SELECTIONS FROM THE GOSPEL OF BASTET -- Sally Caves

TANDIL VENDDEBRON BASTETID

Sa rem marreada ril teuim lehen,
Sa rem marreada ril Bastet hiraht,
Il venddebron aib ilid linda
tsõ brinvvergo sa nekõm ril sendryvarn myeerle,
uo potoil nittohdik ilis teuim.

Ty rem tsobssarka ev tafwon fy, ad vera coffenf.
Trorlen twav ilid teuim Bastet.

Ty rem tsobssarka ev tafwon, ad vera coffenf.
Niffodyr twav, ilid teuim Bastet.

Ty rem tsobssarka ev sekrevan, ad vera coffenf.
La nork twav bomswwiparem evil teuim Bastet.

Ty rem tsobssarka ev ywem, etsa vera coffenf.
Le teuim Bastet aiba, sõvya ly fel ta paneht.

Ty rem tsobssarka ev õn, tand etsa vera teof.
Le teuim Bastet ly, myda ihhai fel fyl nyknelyk.

Sarko il epa oua ilid teuim lehen ai.
Ty il uelo fy cosa, il ouar fy wem vera ke.
Send eska vyggeaht esfy.

***

Elevvyhtdel õn tsobrravõrem ihhai.
Elevvyhtdel maka õn na ravvõ ihhai.
Ondi hsobhhsekar õn lis tal voravvõ ihhai.
Il epa ouar ilis teuim uarõn cosa, send esk vyggeaht lo.

Kwe nar hoja ouanfy, fel ai wem sonnentma.
Kwe hyn voy korept ouanfy, fyl nemral ai wem vannentma.
Dimmartys velf euil linda ilis teuim.

Fel fyl nantry bronma, send fel omly sõllimda.
Fel fyl pantor bronma, send fel omlo temnnama.
Fel lis teuim bronma, send domfy mihsken.

Nittebrigresp talõn bekkrespr.
Nipplebua talõn behhebra.
Niffodyr tweluenrem lis teuim an.

Ty euil mim maldraht talfy vergo, ain vergof.
Ty fyl mong sersaht talfy nissilma, ain nissilmaf.
Ty fyl epa vyggeaht talfy napry, ain napryf.
Niffodyr tweluenrem himo lis teuim an.

Ty fel ai kabma fyl uenarem hain, ain tissindaf.
Ty fel ai kabma fyl ravvõrem hain, ain tissindaf.
Ty fel le sarsa cellandy vilennyve, ain uophhsekaf.
Niffodyr tweluenrem himo lis teuim an.

Pom uenihtle li lehin sarkojo.
Ma bahd li mora Bastetid,
send linda aid krefiklot.

FROM THE GOSPEL OF BASTET

In praise of the Goddess of Pleasure
In praise of Great Bastet
We offer these sayings of wisdom.
In celebration of the disciples of subtleties
And all the kittens of the gods.

If you are taken by chills do not banish them.
They are the purrings of the goddess Bastet.

If you are afflicted by wounds do not banish them.
They are the talons of the goddess Bastet.

If you are afflicted by gestures do not banish them.
They are the goddess Bastet switching her tail.

Whatever afflicts you do not banish it.
It is the goddess Bastet stroking you into strength.

Whoever afflicts you do not flee him.
It is the goddess Bastet sending you your mice.

Affliction is the other eye of the goddess of pleasure.
Close one and you may not see the other.
And you will be half blind.

***

Who is loved is blessed.
Who loves is more blessed.
Who is not loved and cannot love is damned.
He has closed the other eye of the gods and he is half blind.

What you hear in the wind may heal you.
What you hear at the keyhole may make you heartsick.
Pitch your ears to the wisdom of the gods.

Your mother brings you into the world and nurtures you.
Your father brings you into the world and prepares you.
The gods bring you into the world and you take your chances.

Contracts can be unwritten.
Threats can be unsaid.
The gods have retractible claws.

Where you can give to the destitute, give it.
Where you can hold your tongue in anger, do it.
Where you can open your blind eye, open it.
Even the gods have retractible claws.

If it is killing you to grasp it, let it go.
If it is killing you to love it, let it go.
If your anger is eating you from the inside out, purge it.
Even the gods have retractible claws.

Pleasure and affliction in their measure.
But destruction is the mouth of Bastet,
And Prudence is its muzzle.


© Sally Caves, 1999