CHAPTER XIV HIIAKA MEETS MOTHER-GRUNDY

 It was at this point of the journey that Hiiaka lost the attendance of her sympathetic companion and faithful servant, Paú-o-pala’e. She was persuaded to unite her fortunes with those of a man from Kohala named Pa-ki’i; and we must leave unanswered the question, how she finally settled with Pele this apparent desertion of the trust with which she had been charged, that of acting¹ as aide, kahu, to Hiiaka. Wahine-oma’o now remains² as the sole companion of Hiiaka in her future adventures.

 

On resuming the journey they came before long to the broad stream of Honoli’i, which was swimming deep and, in the lack of other means of crossing, they bundled their clothes, held them above their heads with one hand and easily made the opposite shore by swimming with the aid of the other hand.

 

At the sight of this performance, the ghost-god, Hina-hina-ku-i-ka-pali and her companion, in a spirit of pure fault-finding and Mother-Grundyism, exclaimed: [61]

 

Popó ke kapa o ka wahine,

Au kohana wai, hoauau wai o Honoli’i.

E kapu oe, he mau alii;

He mau alii no, o Hina-hina-ku-i-ka-pali.

TRANSLATION

 

The women bundle their garments

And, naked, they swim the stream,

The water of Hono-li’i—

An action quite unseemly:

’Tis a slur³ on your noble rank,

I too am a chief, my name

Hina-hina-gem-of-the-cliff.

“For shame!” said Hiiaka. “These ghost-gods have been spying on our nakedness, and now they make sport of us.”

 

A great fear came upon the ghosts, that the dread⁴ goddess would seize them and pinch out their atomy spark of existence. In their terror, they flew home and, perched on the shoulders of their mother, besought⁵ her to interpose in their behalf and appease⁶ Hiiaka by a suitable offering of luau.

 

“There burns a fire,” said Wahine-oma’o, as they drew near the house.

 

“The fire of the ovens built by the ghosts,” Hiiaka answered. “They have saved themselves from death.”

 

By the time they reached the house the luau was done to a turn and the tables were spread. Wahine-oma’o made an oblation⁷ to the gods and then ate of the viands⁸. Hiiaka did not partake of the food.

 

Hiiaka now spent several days at Hono-kane, in Kohala, anxiously awaiting the departure of some canoe, by which she might pass over to the island of Maui. While thus absorbed, in a sentimental⁹ mood, looking one day across the ocean at the misty¹⁰ outline of the distant land, she saw a man of remarkable¹¹ appearance strike out from one headland of the bay to swim to the opposite point. Her admiration¹² for his physical beauty and his daring performance drew from her a song:

 

I i au, e au ma kai o ka hula ana.

Kai-ko’o a’e la lalo o ka pali; [62]

Pího-pihó a’e; lele ke kai o Maka’u-kiu;

Au hopohopo ana i ka loa o Hono-kane-iki.

I kane oe a i wahine au.

TRANSLATION

 

My heart beats high at your venture—

To buffet¹³ the raging sea!

Wild heave the waves ’neath the cliff-wall.

To be whelmed by Ocean’s might—

The ocean of Maka’u-kiu!

My heart forgets to beat at sight

Of your rashness, Hono-kane!

Would you were the man, the woman I!

Hono-kane heard, of course, the words that were uttered in his praise and, being a man of chivalrous¹⁴ instincts as well as of honor, he invited Hiiaka and Wahine-oma’o to enjoy the hospitalities of his home.

 

As they sat at a feast spread in her honor, Hiiaka, as was her wont¹⁵, bowed her head in prayer with closed eyes, and the others did likewise and when they opened their eyes and looked, the portion that had been set before Hiiaka was gone, spirited away.

 

In the evening it was announced that a canoe was to sail in the early morning on a voyage to Maui, whereupon Hiiaka secured the promise of a passage for herself and Wahine-oma’o.

1 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

2 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

3 slur   

v.含糊地说；诋毁；连唱；n.诋毁；含糊的发音

参考例句：

• He took the remarks as a slur on his reputation.他把这些话当作是对他的名誉的中伤。
• The drug made her speak with a slur.药物使她口齿不清。

4 dread   

vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧

参考例句：

• We all dread to think what will happen if the company closes.我们都不敢去想一旦公司关门我们该怎么办。
• Her heart was relieved of its blankest dread.她极度恐惧的心理消除了。

5 besought   

v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词)

参考例句：

• The prisoner besought the judge for mercy/to be merciful. 囚犯恳求法官宽恕[乞求宽大]。 来自辞典例句
• They besought him to speak the truth. 他们恳求他说实话. 来自辞典例句

6 appease   

v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足

参考例句：

• He tried to appease the crying child by giving him candy.他试图给那个啼哭的孩子糖果使他不哭。
• The government tried to appease discontented workers.政府试图安抚不满的工人们。

7 oblation   

n.圣餐式；祭品

参考例句：

• Thinkers and poets throughout the ages have offered the courtesan the oblation of their mercy.各个时期的思想家和诗人都把仁慈的怜悯心奉献给娼家女子。
• Each family has their own ancestor for oblation.谁家也不缺个祖宗来供奉。

8 viands   

n.食品，食物

参考例句：

• Greek slaves supplied them with exquisite viands at the slightest nod.只要他们轻轻点点头希腊奴隶就会供奉给他们精美的食品。
• The family sat down to table,and a frugal meal of cold viands was deposited beforethem.一家老少，都围着桌子坐下，几样简单的冷食，摆在他们面前。

9 sentimental   

adj.多愁善感的，感伤的

参考例句：

• She's a sentimental woman who believes marriage comes by destiny.她是多愁善感的人，她相信姻缘命中注定。
• We were deeply touched by the sentimental movie.我们深深被那感伤的电影所感动。

10 misty   

adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的

参考例句：

• He crossed over to the window to see if it was still misty.他走到窗户那儿，看看是不是还有雾霭。
• The misty scene had a dreamy quality about it.雾景给人以梦幻般的感觉。

11 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

12 admiration   

n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕

参考例句：

• He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
• We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。

13 buffet   

n.自助餐；饮食柜台；餐台

参考例句：

• Are you having a sit-down meal or a buffet at the wedding?你想在婚礼中摆桌宴还是搞自助餐？
• Could you tell me what specialties you have for the buffet?你能告诉我你们的自助餐有什么特色菜吗？

14 chivalrous   

adj.武士精神的；对女人彬彬有礼的

参考例句：

• Men are so little chivalrous now.现在的男人几乎没有什么骑士风度了。
• Toward women he was nobly restrained and chivalrous.对于妇女，他表现得高尚拘谨，尊敬三分。

15 wont   

adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯

参考例句：

• He was wont to say that children are lazy.他常常说小孩子们懒惰。
• It is his wont to get up early.早起是他的习惯。