 Books of Sand v1 |
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| Added by | Tamriel Data | ||
| ID | T_Bk_BooksOfSandTR_V1 | ||
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Originally added by Douglas Goodall's AFFresh mod before being reused with permission in Tamriel Data.
Among the literary works of the Khajiit, the oldest of any certainty date from the early Empire, shortly after Tiber Septim's conquest. There are many extant works that claim to be of Khajiti origins, most of them translations, but none that most scholars agree are genuine. For instance, I recently translated a book on the Hall of Colossus, but after publishing, I received numerous letters arguing about it being a forgery.
What most agree with is that Khajiti and Imperial scribes were hired to collect the works and sayings of their race in order for the Emperor to better understand the Khajiit. This project was ultimately a failure, but it preserved much Khajiti literature that would otherwise have been lost.
These scholars divided their work into the Books of Sand, Sugar, Meat, Rain, and Dust. The Books of Sand focus mainly on poetry, mostly of a personal nature, and nursery rhymes. The Books of Sugar are of erotic poetry and tales. The Books of Meat include maxims, parables, and children's fables. The Books of Rain are pseudo-historical or pseudo-religious in nature, but include long digressions on cooking recipes, smithing techniques, battle strategy, and other practical subjects. The Books of Dust are mystical, philosophical, and inscrutable, even to the Khajiit themselves.
Since that time more books have been added to each series, such that you can tell the relative age of Khajiti literature by the number of the book. Generally the first and second of each series predate the Third Era, while later books are of more recent origin.
There is little interest outside Elsweyr for Khajiti literature, but there is a small market for poetry from all eras and races. I would like to thank Black Moon Publishing of Rihad for the small advance that allowed me to translate some of the most accessible sections. I would also like to thank Dro'Sharr, Fahra of Orcrest, Clan-Mother Manibi, and Ri'Haniir for their patience and assistance in understanding certain passages.
A Note on the Translation
Khajiti poetry of the late Second Era and early Third Era tends to have little meter or structure, but many internal rhymes, assonance, and alliteration. Children's rhymes are more similar in structure to the poetry of the Empire. In a few of these translations, I endeavored to retain some of the character of the original, but Cyrodiilic's more advanced phonology makes the feel of the poetry difficult to replicate. Another consideration was that a more accurate rendition might sound dull and repetitive to a broader audience.
As Ta'agra lacks direct equivalents to the familiar Imperial pronouns and makes it difficult to refer to certain things except by name, I have used what I feel is the closest of 'one's', 'Khajiit', 'the', 'this', 'my', 'your', etc. in place of the original wording, even though this is never a perfect translation.
The original poems are untitled -- indeed, it is sometimes difficult to tell where one begins or ends -- so I have created titles myself.
Your Humble Translator, Cassolar Draebo
The Princes (First Book of Sand)
When the restless years come pawing at your vest and the flood weather strums the fur and the skin and the blood pleasure stretches the claw-tips and the thrills of your naked pains are made grand and the sacred self spills forth like grains of sand.
When the battle drums beat as you come leaping into the fray and chance grants you great gains and the feet that prance are clay and your teeth tear the sweetest meat and the warband reaps one's foes like grains of sand.
When the prey flees whether beast or beauty and so begins the chase that ends in feast whether it plays tease or cries 'please' and both victory and defeat are demise whether your hands seize the prize or are led astray the tears will rain like grains of sand.
When one's claws are caught in knots of thread and every twine leads to dread and every threat is dearly-bought and stopped in one's construct and the ears flop down and the fur of your crown is plucked like grains of sand.
When the tides recede revealing long-lost days and you accede the cost and one gaze divides your stealing ways and the rind of the eyes wanes and the strands of your mind are tossed like grains of sand.
When the hunting-time comes between the day and the night and the queen of the stormfront commands 'climb' and the cat-shaper scrapes your ears and soothes youth's roaming fears and your husks come home to dusk's domain like grains of sand.
The Dunes (Second Book of Sand)
Before a skull-pile Climb with vile or guile Grow into Do
Behind a book-tower Climb and scour Glow into Jo
Left a safe-hill of leisure Waddle with measure Slow into Dro
Right a candy mountain Dig in, dig in Fall into Ja
Which way, which way, Khajiit? Every dune tastes so sweet Where to begin, where to begin? Close your eyes and spin
The Seasons (Second Book of Sand)
Rain, rain, Jo'Jo showers Sprout, sprout, shadow flowers
Spring, spring, Senche sun Bite, bite, battle's done
Oops! Missed the invisible ones!
Little Alfiq licky charms Tall Ohmes open arms
Climb, climb, ladder-moon Crush, crush, forehead rune
Dance, dance, daedra joke Crave, crave, comfy stroke
Oops! Missed the sneaky ones!
Snatcher sneaking dagger-down Mandrake dons the ruby crown
The Wanderer (First Book of Sand)
When the dawn dreams of endings When wicked deeds need his rending Sliced in twenty-seven shards Severed snake swishing swishing
Windy mercy whisks together Windy glossa licks gore gone Fresh fortunes leak sky-drawn Swisher stretches, softly yawns
Dought and Rain (Third Book of Sand)
Stretch slothful, snarl sunlight Dump dust-devils of dreaming orbs Fight feet, gulp glass, bone bite Shuffle slowly, drudge outdoors
Sacks of salt and sugar too small Drudge, drudge at draking deeds See sweat-slick craving call Mouth mumbles tumble like weeds
Leap to lightning healing heart Rub the rushing river (in your) ear Claw-tap rain-tempo matching art* Whistle chasing wind, whiskers cheer
Puddle-dipping fleeting footfall Cloudward claw-tips never reach See rain-slick craving call Hush and hold, spirit speech
* Lit: to tap your toes to match the patter of rain