DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49272#0111
THE FOLK-LITERATURE OF THE GALLA
95
1 Gobana has decided upon something; 2 he has worn the skin (i.e. the cloak of skin)
and runs. 3 My mind has decided upon something. 4 Dargih goes to war with his sons.
5 “0 Menilek, good child, 6 why do you suddenly waste everything ? ” 7 I have hoarded the
nug and I thrash it. 8 An energetic girl has a sluggish husband. 9 The good child has gone
to war; 10 he has wiped out the ancient wrong. 11 He has gone to war, he has descended
to the Awas. 12 The sluggard has remained in his house. 13 The brave man has overthrown
the camels. 14 The sluggard has slept in his house. 15 Go out of your house, 0 coward!
16 0 cursed man, go out of your house! 17 Gobana has become judge. 18 Dargie has grown
pious. 19 0 Makonnen, 0 my Guddisa, 20 may you increase, 0 my Guddfsa! 21 Do you
believe that the throne is yours? 22 Leave off the title of ligabd! 23 Take the title of
great rds! 24 Come on! Wear your shirt of silk 25 like Danaw, the great son! 26 Ras
Gobana has decided in your favor. 27 Your kinsmen speak in your favor. 28 Makonnen
has become rds! 29 What will you do, 0 old man with ill-omened eyes ? 30 Let him graze
his sheep! 31 Let him build the enclosure for them in Salahe! 32 “ This will be the chief
of us all,” 33 has said Danaw Menilek. 34 And afterwards, he (will obtain) the sove-
reignty. 35 O Dargie, descend to the valley! 36 The love of Menilek is for Makonnen.
37 My love also is for Makonnen! 38 If the iron is new, 39 his name is Wagigra (Gras).
40 Come on! Go as a vulture! 41 Such (arms) have been used first by Makonnen! (lit.
such arms Makonnen has caused to go out). 42 Descend, 0 Dargie, go away! 43 0 flies of
the lord’s throne! 44 His kingdom is the kingdom of the bees, 45 who is born from the
stock of Guddfsa! 46 O wood of homi, plane tree and plane tree! 47 A man like unto God
has approached. 48 Shed, O rich man, your tears! 49 Even as the buffalo collects the grass;
50 even as the lion guards the enclosure for cattle; 51 even as the monkey guards the
barley, 52 so the king guards his kingdom! 53 O Makonnen, be even more superior! 54
Among the sons of Menilek, 55 among the cattle of Menilek, 56 (there are) Garbf (son)
of Sango, lord of (the horse) Tura; 57 Onco (son) of Daso, son of Dargie; 58 Balambaras
Faysa, 59 a man like to Faysa (son) of Suru! 60 Go out of our houses, return home!
61 The sovereignty (must belong) to only one man! 62 Cows without a bull, 63 when (they
go) to the salt springs are shameful! 64 A man who does not wear the shirt of silk, 65 a
noble man who does not become a rds, 66 all this is shameful!
Notes. The verses 1-4 explain that while Ras Gobana and the singer had planned some-
thing (i.e. to demand the title of rds for Makonnen), Ras Dargie was far away in the Arussi
land, thinking it would be easier to obtain this appointment from Menilek at such a time.
If Makonnen should be appointed ras, Dargie on his return would complain of this to Meni-
lek (vv. 5-6 are supposed to be spoken by Dargie), but he could not revoke it. Verses 7-16
contain the usual boasts, and the mockery of cowards. With verse 17, the singer begins to
demand definitely the title of rds for Makonnen. Verse 18 alludes to the fact that about
this time, Ras Dargie had constructed a sumptuous church in Salahe. The church had a
pavement of marble, and was considered, therefore, a very wonderful edifice. After a few
95
1 Gobana has decided upon something; 2 he has worn the skin (i.e. the cloak of skin)
and runs. 3 My mind has decided upon something. 4 Dargih goes to war with his sons.
5 “0 Menilek, good child, 6 why do you suddenly waste everything ? ” 7 I have hoarded the
nug and I thrash it. 8 An energetic girl has a sluggish husband. 9 The good child has gone
to war; 10 he has wiped out the ancient wrong. 11 He has gone to war, he has descended
to the Awas. 12 The sluggard has remained in his house. 13 The brave man has overthrown
the camels. 14 The sluggard has slept in his house. 15 Go out of your house, 0 coward!
16 0 cursed man, go out of your house! 17 Gobana has become judge. 18 Dargie has grown
pious. 19 0 Makonnen, 0 my Guddisa, 20 may you increase, 0 my Guddfsa! 21 Do you
believe that the throne is yours? 22 Leave off the title of ligabd! 23 Take the title of
great rds! 24 Come on! Wear your shirt of silk 25 like Danaw, the great son! 26 Ras
Gobana has decided in your favor. 27 Your kinsmen speak in your favor. 28 Makonnen
has become rds! 29 What will you do, 0 old man with ill-omened eyes ? 30 Let him graze
his sheep! 31 Let him build the enclosure for them in Salahe! 32 “ This will be the chief
of us all,” 33 has said Danaw Menilek. 34 And afterwards, he (will obtain) the sove-
reignty. 35 O Dargie, descend to the valley! 36 The love of Menilek is for Makonnen.
37 My love also is for Makonnen! 38 If the iron is new, 39 his name is Wagigra (Gras).
40 Come on! Go as a vulture! 41 Such (arms) have been used first by Makonnen! (lit.
such arms Makonnen has caused to go out). 42 Descend, 0 Dargie, go away! 43 0 flies of
the lord’s throne! 44 His kingdom is the kingdom of the bees, 45 who is born from the
stock of Guddfsa! 46 O wood of homi, plane tree and plane tree! 47 A man like unto God
has approached. 48 Shed, O rich man, your tears! 49 Even as the buffalo collects the grass;
50 even as the lion guards the enclosure for cattle; 51 even as the monkey guards the
barley, 52 so the king guards his kingdom! 53 O Makonnen, be even more superior! 54
Among the sons of Menilek, 55 among the cattle of Menilek, 56 (there are) Garbf (son)
of Sango, lord of (the horse) Tura; 57 Onco (son) of Daso, son of Dargie; 58 Balambaras
Faysa, 59 a man like to Faysa (son) of Suru! 60 Go out of our houses, return home!
61 The sovereignty (must belong) to only one man! 62 Cows without a bull, 63 when (they
go) to the salt springs are shameful! 64 A man who does not wear the shirt of silk, 65 a
noble man who does not become a rds, 66 all this is shameful!
Notes. The verses 1-4 explain that while Ras Gobana and the singer had planned some-
thing (i.e. to demand the title of rds for Makonnen), Ras Dargie was far away in the Arussi
land, thinking it would be easier to obtain this appointment from Menilek at such a time.
If Makonnen should be appointed ras, Dargie on his return would complain of this to Meni-
lek (vv. 5-6 are supposed to be spoken by Dargie), but he could not revoke it. Verses 7-16
contain the usual boasts, and the mockery of cowards. With verse 17, the singer begins to
demand definitely the title of rds for Makonnen. Verse 18 alludes to the fact that about
this time, Ras Dargie had constructed a sumptuous church in Salahe. The church had a
pavement of marble, and was considered, therefore, a very wonderful edifice. After a few