I am wearied with the labour of poling, Dispatched with this message from the Cave-dweller, "Come, herald, run, Summon the two chiefs to come to me, Why was my fowl slain? I know of no evil that he did." Thus the herald gave his message, Nakausamba answers him boastfully, "Herald, hold thy peace, We are all the children of men, I am the child of space, I am the child of the rising moon, Which Waithala made to rise, This herald is full of questions, My way would be to have thee roasted, It would be a pity not to have thee eaten, For thou art the worst of lowborn men; I have confined the rising moon." Then speaks Nathirikaumoli, "Tell this to the Cave-dweller, How came he by his pigeon? Found he it in the water, or found he it on land, Go, tell him that we will fight for it, Turukawa is the root of the evil, It is by him that Kauvandra is divided, It is not well that we should live together, Up with the flag and let us fight." His spear lies ready on the shelf, And his club can be snatched from the eaves, Have you counted the spear-points of tree-fern? Sit down and let us number them, Ten times one hundred in all; Let us hoist the pennants of war, The welkin rings with the tumult. The craftsmen are sitting in council, They consult, each gives his opinion, Rokola now speaks, "Go and fit close a rampart of vesi, Give special heed to the gate," Ten days has the battle raged, The rope has snared them; they are dismembered, Lutunasombasomba is dishonoured, He it is who is to be pitied, Let us then recall his words, "We are now in terrible plight, You gloat over our corpses, Thinking how ye will dismember them for the feast." The poem is finished and there is silence. Vunivasa Ndungu toka ni singa ko Turukawa, Sa tambu ndungu ni vakama taka, Tangi ko Ndengei ru sa lomana, Isa nonku toa, na toa turanga, U vula ndua koto ni tambu kana, U vula rua koto ni lolovaka, Me ndua me thithi ki Narauyamba, I tarongi rau na ngone turanga, Oi ndrua, ru vanai Turukawa, Sa tambu ndungu ni vakamataka, "Tiko i ulunda na tiko vinaka, Ru sanga voli nai vakayandra." Ra tukia ni mbongi na veivala, Ndua nai valu ma sorovi rawa. Tambu ni sorovi mo ndru la'ki kamba, Era mba nai valu i ruarua, Ndua i yaviti yae; ndua i tambili, yae, Ului Ndreketi era sa mbini. Seu nai valu i matasawa, Ia la'ki seu ki sawana, Ru la'ki samuti ko Nakauvandra, Vosa i cei a vuna vala? Thimbi koto nai valu sa rawa, Lave a osooso ni turanga, Enda vala, enda vala, enda vala--i! Second Choir