A3 Axiqar

Yulia Davudi of ⁺Hassar ⁺Baba-čanga in Sydney, Australia

ʾətva ⁺dān-k̭ădimí mara ʾətva lətva ʾətva xá-dana malca Sanxiro, malcət ⁺ʾaturáyəva ʾu-⁺ʾAxik̭ar xaccima máruna, xaccima ⁺yān lipa. ʾax-diyyux professor꞊ivət ⁺ʾav꞊da ⁺raba lípəva, ⁺raba. cullə dunyə ⁺yaṱṱávalə. ʾu-⁺ʾAxik̭ar cəs babət malca꞊zə plíxəva. cəs-babu꞊da vídəva vazziruyta, vazzər. ʾina yalə lə́tvalə. ʾAxik̭ar yalə lə́tvalə. ʾə́tvalə ʾəští-danə baxtatə. ʾəští baxtatə ʾə́tvalə. ⁺raba k̭asrə k̭asrə bətvatə ⁺raba šap̂irə, ʾina yalə lə́tvalə.

xá-yuma ⁺k̭rilə ⁺raba mən-dannə našə lipə, rammɑ̄l-dɑ̄́rə, jɑ̄dugarə ʾu-⁺raba našə ⁺k̭rilə k̭at xá-məndi ʾodi ⁺palačiyyə ⁺pala ptáxəva k̭atu k̭at ʾaha yala ʾavilə. lá-vilə xa-⁺xabra mənné. ⁺bar hada ⁺bar꞊t ⁺xabra lá-vilə mən-dannə, ⁺bar hada ⁺dərrə cəs-ʾalahət ganu. ⁺dərrə cəs-ʾalahət ganu. ⁺dərrə cəs-ʾalaha mərrə k̭atu ya-ʾalaha, ⁺xlapu vili, halli xa-bruna. ʾalaha ⁺juvvab yuvvəllə k̭atu mərrə lé-ʾavilux bruna, săbab k̭amta xəšlux cəs našət k̭at p̂-ida plíxəna la cəs-ʾalaha. xəšlux cəs-našə xinə k̭at-ʾani lá-⁺msiva k̭atux ʾodiva. ʾat lé-ʾavilux bruna. brunət xatux, Natan, šəmmu Natan꞊iva, vudlə k̭a-ganux bruna. máləplə. xámilə. k̭a-ganux vudlə bruna. ⁺ʾavun p̂ṱ-avə k̭a-sebuytux ʾe-⁺dān-səvlux, ṱ-avə bruna k̭atux. ʾe-⁺dān-mətlux, ⁺ʾaynux p̂-⁺č̭āmla.

ʾaha bitáyələ k̭a-Natan brūn-xatu, vadu brūn-ganu. malúpulə ⁺raba məndyanə k̭at-gú malcuyta, betət darbɑ̄́r malcuyta ʾavə, la gu-⁺ʾalulanə laxxa ⁺tamma malúpulə k̭at gu-betuytət king ⁺ʾaməs xayyə, paləx, javəj, ⁺ʾaxəl, šatə, cúl-məndi ʾavəd. ʾaxči gu-bət-malcuyta la ⁺ʾal-vaddar. malúpulə. ⁺raba məndyanə malúpulə k̭atu. ʾa-yala garvusəl. ⁺raba məndi yavəl k̭atu, lvəšyatə šap̂irə, ⁺mixulyatə šap̂irə. ⁺raba məndyanə k̭atu tanúyələ. malúpələ k̭atu, k̭a-brunu, ⁺raba nasyattə yávələ. xacma mən-nasyattə masalan márələ bruni lá-ʾavət ⁺raba šaxina. lá-ʾavət ⁺raba ⁺k̭ayra. bruni, la gaxcət bi … našət ⁺dostux꞊ina săbab mumcun ʾani k̭emi, ʾani garvəssi ⁺xarta gaxci biyyux. la ⁺ʾaxlət laxma ⁺haram. ⁺ʾaxlətlə laxma dūz, ⁺spay. ⁺raba mən-dannə məndyanə malúpulə. la ʾavət mən-xa-baxta k̭at … ⁺goro mítələ, la gorətla, săbab ʾiman꞊ət … cú-⁺danta p̂ṱ-oya mara ⁺gori ⁺gori. lá-ʾazət ⁺bar ⁺šup̂ra. ⁺šupra le-paš k̭atux. lá-ʾazət ⁺bar ⁺raba davəlta. vi xa-naša lipa. vi xa-naša macixa. ⁺ʾarra cma꞊t ʾoya macəxta buš-miyya c-azi gavo. ʾina ⁺ʾarra-ʾoya k̭vita miyya gu-dreté miyya c-azi. vi ʾax ⁺ʾarra. vi ʾax tuyta. la-vi ʾax ⁺šada. ⁺šada k̭amta ci-yavva ⁺ṱarpə ⁺xarta ci-yavvala ⁺ṱunto. ʾina ʾat vi ʾax tuyta. vi ʾax-tuyta k̭amta cullə ⁺ṱunta ci-yavvala k̭a-našə, ⁺xarta ⁺ṱarpə. vi macixa. vi xubbana. vi gaxuca. vi ⁺spay naša. ʾannə məndyanə ⁺raba, ⁺raba k̭atu tanuyelə. balcət ⁺ʾarp̂amma, xamšamma ʾatxa məndyanə malúpulə.

xá-yuma … xač̭č̭a macriyyannə … xá-yuma malca marəl k̭a-⁺ʾAxik̭ar ⁺ʾÁxik̭ar, ʾat ⁺raba dūt siva. ʾətlux xa-naša mattətlə šopux? săbab ləttən xa-naša ʾax-diyyux, ləbbu ⁺bəṱlaba ⁺ʾal-xá-naša ʾax-diyyu ʾavə. ⁺ʾAxik̭ar márələ k̭a-malca malca ṱ-avət basima, Natan bruni ʾana tuybərrun, gurvə́ssuvən, mulpun, ʾaxči k̭a-daha məndi. ʾaxči k̭aṱ-avə gu-ʾidət diyyux k̭a-malcuyta. mara ⁺raba ⁺spay, melə. xá-yuma ⁺ʾAxik̭ar bəšk̭aləl brunu, víyyələ xa-jvank̭a, ⁺məṱya, labulu cəs ⁺Noxadnasər. ⁺Noxadnasər malca k̭a-daha … cúl-məndi tanuyəl bəxzáyələ hi ⁺spay꞊ilə k̭at-gú malcuyta ṱ-avə vazzər k̭atu. ʾaha máttuyul ⁺tama. ⁺ʾAxik̭ar bərrəxšəl beta.

ʾa-Natan ʾətval xa-ʾaxuna. ʾAxik̭ar xubba maxziva k̭a-dá ʾaxuna. xa ʾaxuna xina ʾət-ʾə́tvalə ʾannə-tré yalə súrəna, k̭a-xá-mənne xubba maxzuyət, ʾo-xina ⁺narahat váyələ. ʾiman꞊ət ⁺ʾAxik̭ar xubba muxzíl k̭a-do-ʾaxuna sura, Natan brunu k̭at-gurvə́ssuva gu … malcúytəva ⁺narahat vilə, buxxəllə. ʾu-məndi꞊da ⁺ʾAxik̭ar yuvvəllə k̭a-da-yala. k̭a-daha yavi zuyzə yavi beta, săbab Natan ʾiva gu … betət malcə. Natan ⁺raba ⁺narahat vilə k̭at ⁺ʾAxik̭ar muttilə ⁺tapavut, muttilə ⁺tapavut bəl-da-bruna bəl-⁺davva.

mu vədlə? xa-ctava ctəvlə mən-pummət ⁺ʾAxik̭ar k̭a-malcət Məssər, k̭at-ʾana ⁺ʾAxik̭ar k̭u-talux Nənvə har-ʾatxa la-⁺p̂laša b-yavvənna k̭atux. ⁺bayyən xazənnux. ʾina ⁺ʾAxik̭ar ⁺xabra lətlə. Natan ʾá-məndi vádulə, ʾo-brunu. k̭a-malca bəctávələ malca ṱ-avət basima ⁺pəllan yuma, ⁺pəllan ⁺tarəx malcət Məssər, furʾun hamla ṱ-avəd ⁺ʾallux, hamla, ⁺p̂laša. k̭ošun muyyelə k̭at-ʾatə ⁺p̂aləš mənnux. ʾa-ctava tré-samələ. xa-k̭a-furʾun ⁺šadúrələ m-pummət ⁺ʾAxik̭ar. xa k̭a-malca ⁺šadúrələ k̭at-malca ṱ-avət basima furʾun ⁺bayyə ⁺p̂aləš mənnux. k̭a-furʾun márələ k̭u-talux ⁺pəllan-ducta xazənnux k̭at … yavvənna ⁺ʾatra k̭a-diyyux la ⁺p̂laša. ʾa-ctava Natan yávulə k̭a … ⁺Noxadnasər, malca. ʾita, m-⁺bár-hada, Natan k̭a-malca márələ bəxzayət mu-vádələ babi b-rišux? ʾadi cma šənnə cəslux ⁺xílələ, šə́tyələ! gu-betux gurvə́ssələ ʾina ʾadiyya velə-viyya ⁺xayən ⁺ʾallux. ⁺xayən ⁺plíṱələ ⁺ʾallux. ⁺bayyə mamxilux bo … furʾun malca. ʾən-lḗt hammunə, k̭u-ta-mənni ʾazax ⁺pəllan ducta. k̭a … ⁺ʾAxik̭ar m-pummət malca bəctavəl ⁺ʾAxik̭ar, m-pummət malca bəctavəl ctava k̭a-⁺ʾAxik̭ar k̭a-ʾÁxik̭ar furʾun hamla vadəl ⁺ʾallan. k̭ošun ʾətlə. ⁺jámmila ʾe-k̭ošun buš-xelanta k̭at-xazzənna k̭am-furʾun. ⁺ʾAxik̭ar lelə ⁺bəddaya. ⁺jammuyol cullə k̭ošun ʾiman꞊ət ʾa-ctava k̭abúlulə, ⁺jammuyol k̭ošun. ʾa-yba-xina꞊da furʾun bitáyələ. k̭a-malca márələ ʾadiyya hammunət? furʾun dulə tilə laxxa hamla vada ʾu-⁺ʾAxik̭ar꞊da k̭ošun ⁺jummelə. malca ⁺narahat váyələ. k̭a-Natan márələ k̭at … melə cəsli mara la lətlux ⁺šula biyyu. hallə p̂-idət diyyi ʾana ci-⁺yaṱṱən mu-p̂ṱ-odən b-rišu. xzi ha ʾaxuna, bruna. malca k̭a-Natan márələ k̭at … melə xazzən … k̭a-mú꞊ilə ʾatxa vida. ⁺ʾAxik̭ar máyuna cəs-malca. malca k̭atu márələ ⁺ʾÁxik̭ar ʾana mut-xərbayuta k̭atux vídənva k̭at-ʾatən ʾá-⁺šula vədlux b-riši? k̭ošun ⁺jummevət ⁺ʾal-gani, furʾun m-a-yba xina bitáyələ ⁺ʾal-gani? ⁺ʾatra ⁺bayyət yavvətlə ʾazəl? ⁺ʾAxik̭ar lišanu bədvák̭ələ. ⁺narahat váyələ, lišanu bədvák̭ələ, lelə ⁺bašurə hamzəm.

⁺mṱilan ⁺ʾal-dé-ducta k̭at malca márələ k̭atu k̭at … ⁺ʾÁxik̭ar ʾaha mut ⁺šula vədlux k̭ati? ʾana mu vidən k̭a-diyyux k̭at-ʾaha ʾatxa vədlux. b-šənnə viyyət gu-beti. ʾina ⁺ʾAxik̭ar ⁺ʾuxča ⁺narahát váyələ k̭at-hə́č xa-⁺xabra lətlə píšələ ⁺ʾuldiyya. lišanu bədvák̭ələ lelə ⁺masa hamzəm. cma꞊t … ⁺byáyələ ʾatə hamzəm lelə ⁺bašurə. yávulə ⁺ʾal-ʾidət xa-naša mara lablun ⁺ʾAxik̭ar ⁺k̭ṱúlunlə. lablun ⁺k̭ṱúlunlə. máyuna k̭at-⁺k̭aṱlilə. ⁺xabra yávələ k̭a-baxtu. šəmmət baxtu munšitun, xa-šə́mma-ʾətla. k̭a-baxtu ⁺xabra yávələ k̭at-ʾana bitayən beta. ⁺mhadər ⁺xa-⁺ramša šteta, cúl-məndi. baxta ⁺bəddáyəla mu꞊ila k̭əssat. mara ⁺raba honántəva, ⁺raba. ⁺bəddáyəla k̭əssat mu꞊ila. bitáyəna beta ⁺maxúləla maštúyəla. ʾo-⁺k̭aṱula꞊da xina váyələ bəštaya k̭atu mara, ʾətlə šəmma bas-šəmma ⁺ʾuxča munšitun, ʾo-⁺k̭aṱula ʾətlə šəmma, márələ k̭atu ⁺ʾAxik̭ar k̭a-⁺dáv márələ, márələ ʾana gna lətli. la ⁺k̭ṱulli. xa ⁺dana babət diyyux꞊zə ⁺bayyiva ⁺k̭aṱlívalə ʾina ʾana la ⁺k̭ṱəlli. malca ⁺pšəmlə ⁺pšəmlə k̭at-k̭a-mú ⁺k̭ṱəllun ʾina ʾana lēnva ⁺k̭ṱilu. lubəlli yuvvəlli k̭a-malca. malca ⁺raba xdilə. k̭am-yavvəlli pašcašə, ⁺ʾanamə. ʾana lətli gna, la ⁺k̭ṱulli. mara bas mu ʾodən? malca mərrə rišux lablənnə ⁺tama. mərrə xa-naša ʾəttən gu-⁺dussak̭ bədmáyələ ⁺ʾalli. ʾu cullə꞊da ʾan-⁺sarbazə ṱ-iva mənnu cullə šə́tyəna ⁺rúyəna. ʾannə hə́č-xa-mənne lena ⁺bəddaya. ⁺ʾavun ⁺k̭ṱul-lábəllə. bəšk̭álulə, ʾo-naša ⁺bək̭ṱálulə. labúlulə k̭a-malca k̭at-⁺ʾAxik̭ar ʾana ⁺k̭ṱəlli. k̭a-⁺ʾAxik̭ar k̭am ⁺tarra, k̭am-⁺tarrət betu ⁺bək̭k̭árəna xa-⁺čalə, tre mətrə ⁺ṱla mətrə ʾamk̭u ʾamk̭u. ⁺ʾAxik̭ar mattúyuna ⁺tama xa-⁺bəzza bəšvák̭əna k̭at-napasu lá-⁺k̭aṱṱa. mattúyəna miyya, laxma cúl-məndi mattúyəna k̭atu. ʾo-rišət do-naša labúlulə k̭a ⁺Nuxadnasar k̭at-ʾana ⁺ʾAxik̭ar ⁺k̭ṱəlli yávulə k̭atu. ʾa-Natan brunu malca k̭a-Natan brunu márələ xuš šk̭ullə ⁺paǧrət babux ʾAxik̭ar ⁺ṱámərrə. Natan bitáyələ hə́č-məndi lelə vada k̭a-babu. har-ʾatxa čamčúmulə. bitáyələ gu-betət babu, ⁺bixálələ, bəštáyələ, bəzmárələ, bərk̭ádələ, bəšvárələ. ʾu-⁺byáyələ mən-de-yəmmu k̭aṱ-ila xumitu baxtət ⁺ʾAxik̭ar ʾavə mənno ʾax ⁺gora. ʾina ⁺ʾAxik̭ar mərran bəxzáyələ. cullə ⁺k̭aravašu, rigavatu, cullə ⁺byáyələ maxə, mxayelə, ⁺ʾajjuzelə. ⁺bəddayət mu-marən? ⁺ʾajjuzə ⁺raba k̭até. ʾatxa ⁺vara bərrə́xšəla. xa-yuma furʾun xa-ctava bəctávələ k̭a-⁺Nuxadnasər márələ, ⁺bəddáyələ k̭at ⁺ʾAxik̭ar mətlə, ⁺bar ⁺ʾAxik̭ar myátələ ⁺furʾun bəctávələ xa-ctava k̭a … ⁺Nuxadnasər márələ k̭at … ʾana ⁺byayən mən-našux lipə mən-gú ⁺ʾatrət diyyux ⁺ʾarp̂a xamšá məndyanə k̭ati ⁺juvvab ʾodi ⁺juvvab yavvili. măʿammɑ́ măʿammɑ́, lḗn-⁺bədda xa … xa-mə́ndilə xa-⁺cə́trələ šarilə k̭ati. ʾən-šrilun našət diyyux k̭a-diyyi, tlay šənnə mən darɑ̄mád꞊ət ⁺ʾatri darɑ̄mád ⁺yanə … məndi k̭at ʾatə mən-⁺ʾatri mən-⁺xəṱṱə mən … dava mən-sima, mən-cúl-məndi ʾana yavvən k̭atux tlay šənnə, ʾət tlay šənnə, məndit ⁺ʾatri k̭at-bitáyələ məndi mən-cul-ducta k̭a-tláy šənnə yavvənnə k̭atux. ⁺dilux mujjurra? yanə ⁺palaṱṱət məndi mən-gāv-⁺ʾatrət diyyi tlay šənne ʾana k̭atux b-yavvənna. ⁺yanə mən-⁺xə́ṱṱələ, mən-⁺ʾánvəna, mən-⁺xamrələ mən-dávələ, mən-símələ mən-k̭ənyánəna, mən-gamməšyátəna, mən-cúl-məndi, darɑ̄mád ʾáyyəla ⁺yanə. ⁺palṱən mən-gu-ʾatri cúl-məndi davəlta ⁺palṱən, k̭a-tláy šənne ʾana b-yavvənna k̭ax. ʾən-lá ʾatən xarjət tlay-šənnə diyyi ʾat gari yavvətla.

⁺Nuxadnasər malca ⁺bək̭ráyələ ⁺raba naše lipə vazzirə, vaccilə, cul-našə rămɑldɑ́rə cúl-našə ⁺bək̭rayelə k̭at … ʾa moʾammɑ́ ⁺juvvab yavvəllə ʾa ⁺xabra, ʾa məndi ⁺juvvab yavvəllə k̭a-furʾun. cuṱ꞊ilə bitaya mara ʾavax ⁺xlapux malca ʾaxnan le-⁺yaṱṱax, măgar Natan ⁺yaṱṱə, Natan gurvəslə gu-ʾidət ⁺ʾAxik̭ar. k̭a-Natan ⁺bək̭ráyəna Natan mara ʾana lēn ⁺bəddaya ʾana la-⁺msən ʾannə ⁺juvvabə yavvənnun. ⁺bəṱlábələ mən ⁺Nuxadnasər furʾun, k̭at xa-dana-beta zarəzlə gu-⁺hava. furʾun ⁺bəṱlábələ xa … mən ⁺Nuxadnasər k̭at … xa-dana beta tundəlla gu-⁺hava ʾu ⁺raba məndyanə xinə. ʾən ⁺msilun ʾodilə našət diyyux, ʾana cullə xarjət tlay šənnə b-yavənna k̭atux ʾət-⁺ʾatri. ʾən-lá, ʾatən xarjət tlay šənnə garə ⁺maddərrətla k̭ati. hi naša lət k̭at-ʾá-məndi ʾavədlə. ⁺Nuxadnasər gu-dé-⁺dana bə́xyələ. mxáyələ gu-rišu, mara ʾo ⁺ʾÁxik̭ar! ʾo vardət beti! ʾátətva, gu-cullə ʾannə ⁺xabrane ci-yavvə́tvalə ⁺juvvab. ʾa mu vədli b-riš-gani? la ⁺bak̭urə, la hamzumə, la tanuyə xá-məndi, k̭a-diyyux ⁺muk̭ṱəlli. ʾatən ʾītva ⁺maxdərranət ⁺ʾatri. bə́xyələ ⁺raba. brácələ ⁺ʾal-bərcacu mara ya ʾálaha! xa-ga xita꞊zə ⁺ʾAxik̭ar xazə́nvalə, tapək̭va biyyi. ʾaxči pati k̭etava gu-patu, bass꞊iva. ʾatxa márələ, ⁺raba hamzúmələ ʾatxa məndyanə. ʾo-⁺k̭aṱula šəmmu ⁺bəddáyunva, munšili, ⁺raba čatun šəmma ʾətlə, mərrə malca ṱ-avət basima, ⁺bayyən xá-məndi tanənnux. mara mu꞊ilə? tani! bitáyələ ʾo-⁺k̭aṱula, ʾo-rigu, rigət malca, ⁺k̭aṱula. mara k̭atu k̭at malca ṱ-avət basima, ʾana ci-⁺bayyən ⁺xṱiti tanənna, modənna k̭atux. ʾo-našət k̭at … ⁺ʾal-malcət ganu xăyɑ̄nat ʾavəd, ⁺xəlṱa ʾavəd ⁺ʾal-ʾalaha꞊zə vádələ ⁺xəlṱa. fark̭ lela vada, ⁺ʾal-malca yan-⁺ʾal-ʾalaha. ʾana ⁺xəlṱa vidən. ʾən-šúk̭ mən-da-⁺xəlṱi, xá-məndi xina xazət biyyi, ⁺k̭ṱulli. ʾina ʾaha məndi ʾana ⁺bayyən tanənnə k̭atux. mara mu꞊ilə? hamzəm! mara ⁺ʾAxik̭ar xáyələ. ʾana lēn ⁺k̭ṱilu. malca lišanu bədvák̭ələ duglə marət? hamzəm! hamzəm! hamzəm! mara hi. malca ṱ-avət basima, ʾana ⁺ʾAxik̭ar lēn ⁺k̭ṱilu. ʾícələ? mərrə xáyələ ⁺pəllan dúctələ. ʾana ⁺ṱumrun k̭am-⁺tarrət betu, ʾina xáyələ. ʾita ⁺bayyət ⁺k̭aṱlətlə꞊da, ⁺k̭ṱullə. mara dax ⁺k̭aṱlənnə? ʾən-ʾavə xaya, palgət malcuyti b-yavvənna k̭atux. ʾaxči ⁺ʾAxik̭ar pati k̭eta gu-patu. malca bitáyələ gu de hənnə, mut꞊ina tanuyə? k̭at-malcə bətyávəna gavo? máyulə ⁺tama. bəxzáyələ ⁺ʾAxik̭ar ʾina ⁺tama. ⁺palúṱulə ʾina ⁺ʾAxik̭ar dək̭nu ⁺rixa, rangu ⁺ruppu zarda viyya, cicu cullə xrivə. bəxpák̭ulə mara ʾay ⁺ʾÁxik̭ar! ʾay-xayyi! gánivət ʾatən! ʾana mu tila b-riši? k̭a-mú pəšli ⁺ʾuldiyya b-Natan brunux? la ⁺buk̭ərri mənnux hə́č-məndi. la k̭am-yavvənnux ⁺dana. ʾavən ⁺xlapux, ⁺páxəlli. ⁺palúṱulə ⁺ʾAxik̭ar, bədráyulə ʾa-betət malcuytu ⁺ʾal-⁺ʾAxik̭ar. mara ʾətli ʾəhtiyɑ̄́j ⁺ʾallux. bəsp̂arən ⁺ʾallux, yani ⁺byayən xazənnux. ⁺ʾAxik̭ar mara halli ⁺dana. yávolə ⁺dana k̭a-⁺ʾAxik̭ar k̭a-ʾarp̂í yumanə. ʾarp̂í yumanə, mara ⁺xul, šti, xup. xač̭č̭a ta ⁺ʾal-ganux k̭u-talux cəsli ʾana ⁺bayyən hamzəmmən mənnux.

ʾaha ʾarp̂í yumanə ⁺bar-daha bərrə́xšələ cəs-malca. ⁺bəṱlábələ ⁺paxalta mənnu. mara ʾay betət díyyivət. ʾay malcuytət díyyivət. ʾay xayyət díyyivət. mu tanən? mu ⁺ʾamsən ʾodən k̭at-ʾát ⁺paxlətli? mara mánšila! cul-viyya víyyələ. mərrə mara Natan brunux ʾá-məndi vədlə. mara ⁺bəddayən. mara furʾun malca xa-xča məndi ⁺šudran꞊ilə. ⁺ʾarp̂a xamšá məndyanə mənni ⁺ṱlíbələ. ʾən-videlan, videlan. la videlan, tlay šənnət darɑ̄mad꞊ət ⁺ʾatrət diyyi garə yavvənna k̭a … furʾun, ʾən-lá ⁺msili. ʾən-⁺msili, ⁺ʾav bət-yavvəlla k̭ati. ⁺ʾAxik̭ar márələ la taxmən. ʾaxči halli ʾarp̂i yumanə ⁺dana. ʾana b-zarzənnun. mu꞊ina? mara xá-mənne ʾila k̭at ʾana gari xá-dana … beta zarzən k̭a-furʾun gu-⁺hava, ʾavə cəlya gu-⁺hava. xá-xina ʾəttən k̭at mən-sila gəddalə zarəz. ⁺raba ʾatxa məndyanə. ⁺ʾAxik̭ar k̭a-malca márələ halli ⁺dana, lá-ʾavilux ⁺šula. ⁺xabra yávələ k̭a-baxtu, mərri, baxtu ⁺raba honántəva, k̭a-baxtu ⁺xabra yávələ k̭at-ʾayya málpani … tre ⁺zayət ⁺nəšrə, bajralun, garvəssalun, malpalun. ʾaxči malpalun k̭at … hallun luǧnə, luǧnə ⁺yanə carpuycə, luǧnə, ⁺ṱina, miyya, hallun, jaldə hallun, lá-climun! ʾu-yalə surə꞊da mattúyəna gu-xa-⁺k̭ərṱala, ʾannə ⁺nəšrə bəšk̭alena massuk̭ena gu-⁺hava. cullə ʾannə bəlyápəna. cúl-məndi … váyələ dūz. ⁺bár-ʾarp̂i yumanə, ⁺ʾAxik̭ar k̭a-malca márələ k̭u-ta-xzí. bitáyələ bəxzáyələ ⁺tama, bəxzáyələ ʾa ⁺k̭ərṱala sək̭la ⁺ʾullul, ʾu-⁺tama vena bədraya k̭alə hallun cipə hallun luǧnə, ʾannə ⁺k̭ašiyyə, carpuycə, ʾu-⁺ṱina, miyya. k̭am cə́lyətun? hallun! malca pyášələ har-ʾatxa matal lišanu bədvák̭ələ. mara ʾávənva ⁺xlapux ⁺ʾAxik̭ar. ⁺xabra yávələ k̭a-furʾun k̭at-našət diyyi bitáyəna. bəšk̭álələ ⁺ʾAxik̭ar biyya bi … rigavatu ⁺k̭ošun, bərrə́xšəna. furʾun k̭a ⁺ʾAxik̭ar zúrzəva xa-hotél šariva gavo. k̭a ⁺ʾAxik̭ar k̭amtət cullə márələ márələ k̭at ʾən-ʾana ʾavən ⁺sara, našət xut-ʾidət diyyi mudi váyəna? mara ʾat ⁺sárəvət, ⁺barət lelə yávəvət ʾani꞊da palaxux꞊na. mara bəlvášələ xa-lvəšta ⁺ʾal-ganu zardə mara ʾa ⁺ʾal-mú madmúyivət? mara madmuyux꞊vən ⁺ʾal-xa-šəmša yavvantət ⁺bara. ʾa-sapar xita bəlvášələ … xač̭č̭a jullə xinə. mara ʾannə … rangət ⁺xvara, mara ʾannə ⁺ʾal-mú madmuyevət? mara madmuyevən ⁺ʾal-cəxvə ʾavi gu-šmayya ⁺balbusə. ⁺bak̭úrələ mənnu ⁺raba məndyanə ⁺xarta márələ mammənnux b-momita mara marət diyyux ⁺ʾal-mú bədmáyələ? marux k̭a-⁺ʾAxik̭ar mara marət diyyux ⁺ʾal-mú bədmáyələ, ⁺ʾal-mu madmuyut? mara k̭u ⁺ʾal-ʾak̭lux marət diyyi lelə xšixa k̭at-ʾana ʾatxa hamzəmmən bazu. ʾat k̭u-⁺ʾal-ʾak̭lux cli, ʾana hamzəmmən bazu. ʾé-⁺dana hamzúmələ bazət marət ganu꞊zə ʾət … Nənvə, ⁺Nuxadnasər. márələ k̭at-⁺ʾavun ʾən-tanə k̭a-šəmša cli, bət-calya. ʾən-tanə ⁺muṱra ⁺ri, bət-⁺rayya. ʾən-tanə dunyə cli bət-cályani. ⁺raba məndyanə tanúyələ bazət malcu. márələ mammuyux꞊vən b-rišət do marux tánili mánivət. márələ ʾat-mánivət k̭at-malca ⁺šudrux꞊lə? mara ʾana xa-mən-dan-šəcvanə, xa-mən-dan-šəcvánəvən xut-ʾak̭lət malca. tiyyən cəslux. ⁺raba məndyanə hamzúməna m-⁺uydalə. márələ našə xinə lətva k̭at k̭a-diyyux xa-šəcvana ⁺šúdrələ cəs-xa-malcət Məssər. ⁺xarta mammúyulə momita mara tani mánivət? mammuyux꞊vən momita b-rišət do marux tánili ʾat-mánivət? mara ʾana ʾivən ⁺ʾAxik̭ar. ʾe-⁺dān ṱ-ilə šəmmu ⁺bəšmayu ⁺ʾAxik̭ar furʾun brázələ šopu. ⁺bəddáyələ cúl-məndi zrəzlə. cúl-məndi ⁺spáy-vilə. mara ⁺ʾax bas-⁺šə́myənva k̭a-diyyux ⁺k̭ṱəllun. mərrə hi xa-našət ʾalaha la basmalə xa-məndi ʾavə lé-ʾavə. ʾən-xa-məndit … ʾalaha basmalə, c-avə. ʾina ʾalaha bsəmlə k̭a-diyyi ⁺xumilə săbab bruni ⁺Natan ⁺xayən ⁺pləṱlə ⁺ʾalli k̭a-diyyi ⁺bilun ⁺k̭aṱli, ʾina ʾalaha la-švək̭lə, k̭at-ʾatənva laxxa ⁺juvvab diyyux yavvə́nvalə. mara xob xuš dmux gu-hotelux, k̭udmə ʾatət. k̭udmə bitáyələ mədrə. mara mu-⁺byayət? mara ⁺bayyən xa-dana sɑ̄xtumɑ̄́n ʾoya gu-⁺hava. mara xob tani k̭a-našux ṱina ⁺k̭ašiyyə, carpuycə, miyya, cullə ʾodilun ⁺hazər. ʾana k̭udmə ṱ-atən k̭a-diyyux banən beta ⁺ʾullul. cullə našət dunyə꞊da ⁺jmítəla k̭at-ʾaha beta bət-banə ⁺ʾullul gu-⁺hava. ⁺xabra yávələ k̭a-dannə … k̭a-⁺nəšrə márələ k̭at … yavvi laxma yāl-surə꞊da gu-dé ⁺k̭ərṱala. bəsyák̭əna ⁺ʾullul. bəsyák̭əna ⁺ʾullul, hal cma-⁺dana ʾatxa-⁺ʾullul bəsyák̭əna balcət ʾalpá mətrə ⁺ʾullul꞊ina. mən-⁺tama ⁺šarúyəna bədra-k̭alə ʾannə yāl-surə k̭at-hallun cipə, hallun miyya, hallun ⁺ṱina. ⁺ʾAxik̭ar꞊da bəšk̭álələ mən-⁺sarbazu k̭a-dannə-mxáyələ. mara k̭a-mú꞊itun cəlyə? hallun ⁺ṱina! hallun miyya hallun cipə. mara mujjur yavvax ʾaxnan?! mujjur yavvax ⁺tamma ʾaxnan ⁺ṱina, cipə, miyya? mujjur yavvax? mara ba-mujjur ʾatən ⁺byayət ⁺tamma beta zarzən k̭atux ʾən-ʾatən lé-⁺bašrət yavvət cipə, miyya. ⁺bəsláyəna bitáyəna. mara xuš gu … hotelux. k̭udmə ⁺bayyən xazənnux. k̭udmə mədrə bitáyələ mara ʾana ⁺byayən xa-dana ⁺xola ⁺xola ʾatxa ⁺xlímələ, ⁺xola ⁺zak̭rətli, ⁺zak̭rətli b-sila. taxmúnələ, taxmúnələ mu-ʾavəd, mu-lá-ʾavəd. mattúyələ xa-dana panjara cavə ʾu-šamašuyta šəmša bitáyəla mən-⁺tama ci-⁺k̭arila šamašuyta. šamašuyta mxáyəla ⁺tama ⁺ʾavva sila bədráyələ. sila bədráyələ mən-⁺tama ⁺bəzzə ⁺bəzzə. ⁺ʾavva sila ʾatxa ʾatxa partúlələ. mara tani našux ⁺zak̭rilə. ʾana gəddalu ⁺hazər videvən, partulə ⁺ʾal-⁺ʾuydalə. tay našux ⁺zak̭rilə. cma꞊t ⁺byáyəna lena ⁺bašurə. bərrə́xšələ hotél. mara k̭udmə xazənnux. k̭udmə bitáyələ márələ k̭atu xa-məndi ⁺bayyən tanət k̭ati k̭at-hə́č naša lá-ʾavə ⁺šəmyu gu-dunyə ʾaxči … taza ʾavə. ⁺ʾAxik̭ar bitáyələ gu … hotelu, taxmúnələ mu-ʾavəd, mu-lá-ʾavəd. bəctávələ gu-ctava k̭at-ʾatən furʾun denanət k̭a … malca duz꞊ila? mara ⁺byayələ denux šak̭əllə mənnux. ⁺šə́myutun ʾaha məndi? mara la lēx ⁺šəmyu. mara ʾatən denanət k̭a … ⁺Nuxadnasər malca k̭a … malcət Nənvə. mara la. mara bas-ʾaha məndi tázələ ʾatən … ⁺bəšmáyovət. mədrə ⁺tama꞊da ⁺bək̭rámələ, ʾina xač̭č̭a buš šap̂ərta márolə, ⁺bəddáyəvət? ⁺xarta bitáyələ … mədrə gu-hotelu mara si-dmúx. k̭a-k̭édamta bitáyələ k̭a … ⁺ʾAxik̭ar márələ k̭a-mudi suysavatət diyyoxun gavət Nənvə hurhəmlun? susyatət diyyan laxxa murxəšlun ⁺yanə yalé munpəllun. ⁺ʾAxik̭ar ⁺plaṱa bərrə́xšələ k̭a-dan-našət mənnu mara xá-dana ⁺k̭aṱu duk̭un. ⁺k̭aṱu bədvák̭ona. k̭a-daha ⁺k̭aṱu ⁺ʾuxča mxáyələ, ⁺ʾuxča mxáyələ gu-⁺xyavand ⁺ʾajjúzolə, č̭arč̭úrəla. ⁺bəddayət ⁺k̭aṱu mujjur č̭arč̭úrəla? va! va! č̭arč̭úrəla. bitáyəna našə k̭a-malca k̭a-furʾun márəna k̭at … ⁺ʾAxik̭ar velə gəxca biyyan. dvík̭ələ xa-⁺k̭aṱu gu-⁺xyavand, mxaya. ⁺šadúrələ ⁺baru. bitáyələ ⁺várələ. mara ʾa-⁺k̭aṱu ⁺heyvan k̭ax mu və́dtəla? mu və́dtəla k̭a-diyyux k̭at-xa-xča mxayot? mara ʾaha marət gnáyəla. mu꞊ila gnayo? mara ʾaha malca k̭ati ʾiva xa ⁺k̭aruvva k̭at ⁺ʾuxča šap̂ira k̭ala ʾə́tvalə. ʾe-⁺danət zamərva, ʾana ⁺šammənva. ⁺yaṱṱənva malca ʾətlə ⁺šula mənni, c-azənva cəslu. ʾina ʾa ⁺k̭aṱuntət diyyux m-axxa k̭əmla, xəšla ʾád-lelə k̭dalu ⁺k̭č̭ítula, títəla. bas-garəc ʾana maxənna ʾaha. furʾun mara k̭a … ⁺ʾAxik̭ar ʾa mu marət? šuddənnət? ⁺ṱup̂p̂ənnət? mu꞊ivət? ʾa mújjurra xəšla ⁺k̭aṱu biyyət … ⁺ʾarp̂amma xamšamma cilomətrə ʾurxa, xəšla ⁺tama xa-lelə k̭dalət ⁺k̭aruvvət diyyux ⁺k̭č̭ila ʾu-tila, ⁺dərra tila? mərrə bas-ʾən-xamšamma ʾəštamma cilomətrəná ba-mújjurra susavatət marət diyyi ⁺tama he-he-hé hurhəmlun, susavatət diyyux laxxa murxəšlun? furʾun ⁺dilə. ⁺juvvab yuvvəllə k̭atu. juvvab ⁺ʾávvəva yuvvəllə k̭atu. mərrə xuš ʾalaha ⁺barəxlux k̭at-xá-ʾaxča hona k̭ark̭əpta k̭atux ʾalaha yúvvələ. muyyilə k̭atu ⁺raba dava, sima, jullə, cullə yuvvelə k̭atu. ʾu-tláy šənnət darɑ̄mád꞊ət ⁺ʾatra cullə yuvvelə ⁺k̭a-ʾAxik̭ar, muttilə ⁺ʾal-susavatə ⁺šudərrə k̭a … malca Nənvə. ⁺xabra yuvvəllun k̭at … bitáyələ … ⁺ʾAxik̭ar. ⁺pləṱlun k̭amaytu. malca ⁺pləṱlə k̭amaytu. xurdilə b-k̭dalu. nšək̭lə. ⁺raba xdilə biyyu k̭at-cu-mət ⁺bayyət b-yavvənnux. mərrə ʾana hə́č-məndi le-⁺bayyən cullə məndi ʾətli cúl-məndi ʾətli. ʾannə꞊zə tlay šənnət darɑ̄mád꞊ət … mən-⁺ʾatrət furʾun Məssər muyyon k̭atux ʾu-ʾannə jullə, ʾa-dava, ʾa-məndi, cullə k̭atux꞊na. mərrə mu ⁺bayyət ʾana k̭ax yavvən? mərrə həč məndi mənnux lēn ⁺byaya. ʾaxči Natan bruni, Natan bruni hallə ⁺ʾal-ʾidi. ʾe-darsət yúvvonva k̭atu k̭amta lelə lipo bəxšavən ⁺spay. hallə ⁺ʾal-ʾidi. ʾana yavvənnə xa-dárs xita. mara šk̭ullə ʾa-Natan p̂-idux, cullət ⁺bayyət ʾodət b-rišu vud. həc-naša le-hamzəm. Natan bəxzáyələ k̭at-babu xáyələ, ləbbu p̂k̭áyələ. ⁺bəzdáyələ bəxzáyələ xaya. hi. bəšk̭álulə Natan, máyulə beta. ʾan məndyanət k̭at-k̭amta mireva k̭atu k̭at-⁺spay-vi, xubbána-vi, gaxcána-vi ʾátxa-vi, ʾatxa gurvə́ssuva ⁺raba zuyzə xúrjəva ⁺ʾallu. ⁺raba múlpuva, ⁺bíyyuva ʾax-xa-baba xa-bruna, ʾá-sapar k̭atu mərrə k̭at-ʾana k̭a-diyyux muləpli ʾavə́t ⁺spay, vilux k̭ati xərba. ʾana k̭atux vədli naša, ʾatən k̭a-diyyi dušdəšlux. ʾana k̭a-diyyux muttili gu-bēt-malcuyta, ʾatən k̭a-diyyi muttilux gu-⁺ʾarra. ʾana k̭a-diyyux ⁺mumṱili ⁺ʾal-zuyza ⁺ʾal mok̭ɑ̄mát ⁺yanə ⁺ʾal-xa-⁺darǧa, ⁺darǧa k̭at-ʾatət bət-malcuyta, ʾina ʾatən k̭a-diyyi muttilux ⁺ʾal-xa-⁺darǧa … ⁺k̭əṱla, motana. yəmmət diyyux k̭a-diyyux tuybərra ʾina ʾat ⁺bilux mənno ʾavətva ʾax-xa-⁺gora. rigavatə cullə məxyelux. ⁺raba ⁺raba məndyanə márulə. ⁺yanə dark̭ul do-məndit k̭amta túnyuva márulə. Natan márələ k̭atu k̭at-ʾavən ⁺xlapux. ʾatən raxmanət. ʾat xubbanət. ʾat viyyət baba k̭ati. mədrə har-ʾó-baba vi-k̭ati. mara la xina. ʾo-baba xəšlə. ʾadi xa-baba xina tíyyələ k̭at-ʾát ʾax-brúnuvət. bəl-diyyi bəl-diyyux ʾalaha ṱ-avəd ⁺divan, ⁺divan. ⁺bəddayət ⁺divan mu꞊ila? bədvák̭ulə Natan, ⁺bəsyárulə. b-xəžbuyna yávulə laxma ʾu-miyya. ⁺ṱla yumanə lela vaya, Natan bəzyárələ, bəzyárələ, bəzyárələ, bum! p̂k̭áyələ. myátələ Natan. ʾayya꞊da ⁺ʾAxík̭ar-ila.

In times of old, there was, the story goes, there was there was not, there was a king, Sanxiro the king of the Assyrians, and Axiqar, the wise man, as they called him, the wise man, that is learned man. Just as you are a professor, he also was very learned. All the world knew him. Axiqar had worked also with the father of the king. With his father he had held the office of vizier, (he was) vizier. But he had no children. Axiqar had no children. He had sixty wives. He had sixty wives. He had many palaces, palaces, very beautiful houses, but he had no children.

One day he summoned many learned men, such as geomancers, magicians. He summoned many people to do something, fortune-tellers were reading fortunes to him, in order for him to have a child. No word (of a child) was forthcoming from them. Afterwards, after no word was forthcoming from them, he appealed to his god. He appealed to his god. He appealed to God. He said to him ‘Oh God, I implore you, give me a son.’ God gave him an answer. He said ‘You will not have a son, because formerly you went to people who were made by hand, not to God. You went to other people, who could not do this for you. You will not have a son. Make the son of your sister—Natan, his name was Natan—your own son. Teach him. Take care of him. Make him your own son. He will be for your old age when you have become old, he will be a son for you. When you die, he will close your eyes.’

He goes to Natan, the son of his sister, and makes him his son. He teaches him many things, so that he can be in the royal court, not in the streets, and so forth. He teaches him so he can live, work, move, eat, drink and do everything in the household of the king, only in the house of the king, not outside. He teaches him. He teaches many things. The boy grows up. He gives him many things: beautiful clothes, fine food. He tells him many things. He teaches him. He gives his son many pieces of advice. Some of this advice, for example, was that he said ‘My son, do not be too hot and do not be too cold. My son, do not laugh at people who are your friends, because they may grow up and later laugh at you. Do not eat forbidden food. Eat proper, good food.’ He teaches him many of these things. ‘Do not be with a woman whose husband has died, do not marry her, because she will always be saying “my husband, my husband”. Do not go after beauty. Beauty will not last for you. Do not go after great wealth. Be a learned man. Be a soft man. The softer the ground is, the more water sinks into it. But if the ground is hard, when water is poured out, it flows away. Be like the ground. Be like a mulberry. Do not be like an almond. An almond tree first produces leaves and then produces its fruit. But you be like the mulberry. Be like the mulberry. First it gives all the fruit to people and afterwards (produces) leaves. Be soft. Be loving. Be merry. Be a good man.’ He tells him many of these things. He teaches him perhaps four-hundred, five-hundred such things.

One day—I shall shorten it a little—one day the king says to Axiqar ‘Axiqar, you have become very old. Have you somebody you can put in your place, because there is nobody like you?’ His heart was seeking somebody who would be like him. Axiqar says to the king ‘Oh king, be well, I have raised Natan, my son, I have brought him up, I have taught him only for this purpose, only so that he would be in your service, for your royal court.’ He says ‘Very well.’ One day Axiqar takes his son, when he has become a mature young man, he takes him to Nebuchadnezzar. King Nebuchadnezzar tells him everything, he sees that he is suitable to be a minister for him in the royal court. He appoints him there. Axiqar goes home.

Natan had a brother. Axiqar showed love to this brother, the other brother that he had. When these two were children, he showed love to one and the other becomes discontented. When Axiqar shows love to that younger brother, his son Natan whom he had brought up and was (now) in the royal court became discontented. He became jealous. Axiqar made an arrangement for this child that they would give him money, give him a house, because Natan was in the household of the king. Natan became very discontented that Axiqar made a distinction, made a distinction between this son and himself.

What did he do? He wrote a letter on behalf of Axiqar to the king of Egypt saying ‘I, Axiqar—come to Nineveh and I shall give it to you without a battle. I want to see you.’ But Axiqar has no word of this. Natan, his son, does this. He writes to the king ‘King, be well, on such-and-such a day, such-and-such a date, the king of Egypt, Pharaoh, will make an attack on you, an attack, a war. He has brought the army in order to come to fight with you.’ The letter is in two parts. He sends one to Pharaoh on behalf of Axiqar and one he sends to the king saying ‘King, be well, Pharaoh wants to fight with you. He says to Pharaoh ‘Come, I shall see you at a certain place, in order to give the land to you, without a fight.’ Natan gives this letter to king Nebuchadnezzar. Then, afterwards, Natan says to the king ‘Do you see what my father is doing against you? For how many years has he eaten and drunk in your presence! He has grown up in your house but now he has become treacherous to you. He has turned out to be treacherous to you. He wants to cause you to be smitten by Pharaoh. If you do not believe, come with me, let’s go to such-and-such a place.’ To Axiqar he writes a letter on behalf of the king. He writes a letter to Axiqar ‘To Axiqar, Pharaoh is making an attack against us. He has an army. Muster a stronger army so that I can see it (stand) before Pharaoh.’ Axiqar does not know. He musters all the army when he receives this letter. He musters the army. On the other side Pharaoh approaches. He (Natan) says to the king ‘Now do you believe? Pharaoh has come here to make an attack and Axiqar has mustered the army.’ The king becomes unhappy. He says to Natan ‘Bring him to me.’ He says ‘No, you have no business with him. Give him into my hands. I know what I shall do to him.’ ‘But, brother, son’—the king says to Natan—‘bring him so that I can see why he has done this.’ They bring Axiqar into the presence of the king. The king says to him ‘Axiqar, what evil had I done to you that you did this against me? You have gathered the army against me. Pharaoh is approaching from the other side against me. You want to let the country be ruined?’ Axiqar is tongue-tied. He is embarrassed and tongue-tied, he is unable to talk.

We reached the place where the king says to him ‘Axiqar, what have you done to me? What have I done to you that you have done this? You have been in my house for years.’ But Axiqar becomes so embarrassed that he has nothing to say, he has been insulted. He kept quiet. He is unable to talk. However much he wants to talk, he cannot do so. He (the king) gives him to a man and says ‘Take Axiqar and kill him. Take him and kill him.’ They bring him to kill him. He sends word to his wife—I have forgotten the name of his wife, she has a name. He sends word to his wife (saying) ‘I am coming home. Prepare dinner and drink, everything.’ The wife knows what is happening. It is said that she was very clever. She knows what is happening. They come home and she offers food and drink. (As) the executioner is drinking, he (Axiqar) says to him—he has a name but I have forgotten the name, the executioner has a name—he says to him, Axiqar says to him, he says ‘I am not guilty. Do not kill me. Once they wanted to kill your father, but I did not kill him. The king became sad, he became sad (and wondered) why they killed him, but I had not killed him. I took him away and gave him to the king. The king was very glad. He gave me gifts, rewards. I am not guilty, do not kill me.’ He (the executioner) says ‘But what should I do? The king said that I should take your head to him there.’ He said ‘There is a man in prison who resembles me.’ All the soldiers who were with him are all drunk and inebriated. None of them knows about it. ‘Kill him and take him (to the king).’ He takes that man and kills him. He takes him to the king (saying) ‘I have killed Axiqar.’ For Axiqar outside …. outside his house they dig a hole, two metres, three metres deep. They put Axiqar there. They leave a hole so that his breathing would not be cut off. They put there water, bread, they put there everything for him. He takes the head of the man to Nebuchadnezzar (saying) ‘I have killed Axiqar’ and gives it to him. Natan, his son—the king says to Natan his son ‘Go and take the body of your father, Axiqar, and bury him.’ Natan comes but does nothing to his father. He just throws him down. He comes to the house of his father, he eats, he drinks, he sings, he dances, he leaps around. He wants to be with his mother, who has nurtured him, the wife of Axiqar, as a husband. But Axiqar, as we said, sees (everything). He (Natan) wants to beat all the housekeepers and servants. He beats them and harasses them. You know what I am saying. He harasses them a lot. Time passes in this way. One day Pharaoh writes a letter to Nebuchadnezzar and says—he knows that Axiqar died—after Axiqar dies, Pharaoh writes a letter to Nebuchadnezzar saying ‘I want your learned men from your land, to give me a response to four or five things, to solve for me a puzzle, a puzzle, I don’t know, a thing, a problem. If your people solve it for me, I shall give you thirty years of the income of my land—income, that is what comes from my land, wheat, gold, silver, everything, thirty years, I shall give you the produce of my land from every place for thirty years.’ Do you understand? That is ‘I shall give you the produce from my land for thirty years.’ That is, wheat, grapes, wine, gold, silver, cattle, buffaloes, everything. This is what ‘income’ is. ‘I shall bring everything out of my land, I shall bring out wealth, and give it to you for thirty years. If not, you must give me my expenditure for thirty years.’

King Nebuchadnezzar summons many learned people, viziers, stewards, every kind of people, magicians, he summons every kind of people in order to give him a response concerning the puzzle, to give a response to Pharaoh regarding this matter. Everybody who comes says ‘With respect, king, we do not know, perhaps Natan knows, Natan was brought up by Axiqar.’ They summon Natan. Natan says ‘I do not know. I cannot give you the answers.’ Pharaoh asks Nebuchadnezzar to construct a house in the air. Pharaoh asks Nebuchadnezzar for … a house suspended in the air, and many other things. ‘If your men can do this, I shall give to you all the expenditure of my land for thirty years. If not, you must return to me the expenditure of thirty years.’ Indeed, there is nobody who can do this. At that moment Nebuchadnezzar weeps. He beats his head, saying ‘Oh Axiqar! Oh flower of my house! If you could come, you could respond to all these requests. Oh what I have I done to myself? Without asking, speaking or saying anything, I had you killed. You were the administrator of my land.’ He wept bitterly. He knelt down on his knees and says ‘Oh God, if only I could see Axiqar even just once again, if only he could meet me again. If only my face could touch his face, that would be enough.’ He says this, he constantly speaks in such a way. The executioner—I used to know his name but have forgotten, he has a very difficult name—said ‘King, be well, I want to tell you something.’ He says ‘What is it? Speak!’ The executioner comes, the servant, the servant of the king, the executioner. He says to him ‘King, be well, I want to tell my sin, to confess it to you. A man who does treachery against his own king, who commits a fault, he commits the fault also against God. There is no difference, against the king or against God. I have committed a fault. If apart from this fault of mine, you find something else against me, kill me. But I want to tell you this thing.’ He says ‘What is it? Speak!’ He says ‘Axiqar is alive. I have not killed him.’ The king is tongue-tied ‘Are you telling lies? Speak! Speak! Speak!’ He says ‘Yes, oh king, be well, I have not killed Axiqar.’ ‘Where is he?’ He said ‘He is alive in such-and-such a place. I have buried him outside his house, but he is alive. So, if you want to kill him, kill him.’ He says ‘Why should I kill him? If he is alive, I shall give you half of my kingdom. Only let my face touch the face of Axiqar.’ The king sits down in the thing, what do they say, that kings sit in? They bring him there. He sees that Axiqar is there. He brings him out (and sees that) Axiqar’s beard is long, he has lost his colour, he has become yellow and all his teeth are ruined. He embraces him and says ‘Oh Axiqar! Oh my life! You are my soul! What has come upon me? Why was I treated treacherously by Natan your son? I did not ask you anything. I did not give you time. Please, forgive me.’ He takes Axiqar out (of the hole) and makes his royal house available for Axiqar. He says ‘I need you (for a certain task). I am waiting for you, that is I want to see you (to talk to you about it).’ Axiqar says ‘Give me time.’ He gives the time to Axiqar, for forty days. He says ‘For forty days eat, drink, wash. Return to yourself a bit, then come to me. I want to talk to you.’

After forty days he goes to the king. He (the king) asks forgiveness from him. He says ‘You are my home. You are my kingdom. You are my life. What should I say? What can I do so that you will forgive me?’ He says ‘Forget it! What has been has been.’ He said ‘Natan your son has done this.’ He said ‘I know.’ He says ‘Pharaoh the king has sent us such-and-such a task. He has demanded of me four or five things. If we do them, we do them (and that’s fine). If we do not do them, I have to give thirty years income of my land to Pharaoh, if I cannot (do them). If I can, he will give it to me.’ Axiqar says ‘Do not think about it. Only give me forty days. I’ll deal with them. What are they?’ He says ‘One of them is that I must erect a house for Pharaoh in the air, which stands in the air.’ There is another one which requires him to make threads of sand. Many such things. Axiqar says to Pharaoh ‘Give me time, do not worry.’ He sends word to his wife—I have said that his wife was very clever—he sends word to his wife asking her to teach two young eagles, to nurture them, raise them and teach them, teach them thus ‘Give bricks, mud, water, give, quickly give, do not stop!’ They also put young children in a basket and the eagles pick them up and take them up into the air. They learn all these things. Everything is done correctly. After forty days Axiqar says to the king ‘Come and see.’ He comes and sees there, he sees that the basket has gone upwards, and there they are crying out ‘Give stones, give bricks, those tiles, bricks, mud and water. Why are you stopping? Give!’ The king is astonished. His is tongue-tied. He says ‘I am in your debt, Axiqar.’ He sends word to Pharaoh (saying) ‘My people are coming.’ Axiqar takes an army together with his servants and they march. Pharaoh has prepared a hotel for Axiqar in order for him to lodge there. He says first of all to Axiqar ‘If I were the moon, what would the people under my command be?’ He says ‘You are the moon and you give the light of the night. They are your workers.’ He says—he puts on a yellow garment—he says ‘What do you compare me to?’ He says ‘I compare you to the sun, the giver of light.’ The next time he wears other clothes. He says—these are white in colour—he says ‘What do you compare these to?’ He says ‘I compare them to stars that shine in the sky.’ He asks him many things. Then he says ‘I pledge you with an oath’ saying “your master—what does he resemble? Your master.”’ He says to Axiqar ‘What does your master resemble? What do you compare him to?’ He says ‘Listen, my master does not need me to speak about him like this. Listen, I’ll speak about him.’ Then he speaks about his master, of Nineveh, Nebuchadnezzar. He says ‘If he says to the sun “stop”, it will stop. If he says “rain”, it will rain. If he says “Stop world”, it will stop.’ He says many things about his king. He says ‘I pledge you with an oath on the head of your master, tell me who you are.’ He says ‘Who are you whom the king has sent?.’ He says ‘I am one of the ants, one of the ants under the foot of the king. I have come to you.’ They speak together about many things. He says ‘Were there no other people that he sent you, an ant, to a king of Egypt?’ Then he pledges him with an oath, he says ‘Tell me, who are you? I pledge you with an oath on the head of your master. Tell me. Who are you?’ He says ‘I am Axiqar.’ When he hears his name Axiqar, Pharaoh dries up on the spot. He knows that he has arranged everything, that everything has turned out well. He says ‘But I had heard that they killed you.’ He said ‘Yes, a man—if it does not please God that something comes about, it does not come about. If something pleases God, it will be. It pleased God to protect me, since Natan my son turned out to be treacherous to me and they wanted to kill me, but God did not permit this, so that I could come here and give you your answer.’ He says ‘Good, go and sleep in your hotel and come tomorrow.’ The next day he comes again. He says ‘What do you want?’ He says ‘I want a building that is in the air.’ He says ‘Fine. Tell your people to prepare mud, tiles, bricks, water, everything. I shall come tomorrow and build a house above.’ Everybody is gathered (saying) that “He will build a house above in the air.” He gives the word to the eagles and says that they should put food and the children into the basket. They go up, until (when) they go up for some time, they are perhaps 1,000 metres above (the ground). From there the children begin to shout ‘Give stones, give water, give clay.’ Axiqar takes (things) from his soldiers and beats them. He says ‘Why have you stopped? Give clay, give water, give stones.’ They say ‘How can we give? How can we give here clay, stones, water? How can we give? How can we give here clay, stones, water? How can we give?’ ‘How do you want me to build here a house for you if you cannot give stones and water?’ They go down and they come (to him). He says ‘Go to your hotel. Tomorrow I want to see you.’ The next day he comes again and says ‘I want a rope, a rope that is this thick. (I want you) to weave for me a rope, weave it for me with sand.’ He thinks and thinks (wondering) what he should do. He makes a casement, a window, and a sun-ray, the sun, what they call a sun-ray comes from there. The sun-ray strikes there. He sprinkles sand. He sprinkles sand there in holes. He twists the sand like this. He says ‘Tell your people to weave it. I have prepared its threads, twisting (them) together. Tell your people to weave it.’ However much they wanted to, they could not. He goes to the hotel. He says ‘Tomorrow I shall see you.’ The next day he comes and says to him ‘I want you to tell me something that nobody in the world has heard but is new.’ Axiqar goes back to his hotel and thinks what he could do. He writes in a book ‘You, Pharaoh, are in debt to the king. Is that true?’ He says ‘He wants to collect your debt from you. Have you heard this?’ He says ‘No, I have not heard.’ He says ‘You are in debt to king Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Nineveh.’ He says ‘No.’ He says ‘But this is new. You are hearing it (now).’ Again also in that he wins, but he tells it rather more elegantly, do you understand? Then he returns to his hotel. He (Pharaoh) says ‘Go and sleep.’ He comes the next day. He says to Axiqar ‘Why did your horses in Nineveh neigh? Our horses here aborted, that is they aborted their young.’ Axiqar goes out. He says to the people with him ‘Take a cat.’ They take the cat. He beats the cat hard and harries it in the street, and it whines. Do you know how a cat whines? People come to the king, they say to Pharaoh ‘Axiqar is laughing at us.’ He has caught a cat in the street and is beating it.’ He sends for him. He comes and enters. He says ‘What has this cat, this animal, done to you? What has it done to you that you beat it so much?’ He said ‘This is a criminal.’ ‘What is its crime?’ He says ‘This king was a rooster to me, who had such a beautiful voice. When he sang, I used to listen. I knew that the king had work for me. I used to go to him. But this cat of yours, he got up from here and went this night and has snapped his neck, then has come back. So I must beat it.’ Pharaoh says to Axiqar ‘What are you saying? Have you gone mad? Have you gone crazy? What are you? How is it that the cat went there on a journey of four-hundred or five-hundred kilometres in one night, snapped off the neck of your rooster and came back, returned and came back?’ He said ‘But if (the distance) is five-hundred or six-hundred kilometres, how is it that the horses of my master neighed there and your horses here aborted?’ Pharaoh understood. He (Axiqar) gave him the (necessary) answer. The answer was that. He gave (the answer) to him. He said ‘Go, God bless you, for God has given you such an intelligence and such a mind.’ He brought to him large amounts of gold, silver, clothes and gave everything to him. He gave to Axiqar the income of the land for thirty years, he loaded it on horses and sent it to the king in Nineveh. They gave word that Axiqar was coming. They came out to meet him. The king came out to meet him. He hugged him round his neck. He kissed him. He was very pleased with him (saying) ‘I shall give you everything you want.’ He said ‘I do not want anything. I have everything. I have everything. I have brought you the income of the land of Pharaoh of Egypt for thirty years. These clothes, this gold, this thing, everything is for you.’ He said ‘Whatever you want I shall give you.’ ‘I do not want anything from you, but hand over my son Natan into my hands. I don’t think he has learnt well the lesson that I gave him some time ago. Hand him over into my hands. I shall give him another lesson.’ He says ‘Take this Natan into your hands. Do whatever you like to him. Nobody will speak.’ Natan sees that his father is alive and his heart splits (with fear). He is afraid, he sees he is alive. Yes. He takes Natan and brings him home. The things that he had previously told him ‘Be good, be loving, be merry, be like this’—he had brought him up like this and spent a lot of money on him—he had taught him a lot, he had loved him, as a father (loves) a son—this time he said to him ‘I taught you to be good, but you were bad to me. I made you a man, but you trampled on me. I put you in the royal household, but you put me in the ground. I brought you into money, into a position, that is a (high) rank, a rank whereby you came into the royal household, but you put me in the rank of execution, of death. Your mother brought you up, but you wanted to be with her like a husband. You beat all the servants.’ He says many, many things to him. That is, he says to him (that he did) the opposite of what he had said to him previously. Natan says to him ‘Please, you are merciful, you are loving, you have been a father to me. Be the same father to me again.’ He says ‘Not again. That father has gone. Now another father has come, whose son you are like. God will hold a court (and judge) between me and you. A court. Do you know what a court is? He seizes Natan and binds him. He gives him bread and water in rations. Hardly had three days past, when Natan begins to swell, he swells, he swells boom! He explodes. Natan dies. That is (the story) of Axiqar.