Inaiyora
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The Sacred Laws of Tersas
This public article was written by [Deactivated User], and last updated on 8 Oct 2021, 12:59.
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2. Bits and Pieces
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10. The Letter of Amainta
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'aRen aLE melas sULen I 'cIanas , sULen av f' unUJenUsf' E istenijah .
The Sacred Laws (Inaiyora), thought to have been written by the high priest and prophet Tersas some six centuries ago, are the centre of Telian religious and literary tradition. Their contents are as follows:
I. Harren Alle ('The God is Greater'): quasi-poetical reflections on the nature of the god.
II. Dha Tahwent Alle ('Thus the God Has Spoken'): propositions on the nature of the god; laws on priestly duties, ritual purity, and oaths.
III. Tea Inaiyoran ('[These] Are the Laws'): laws on bloodguilt (manslaughter, non-violent rape, infanticide), restitution (injury, theft, other kinds of cheating), shame (disturbance of the peace, patricide, incest, perversion, pandering, murder, kidnapping, sorcery, treason), inheritance, marriage, household disputes, slaves' rights, and public markets.
IV. Teá Freanda ('Let the Fyrdlands Be'): laws on fyrd-service, taxes, warlordly duties, and assemblies; most likely a later addition.
- harren alle melas seillen i ’vianas, seillen av f’ uneintheneisf’ e istenitha.
The god is greater than all the stars which are everlasting, for the worshipful one is everlasting and cannot be measured. - harren alle avos seitir, te’ av e erin era istenitha.
The god is greater than the only sun, for the worshipful one is undivided [and] one. - harren alle foros adannos, adannen av e istenitha.
The god is greater than the mighty sea, for the worshipful one is mighty. - harren alle andarienas hweiclarras, uŋclarc av in e fien clarren i adenis ic ián istenitha.
The god is greater than the herb-bearing earth, for the worshipful one is himself unborn but bears from his greatness all things. - harren alle ruŋanas unsevennen i ’vianas, unsevennen av in e fien sevennen ián istenitha.
The god is greater than the mountains which change not, for the worshipful one is not changed but changes all things. - harren alle ciroras elarren calassumi ora ’vethas, elarren av ián istenitha.
The god is greater than the cliffs which directs the waters, for the worshipful one directs all things. - harren alle tanos finnen teiglen fintha eos evetir, finnen av ián istenitha.
The god is greater than the eagle whose eyes see the world, for the worshipful one sees all things. - harren alle leveas avesuvas, unarcannen av avesuveon istenitha.
The god is greater than the clear air, for the worshipful one keeps himself sinless [and] clear. - harren alle celoeil cemeiŋiniras f’ioneil geseiŋiniras, trassen av camora fi gesora istenitha.
The god is greater than the lifegiving rain-cloud and the deathgiving snow-cloud, for the worshipful one metes livings and dyings. - harren alle teigleŋcusenas irrediras, irrenden av tind’ iandr’ istenitha.
The god is greater than the straight-drawing heart of the world, for the worshipful one draws straight a line against all things. - harren alle venirián itir teiginannen ean tegeis allún fi meleteinis yen ivra ’vitir, taŋgen av ián istenitha.
The god is greater than the time which comes straight around in its order of day and season, for the worshipful one orders all things. - harren alle unnas breclerras, ŋinnen av belora istenitha.
The god is greater than the fruit-bearing vine, for the worshipful one gives good gifts. - harren alle hwelisas elithas, ellen av e adenis il beth etir istenitha.
The god is greater than the hidden forest, for the worshipful one hides himself in his greatness from men. - harren alle moras aiaras, ecai’ av eon, filtahwent av e filtahwenired beth istenitha.
The god is greater than the speaking river, for the worshipful one speaks out, and he has spoken through the prophets of men.
- dha tahwent alle filtahwenired beth eollin, fie dha’l earihwe av elle.
Thus the god has spoken to the prophets of men, that they should know him (himself). - al umbarren in pare bethore, fien untelellen eon soles fi fletes fi seimmes fiuna fi feidis amfiel finithis beth finned fi serithis beth sereis brenned, fie dha isceris il, harren av aden’ eos trasas fie dha’l unebereisf’ av e teiglen;
The god has no manlike body, nor does he dwell in stone or wood or metal, nor in [any] other stuff seen to the eyes of men or wrought of the working of the hands of men, that they should beseech it, for his greatness is beyond measure so that the world cannot hold him; - fiu umbarren ecridoiledai metitha pare eicereisf’ e dhora ’ve;
nor has he subjection to passions, lacking a body which they might rule; - fiu umbarren meroi metitha pare eilereisf’ e dher eve, llestitahwennis av istea ián;
nor has he sensation, lacking a body which it might guide, for at the word of his thought all things are; - fiu umbarren neicoi, thessen av ián etir iŋora;
nor has he memory, for all things are before him as now; - fiu umbarren cresoi bethore, fie dha inthenis il tu tutir, llecusenariennis av arren ián;
nor has he a manlike mind, to weigh things one against another, for in the understanding of his heart he knows all things; - fiu seaiye barren came, u allún camam taláv cameon eos dhe, etahweneisf’ e dhos aiar uner; fiu tea eon llecame fi came cemiras ianas, fiu egeseisf’ e una.
but indeed he has life, and of the day before his life is alive, no being can speak; but he is his life and the life of all the living, and cannot die. - dha tahwent alle filtahwenired beth eollin, fie dha’l eistenihwe av alle.
Thus the god has spoken to the prophets of men, that they should worship him. - tered allún eól, aistwín f’annún, telinitered f’isteninis il, istenora celithora inthén fi teigléd cwelli, eltenora ián; tul nen e creid, uneimmevihwe in i tinded fi bontes fi teintethis eóm fien aiyeár i aiyes taledis evim; cul ecsól breŋcäei anda illin.
At the gates of the day, dawn and sunset, at the house-gates and upon the high place, the priests, having cleansed themselves, shall pour wine and drink of it, all who are there; then they shall offer the prayers, which they ought not sing with harp or drum or dancing, but shall chant in the ancient mode; then they shall pour out the cup on the earth. - istannen min oran neráin, elbár alg’ istenored, hweora fi brecora fi senna fi veidi fiuna, fie dha’l emedihwe av istenora fi metora, fi lesi fi fahwi, fie dha’l enimihwe av istenora fi metora, f’avive, fie dha’l eberihwe av cemivelli ián.
If any men go up [to worship], they shall bring a gift to the priests: herbs or fruit or grain or oil, that the priests and the poor may eat of it, or wool or linen, that the priests and the poor may be clad in it, or gold, that the priests and the poor may have all things needful for life. - unembár brenna u ŋun istenora fi metora; mer e or immerren av beth al.
They shall not hold back their hand but shall give to the priests and to the poor; they shall show kindness as the god looks with kindness upon men. - dha istán adeni allosi.
Thus shall the greatness of the god be worshipped. - dha tahwent alle filtahwenired beth eollin, fie dha’l eiscelihwe av oran allefinis, fie dha’lun ecleiseneisfe av or’ adenifinis.
Thus the god hath spoken to the prophets of men, that they should cleanse themselves in the god’s sight, lest they bear bloodguilt in the sight of [his] greatness. - telinitered f’isteninas il, curas fi valas, cal tethoira fi brenna calasis avesuvis.
At the gates of the house and the high place, of the market and the keep, they shall wash their feet and hands in clean water. - heilc coráv cleisi beth fi hwarosi fiuna, cal tethoira fi brenna calasis avesuvis, u cal amfie paros fi nimas, heilc cleis’ er eve, fie dha’lun ethulceisfe av ora cleis allefinis.
When [someone] has touched blood, whether of man or of beast, he shall wash in clean water his feet and hands, and shall wash anything of his body and clothing which has touched blood, lest blood make them unclean in the god’s sight. - illet coráv cleisi feis serena beth im evillin, telinis fi tethoinis fi mundos fi filis fiuna, fi feis amfiellin serena beth im evillin, cal e calasis avesuvis, fie dha’lun heileisfe av cleisi serora.
And when blood has fallen on a thing with which men are wont to work, a house or road or dish or cloth, or any other thing with which men are wont to work, they shall wash it in clean water, lest working [with it] they touch the blood. - u nor, tea ll’endenitheon helliclesisiore, cammen av clarridi endenithi hellicleisis ic.
And as for a man, his seed is as his own blood, for the child [which he has] begotten lives from his own blood. - gost tu er eve, firienis fi denienis fiuna, u hinthest i seris er eve, cleisonon e, uc uninán fi then e teres el.
He who has slain another, in war or in peace, or has lain with a maiden, he is guilty of blood, and he shall not go forth but shall stand at the gate. - celisúl f’unemvén e istenir, u cal tethoira fi brenna calais avesuvis, fie dha’l eiŋcelihwe av e cleisonis.
The priest shall bid him wash, nor turn him away; and he shall wash his feet and hands in clean water, that he may be cleansed of bloodguilt. - cleiss filáv rian cendera, filtés f’uninán i telinis, u elannen nor illin una, fie dha’lun ecleiseneisfe av e itir; fiu cleisitint coráv i, cal pare fei fi nimoi calais avesuvis, fie dha’l eiŋcelihwe av i cleisis.
While a woman has her monthly bleeding, she shall stay at home and not go forth, nor shall her husband go in to her, lest he bear bloodguilt because of her; but when she has stopped bleeding, she shall wash in clean water her whole body and clothes, that she may be cleansed of blood. - clart filáv i rian u lunn i seu, filtés f’uninán i telinis, u elannen nor illin una, fie dha’lun ecleiseneisfe av e itir; fiu anadán coráv i talama, cal pare fei fi nimoi, fie dha’l eiŋcelihwe av i cleisis.
While a woman has given birth and is still weak, she shall stay at home and not go forth, nor shall her husband go in to her, lest he bear bloodguilt because of her; but after she grows stronger, she shall wash in clean water her whole body and clothes, that she may be cleansed of her blood. - tul elbárren lleclarrid’ ian, u then i teres el, fiu gost min rian, mimbrenéid. istél clarrid’ istenir u cal tethoira fi brenna calais avesuvis, fie dha’l eiŋcelihwe av i cleisonis clarrasis.
Then she shall bring her child and stand at the gate; but if the woman is dead, her kinsman [shall bring the child]. The priest shall take the child its feet and hands and wash in clean water, that it may be cleansed of its mother’s bloodguilt. - fiu clart fi gost min clarridi, hel cleison’ istenir u then e teres el.
But if a child has been born and has died, a priest shall take the bloodguilt and stand at the gate. - elfent min gesithe uc unarar gesire, u gost min eon, hel cleison’ ellin istenir freanda tutir elfent gesith’ il evitir u thennen e teres el.
If a man has been found slain and the slayer is unknown, or if one has slain himself, a priest of that fyrdland in which he was found slain shall take the bloodguilt and stand at the gate. - celisúl e istenora tora, u cal tethoira fi brenna calais avesuvis, fie dha’l eiŋcelihwe av e cleisonis helc i evic, fie dha’lun ecleiseneisfe av beth fei.
The other priests shall bid him wash; and he shall wash his feet and hands in clean water, that he may be cleansed of the bloodguilt which [he] has taken, lest the whole people bear bloodguilt. - fiu elannen parora gesithoras anda illin, u pares evra meroi ecridoi neicoi cresoi, fiu corbarren came al, tea eon came cemiras ianas ever.
And the bodies of the dead go into the earth, and with each body its sensation, passions, memory, [and] mind; but life belongs to the god, who is the life of all the living. - dha cal oran cleisis.
Thus shall they cleanse themselves of blood. - dha tahwent alle filtahwenired beth eollin, fie dha’l eiscelihwe av parora allefinis, fie dha’lun ethulceisfe av or’ adenifinis.
Thus the god hath spoken to the prophets of men, that they should cleanse their bodies in the god’s sight, lest they be unclean in the sight of [his] greatness. - 29. telinitered f’isteninas il, curas fi valas, cal tethoira fi brenna calasis avesuvis.
At the gates of the house and the high place, of the market and the keep, they shall wash their feet and hands in clean water. - heilc coráv thulce, pareiŋcelidi, fi peinithe, fi suŋce arridi thulcidi, fi suŋce gesithose fiuna, cal tethoira fi brenna calasis avesuvis, u cal amfie paros fi nimas, heilc thulc’ er eve.
When [someone] has touched uncleanness, any bodily waste or any rotting thing or the flesh of unclean illness or the flesh of the dead, he shall wash his feet and hands in clean water, and shall wash anything of his body and clothing which has touched the uncleanness. - illet coráv thulce feis serena beth im evillin, telinis fi tethoinis fi mundos fi filis fiuna, fi feis amfiellin serena beth sereid unerin thulcosed eollin im evillin, cal e calasis avesuvis, fie dha’lun heileisfe av thulce serora.
And when uncleanness has fallen on a thing with which men are wont to work, a house or road or dish or cloth, or any other thing with which men are wont to work not solely for unclean works, they shall wash it in clean water, lest working [with it] they touch the uncleanness. - arrunun e ’vos, finnis fi linnis fi levois il, fi dumis fi gledois fi cobis il, fi suŋcis f’uslis fiuna, seiris ec f’ecesis fi ceŋis f’ispithis f’aŋgiris f’arrinis amfeis, leind min pareiŋcelidi, thuleiŋc par’ eos, uc inán e una; fiu holc coráv e, cal pare fei fi nimoi calasis avesuvis, fie dha’l eiŋcelihwe av e thulces ll’arrunas.
He who is ill in the eye or ear or nose, in the mouth or throat or belly, in the flesh or skin, with fever or sore or cough or vomiting or purging or any other illness, if bodily waste is loosed, his body is unclean, and he shall not go forth; but when he has been healed, he shall wash his whole body and clothing in clean water, that he may be cleansed of the uncleannness of his illness. - fiu pilir fi talur fi lillenda fi unaiar fi ecrissa fi veicrisir fi corennor lunas fi tolas fi aimilosos fi cusellunas fi colunas fi ecrideilienas fiuna fi neritha unecseir onnen e celitha.
But [he who is] lame or blind or deaf or dumb or a eunuch or mad, or subject to faintness or fits or headache or heart-weakness or lung-weakness or tears of passion, or wounded without fever, he is clean. - fiu thuleiŋc pare virisinthos, uc uninán fi then e teres el.
But the body of one whipped for shame is unclean, and he shall not go forth but shall stand at the gate. - celisúl f’unemvén e istenir, u cal tethoira fi brenna calais avesuvis, fie dha’l eiŋcelihwe av e viris.
The priest shall bid him wash, nor turn him away; and he shall wash his feet and hands in clean water, that he may be cleansed of shame. - dha cal oran thulcis.
Thus shall they cleanse themselves of uncleanness. - cal f’istán seu istenora.
The priests also shall be cleansed and worship. - allún f’urrún sien, then istenir’ isteninis il.
Day and night, there shall ever be a priest upon the high place. - emvén e una istenora celidinire fi amfie litithe fi nefithe f’ arrinithe fi nerithe fi derithe fiuna, fiu ŋun litithe medois, nefithe rideis fi telinis, arrinithe fi nerithe helisereis, derithe valisad.
The priests shall not turn away one who seeks cleansing, nor anyone else, whether hungry or cold or ill or wounded or in danger, but they shall give to the hungry food and drink, to the cold fire and shelter, to the ill and hurt aid, to those in danger refuge. - annún el rid avoi uc uneclún avoi an-taláv aistwín. rid seu hweora dilivora.
At sunset they shall light the lamp, and they shall not let it go out until dawn. They shall also burn sweet herbs. - tered allún eól, aistwín f’annún, inthén fi teigléd cwelli; tul nen e creid, aiyeár i aiyes taledis evim; cul ecsól breŋcäei anda illin.
At the gates of the day, dawn and sunset, they shall pour wine and drink of it; then they shall make the prayers, chanting in the ancient mode; then they shall pour out the cup on the earth. - dha istán alle.
Thus shall the god be worshipped. - fin seu teiglad istenora fie dha’l earihwe f’eilelihwe av venora fi cirora; te’ av integean avannas dha:
The priests also shall watch the skies that they may know and understand the times and seasons. For the ordering of the year is thus: - te’ allún teleon amunas isteniarreni, anistán filáv lisivor’ anda ic, u barren e amuna allún sei fi cwesere fi twecamme, isteniarreni fi allún cwesere fi twecamme, citis curivenora cwere fi twesere, te’ av curivenean allún sere u lenden i allún venas tinthes el curi.
The first day of spring is the Feast of Rising, when the growing things rise up from the earth, and spring has ninety-one days, the Feast of Rising and ninety days, that is, fifteen market-weeks; for a market-week is six days, and on the last day of the week falls the market. - te’ allún teleon ecetinas eiarreni, u barren e ecetéin allún sei fi cwesere fi twecamme, eiarreni fi allún cwesere fi twecamme, citis curivenora cwere fi twesere.
The first day of summer is the Feast of Water, and summer has ninety-one days, the Feast of Water and ninety days, that is, fifteen market-weeks. - te’ allún teleon cwelleiŋgas iŋceiviarreni, iŋceimv filáv senna, u barren e cwelleiŋga allún sei fi cwesere fi twecamme, iŋceiviarreni fi allún cwesere fi twecamme, citis curivenora cwere fi twesere.
The first day of autumn is the Feast of Gathering, when the grain is gathered in, and autumn has ninety-one days, the Feast of Gathering and ninety days, that is, fifteen market-weeks. - te’ allún teleon celoeinas avaiarreni, u barren e celoéin allún twere fi cwesere fi twecamme, avaiarreni fi allún cwesere fi twecamme, citis curivenora cwere fi twesere, fi rediallún tarrenden e isteniarrenis eve.
The first day of winter is the Feast of Lights, and winter has ninety-two days, the Feast of Lights and ninety days, that is, fifteen market-weeks, and the Leading Day which leads before the Feast of Rising. - tea isteniarrenean allún tele avannas fi allún minanan ave tannetire anenisad il talama el eve; u talvellis, fie dha’l etheneisfe av allún dhe, twasár rediallún istenora fie dha’l eberihwe av avora tweri fi urora tweri.
The Feast of Rising is the first day of the year, the day on which the lengthening sun goes most nearly in the Great Path; and when needful, in order that it may be this day, the priests shall double the Leading Day so that it has two suns and two nights. - eltés allún, fie dha’l earihwe av venora athora, u eltés seu sarditrele fi filiteigunna fi eslora solos f’ ilitos, fie dha’l earihwe av inthenor’ athora.
They shall keep the days, that they may know true times, and they shall keep also the ell-rod, the acre-chain, and weights of the pound and the drachm, that they may know true measures. - isteninis Melennas il, then istenora cwere; isteninis Suvanevas il, then istenora cwere; isteninis Terallenas il, then istenora cwere; isteninis Tioredas il, then istenora cwere; isteninis Cirelinas il, then istenora cwere;
On the high place of Melenna, there shall be three priests; on the high place of Suvanev, there shall be three priests; on the high place of Terallen, there shall be three priests; on the high place of Tiored, there shall be three priests; on the high place of the Cir-Eléin, there shall be three priests; - fiu isteninis Navenas il, then istenora cwere fi twesere, taŋgerre yen, u then eon aristenire Telianas ianas.
but on the high place of Naven, there shall be fifteen priests, five each in all, and one shall be high priest of all the Telian. - villis or etheneisfe av freanda, villis illin then istenithora dhora istenined dheól.
So long as the fyrdlands endure shall there be these priests upon these high places. - then istenir’ elfie villis or calc av elfie viris, fiu elimeisfe f’eveieniveleisfe min e, veián e, u talél amfie thenora; fiu dha egeseisfe min istenire.
Each priest shall stand so long as he is clean of shame, but if he grow weary and wish to leave, let him leave, and they who are left shall choose another; and so also if a priest die. - fiu then aristenire villis or calc av e viris u adanan cresoi fi tahwén; veián t’ una, fie dha’lun etahwenuŋye av alle tullin seu; u gost coráv tu, inunt taláv allún ecros, talél amfie.
But the high priest shall stand so long as he is clean of shame and [his] mind and speech are sound; he shall not leave, lest the god should yet speak to him; and after he has died, before the sun hath set on his pyre, they shall choose another. - talél seu sulberora fie dha corsereis il, musora fi amfiora fenneráin.
They may choose also water-carriers to help [them], whether their sons or other fyrdmen. - u tul eltheinn istenini f’ istenire una tul evel, talél sulberre telinis.
And where there is neither high place nor priest, let the water-carrier dwell in a house. - istahweniveill min nor, aiá e cwered evra: dhel istaiá isteninis illin sor fiedher, te’ av fiedhean; u tul on cwere.
If a man wishes to make an oath, he shall say before three men: Here I, such-and-such a man, swear by the high place that such-and-such a thing is [true]; and then he shall name the three. - uc aiá nor: te’ ammuram anistaira. uc aiá cwere: te’ assoras anistaira.
And the man shall say: Ye are oathtakers. And the three shall say: We are oathtakers. - on dhel e dha: freanda Telianis dhil, fiedhil, thennis fiedhil allún fiedhel meletelinis fiedhil avannas dheas, fiedhas aian coráv Inaiyora.
The ‘here’ shall be named thus: In this Telian fyrdland, such as it be, in such a watch on such a day of such a season of this year, such as it be after the Law was given. - sebeiss llistahwén ellin, u eveineisfe min e ic, arsít e virre u twasemáin unidithora ián er.
His oath cleaves to him, and if he break it, he shall be whipped for shame and shall twice repay all those wronged. - unsebeiss tu eistahweneisfe min tu elitha unistaired fi gilitha fi clarréid fiuna; uc unsebeiss istahwén amfie, onis hellas illin fi onis lledanas fi lledenora fi onis alloras fiuna.
That oath does not cleave if sworn by one hidden, with no oathtakers (i.e. witnesses), or by a drunk man, or by a child; nor does any other oath cleave, whether by his own name or by the name of his house or fathers or by the name of gods. - veinir onnen istaiare undis f’arcintahwenis illin.
Oathbreaker is he who swears [to do] what is unrighteous and unlawful. - unit tu min cur fennor, istaiá undithe cullin cwered evra, unit fi veimainun av tu cur dha.
If one fyrdman has wronged another, the man wronged shall swear to him before three men that thus the other has wronged and owes him. - u hivaia min c’ undire, semáin twaran.
And if the one who wronged him agrees, they shall settle it between them. - fiu veiaia min cu, istaiá cu tullin cwered evra, unsarc av cu, uc amfiera sarc av cu fiu unveimainun cu dha.
But if that man disagrees, he shall swear to him before three men that he has not done it, or else that he has done it but does not thus owe him. - elán istaiara illininis, rosis curiallún an-coráv ispesi teleos il; fiu thuleiŋc min e, elán ora rosis curiallún tos il; fiu ethelceisfe min e seu, elfén ora talaiara rosis curiallún cos il curiasis illin.
The oathtakers shall go to the court in the morning of the first market-day after the summoning; or if one is unclean, they shall go in the morning of the second market-day; but if one be yet unclean, the judges shall come out to meet them in the morning of the third market-day, up to the market’s edge. - rosis curiallún ianas il curis il, imfén talaiara iŋosora, u illín veitahwén fenith’ ián, antalaira cwer elfie.
On the morning of every market-day, at the market, the judges of that day shall gather and listen to all disagreements brought [to them], three judges to each [disagreement]. - istaiá istaiara, ai’ av isthén. tul illín e talaiara, ispesire tela, ispesithe tura.
The oathtakers shall swear that they are speaking the truth. Then the judges shall listen to them, first the summoner, next the summoned. - aiá lletahwén elfier; fiu umfeinn min levilenithe, talél embesire talaiara, uc uneilaintahweneisfe min nor, talél filtahwenire talaiara.
Each man shall speak for himself; but if one weak of lungs cannot be heard, the judges shall choose a crier, or if a man cannot speak Heláin, the judges shall choose an interpreter. - illín amfiora untea ’n oran anistaira ispasas fien lelinnen fi fefinnen f’earren serei fiuna ’vora.
They shall listen to any others who, though they are not oathtakers of the summons, still heard or saw or knew what befell. - fal talaiara istaiared eóc; tul veián. an-taláv annún, talaiá e linis istaiaras il.
The judges shall ask [questions] of the oathtakers; then they shall withdraw. By evening they shall judge (announce their judgement) in the hearing of the oathtakers. - istaiá rian unian, fiu talvellis, illín i lelinnen fi fefinnen f’earren serei fiuna ian evi, u teán hillerran serifiniran istaian serienas.
No woman shall swear an oath, but in need, they shall listen to her who heard or saw or knew what befell, and a midwife who sees a maiden shall be witness to [her] maidenhead.
Notes
2.1: A famous textual variant ends not in elle '(know) him' but in e'lles '(know) of/about him'; eLE and eLes are almost indistinguishable in longtailed script.
2.2ff.: This section reflects a traditional sixfold division of matter: par ‘body’, which all concrete things have; cama ‘life’, which plants, animals, and sometimes heavenly objects have; meroi ‘sensation’, that is, the mind-body interface, including sense-perception and movement; ecridoi ‘passions’, that is, unchecked emotions or impulses; neicoi ‘memory’; and cresoi ‘mind’, the faculty that mediates among meroi, ecridoi, and neicoi.
2.3: ecridoiledai lit. ‘the luck of passions’ denies that the god has emotions come upon him willy-nilly, while leaving open that he might still have emotions (ecridoi).
2.9: The switch from pl. creid to sg. i suggests ‘the prayers, each of which ...’
2.11: Contrasting mer ‘pity’ and immer ‘condescend’.
2.20: lit. ‘while the moon/month is bleeding a woman’. Note that a menstruating or postpartum woman is not under bloodguilt herself, but a man who copulates with her is; and a newborn is also under bloodguilt for spilling its mother’s blood.
2.51: ‘five each in all’ was taken by later Naven interpreters to mean that Naven should have five priests for every priest on another high place; in Tersas’s time, however, each high place had five priests, three on that fyrdland’s high place and two representing them in Naven.
2.56: Not talel ‘be chosen’ (in 53ff.) but its homonym ‘dwell’.
2.58: This archaic oath-formula, predating Tersas, makes the witnesses participants in the oath.
2.62: Or ‘he who swears by what is unrighteous and unlawful’.
2.66: The curias ‘market-edge’ is the boundary between clean and unclean land, the nearest the unclean man could come to the law-court.
2.69: filtahwenir, here rendered ‘interpreter’, is the same word used earlier for ‘prophet’.
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