a tale from western Tana, from J. A. Friis, Lappiske Sprogprøver (1856)

Ruöbba, whose name Friis's own glossary explains as "one who has scurf on his head", is the youngest of three brothers. Told in western Tana and printed by Jens Andreas Friis in 1856, in Sámi only, this tale tells how he caught one of three white geese that were the daughters of the Pope-King, lost her through the tasks his own king set him, and went out beyond the moonlight to win her again.

Translation

There was once a married man who had three sons. The youngest son was Ruöbba. And the man had crops of corn, but every night in the autumn the crops were eaten, and he did not know what was eating them.

Then the eldest son went to keep watch in the night; but when he had stayed there till midnight, he heard a droning in the air, and fled home in fear. The second night the middle brother went; but when he had stayed till midnight and then heard a droning coming down out of the air, he too took fright in the same way and went home. On the third night Ruöbba went, and he crept in under an iron grating.

When he had been there a little while, he heard a droning come down there out of the air. Then three white geese came down, and they alighted in the corn-stack. Then they took off their shapes and became three maidens, and one, who was the youngest and the most beautiful, laid her shape apart by itself. Then Ruöbba crept over to the shape and took it, and crept back in under the iron grating.

When the three maidens had finished tearing at the corn, they went to their shapes, and the two eldest maidens found their shapes and slipped them on and flew off home again; but the youngest, who did not find her shape, was left behind there, and she began to call out: "If you are a married man who has taken my shape, come and speak with me, and I will give a great herd! If you are a woman who has taken my shape, come and speak with me, and I will give a great herd! If you are a boy who has taken my shape, come and speak with me, and I (promise myself) to you as wife!"

Then Ruöbba stood up from under the iron grating over there, and came to the beautiful maiden and asked: "Why do you go about here tearing up our corn?" The maiden answered: "We come here because we have no corn!" Then Ruöbba asked: "Whose daughters are you?" The maiden answered: "We are the Pope-King's daughters! Won't you give me my shape now?" "I will not give it, until I may kiss you, and you promise yourself to me as wife and give me a pledge."

Now the girl had a gold ring, and on the ring stood the father's name and the mother's name and the girl's name. When he had kissed the girl and had the ring, he gave her shape back. And when the girl had her shape, she slipped it on and bade the boy farewell, and promised to come back after half a year to fetch him; and then she flew off home to her own place.

In the morning Ruöbba's father asked his son: "Did you find out who eats the corn?" Ruöbba answered only: "They won't eat it any more!" And the father came to know no more of how it had been.

After half a year the girl came to fetch her bridegroom with a flying ship. And the girl said to her bridegroom: "Be ready now to go!" Ruöbba answered: "I will not go before I go and take leave of my king." The bride answered: "Don't go there; you will be given such a sentence that I cannot help you!"

But Ruöbba paid no heed to that; he went to his king all the same, and when he came to his king, he said: "Stay well now, gracious king! I mean to go now to the Pope-King's realm, to marry the Pope-King's daughter." The king answered: "You shall not go, before you cut down the whole of that forest to the ground."

Then Ruöbba went to his bride and said: "Now I have been given such a sentence that I cannot do it." The bride answered: "Why did you not trust me! Didn't you hear me say that you would get such a sentence that I could not help you with it?" Then the girl gave her bridegroom an axe and told him: "Go there now and cut a little tree to the ground, and when the tree falls to the ground, wish: 'Would that the forest fell to the ground as the tree did!'"

When Ruöbba had finished there, he went back to his bride, and the bride said: "Be ready now, let us go!" Ruöbba answered: "I will not go before I take leave of my king." The bride answered: "Don't go there, or you will be given such a sentence that I cannot help you."

But Ruöbba paid no heed to that; he went to his king all the same, and when he came to his king, he said to the king: "Stay well now, my dear gracious king! I have cut all your forest down to the ground, and now I mean to go." Then the king went to look at his forest, and when he came to his forest, he saw that all his forest was felled to the ground. Then the king said: "You shall not go, before you raise all my forest up again."

Then Ruöbba went to his bride and said: "Now I have been given such a sentence that I cannot do it. I have to raise all that forest up again." The bride answered: "Why did you not trust me, when I said that you would get such a sentence that I could not help you?" Then the bride gave her bridegroom a little glass and told him: "Go there now to the little tree and anoint it, and then raise it up, and when the tree rises upright, wish: 'Would that the forest rose upright just as the tree did!'" He did so, and the whole forest rose up.

Then he went back to his bride, and the bride said again: "Be ready now, let us go!" "I will not go yet, before I go and take leave of my king." "Don't go, or you will be given such a sentence that I cannot help you any more."

But he paid no heed to that; he went all the same, and when he came to the king, he said: "Stay well now, my dear gracious king! I have now raised your forest up, and now I mean to go." Then the king went to look at his forest, and when he came to his forest, the forest stood upright in the same way as before. Then the king said: "You shall not go yet, before you fetch the golden lasso from the realm of darkness."

Then Ruöbba went to his bride and said: "Now I have been given such a sentence that I cannot do it. I have to fetch the golden lasso from the realm of darkness." The bride answered: "Didn't you hear me say that you would get such a sentence that I could not help you any more!" Then the bride took her leave of her bridegroom and said: "Now we two shall never see each other again!" And the bride went into her ship, and the ship flew off home.

But Ruöbba walked off to the realm of darkness. Ruöbba walked as long as the light of this world's sun lasted; then came the moonlight, and he went on until the moonlight came to an end. Then came the starlight, and when that came to an end, he came to the realm of darkness. There he got hold of the golden lasso, which he coiled up on his hand, and at once he set off back from there again and came into the starlight; when that came to an end, he came into the moonlight; when that came to an end, he came into the sunlight.

As he was walking along, he saw two giant boys fighting. Ruöbba came up to them and asked: "Why are you two fighting?" "We two have a hat we inherited, and we are fighting over that hat, which of us shall have it." "You two must not fight; share it nicely! What sort of hat is it?" The giant boys answered, both of them: "When you put that hat on your head, you are not seen any more." "Well, I will have a look at the hat too, then," said Ruöbba, and he put the hat on his head and vanished away from the two.

Ruöbba was walking on from there, when he saw there two giant boys fighting. When he came up to the two giant boys, he asked: "Why are you two fighting?" "We two have boots we inherited; we are fighting over them, for we both want them." Then Ruöbba asked: "What sort of boots are they?" The giant boys answered, both of them: "They are such boots that when you put them on your feet, you stride a mile at every step." Then Ruöbba said: "Let me have a look at those boots too!" And they gave them; but when Ruöbba had the boots, he put his hat on his head and vanished away from the two. Then he put the boots on his feet and went.

But when he had walked a few miles from there, there too he saw two giant boys fighting. He came up to the two of them and asked: "Why are you two fighting?" The giant boys answered, both of them: "We two have a staff we inherited; we are fighting over it, for we both want it." Then Ruöbba asked: "What is that staff used for?" The giant boys answered, both of them: "If you prod a living person with the one end, he dies, and if you prod a dead person with the other end, he comes to life." Then Ruöbba said: "Give me that staff too; let me have a look as well!" When Ruöbba had the staff, he put his hat on his head and vanished away from the two.

Ruöbba walked on a little while from there, and came to a troll-hag. Ruöbba slipped into her house and said: "Good day, my dearest little mother!" The troll-hag answered: "Would that I could do for you a dearest mother's duties!" Then Ruöbba asked: "Don't you know, my dearest little mother, where the Pope-King's realm is?" The troll-hag answered: "I don't know, not before I go and whistle my birds together."

So she went out and whistled her birds together, and when they had come together, she sent the old eagle to fly round the earth and seek the Pope-King's realm. And the eagle flew round the earth, but simply did not find it. When it came home, the troll-hag said: "Go now and fly round the sea; if you don't find it, I will burn you!" The eagle flew round the sea, but did not find it. When it came home, the troll-hag singed it, sent it to fly round the sky, and said: "Now when you go for the third time, if you don't find it, I will burn you."

Then the eagle set off to fly round the sky, and it found the Pope-King's realm on the far side of the moonlight. Then it came home and said: "Now I have found it!" The troll-hag asked: "Where did you find it, then, far away?" "I found it out beyond the moonlight." Then the troll-hag sent the eagle as a guide for Ruöbba, and the eagle was to carry Ruöbba across the great sea.

Ruöbba now took his leave of the troll-hag and said: "Stay well now, my dearest little mother!" The troll-hag answered: "Go well now, my dear son!" Ruöbba set off, but in the porch it came back to him that his head was ugly, and he turned back into the house and said: "Don't you know any counsel, my dearest mother?" "I have a golden kettle in the porch; stick your head into it!" So Ruöbba stuck his head into it, and his head became pure gold.

Then Ruöbba took his leave of the troll-hag once more, and the two of them set off, he and the eagle together. Ruöbba set off running and the eagle set off flying, but Ruöbba was faster than the eagle and came first to the far side of the great sea. The eagle arrived after him, and when it came, it too alighted there to rest. Then Ruöbba asked the eagle: "Can you manage to carry my things as well?" "Surely I can!"

Then the eagle told Ruöbba: "Now fetch three stones from the shore: you must take one from the high-water mark, the second from the middle of the shore, and the third from the low-water mark." When Ruöbba came back from the shore, the eagle said: "Now get up on my back!" and then instructed him further: "When I tell you to throw a stone into the sea, when I grow tired and want to rest, you must throw the high-water stone first."

Then the eagle flew off, and flew until it grew tired, and then it said: "Now throw the high-water stone out in front!" And the stone became an island, and the two of them sat down on it to rest; and when they had rested there, the eagle flew off again, and as it flew off, the stone sank to the bottom. Then the eagle flew on until it grew tired. Then Ruöbba threw the mid-shore stone, and when it grew tired after that, he threw the low-water stone. When the eagle flew on from there, it reached the shore.

Then the eagle turned back home, and Ruöbba walked off to the Pope-King's yard. When he came to the king's yard, there was his bride, washing clothes by the well, and a boy was there too, by his mother, and the boy was peeping into the well. Then Ruöbba went to peep into the well over the boy's shoulder, and he lifted off his hat, so that the boy saw a reflection down in the well. Then the boy went to his mother and said that he had seen his father down in the well.

The mother answered: "You have a father, sure enough, but you will never get to see your father!" And the mother took her son by the hand, and they went into the house. When they came into the house, the girl began to comb her hair, and went to the big mirror to look at herself. Ruöbba went behind the girl and raised his hat. The girl saw him in the mirror; she glanced behind her, and saw nothing. Again she began to comb her hair, and Ruöbba raised his hat there, but when the girl glanced behind her, she saw nothing.

Then she began a third time to comb her hair. Ruöbba raised his hat from his head. The girl saw him in the mirror and glanced behind her, but she saw nothing. Then she began to weep and said: "Why do you not show yourself to me, if it may be true that it is you, my bridegroom, whom I have now seen in the mirror three times?"

Then Ruöbba showed himself, and the bride took him round the neck and kissed him and said: "I did not believe that we two should ever see each other again in this world, but now I believe it, because I see you. But how did you come here?"

Ruöbba told how he had come, and then said to the girl: "Go now to your father, and I will go out there, a fair way off from the house; and you must peep out through the window, and when you see me coming, you must tell your father: 'Look, a stranger is coming over there!'"

The girl told her father, and when the father went to look, the girl said: "I see: that is my bridegroom coming!" Then the father told his daughter: "Go out now and ask him into the house." The girl went and asked him into the house.

When Ruöbba came into the house to the king, he said: "Good day!" The king bade him sit down, and asked: "Are you the man who is to marry my daughter?" Ruöbba answered: "Well, I am!" Then the king said: "You shall not marry, before you can call up those soldiers of mine who have died, thirty of them; they are there in a house."

Then Ruöbba went and prodded them up, and they stood up and came to the king and asked: "Why, gracious king, did you wake us, when we were sleeping so peacefully? What work will you give us now?" The king answered: "Go now to war!" And they went.

Then Ruöbba married, and they began to hold a feast, and a great feast, for three days, and they kept firing shots. Then a certain joker fooled me into running past the cannon's mouth, and as I ran, he fired it, and the cannon went off with a bang, and I went flying over here. So here I am now, and they are there, and I do not know any more now how they may be, living or dead.

Colophon

Translated from the North Sámi of Lappiske Sprogprøver: en Samling af lappiske Eventyr, Ordsprog og Gaader, edited by J. A. Friis (Christiania: J. W. Cappelen, 1856), pp. 38–44, from the group headed Dænodak, which Friis's glossary gives as western Tana. Friis printed it in Sámi only. The text was transcribed from the page images of the New York Public Library copy, and Friis's own corrections were applied: diervvuođaid for diervuođaid on p. 39 and, as his list directs, at every other place the word occurs (pp. 39, 40, 42); olbmu for albmu and doaj for doai on p. 41; soaj for soai on p. 42. Slips his list does not mention are kept as printed, among them gecin beside gečin and aigom beside ajgom. Words were checked in the Sámi–Norwegian glossary that Friis printed at the back of the same book, and in his larger Ordbog over det lappiske Sprog (1887): the name Ruöbba means scurf, or one who has scurf on his head (the glossary compares the Norwegian Askefis), and faste, said of his head, is "ugly"; boanjast is read as a form of boadnja, "husband, married man", the word the maiden uses later; korna-gilva is sown corn, and korna-gilva-garde the stack of corn laid up in the barn; faktit is to keep watch; juca or jucca is a droning or booming; a ridda is a gate or barred fence, so ruovde-ridda is an iron grating; a čuöŋa is a goose; sæjvot is to alight, of birds; hapme is shape or outward form; nuollat is to take off, and gajkot to tear up; boađe mu sagaidi is "come and speak with me" (saga, talk); ællo is a herd; Pave is the Pope, and pave-gonagas is kept as "the Pope-King"; a giessam is a ring; jakke-bæle is half a year; a girde-skipa is a flying ship; duobmo is a judgement or sentence; jaketallat is to trust; bace dærvan is the farewell of the one who goes and mana dærvan that of the one who stays, here "Stay well" and "Go well"; a lasaš is a small glass vessel; vuojdet is to anoint; ceggit is to raise upright, cægganet to rise upright, and cæggot "standing upright"; a suoppan is a lasso for catching reindeer, and njammat suoppan giettasis, the tale's own phrase, is to coil the lasso up on one's hand; majlme is the world, and sevnjus darkness; arbe is inheritance; čuogget is to prod with something pointed; a truolla-galgo is a troll-hag, and buörremus-ædnačam, Ruöbba's greeting to her, is "my dearest little mother"; gædnegasvuotta is duty; njurgit is to whistle; a goaskem is an eagle; guorbadet is to singe; an oapes is a guide; olgo-bæld and olgold are "on the outside of", here "beyond"; a fæskar is the porch before the inner door of a turf hut; rađe is counsel; a gæđme is a kettle; olle-ragja and fjerva-ragja are the high-water and low-water marks; vuogjot is to sink; a gajvo is a well, and suojvakas a reflection; cujgit is to tell or warn; a jugalmas is a feast; bačalet is to shoot again and again; a bilkar is a joker; fillit is to fool; haka is a cannon; cakketet is to fire a cannon, bavketet to go off with one sudden bang, and ravgat to be flung along. Da in "Da goalmad ija" is Friis's short form of dat, "that", and vaj in "ællemen vaj jabmam" is "or". Three readings rest partly on context: ädne jugalmas is read as "a great feast", taking ädne with ædnag, "much"; viek gäski eri viesoin as "a fair way off from the house" (viek, "fairly"; gäski, from gaska, "space between"); and gietta-bællai as "by the hand". The Sámi does not mark the eagle as he or she, and the English calls it "it".

No complete English translation of Friis's collection is known to us.

© 2026 Tianmu Anglican Church. This English translation is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0: you may share and adapt it for non-commercial use with credit to the Good Works Library, tianmu.org. The source text keeps its own terms. For other uses, see Rights and Reuse.

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Source Text: Golbma girde-jomfruva

North Sámi text as printed by Friis (1856), pp. 38–44, in his orthography, with Friis's corrections for pp. 39, 40, 41 and 42 applied; line-end hyphens are joined. Friis's text, printed in two paragraphs, is divided here at the same places as the English.

De læi muttom boanjast golbma bardne. Nuorramus bardne læi Ruöbba. Ja dam boanjast legje korna-gilvagak, mutto dak gilvagak borrujegje juökke ija čakčag, ja i son diettam, mi borai daid.

De boarrasämus bardne manai faktit ikko; mutto go son oroi dobbe gask-ija ragjai, de gulai juca ajmost ja ballai vissui. Nubbe ija manai gaskalämus viellja; mutto go gask-ija ragjai son oroi ja dälle gulai ajmost juca boattemen vuölas, de songe sæmma lakkai ballai ja manai vissui. Da goalmad ija manai Ruöbba, ja son čaŋai ruovde-riddai vuöllai.

Dego son dobbe oroi oanekässi, de son gulai, go ajmost dobbe jucca vuölas boatta. De botte vuölas golbma vilgis čuöŋak, ja si sejvu korna-gilva-garde sisa. De si nulle hamaidæsek erit ja šadde golbma jomfruvan, ja okta, mi læi nuorramus ja čabbasämus, bijai sierra hamas. De Ruöbba njagai dokko dam hama lusa ja valdi dam ja čaŋai ruovde-riddai vuöllai fast.

Go si gerge golbma Jomfruva gajkomest kornaid, de si botte hamaidæsek lusa, ja guökte boarrasämus jomfruva gavnaiga hamaidæsga ja čaŋaiga daid bägjeli ja girdeleiga fast ruoktod; mutto nuorramus baci dasa, gutte i gavdnam hamas, ja son riemai čuorvot: „Go boadnja læǯak, gutte mu hama læǯak valdam, de boađe mu sagaidi, mon addam ollo ælo! Go nisson læǯak, gutte mu hama læǯak valdam, de boađe mu sagaidi, mon addam ollo ælo! Go bardne læǯak, gutte mu hama valdam læǯak, de boađe mu sagaidi, de mon dunji akkan (loppedam ječčam)!“

De Ruöbba čuöǯǯeli eri dobbe ruovde-riddai vuold, ja son bođi dokko dam čabba jomfruva lusa ja jærai: „Manne di dabe ællebækket min korna-gilvagida gajkomen?“ De vastedi jomfruva: „Mi ællep dabe danne, go mist æi læk korna-gilvagak!“ De jærai Ruöbba: „Gæn niejdak lækket di?“ De vastedi jomfruva: „Mi læp pave-gonagas niejdak! Ikgo don mu hama adde dal?“ — „Im mon adde, oudal go oaǯom cumestet du ja munji akkan loppedak ječad ja addak munji panta.“

De niejdast læi golle-giessam, ja dam giessamest čuoǯoi ače namma ja ædne namma ja niejda namma. Dego son dal oaǯoi čumestet niejda ja giessama, de äddi son hama ruoktod. Ja go niejda oaǯoi hamas, de čaŋai bägjeli ja dajai diervvuođaid bardnai ja loppedi boattet jakke-bæle duökken ruoktod vieǯǯat su, ja de girdeli ruoktod siddasis.

Iđđedest jærra Ruöbba ačče bardnestes: „Bottikgo diettet, gæk borrek korna-gilvagid?“ De vastedi Ruöbba dušše: „Æi dak borru æmbo!“ De ačče i boattam æmbo diettet, mo læi.

Jakke-bæle duökken de bođi niejda vieǯǯat irges girde-skipain. De dagja niejda irgines: „De gærga dal vuölget!“ De vastedi Ruöbba: „Im mon vuölge, oudal go mon vuölgam gonagassam diervvuođaid dakkat.“ De vastedi moarse: „Ale don vuölge dokko, don oaǯok daggar duomo, atte mon im mate du vækjetet!“

De Ruöbba i fuollam dast, de vulgi son lika vel gonagasas lusa, ja go son bođi gonagasas lusa, de son dajai: „Bace dal dærvan, armolas gonagas! De mon ajgom vuölget dal pave-gonagas riki najtalet pave-gonagas niejdain.“ De vastedi gonagas: „Ik don bæsa vuölget, oudal go čuopak ædnami buo'rak dam vuovde.“

De Ruöbba vulgi moarses lusa ja dajai: „De mon oǯǯum duomo daggar, atte im mon mate dam bargat.“ De vastedi moarse: „Manne don ik jaketallam munji! Ikgo don gullam, go mon dägjim, atte don oaǯok daggar duomo, maid mon im mate du vækjetet.“ De niejda äddi avšo ja gočoi irges: „Vuölge dal dokko ja čuopa ucca muoraš ædnami, ja go dat muorra gačča ædnami, de saval: „Vare dat vuovde gaččaši ædnami dego dat muorra!“

Go Ruöbba læi gærgam dobbe, de vulgi ruoktod moarses lusa, ja de dagja moarse: „Gærga dal, moaj vulge!“ De vastedi Ruöbba: „Im mon oudal vuölge, oudal go gonagassam diervvuođaid dagam.“ De vastedi moarse: „Ale vuölge dokko, de don oaǯok duomo daggar, atte im mon mate du vækjetet.“

De Ruöbba i fuollam dast, son lika vulgi gonagasas lusa, ja go son bođi gonagasas lusa, de dajai gonagasain: „Bace dal dærvan, armolas gonagasačam! De mon læm čuöppam buok du vuovde ædnami, ja mon dal aigom vuölget.“ De gonagas vulgi gæččat vuovdes, ja go bođi vuovdes lusa, de ojni, su vuovde læ buok čuppum ædnami. De dajai gonagas: „Ik don bæsa vuölget, oudal go don ceggik buok mu vuovde fast bajas.“

De Ruöbba vulgi moarses lusa ja dajai: „De mon oǯǯum duomo daggar, atte im mon mate dam bargat. Mon galgam fast ceggit buok dam vuovde bajas.“ De vastedi moarse: „Manne ik jaketallam munji, go mon dägjim, atte don oaǯok daggar duomo, atte im mon mate du vækjetet.“ De äddi moarse irgasis ucca lasaš ja gočoi: „Mana dal dokko dam ucca muoraš lusa ja vuojda dam, ja de čegge bajas, ja go dat muorra cæggan, de saval: „Vare dat vuovde cægganifči nugo dat muorra!“ De son nu dagai, ja de vuovde cæggani buok bajas.

De son vulgi ruoktod moarses lusa, ja de dajai fast moarse: „Gærga dal, moaj vulge!“ — „Im mon vuölge vela, oudal go mon vuölgam gonagassam diervvuođaid dakkat.“ — „Ale vuölge, de don oaǯok duomo daggar, atte mon im mate vækjetet du æmbo.“

De i fuollam dast, son vulgi lika vel, ja go bođi gonagasa lusa, de dajai: „Bace dal dærvan, armolas gonagasačam! De mon læm ceggim dal du vuovde bajas, ja mon ajgom dal vuölget.“ De gonagas vulgi gæččat vuovdes, ja go bođi vuovdes lusa, de læi vuovde sæmma lakkai čæggot mo oudal. De dajai gonagas: „Ik don bæsa vel vuölget, oudal go don sevnjus-rikast golle-suoppan vieǯak.“

De vulgi Ruöbba moarses lusa ja dagja: „De mon oǯǯum daggar duomo, atte maid mon im mate bargat. Mon galgam vieǯǯat sevnjus-rikast golle-suoppan.“ De vastedi moarse: „Ikgo don gullam, go mon dägjim, don oaǯok duomo daggar, atte mon im mate du vækjetet æmbo!“ De moarse dagai diervvuođaid irgasis ja dajai: „De moaj æmbo æm oajdnal goassege!“ Ja de moarse manai skipas sisa, ja skipa girdeli ruoktod.

Mutto Ruöbba vaʒʒeli sevnjus-riki. De Ruöbba vaʒi nu gukka, go dam majlme bæjvaš čuovga bisti, de bođi mano čuovga, ja de manai nu gukka, go mano čuovga nogai. De bođi nasti čuovga, ja dego dat nogai, de bođi sevnjus-riki. Dobbe fätti golle-suoppan, maid son njamai giettasis, ja de vulgi dallan dobbe fast erit ja bođi nasti čuvgi, dego dat nogai, de bođi son mano čuvgi, dego dat nogai, de bođi son bæjvaš čuvgi.

Dego son dal læi vaʒʒemen, de ojni, guökte Jetanas-bardne doarrob. Ruöbba bođi dai lusa ja jærra: „Manne doaj doarrobække?“ — „Monnost læ arbe-hatta, dam arbe-hatta moaj dorru, guabba galga oaǯǯot.“ — „Æppe galga doarrot, juogadække čabbaset! Maggar hatta dat læ?“ De vastedeiga Jetanas-bardne guöftes, atte: „Go dam hatta oajvai bigja, de i ojdnu æmbo.“ — „Galle monge gæčam dam hatta,“ maid Ruöbba dajai, ja de naketi oajvasis dam hatta ja javkai dam guökta lut erit.

De Ruöbba læi vaʒʒemen das, de ojni das, guökte Jetanas-bardne doarrob. Dego bođi Jetanas-barne guökta lusa, de jærai: „Manne doaj doarrobække?“ — „Monnost læ arbe-stævelak, dai ald moaj dorru, go moaj dattu gugtug daid.“ De jærra Ruöbba: „Maggar dak stævelak læk?“ De vastedeiga Jetanas-bardne guöftes: „Dat læ stævelak daggar, go daid bigja juölgai, de lavke mila juökke lavkest.“ De Ruöbba dagja: „Adde munjige gæččat daid stævelid!“ De äddige; mutto Ruöbba, go oaǯoi daid stævelid, de son bijai hattas oajvai ja javkai dam guökta lut erit. De son bijai daid stævelid juölgasis ja vulgi.

Mutto go son das læi vaʒʒam moadde mila, de ojni dasge guökte Jetanas-barne doarromen. Dego bođi dam guökta lusa ja jærai: „Manne doaj doarrobække?“ De vastedeiga Jetanas-bardne guöftes: „Monnost læ arbe-soabbe, dam ald moaj dorru, atte moaj dattu gugtug dam.“ De jærai Ruöbba: „Mannen dat soabbe adnu?“ De vastedeiga Jetanas-bardne guöftes: „Go nubbe gečin čuögge ælle olbmu, de dat jabma, ja go nubbe gecin čuögge jabmam olbmu, de dat ælla.“ De dagja Ruöbba: „Adde munjige dam soabe, monge gæčam!“ Dego Ruöbba oaǯoi dam soabe, de son naketi hattas oajvai ja javkai dam guökta lut eri.

De Ruöbba vaʒi oanekässi das ja bođi truolla-galgo guovdo. Ruöbba čaŋai su vissui ja ravkai: „Buörre bæjve, buörremus-ædnačam!“ De vastedi truolla-galgo: „Vare mon buvtašim bargat du vuösta buörremus-ædne gædnegasvuođaid!“ De jærra Ruöbba: „Ikgo don dieđe, buörremus-ædnačam, gost læ pave-gonagas rika?“ De vastedi truolla-galgo: „Im mon dieđe, oudal go mon vuölgam loddidam njurgit čoakkai.“

De son manai olgus ja njurgi loddides čoakkai, ja go dak legje čoakkai boattam, de son saddi boares goaskem girdet birra ædnam occat pave-gonagas rika. Ja goaskem girdi birra ædnam, de nuvt i gavdnam. Dego bođi ruoktod, de dajai truolla-galgo: „Vuölge dal girdet birra abe, dego ik gavnaš, de mon du boaldam!“ Goaskem girdi birra abe, mutto i gavdnam. Dego bođi ruoktod, de truolla-galgo guorbadi su, saddi su girdet birra alme ja dajai: „Go don dal goalmadäšši manak, dego don ik gavnaš, de mon du boaldam.“

De goaskem vulgi girdet birra alme, ja de gavnai pave-gonagas rika olgo-bæld mano čuovgas. De bođi ruoktod ja dajai: „De mon dal gavdnim!“ Jærra truolla-galgo: „Gost dal gavdnik, gukkën?“ — Mon gavdnim olgold mano čuovgas.“ De truolla-galgo saddi goaskem oappesën Ruöbbai, ja goaskem galga guöddet rasta stuorra abe Ruöbba.

Ruöbba dagai dal diervvuođaid truolla-galgoi ja dagja: „Bace dal dærvan, buörremus-ædnačam!“ De vastedi truolla-galgo: „De mana dal dærvan, barnačam!“ De Ruöbba vulgi, de mujtai fast fæskarest, atte sust læ oajve faste ja jorgeti fast vissui ja dajai: „Ikgo don dieđe rađe, buörremus-ædnes?“ — „Must læ golle gæđme fæskarest, naket dam sisa oajvad!“ De Ruöbba naketi oajves dam sisa, ja šaddai oajve bære golle.

De Ruöbba fast dagai diervvuođaid truolla-galgoi, ja de soaj vulgiga goaskemin oftanaga. Ruöbba vulgi viekkat, ja goaskem vulgi girdet, mutto Ruöbba læi jotteleb go goaskem ja bođi oudal dam stuorra abe duökkai. Goaskem joavdai maŋŋa, ja go dat bođi, de datge sæjvoi dasa vuojŋastet. De jærai Ruöbba goaskemest: „Goastadakgo muo galvo majda guöddet?“ — „Galle mon goastadam!“

De gočoi goaskem Ruöbba: „Vieǯa dal golma gæđge fjervast, ovta galgak valdet olle-rajast, nubbe gaska-fjervast ja goalmad fjerva-rajast.“ Go Ruöbba bođi fjervast, de gočoi goaskem: „Mana dal muo sælge ala!“ ja de ravvi vela: „Go mon gočom du gæđge balkestet merri, go mon vajbam ja datom vuojŋastet, de don galgak vuost balkestet olle-raja gæđge.“

De goaskem girdeli ja girdi nu gukka, go son vajbai, de gočoi: „Balkest dal olle-raja gæđge ouda-bællai!“ De dat šaddai suolon, ja soaj čokkaneiga dasa vuojŋastet, ja go soaj dast vuojŋasteiga, de goaskem ajn girdeli, ja go son girdeli, de dat gæđge vuojoi bodnai. De girdi goaskem nu gukka, go dassago son das vajbai. De balkesti Ruöbba gaska-fjerva gæđge, ja go son das vajbai, de son balkesti fjerva-raja gæđge. Go goaskem das girdeli, de son goastai gaddai.

De jorgeti goaskem ruoktod, ja Ruöbba vaʒʒeli pave-gonagas gardemi. Dego son bođi gonagas gardemi, de læi sust moarse bâssaladdamen biftasid čacce-gajvo lut, ja bardne læi majda dast ædnes lut, ja bardne guovla gajvo sisa. De manai Ruöbba barne oalge bagjel guovlat gajvo sisa, ja son lokti hattas erit, nu atte bardne ojni suojvakas dobbe gajvo siste. De dat manai ædnes lusa ja dajai, ačes ojni dobbe gajvo siste.

De vastedi ædne, atte: „Dust ačče læ galle, mutto ik don boađe ačad oajdnet goassege!“ ja de valdi ædne barnes gietta-bællai ja vulgiga vissui. Dego soaj bođiga vissui, de riemai niejda čokkot oajves ja manai stuorra spæjal lusa ječas gæččat. Ruöbba manai niejda sælgai ja bajedi hattas bajas. De niejda ojni spæjalest, de son gæčasti sælgasis, de i oajdnam maidege. Ajn riemai son oajves čokkot, de Ruöbba das bajedi hattas, mutto go niejda gæčasti sælgasis das, de i oajdnam maidege.

De riemai goalmadäšši čokkot oajves. Ruöbba das bajedi hattas oajvest. Niejda ojni das spæjalest ja gæčasti das sælgasis, mutto de i oajdnam maidege. De riemai čierrot ja dajai: „Manne don čajet ik ječad munji, go læǯǯa duot, atte don dat læk, mu irge, gæn mon læm oajdnam dal spæjalest golma gærde?“

De Ruöbba čajeti ječas, ja moarse valdi su birra čæppat ja čumesti ja dajai: „Im mon jakam, atte moaj galgaime æmbo oajdnalet dam majlmest, mutto mon dal jakam, go oajnam. Mutto mo don dejki bottik?“

De Ruöbba mujtali, mo son bođi, ja de dagja niejdain: „Mana dal ačad lusa, ja mon manam olgus dokko viek gäski eri viesoin, ja de galgak guovlat lasa-rajge, ja go don oajnak mu boattemen, de galgak cujgit aččasad: „Gæč, amas olmuš do boatta!“

De niejda cujgi aččasis, ja go ačče vulgi gæččat, de dagja niejda: „Oajnam mon, mu irge dat boatta!“ De gočoi ačče niejdas: „Vuölge dal olgus ja gočo vissui.“ Niejda vulgi ja gočoi vissui.

Go Ruöbba bođi vissui gonagas lusa, de ravkai: „Buörre bæjve!“ Gonagas gočoi čokkanet ja jærra: „Dongo læk dat olmaj, gutte mu niejdain de galgak najtalet?“ De vastedi Ruöbba: „No mon læm!“ De dajai Gonagas: „Ik don bæsa najtalet, oudal go don buvtičak ravkat bajas daid soaldatid, mak læk must jabmam, golma loge; dobbe læk viesost orromen dak.

De Ruöbba manai ja čuoggoi daid bajas, ja dok čuöǯǯelegje bajas ja botte gonagas lusa ja jerre: „Manne don, armolas gonagas, boktik min bajas, go mi læimek nu rafhest oađđemen? Maid dal addak migjidi bargon?“ De vastedi gonagas: „Mannet dal soattai!“ De si männe.

De Ruöbba najtali, ja si adnegotte jugalmas ja ädne jugalmas golma bæjve ja bačalegje. De muttom bilkar filli mu viekkat mædda haka-njalme, ja go mon vikkim, de son cäkketi, de haka bavketi, de mon rävgim dejki. De læm mon dal dabe, ja si læk dobbe, imge mon æmbo dieđe dal, mo si leǯǯëk, ællemen vaj jabmam.

Source Colophon

J. A. Friis (ed.), Lappiske Sprogprøver (Christiania: J. W. Cappelen, 1856), pp. 38–44, with Friis's corrections for pp. 39, 40, 41 and 42 from his list of misprints. Public domain. Transcribed from the page images of the New York Public Library copy, digitized by Google (Internet Archive identifier lappiskesprogpr00friigoog); a former owner's handwritten marks in that copy are not part of the text. Friis's letters are kept as printed, including â, ä, ö, ë, č, đ, š, ʒ, ǯ and ŋ.

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