etnên ballâsi melyân’ min zêt min el-kuwayyis, uraḥ fîl-ôkala; laqâ qa‘id; qallu: “es-salâm ‘alêkum!” Qallo: “‘alêkum es-salâm!” Qallo: “Ez-zêt, el-kuwayyis, beyiswa kam ‘andukum?” Qallu: “yiswa arba‘în qersh, wez-zêt et-tâni yiswa telatîn.” Qallu: “la, di zet kuwayyis.” Lamma shaf ez-zet, inbasset wakhadu; waddâ fî bêto we‘amal rhada weakal, huwa wel-fidâwi. Ba‘de makal rikib weriga‘ il’ el-marhâra; qallu rufaqato in laqa ellî ‘arif em-matraḥ . . . “lakin ‘auz ahottukum fîl-balalîs.” Qalulu: “taiyyib.” . . . ukûl wâhid yakhod es-silâḥ betâ‘o wayâh, welamma armis le-kûl wâhid lazim tekunu saḥîn ‘alashân temawwatû, wenakhod el-fulûs betâ‘na.” Qalulu: “taiyyib.” Hat kûl wâhid fî wâhid ballas uyeḥammelhum ‘al’ el-gimâl, utannu mashi il’ el-beled. Lamma wassal il’ el-ôkala qal: “es-salâm ‘alêkum!” Qallu: “‘alêkum es-salâm!” Qallu: “enta gibte zêt?” Qallu: “aiwa.” Qallu: “taiyyib; yallah, waddi fîl-bêt.” Lamma wadduhum fîl-bêt wedakhkhalhum guwa ‘amillu ‘asha ‘azim. Ba‘d ma yit‘ashu er-râgil nâm. Lamma dakhal guwa sâhib el-bêt, mrâto qaletlo: “ya ibn ammi, lazim neshûf fî ê fil-balalîs; yimkin er-rigâla el-fedawîya ellî kont tekallim ‘alêhum, yimkin huma.” Qalleha: “taiyyib, ya bint ammi!” Misiku ‘asâya-ḥadîd weyidrobu el-balâsi; er-râgil ellî fil-balâsi yekallim: “ana saḥi!” Misiku, yemawwatu, Lamma mawwathum kûluhum qaletlo: “er-râgil ellî barra naim?” Qalleha: “aiwa.” Qaletlu: “ruḥ mawwatû râkhar!” Ba‘d ma mawwathum kûluhum ḥammelhum ‘ala el-gimâl uraḥ ramahum fîl-baḥr. Ba‘d ma ramahum akhad el-gimâl weraḥ shal em-mâl min em-marhâra.
(I represent ghain by rh rather than gh, since it approximates in sound more to rh than to gh in Cairene Arabic.)
