1. |
You are a Fale-alili man;
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2. |
[So] listen to me;
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3. |
For our lives are about to be sung,—
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4. |
[The story] about Fa'a-vavau and Mate-mate.
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5. |
Tua and Lo'o were their parents;
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6. |
Le-tonu was their sister;
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7. |
She was married in Siumu to Atu-u'u;
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8. |
By which marriage they got a pig;
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9. |
They were married [and lived] in an inland village.
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10. |
Then went Malietoa-fe'ai [thither] to wash his head. [up.
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11. |
Some one pointed out to him, lo!, the head [of the pig] hanging
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12. |
Let us two eat of it, [said he],
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13. |
But there is one drawback—
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14. |
That, if it is turned, we shall have no desire to eat of it.
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15. |
O chief, [says Tui,] go into the house;
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16. |
Sit down pleasantly with them, and chat pleasantly with them,
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17. |
While we two will take down the head and prepare it.
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18. |
We will cook it with cocoa-nut juice poured over it;
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19. |
And [for it] I will pluck the leaves of the best bananas,
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20. |
Which I will bring hither in my hands;
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21. |
[When] the head [is ready], I will bring it and show it to you.
Malietoa replies—
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22. |
Friend, come gently hither;
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23. |
I am exhausted with hunger.
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24. |
I will set up my staff of office—our Fale-atua;
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25. |
Now then, here is our Fale-atua; leave it here;
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26. |
But let us have our first feast.
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27. |
On a pig that ran about at large inland.
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28. |
Go up [inland] and get it;
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29. |
Take out the two lumps of lard
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30. |
And the liver; squeeze them out [for cooking].
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31. |
Friend, when you have got your feast [ready],
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32. |
Lay it out as on a tray; lay it out
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33. |
Close to the seat of Malietoa-fe'ai.
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34. |
Friend, walk gently hither;
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35. |
I am exhausted with hunger.
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39. |
Malietoa ate, continued to eat
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40. |
Well pleased, and he said,
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41. |
‘Friend, this is the very best of feast days,
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42. |
[For] I have eaten good food [to-day].
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43. |
Friend, tear off the skin of the dish you two [prepared],
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44. |
Lo! a dry cocoa-nut leaf is on the outside,
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45. |
And a green cocoa-nut leaf is on the inside;
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46. |
Tui's eyes are shining.
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