(Drums are heard. The Lady of the House enters.)

Lady: tlhIngan tIq luchenmoHtaHvIS, qul lulo' qa' nuvpu' 'ej baS lulo'.
qu'mo' QaptaHbogh tIq 'ej chuSmo', jach qa' nuvpu'.
"DaHjaj tIq wIchenmoHbogh HoS law',
ngeHbejDaq Hoch HoS puS.
tIqvam qaDlu'chugh vaj HoSDaj Hajlu'bej."

'ach pujchoH tlhIngan tIq 'ej QapHa'.
ghel qa' nuv "qatlh bIpujchoH?
ngeHbejDaq tIq nIvqu' pIchenmoHta'."
vaj jang tlhIngan tIq.

(Enter the groom)

Groom: jImob.

Lady: Qagh 'e' lutlhoj qa' nuv.
qul baS je Suqqa' 'ej latlh tIq luchenmoH.

(Enter the bride)

'ach QaptaHvIS tIq cha'DIch HoS jen,
tIq wa'DIch HoS 'eS, vaj QeHchoH wa'DIch.

(The tawI'yan hands a betleH to the bride and groom. They engage in a mock battle. The bride conquers the groom, but does not administer the killing blow.)

Lady: Do' Sov nIv ghaj tIq cha'DIch.

Bride: mamuvchuqchugh, vaj nucharghlaH pagh.

(They give the betleHmey back to the tawI'yan.)

Lady: SIbI' QapchuqDI' tIqDu', QI'tu'Daq ghIjbogh ghum Qoylu'.
poH wa'DIch Hajbej qa' nuvpu'.
Haw' 'e' lunID 'ach ngabchu'pu' 'eb.
qa' nuv Qaw'chu' tlhIngan tIqDu' 'ej QI'tu' lumeQchu'.
qaSpu'DI' wanI'vam, QapchuqDI' cha' tlhIngan tIqDu',
not qaDlaH vay'.

(The Lady addresses the groom.)

Lady: p, v. puqloD, yIjang. be'vamvaD Qapbej'a' tIqlIj?

Groom: HIja'.

Lady: be' retlhDaq bIQam 'ej Hoch qaDwI'pu' DaSuv 'e' Dalay''a'?

Groom: vIlay'bej.

(She addresses the bride)

Lady: p, v. puqbe', yIjang. loDvamvaD Qapbej'a' tIqlIj?

Bride: HIja'.

Lady: loD retlhDaq bIQam 'ej Hoch qaDwI'pu' DaSuv 'e' Dalay''a'?

Bride: vIlay'bej.

Lady: vaj peqIm Hoch.
tayvammo' Sawta' loDvam 'ej nayta' be'vam
'ej tay'taH tIqDu'chaj 'e' yIyaj Hoch bejwI'.

(The participants at the qalHay'a' attack the bride and groom, using maSta'qaH clubs.)

(The ceremony is over.)

© 1998, Terrence Donnelly