title: 2021.58 fiction until
url: http://futurefire.net/2021.58/fiction/until.html
hash_url: f3a292e38cc775f66adcd3e876baf082

<p class="nav">
<a href="http://futurefire.net/2021.58/index.html">[Issue 2021.58]</a>
</p>
<h2 id="d118e2203">
    <span id="d118e2205">‘Until a Hundred Generations of People Have Departed’, E. Saxey</span>
</h2>
<p class="quote">Illustrations © 2021 <a href="http://futurefire.net/artists/index.html#cmatthey">Cécile Matthey</a>
</p>

<hr class="divide">
<p id="d118e2224">
<img border="0" src="http://futurefire.net/images/cm-until1.jpg" class="wrapleft" alt=" [ Sandia tablet #1 in situ, ©2021 Cécile Matthey ] " title=" [ Sandia tablet #1 in situ, ©2021 Cécile Matthey ] ">
    <strong>Old English</strong>
</p>
<p id="d118e2233">Hwaet! Þēos moldstōw is ǣrende
    <br>innan mynegunga webbgeweorce.
    <br>Wē besendon þis wærword,
    <br>bealospell nīedmicel.
    <br>Wē beþōhton ūre þēode
    <br>þrȳþswīþe, unlȳtle eormenstrȳnde.</p>

<p id="d118e2246">Hēr nis nān ellendǣd gemyndgod,
    <br>ne ealdgestrēon bedolfen
    <br>ne foresetl, ne frēolsstōw.
    <br>Wē forhtedon ond hatodon hwæt is hēr.</p>

<p id="d118e2255">Þis bealospell warnaþ
    <br>þaet wælfȳr wiext 
    <br>tō middewearde;
    <br>hēr rihtlīce is sēo ælemidde. 	
    <br>Wē hit hrusan heolstre bewrigon.
    <br>Hit hæfþ hēanesse ond langnesse.</p>

<p id="d118e2268">Hēr wunað giet se wælcræft
    <br>nū swā swā on ūrum dagum.
    <br>Sēo frecennes frēcnaþ bānhūs
    <br>ond fordōn mǣg.
    <br>Sē bealo glēwþ,
    <br>brǣdeþ tō ūtwearde.
    <br>Gif gē delfen ond drefen 
    <br>dryhtenbealu gē onbinden.</p>

<p id="d118e2286">Forbūgaþ þās moldstōwe
    <br>ond manlēase þā  gerȳmaþ</p>


<hr class="divide">

<p class="title">
<img border="0" src="http://futurefire.net/images/cm-until2.jpg" class="" alt=" [ Sandia tablet #2 secondary deposit, ©2021 Cécile Matthey ] " title=" [ Sandia tablet #2 secondary deposit, ©2021 Cécile Matthey ] ">
</p>

<hr class="divide">

<p id="d118e2302">
<img border="0" src="http://futurefire.net/images/cm-until3.jpg" class="wrapright" alt=" [ Sandia tablet #3 draftsperson’s sketch, ©2021 Cécile Matthey ] " title=" [ Sandia tablet #3 draftsperson’s sketch, ©2021 Cécile Matthey ] ">
    <strong>Translation</strong>
</p>

<p id="d118e2310">Listen! This sepulchre is a message
    <br>Within a web of warnings.
    <br>We sent this warning,
    <br>A baleful, urgent message.
    <br>We thought our people
    <br>Exceedingly powerful, a great generation.</p>

<p id="d118e2323">Here is no honourable deed commemorated,
    <br>Nor ancient treasure buried
    <br>Nor high seat of honor nor festival ground.
    <br>We feared and hated what is here.  </p>

<p id="d118e2333">This dire message warns
    <br>That deathly fire grows greater
    <br>Towards the middle; 
    <br>Right here is the center.	
    <br>We hid it in the darkness of the earth.
    <br>It has height and length.</p>

<p id="d118e2346">The deadly power still dwells here 
    <br>Now, just as in our time.
    <br>The danger threatens the body
    <br>And may kill
    <br>The malice glows, 
    <br>Broadening outwards.
    <br>If you dig and disturb
    <br>You will unbind great misery.</p>

<p id="d118e2364">Shun this tomb
    <br>And leave it uninhabited.</p>


<hr class="divide">

<p class="title">
<img border="0" src="http://futurefire.net/images/cm-until4.jpg" class="" alt=" [ Sandia tablet #4 display, ©2021 Cécile Matthey ] " title=" [ Sandia tablet #4 display, ©2021 Cécile Matthey ] ">
</p>
<p class="quote">© 2021 E. Saxey</p>
<p class="nav">
<a href="http://futurefire.net/2021.58/index.html">[Issue 2021.58]</a>
</p>
<p>
<a href="http://press.futurefire.net/2021/07/new-issue-202158.html">Comment on the stories in this issue on the TFF Press blog.</a>
</p>
