A POOR GIRL MARRIES A KING

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A girl, Mityi, has a link to her dead mother by means of a fantasy stick. She is badly treated by her father and stepmother, and is in rags. Later, when she wishes to get married, Mityi is transformed by means of that fantasy stick, and she lives happily with her husband, who is a king.

Kwathi ke kaloku ngantsomi...yangumfazi...nendoda...wamitha umfaz'...wazala umfazi...wazala intombi...waphinda umfazi wazala...wesuk' ngesibini wazala kwa intombi...yaphinda indoda yathatha omny' umfazi...wesibini...waphinda nalowo wamitha wazala intombi...akub' ezele lowo umntana oyintombi...wagula lo mfazi waye ethandwa kakhulu yindoda yakhe ihlala endlini yakhe...wagula ke...wagula wagula iminyaka ngeminyaka imnyangisa kuba igulelwa sisithandwanekazi sayo...ngoku ke kwade kwabonakal' uba umfazi lowo uyasindana yingulo...uyasindana yingulo...ngonje kuthe kwakubon' uba kunjalo...he! wad' es'ke wabhubha umfazi lowo...wathi ke akubhubha lo mfazi...yaqala ke ngonje...le ntwazana...yahlala ebuhlungwini bokubhujelwa ngunina...wathi ngonje lo mfo wahlala kulaa ndl' inkulu...leya yalaa mfazi mkhulu unabantwana abangamantombazana ababini...uhleli apho ke...wahlala lo mntana elusizini waqala wayinto ngonje ephatheke kakubi...waphelelwa ziinto zokwambatha...zakuba ziphelil' iinto zokwambatha umntana...wambathisw' amagaga...namaronya iinto ezimdaka...azicholelwayo...wahlala lo mntana...wathi lo mntana ngoku s' eyintombazana ekwaziyo ukupheka...kwaphekiswa yena ngonje wangumntu wokupheka...wath' akubon' uba unjalo uyapheka...zaye zikhula zona iimpahla ebuhlanti zikayise...kwabonakal' uba kufuneka inkwenkwe...kwabonakal' uba kwangoko mayiphind' ibe kwa nguye owalusayo...walusa ke lo mntana...avuke kusasa avulele iimpahla aye kuyalusa endle...ayalus' ayalus' ayaluse ale emva kwemini abaleke...azifingele ngasekhaya iimpahla...aye kulungiselela imbiza yokupheka yangokuhlwa...okokuba loo nto yenzeke kade...alale engatyanga abethwe...kuthiwe kutheni na 'z'^[150] angapheki...lalityalwa negama lakhe umntana kanti unalw' igama lakhe...lo mntana igama lakhe nguMityi...kwaya kwaya kwathiwa ngonje roqololondini layekwa igama...uhleli wahlala umntana ehleli kolo sizi wabhitya umntana wanezi londa...kukulamba kwakunye nokugodola...umzimba umdaka unentsente...kuba akanaxesha lakuzilungisa^[151] ...ngentlalo ayihleliyo kowabo ebuhlungu...uhleli wahlala ke umntana ehleli njalo engayazi indawo anokuya kuyo...umntana lo akalazi ikulonina lakhe...akuba ngacinga noba ndingazimela kweli khaya angaz' uba angabheka ngaphi na kub' akakwazi kulonina...ngoba unina wayethandwa nguyise engazange aye kowabo...kwahlala...kuthe ke emzuzwini omde...kwabonakala umntana lo uba uyintombi endala yafika ezigemini^[152] ezenziwa ziintombi...zathi ezo 'nto zenziwa ngulo mntana...wanguye umntana oluroqololo kuba akanazo yena izinto zokuhlanganisela umzimba...wahlala njalo eyinto ehamba ngolo hlobo...kwalile ngaminazana ithile kwabhekwa emasimini...kuthe kwakuyiwa emasimini kweziwa neent' ezintle ngoonina...eziphathelwe abantwana...waphuma naye kub' abantwana bekhawulela oonina babo...baye bephethe izint' ekuthiw' amagama wazo ngamazele...int' ethi loo nto ke unina womntana...akufik' umntana wakhe ayirole amnike...wafika umtana wema phambi kwabo oonina abo...unina lo wakhe uhamba nabanye abafazi beminye imizi yena uhamba naba dadewabo balo nina wakhe ukhoyo...ubanikile abakhe abantwana amazele lawo...wahlala yena...wabambelela emlonyeni...wasuka lo nina wakhe wath' eli roqololo ubambelele emlonyeni ucing' uba 'fan' uba la mazel' anokulinga na nawe...'hamb' usuke wethu endleleni wamkhaba waya kuwa pha'...wavuka umntana...wahamba ebuhlungu enjalo...ufikile ekhaya wayichaza into enje kuyise...mna tata...ndithi ndakubakhawulela oomama...umama andikhabe...ngoku mn' akandiphanga amazele...us' 'athi^[153] ndakuhlala ndimile...wathi eli roqololo uthi la mazel' alingene wena wandikhaba ndakuwa^[154] ...ngoko k' umntana lowo uth' akugqib' ukuthetha loo nto kuyise uyise wanentlungwana noko ngaloo ndawo...wabhekisa kumfazi wakhe...kutheni kaloku le nto umkhabayo yena...nxa ekulandela efuna naye laa nto uyinik' abany' abantwana...uthe umfaz' ukuphendula 's'^[155] undifundekela ngeli roqololo lakhe...lithi linikwa libe likhanyel'...ngoba 'be ndilinikile nangoko watsho watsiba wambetha ngesandla ebusweni...yanqanda ke indoda noko ingakhathaliyo kakhulu...ngoko ke wahlala ke umntana yena enjalo esalusa ube nguye umntana otya nezinja isitya neehagu^[156] ...kuthi kwakugqitywa ukutyiwa ahlambe izitya...athi akugqib' ukuhlamba izitya kudityaniswe nemikrwelo yembiza...kugalelwe emkhumbini weehagu...kuthe makayokutya^[157] kunye nezo hagu...atye kunye nezi hagu lo mntana...ixesha elinintshi lo mntana nxa eyokwalusa utya intlaka emithini...aman' uzikhelel' intlaka atye ngenxa yokuxakwa kukutya amanzi amdaka ekhaya...wahlala wahlala lo mntana...kwala ngenye imini...esahamba njalo...ehamba-hamba...wabona kusithi vumbululu into le nto yathi vumbululu...yathi vumbululu engcwabeni likanina wakhe...yathi yakuthi vumbululu le nto yathi ndithathe ndinguye lo...wayijonga wayijonga le nto akayibona...wathi yathi le nto ndithi ndithathe ndinguye lo...wath' akuyijonga le nto wafika isisigaqana esincinci esishukumayo phantsi esimnyama...usithathile umntana isigaqa...wathi ndikhuphel'...wema umntana yaphinda le nto yathi ndikhuphele kwesinye isandla...wathatha umntana wayikhuphela kwesinye isandla...yathi uyandibona ke ndinguye unyoko...lowa wafayo...ke mntan' 'am Mityi...thatha yiyo le intonga uze le ntonga uyifihle ungaze uyibonise mntu mhlanikwezeni wayibonisa umntu...uyakonakalelwa...uze usebenze le nto ngale ntonga yenjenje^[158] ndikuxelel'...khawubeth' apha phantsi yithi konke okundifaneleyo makuphume...wabetha umntana phantsi wathi konke okundifaneleyo makuphume...uthe akugqib' ukutsho umntana kwaphuma itafile^[159] ...kwaphuma ibhafu^[160] ...kwaphuma zonke izityo ezifanele itafile...yaphuma ke le bhafu inamanzi adikidiki...uthe ke uyabona ke vasa...kuthetha ke esi sigaqa sisesandleni wangena ke umntan' ebhafini wavasa...wavasa wavasa wathambisa...uthe akugqiba ukuthambisa wabona iilokhwe...wanxiba...wanxiba wanxiba wath' akugqib' ukunxiba...wathi ke uyabona ke zikhulule...wazikhulula ke umntana...wath' yitya ke ngoku...watya k' umntana utye watya watya wath' akugqib' ukutya...wathi ke uhluthi na...yathi k' intombazana ndihluthi mama...oo! betha ke...kanjalo phantsi...uthi mayitshone imfanelo...wabetha umntana wathi mayitshon' imfanelo zaphela izinto...wabon' engaziboni...ngoko ke wathi ke uyabona ke ndibeke ke apha soze^[161] uphinde undibon'...walila umntana yakutsho le nto yaphinda le nto Mityi...wath' umntana mama 's'^[162] ukulila ndithi kuwe soze uphinde undibon'...ke wena bambelela kule ntonga uyifihle kundawo oyaziyo ubokuthembela^[163] ngayo uphathe yona kuphela nantoni na nantoni na oya kuthi uyifumane inzima ubokuza^[164] apha kule ntonga ufik' uyibambe ngesandla ufike wenjenje uthethe oko ukufunayo. ..ndigqibile ke ngoku ukuba ndinguye unyoko ongasoz'^[165] aphinde angabikho...wayeka k' umntan' ukulila wayithatha ke le ntonga umntana wayifihla...'fihl'^[166] endaweni yakhe...wathi ke akuyifihla kule ndawo...wagoduka...wagoduk' ehluth'...engafuni nto...wafika...way' eziimpahleni...wazinqanda zonke wazingenis' ebuhlanti...waye namhlanj' engaphekanga konke kuba ixesha lakhe liphelile lokupheka...lidlelwe ngulaa msebenz' awenzayo...wahlala esexhaleni lokwazi okokuba uza kubethwa namhlanje...uzivalele ke iimpahla ezo zonke ebuhlanti nasesibayeni wahamba wabhek' endlini...uthe akufik' endlini...kwathiwa kuye ngunina uvela phi...wathi yena ndivela kwalusa...kutheni ungaphekanga nje...'be ndikhathazwa yimpahla...kwo! uya kulal' ungatyanga...uya kutya ubuhilihili bakho...wathula yena kuba uhluth'...namhlanje...wahlala kwaphakwa kwatyiwa zathi namhlanj' iintomb' ezingoodadewabo zaphaka...kwatyiwa kwatyiwa kwagqitywa...kuthe kwakugqityw' ukutyiwa wahlamba izitya yena...wazihlamba zonke...wahamba wawulahl'^[167] amanzi emkhumbini...wabuya wahlala kwathiwa kuthen' ungatyi nje...zisitya zodw' iihagu...wathi andifuni...uhluthi ntoni...ndihluth' intlaka ub' uyithatha phi 'be ndithath' emithini wahlala umntana ngonje kwalile...kusuku olukude kwezo kwavakala ukuba kukho indoda efuna umfazi ifuna umfazi oya kuthi abe yinkedama kuba yona ngokwayo yayinomfazi yaze ke yabhujelwa ngumfazi wayo waba ufile ngaloo ndlela...ngoku ke ifuna ke umfazi okhe wahlala entlungwini uza kwazi ukuthuthuzelana nayo...yafuna yafuna ke le ndoda ifuna umfaz' onjalo...yade yaza kufika kowabo lo mntana...ithe yakufika kowabo lo mntana yafika yathi ifuna umfazi...uthe uyise ngokucaphukela lo mntana wathi ee! ziz' ezi iintombi ezimbini ungazikhethela...wathi umfo wasemzini hayi andingekhethi ntombi ndingakhe ndikuchazele ndifuna umfazi ndifuna intombi ekhulele ebunzimeni...naw' ungase^[168] undicebise ngayo...wathi lo mfo ukuphendula yiyo le intombi ekhulele ebunzimeni walatha kwa kwezi ntombi zakhe zinonina...efuna okokuba kwende enye yazo...wathi lo mfo hayi noko ngathi nje ziyalekelana noko ngathi nje zizalwa ngulo mfazi...yathi le ndoda hayi azizalwa ngulo mfazi zombini...int' ekunayo kukufana nje le yona intombi ayinanina...yabe ke esitsho nje lo mfo ayikho le ntombi ingenanina...isekwaluseni ezimpahleni endle zezi ntombi zombini ezi zikhoyo aph'...kwalile esatsho njalo yavela elo roqololo lalo mntana limbeth'^[169] ugaga liqhuba iinkomo kuba kusemva kwemini...usukela ukuza kupheka kuba ezi 'nto zenziwa nguye yedwa zonke...uthe akufika wazibeka nje iimpahla weza yathi indoda le yasemzini...kwok'! nguye lo ke umnt' ofanel' uba ngumfazi wam...wathi uyise weentombi awu! ungathin' uba ngumfazi wakho int' enje i--- ayiyonto laa nto...ayinayo nengqondo laa nto...m--- isisidenge sisidenge nje nangoku nale mpahla iqhubayo ayiyo yalaph'...ngoba akanangqondo yinto nje uza kuyibona nangoku iza kutya neehagu ayingomntu kwaphela lowa...wahlala umfo wancokola wayeka ezo ndaba wenz' ezinye wahlala yafika yona yangenisa iimpahla ngaphaya kothango zakude^[170] kufitshan' ekhaya...wabuya lo mntana wafika wangena eliroqolol' enjalo wafuna ukubulisa...molo tata^[171] ...wasuka lo mfo warol' isandla...uza kubulisa hayi! hayi! wath' uyise hayi 's'^[172] ukubulis' int' enje unani lo mntana ubamb' umntu umdak' unje...wabamba yena umfo lowo uthe akugqiba ukubamba wesuka umntana...wesuka umntana wathatha umcimbi wakhe aqhele ukuwusebenza...wathatha imbiza wayihlamba wayihlamba kakuhle waye ejongile umntu wasemzini okokuba e--- lo mntana uza kuyiklinisha^[173] na le nto 'be kuthiwe nje akanangqondo...wayihlamba wayihlamba wayihlamba yantle^[174] wayipula imbiza yakrini^[175] wathatha yonke into wayosula wapheka wajong' umfo wasemzini...e--- umnt' obe kuthiwe aka--- akanangqondo...wapheka wathi yavuthwa imbiza wahlala lo mfo yavuthw' imbiza waphaka lo mntana kwatyiwa kwatyiwa kwaphakelwa nomnt' wasemzini...e--- ngoku ke kuthi kwakugqitywa ukutyiwa...e--- ehleli yena engatyi njalo...atye atye umfo wasemzini...athi ina mntana wam...asukume umntana athathe ngezandla zozibini...wajonga lo mfo athi lo mntana akuthatha ngezandla zozibini...athi uyise hayi! 's'^[176] ukuya emntwini...yeka kuye lo...wathi yeka wen' athathe...wathatha umntana...wabulela...e--- ewavovile amadolo wahamba waya kutya uthe atye watya watya wa--- wayeka...waya kubeka...waphuma...uphindile uyise wathi iihagw' ezi zisitya zodwa nje...uhlel' aph' uya kutya nini...wathi umntana 'se ndityile...owahlala...wasukuma umfo wasemzini...wathi ke 'se ndiyicela indlela...ke ndiyaqiniseka okokuba umfaz' ondimfunayo ndithi kuwe nkosi yasemzini ngulo e--- andikhathali noba akanangqondo...awu! ungathini ukufuna...int' enje...intombi nanzi...hayi andizifuni ezi noko ndifuna lo ngath' akagqibanga ingqondo...uhambile ke lo mfo lowo...wathi ke ufuna okokuba uza kutshata nale ntombazana...e--- uya kus'ke esuke nje athi ngomhla aza kutshata...e--- as'ke abize athi ngumtshato namhlanje...awu! injani le nto nxa injalo ngoko ke kufaneleke kuthiweni ke ngonje yahlal' intombazana...kwalile ngenye imini isalusa njalo isezimpahleni ilelo roqololo limdaka...wavela umfo e--- molo ntombazana...ewe tata...o! uyalusa ewe ndiyalusa...o! uthini utata wakho...ngoko ndandisithi ndifuna umfazi ndifuna ke mna okokuba ube ngumfazi wasekhaya...andazi ke watsho umntana...andazi ke tata 'khange kuthethwe nto nam...kutheni le nto kungathethwayo...andazi ke tata...e--- uyakholwa ke wena okokuba ndikuphuncule kwezi 'nto zokwalusa ezi mpahla uyokuhlala ube ngumfazi ungalusi impahla uhlal' endlini...wathi umntana 'be ndikholwa mna uba loo nto inokwenzeka...oo kulungile ke...ngoku ke ndifuna ukukuxelela imini uze uye ngayo ekhaya...akayi kukwazi ukukutwabulula ukuba sofikile^[177] ...wathi umntana thetha ke tata ngaba ndingaya nini na...wathi ke umfo lowo ke namhlanj' uyabona ke yenye icawe le...ke kucawe ezayo ndifuna okokuba wena ngomgqibelo uz' ufike ekhaya kusasa...ukuze sithi emini e--- ndiyiwis' inkomo mna emini...ndixhele ndithi ndiyatshata nomfazi wam...wathi ke umntana kulungile...wemka ke umfo lowo wagoduka...kuhleliwe ke walusa yena umntana...lafik' ixesha loba agoduke nempahla wagoduka nayo impahla...wayibeka kude kufitshane nekhaya...way' ezimbizeni waya kupheka...ngesiqhelo sakhe wapheka wagqiba waphaka watya kwatyiwa ngabantu kwavaswa izitya nguye...wawugalel'^[178] ezihagwini waya kutya nezo hagu...ngoko ke kusile ngentsasa esayo wakhupha inpahla wemka nay' impahla...wakhumbul' uba hee! kanene...ndandichole imbokotwana eyayimdaka^[179] yaze ndayibamba yaze yathi ndikhuphele kwesiny' isandla ndaze ndayikhuphel'...yaze yathi yona...ndinguye unyoko...ke uyabona namhlanje andisoze ndiphinde ndibe andikho...ndikho impela ngoku wena kufuneka ngoku ufihle le ntonga soz' ub' uphind' undibon'...soz' ub' uphind' undibon' ndingasoze ndiphinde ndibekho kodwa uz' uthembe le ntonga...uthe akukhumbula loo nt' umntana waya kundawo ke eway' efihle kuyo loo ntonga...wafika isekhon' intonga yakhe ufike wayithatha...wathi akuyithatha intonga...wacinga uba wathi unina uz' ubethe ngayo uthi makuphum' okundifaneleyo...ubethile phantsi wathi makuphum' okundifaneleyo...'phume yonke le nto kanje ngemin' zokuqala...yazezo^[180] tafil...yangalo^[181] manz' yakoko^[182] kutya...uvasile wavasa wavasa wavasa wath' akugqib' ukuvasa wanxiba watya...wath' akugqib' ukutya waphinda wazigqub' eluthulini wamdaka wamdaka wamdaka waphinda wathi makutshon' okundifaneleyo wabetha ngentonga kwaphela kwatshona waphinda wayifihla le ntonga kwa kule ndawo wahamba waya ezimpahleni...wazinqanda impahla wagoduka nazo...ufikile ekhayeni wath' akufik' ekhaya wafika waqhub' umsebenzi wakhe wapheka...wenza zonke izinto waphaka kwagqityw' ukutyiwa wavasa izitya wathi kwakugqitywa wathath' amanzi wawagalel' ezihagwini...wathi uba uhluthi wabuya wazokuhlala endlini...akuhlala endlini...uthi uyise kutheni wahlal' endlini ungayi kuty' ezihagwini zisity' iihagu...hayi ndihluthi...uhluthi ntoni eli roqololo...hayi ndihluthi intlaka nditye intlaka emithini ke ndisahluthi ke nangoku...heee-ee! iya kukhe ilambe le nto le...iya kukh' ilambe...eli xixilili...wahlal' umntana akathetha nto yena...ngonje ke kwagqityw' ukutyiwa kwalalwa...kusile ke okungaliyo...zaye ke ziqhubile k' iicawe...tot^[183] uba lad' es'ke^[184] lafik' usuku...lathi lakufik' olu suku waphuma nay' impahla umntana wabheka endle waya kuyalusa...kwalile nje emzuzwini wakhumbula okokuba kanene yayithe^[185] laa ndoda...'ze namhlanje ndifike...iza kutshata nam...yathi yona uya kukholw' utata...kwek'! ndakuzithi^[186] nempahla 'cinga^[187] lo mntana ndakuzithi nempahla...hayi iimpahl' ezi wazityhilizela ngasekhayeni waziyeka nje wahamba waya entongeni...wayifika wayibamba ngesandla wathi ke

ke ntonga kamama...^[188]
ke ntonga kamama
mna namhlanje ndiyahamba...
kuba namhlanje ndiyemka...
ngoko namhlanje ndiya kutshata...

ke konke okufanele mna okokuba ndingaba nguye umntu onentoni na nantoni na zaziwa nguwe ke ntonga kamama izinto zonke ezimele 'ze zilungele umntu oza kutshata...andinanto ke mna ndiza kuyaz'...nguwe ke ozaziyo izinto ezifunekayo ke maziphum' iimfanelo...watsho wabetha phantsi...uthe akugqiba ukubetha phantsi kwentonga...kumenquke yonke into iilokwe^[189] zokuqala iilokwe zokutshintsha^[190] iilokwe zeti yooooonk' into efanele okokuba mayibe ikho inqwelo nesipani sayo^[191] inetenty'^[192] izele ithe qhu yimpahla...yonke yonke yonke into kungekho nanye into engekhoyo yalilaphu^[193] elimhlophe...elisenkabini yenkomo ephambili...yaz' iinkomo ezimbini yayinkabi yalithokazi^[194] zahamba usuke yena wakhwela njalo apho enqweleni...kungoko ihambileyo ngendlela ingakhange ighutywe mntu konke yahamba ngendlela...yad' es'ke yaya kufika emzini apho ifike inqwelo leyo yema enkundleni...yakuba imile enkundleni uphumile umyeni...waza kungena enqweleni wafika wabamba isandla...kumkakhe lowo...kwaye kubonelwa isimanga ngabantu kuzele kuba abantu aba abamazi umfazi abamboni umfaz' uba uphi umfazi ekuthiwa kuza kutshatwa ekh' apha...ngoku ke babona kuzele apha umntu emnye phakathi kodwa kuzele...ngoku babona isimanga somnt' omhle ngokungazange kwabonakala ezweni...umnt' ophucuke ngokuyintsomi...yaze le ntombi yanomhlantla emazinyweni...ngoko ke kwahlaleka uhleli ke umyeni wakhupha amadoda...wathi ke madoda ke ndiyatshata namhlanje...ke bangakikizela abafazi...abanye mabajike babe ngabo abafazi bakulontombi abanye mababe ngabafazi bakowethu...loo nto ke kukhawulelwane kanjalo bajikile ke abantu bahlulelana bema ngokuma besenza loo mfanelo iya kuthi ifanele umtshakazi enye ifanele umyeni...ngoko ke kwatshatwa yaxhela ke indodana leyo inkabi yenkomo yaphinda yaxhela inkabi yenkomo ezanomtshakazi...ibi--- isiza naye ngoku...zaxhelwa zombini ezo nkomo kwatshatwa kwaba kufezekile ngesithuba somtshat'...wahlala lo mntana ekuphucukeni...okungaphezulu...nako kwakowabo...waze ke ngoku wayinkosikazi^[195] ekh' apha...e--- ehleliyo engenzi nto eyenzelwayo izinto ihleli nje ingumnt' omkhulu...kwanga kuvuke laa nina wayengekho^[196] kuhambe kwahamba wathi umfo mandenjenje kuni madoda akuthi^[197] ndifuna iinkomo zibe lishumi elinambini niziqhube nizise kowabo lo mfazi wam...nizinike uyise nithi akalahlekelwanga ndamthatha umntana wakhe...ezimpahleni esalusa elaa roqololo lakhe lambethe ugaga lilapha ke ngoko lingumfazi wam nanzo ke iinkomo ndiyamlobolela...ngoko ke ahambile amadoda lawo aya kowabo kwakhe athe akufika kowabo kwakhe afika akuchaza oko...wavuya namhla naxa iliroqololo eli ebengazi...okokuba lingamnika okungaka...wabulela ngoku waqala wanendawo yokokuba ukholisile umntan' 'akhe afunyanwe ngumfo amchole ebunzimeni wahlala ngokonwaba ke lo mfo nomfazi wakhe phela phela ngantsomi.