Mother, letusimaginewearetravellingandpassingthroughastrangeanddangerouscountry.
YouareridinginapalanquinandIamtrottingbyyouonaredhorse.
.
Youarefrightenedandthinking—“Iknownotwherewehavecometo.”
Isaytoyou, “Mother, donotbeafraid.”
Themeadowispricklywithspikygrass, andthroughitrunsanarrowbrokenpath.
Therearenocattletobeseeninthewidefield; theyhavegonetotheirvillagestalls.
Itgrowsdarkanddimonthelandandsky, andwecannottellwherewearegoing.
Suddenlyyoucallmeandaskmeinawhisper, “Whatlightisthatnearthebank?”
Justthenthereburstsoutafearfulyell, andfigurescomerunningtowardsus.
Yousitcrouchedinyourpalanquinandrepeatthenamesofthegodsinprayer.
Thebearers, shakinginterror, hidethemselvesinthethornybush.
Ishouttoyou, “Don’tbeafraid, mother, Iamhere.”
Withlongsticksintheirhandsandhairallwildabouttheirheads, theycomenearerandnearer.
Ishout, “Haveacare! Youvillains! Onestepmoreandyouaredeadmen.”
Theygiveanotherterribleyellandrushforward.
Youclutchmyhandandsay, “Dearboy, forheaven’ssake, keepawayfromthem.”
Isay, “Mother, justyouwatchme.”
ThenIspurmyhorseforawildgallop, andmyswordandbucklerclashagainsteachother.
Thefightbecomessofearful, mother, thatitwouldgiveyouacoldshuddercouldyouseeitfromyourpalanquin.
Manyofthemfly, andagreatnumberarecuttopieces.
Iknowyouarethinking, sittingallbyyourself, thatyourboymustbedeadbythistime.
ButIcometoyouallstainedwithblood, andsay, “Mother, thefightisovernow.”
Youcomeoutandkissme, pressingmetoyourheart, andyousaytoyourself,
“Idon’tknowwhatIshoulddoifIhadn’tmyboytoescortme.”
Athousanduselessthingshappendayafterday, andwhycouldn’tsuchathingcometruebychance?
Itwouldbelikeastoryinabook.
Mybrotherwouldsay, “Isitpossible? Ialwaysthoughthewassodelicate!”
Ourvillagepeoplewouldallsayinamazement, “Wasitnotluckythattheboywaswithhismother?”
