Mizu's spectacles, and the levels of her disguise
In drafting some more Blue Eye Samurai meta posts, I find myself writing out the comparisons between what Mizu can and cannot hide about herself, and how that affects how she moves through the world.
Like, I get the jokes about Mizu's glasses, if only color contacts had existed back then, etc. etc., and I think (hope) that most viewers don't take the glasses jokes seriously, as in "I don't care about the suspension of disbelief because BES is a cartoon." But I wanted to write these thoughts out anyway without burying them in a text post about something else.
I think the points I'm going to lay out here are viewed very differently by different people, so please feel free to add to this post, reply, or put your thoughts in the tags!
Not only do Mizu's glasses not actually help her that much, there's surely more to Mizu's mixed race appearance than just the color of her eyes.
In my view, this was pointed out in episode 1:
I'm willing to bet most of us were expecting young Taigen to say "blue eyes," not "ROUND eyes."
Obviously this is still about Mizu's eyes, but not even spectacles can hide their shape.
I don't think the show is obligated to point out everything about Mizu's face that isn't quite as Japanese as the people around her expect. Though the creators have said that they specifically designed Mizu - and her clothes - to read both as "white" and as "Japanese," as well as both male and female. I think there's more about Mizu's features that read as "white" than just her eyes.
This is where my own headcanons start entering the picture, but it's my impression that people can just tell that Mizu looks different, whether or not they can put a finger on exactly how.
There's the little girl who looks at Mizu and then hides on the way into Kyoto:
When there's more to your face you'd like to cover up than just your eyes, big hats are a big help!
By the way, most of these examples have to come from the first half of the season, since by the second half, either Mizu is too preoccupied with fighting henchmen, or everyone Mizu is facing knows who she is already, and she therefore has no reason to hide her mixed race identity.
It's worth mentioning that the mere fact that Mizu has to hide multiple aspects of her identity - her mixed race and her sex - results in her having to choose clothes that really, really cover her up, which doesn't win her any favors either:
(Zatoichi reference, anyone?)
If it were as easy as, for example, tying her glasses to her head and wa-lah, nobody would ever know she was half-white - then (1) Mizu would've just done that long ago, and (2) Mizu wouldn't be so on guard and on tenterhooks 100% of the time the way she's depicted in the show, even when her glasses are on.
Her spectacles sure don't help her in the brothel, which is full of observant women who are trying to seduce her, meaning they get good long looks at her:
Mizu never takes her glasses off, but they still send a woman to her who has light eyes, thinking that must be what will interest a blue-eyed man:
No wonder Mizu gets mad after this, lol
So Mizu never takes her spectacles off in the brothel, it's dimly lit inside, and the women can still tell that she has blue eyes. I'm getting the sense that Mizu putting on her spectacles isn't a guarantee that people suddenly can't tell that she looks different.
And yet no one spots that she's female.
Mizu can hide her breasts, can wear her hair in the right style, can hide what's between her legs, can walk and talk and behave like a man - and she's been doing it for almost her entire life, to the point that not only is she very good at it, but the threat of being found out as female is deadly, but isn't presented in the show as omnipresent.
Let me explain.
She threatens Ringo for nearly saying the word "girl" out loud, because while she's constantly ostracized for being mixed race, being a woman traveling without a chaperone, carrying a sword, and disguised as a man will get her killed or flogged or arrested or some combination of these things.
But in addition, it's been drilled into her since she was a child that if she is discovered as female, the combination of her being mixed race and female will identify her as someone extremely specific, someone known to some bad people, and she will be killed:
I think of it as Mizu thinking to herself, "Being found out as mixed race means I'm treated badly. Being found out as mixed race and a woman means I'm dead."
Mizu's hair is cut as a child. But she isn't made to wear a big hat, or cover her eyes somehow, or anything like that. Because hiding her sex is a more successful endeavor than hiding her race.
Ringo finds out she's female by accident, but once Mizu accepts the fact that he won't rat her out, she relaxes pretty early on in the season. Because the threat of being found out as female is mitigated pretty much 99.9%, since Mizu has gotten so good at being a man. And also, because most of the time, people see what they want to see. Even if Mizu's face makes her stand out as "not 100% Japanese," no one in the world of BES looks at Mizu's clothes, her bearing, her sword, hears her voice, and will ever in a million years conclude that she is a woman, because expectations around gender roles in the Edo period were so rigid and so widely enforced.
One detail that proved this to me is after the Four Fangs fight:
Ringo takes off Mizu's clothes so he can stitch her up, then leaves her clothes off even after he's done. He doesn't even throw her cloak over her as a blanket or anything. There's a little a straw (pallet?) as a divider there on the left, but anyone could just peek around it and see Mizu and her chest bindings. (I think it's mostly there as a windbreaker.)
And Taigen is right there, but he doesn't give a shit:
Opinions probably vary hugely on this, but my impression is that because the show doesn't make any kind of deal about Taigen being in the room with Mizu here, my guess is that Mizu isn't in any danger of Taigen thinking she's female. Even when I watched the show for the first time, I assumed that Taigen had seen Mizu out of her clothes here, and that he thought nothing of it.
Eat your heart out, Li Shang (Mulan 1998). I actually do think that this scene is a direct and purposeful side-eye to that movie, lol
There's obviously some nuance to how "severe" being mixed race is compared to how "severe" being a woman is for Mizu:
After all, Swordfather can't bear to listen to Mizu confess to being a woman.
So a Japanese man can go wherever he wants, whenever he wants in BES. A Japanese woman has limited options: marriage, religion, or a brothel. A mixed-race man is an eyesore in this story. A mixed-race woman is a death sentence.
May as well eliminate the female aspect, and do what you can about the mixed-race aspect. Because that's just realistic.
Meaning Mizu can avoid the strictures Edo society places on women. But she can't avoid the repercussions that come with being mixed race. And I truly don't think that it's just because "there's no brown contacts yet."
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On the ancient Hyrulean stone tablets
In Tears of the Kingdom, there's a sidequest you get relatively early called Messages from an Ancient Era, in which you are tasked with finding stone tablets hidden throughout Hyrule that contain Zonai-era first-hand accounts of the royal family. There are 13 in total to locate.
You yourself can't read them, and must take pictures of the tablets to take them to Wortsworth, a Zonai Survey Team historian who can read the ancient texts for you.
The problem with this is that he doesn't tell you what the tablets actually say; he reads their ancient Hyrulean as-is, then gives his own take. And it's a take which cuts out so much context from the original text.
Fortunately, I am a nerd.
Unnamed First Tablet
The ancient Hyrulean:
"Ones held y honore als hochmayde to kyng Rauru ond quen Sonia, thaerafter to his suster ond to princesse Zelda.
"Her on thaes gret stan ond twelf mo withalle make y endite min time with the hyred roial.
"So michte heore remembraunce preserven for the sake of him on whom oure hope raeste."
What Wortsworth tells you:
"It's short, but it's an introduction from a servant to Rauru and Sonia, the founding king and queen of Hyrule.
"She also waited on the king's elder sister, Mineru, as well as someone named Zelda, and wrote of their daily lives in 13 tablets.
"It couldn't be simpler!
"I intend to more thoroughly research what this chamberlain hoped to convey in these ancient tablets."
The actual translation:
"Once held I honor as handmaid to king Rauru and queen Sonia, thereafter to his sister and to princess Zelda.
"Here on this great stone and twelve more withall make I ending my time with the hired royal.
"So might here remembrance preserve for the sake of him on whom our hope rests."
Account of a Celebration
The ancient Hyrulean:
"So swete the song of kyng Rauru, ond so grete the beaute of his susteres daunce, that wer min eies ond eres captif.
"Ond so hende quen Sonias gasen on us alle, so felt y min herte als captif fallen.
"Seruantes lyf, tho moche laboursum, han moche jolitee as welle. Longe be the lyf of the roial familie thaere y love so."
What Wortsworth tells you:
"This is an account of a party from those days.
"It says King Rauru and his older sister sang and danced together while Queen Sonia looked on.
"We think of royalty as austere and reserved, but these nobles amused themselves with song and dance.
"But what a vivid recounting of a scene never before related in any history book…
"The descriptions of their personalities and expressions make the ancient past feel alive again.
"This stone tablet is a first-class find. Well done, dear chamberlain, in leaving behind this account for us.
"I'm positively beside myself to think of how this story from the ancient past persevered so long to reach us today."
The actual translation:
"So sweet the song of king Rauru, and so great the beauty of his sister's dance, that were mine eyes and ears captive.
"And so had queen Sonia's gaze on us all, so felt I mine heart also captive fallen.
"Servant's life, though much laboursome, have much jollity as well. Long be the life of the royal family there I love so."
The Strong Queen and the Receptive King
The ancient Hyrulean:
"Sonia, quen to Hyrules kyng, bi birthe Hylian preesterresse, hirself yborn of londe, nat of skie aboven.
"Speken she with open herte, eornest to alle, euen even to the Zonais kyng.
"This kyng ythinke it gode aventure so to lerne of the londes folke. To sen his hed ybent to listenen is swich plesaunce."
What Wortsworth tells you:
"This one looks to be about Queen Sonia. It claims that Sonia was a priestess before marrying Rauru.
"Despite his status as a Zonai, a people popularly thought to be gods, she would counsel him without any trepidation.
"Moreover, Rauru heeded this counsel.
"This account gives us firsthand knowledge of the nature of Queen Sonia and King Rauru's relationship.
"Rauru found himself unexpectedly charmed by her strong will, and before long, they were married…
"Er, that last bit isn't in the text. That's me speculating.
"History rarely speaks of a person's character prior to being elevated to royalty. So I can't help but fantasize."
The actual translation:
"Sonia, queen to Hyrule's king, by birth Hylian priestess, herself born of land, not of sky above.
"Speak she with open heart, earnest to all, even even[sic] to the Zonai's king.
"This king thinks it a good adventure so to learn of the land's folk. To seen his head bent to listening is such pleasure."
The Harmonious Couple
The ancient Hyrulean:
"Oft wys Rauru, kyng of kene blade, weyve his werk real in faver of the hunte.
"Ond oft queynt Sonia, quene of kene insight, seke out him and repaire this kyng to kyngly besynesse.
"In hir sapience semes she divin, that she cunne him ever finde and for hes folly semes him the mor humain.
"Ond the kyng? O, he laughe. Nat him hir equal for hir wit, he kunne. Ond the quen, she laughe to, als even she scolden."
What Wortsworth tells you:
"This is a tale of King Rauru.
"Apparently, he would vacate his official business from time to time in order to go out hunting.
"I had the impression he was a stricter, more serious king, but I guess he had a lighter side as well.
"However, Queen Sonia was always a step ahead. She would put a stop to King Rauru's hunts and bring him back.
"We rarely get a glimpse into the down-to-earth side of royalty in this way. It's an important find, to be sure."
The actual translation:
"Oft was Rauru, king of keen blade, leave his work real in favor of the hunt.
"And oft quaint Sonia, queen of keen insight, seek out him and repair this king to kingly business.
"In her sapience seems she divine, that she can him ever find and for his folly seems him the more human.
"And the king? Oh, he laughs. Not him her equal for her wit, he knows. And the queen, she laughs too, as even she scolds."
A Pilgrimage of Light
The ancient Hyrulean:
"The kyng was late y-come this aven, so maked the quene to sharen tales of hir lond, of shirines al grene yglouen.
"Of erli daies sinnes Hyrules funding have diverse monstres hir reaume biseged ond assaylled.
"Uncesinge in striffe, thei broughte to despeir folkes lyfen. Kyng ond quen ysete thamselue to bringen scurge to ende.
"With might of light ond pouere, driven abak ybeen, ond the roial couple made thes shirines to selen him awei.
"Thes holi selen ben yclept Shirines of Light.
"Gret kyng, grete quen, y thank ye. Ye foughte whan y wer maiden-child, that y kude pes toknouen."
What Wortsworth tells you:
"The subject here is the actions King Rauru and Queen Sonia undertook not long after Hyrule's founding.
"With the kingdom established, they were worried for their people, so they set out to eradicate the monsters troubling them.
"They created structures called Shrines of Light to seal the monsters away so that they could never be revived.
"There's more here about light…and time too… The sense I get is that the two of them may have had supernatural powers.
"Though it's part of ancient history, it's a feat those of us living today should still be grateful for. Truly an important discovery."
The actual translation:
"The king was late to come this evening, so made the queen to share tales of her land, of shrines all green glowing.
"Of early days since Hyrule's founding have diverse monsters her realm besieged and assailed.
"Unceasing in strife, they brought to despair folks' lives. King and queen set themselves to bringing scourge to end.
"With might of light and power, driven aback they been, and the royal couple made these shrines to seal him away.
"These holy seals been called Shrines of Light.
"Great king, great queen, I thank you. You fought when you were maiden-child, that I could peace to know."
The Researcher Mineru
The ancient Hyrulean:
"Queynte Mineru, the kynges elder suster, falles so dep in hir bokes swich that she oft foryetes to eten.
"In min wieried wei don y what much y con, but y fer haven that it ben litel avail.
"Of late treteth she of 'constructes,' thinges did she make with her hondes as vessel for spirit whan bodi-lich failen.
"So, seyde she, might she liven longe, in spiret yhused within this 'construct.'
"Though Mineru ne semes to holden ani deceyte… Bi my feith, y kan nat als trouthe thes wordes bileven"
What Wortsworth tells you:
"Here, we learn a bit about Mineru.
"It says that she neglected to eat or sleep while making something called a…construct?
"It was part of her research into a means of returning to life as a spirit possessing a new body, should her original one die.
"To you or I, this sounds less like history and more like some sort of ghost story.
"But remember who we're dealing with. They may have had unfathomable powers that made such things possible.
"The revelation that Mineru was a fellow researcher makes her feel like a kindred spirit to me, and yet…
"The chamberlain who inscribed these tablets treats Mineru with such care and kindness that it warms my heart."
The actual translation:
"Quaint Mineru, the king's elder sister, falls so deep in her books such that she oft forgets to eat.
"In my worried way do I what much I can, but I fear have that it be little avail.
"Of late treats she of 'constructs,' things did she make with her hands as vessel for spirit when body lies fallen.
"So, said she, might she live long, in spirit housed within this 'construct.'
"Though Mineru nay seems to hold any deceit… By my faith, I can not also truth these words believe."
The Foreign Princess
The ancient Hyrulean:
"Ful fyn is the weder this morn, ond have y audience with theos princes seyd ben kin bi fer distaunt yeres to quene Sonia.
"Bi gras has she been given a name most swete, of Zelda she ben yclept.
"In certain folk stered suspecioun, for straunge wer hir garnementes ond sodein wer her aparaunce.
"Yet wolde hir contenonce ond bering maked proof of hir right blod and bond to quene Sonia.
"Als be Zelda to remainen for a wile with us, y wil mi-self als hochmayde offre ekein hir servis."
What Wortsworth tells you:
"This is another fascinating entry.
"If my translation is correct, the Zelda described here is Sonia's distant relative.
"According to this, she arrived in Hyrule unexpectedly from another kingdom. It seems she was a beautiful princess.
"Her strange clothing perplexed the people of Hyrule, and many were suspicious of her at first.
"But this Zelda had such an undeniable air of nobility that those who doubted she was of royal birth were soon silenced.
"Note how clearly this conveys the writer's feelings regarding Zelda.
"Once it was clear Zelda would be staying, she applied to be chamberlain to the princess. That suggests real admiration."
The actual translation:
"Full fine is the weather this morning, and have I audience with this princess said be kin by for distant years to queen Sonia.
"By grace has she been given a name most sweet, of Zelda she been called.
"In certain folk stirred suspicion, for strange were her garments and sudden were her appearance.
"Yet would her countenance and bearing make proof of her right blood and bond to queen Sonia.
"As be Zelda to remain for a while with us, I will myself as handmaid offer asking her service."
The Free-Spirited Zelda
The ancient Hyrulean:
"Princesse Zelda recent comes to sen Mineru, the kynges elder suster. I com eck, for hir to seruen.
"Todai cam hit ipassen that Mineru sheued to Zelda construct althergrettest y hav ysen.
"Zelda, she much desired on hit to riden, ond ne conne nat y seien coust hir stoppen. Though I dyde protesten. Loudli.
"Neuer the lesse she made to sitten heighe upon the constructes sculdres ond to riden like an hors, al ful of grace.
"Min lausion, so graunt alredy, dyde grouen al the mor."
What Wortsworth tells you:
"The subject here is Zelda and Mineru.
"Zelda apparently visited Mineru often to assist with her research.
"I have no idea what kind of thing this 'construct' that allowed people to ride on it was.
"But Zelda rode it so well that our author the chamberlain was again impressed by her skill at everything she tried.
"That's the long and short of it here.
"But more than the narrative, what strikes me is the back and forth between the chamberlain and Zelda.
"The chamberlain tried to warn Zelda of the danger, but Zelda pushed past her and rode the construct anyway.
'It's short but so evocative of both the level of technology found in this era and the character of their visitor Zelda.
"The 'treasure' found in these stone tablets is the pearls of wisdom and nuggets of personality contained within."
The actual translation:
"Princess Zelda recent comes to see Mineru, the king's elder sister. I come with¹, for her to serve.
"Today came it pass that Mineru showed to Zelda construct of the greatest I have seen.
"Zelda, she much desired on it to ride, and nay could not I say cause her stop. Though I did protest. Loudly.
"Never the less she made to sit high upon the construct's shoulders and to ride like a horse, all full of grace.
"My laudation², so great already, did grow all the more."
The Latest Trend
The ancient Hyrulean:
"Facioun nou favereth garnementes adourned with muscheron patrons, ond fer ond wid beon thei wern.
"This tast for mucheeron com of the casteles seamestre, who sogte to seuen clethes for princesse Zelda to plesen.
"This facioun, Zelda telled to the seamestre, waere in hir treu hom wel loved.
"In hir tim werd everichon patrons of bright hewes, in the shap of mucheron.
"Anou our hende semestre set herte on thes patrons copien, which sele to mani happi persoune.
"Y seche after som for min one but ne coude nat an on yfenden."
What Wortsworth tells you:
"Here we learn something about the fashion trends of that era.
"The story's catalyst is their Zelda telling a tailor about the mushroom-patterned outfits becoming popular in her homeland.
"Intrigued, the tailor fashioned some clothing in that vein, and it caught on in ancient Hyrule.
"Do you know Cece from Hateno Village? Imagine the look on her face if she were to find out!
"They say that trends go in cycles, but… I didn't expect mushroom patterns to have been in fashion so long ago!
"One last thing about the chamberlain…
"Her interest in fashion shows there was more to her than devoted service. She was just like anyone else in the kingdom."
The actual translation:
"Fashion now favors garments adorned with mushroom patterns, and far and wide be they worn.
"This taste for mushroom come of the castle's seamstress, who sought to sew clothes for the princess Zelda to please.
"This fashion, Zelda told to the seamstress, were in her true home well loved.
"In her time were everywhere patterns of bright hues, in the shape of mushroom.
"And now our head seamstress set heart on these patterns copied, which sell to many happy persons.
"I seek after some for my own but nay could not a one find."
An Ancient Ghost Story
The ancient Hyrulean:
"Of late have y herd it told a straunge ladi walkes around the castel in derk of night.
"She ond princesse Zelda semes als twinnes two, but this on nadda ne light in hir eien—mor als a ded thing than not.
"When she is asked about thes walkes, princesse Zelda of that ben no-thing remembren.
"What monstre, or spirit of derknesse, be this visioun? So afeard y am of min imagenninges that y con nat slepen."
What Wortsworth tells you:
"This one is an ancient ghost story.
"My understanding of ancient Hyrulean isn't perfect, but I know a ghost story when I see one.
"It's a firsthand account of a ghostly or maybe corpse-like woman who appeared each night looking just like their Zelda.
"No matter the era, it seems, people can't resist sharing a good ghost story.
"A bit like how there have been eyewitness accounts of our Princess Zelda in the newspaper, even though she's missing…
"Could our Zelda be a ghost too? No…of course not."
The actual translation:
"Of late have I heard it told a strange lady walks around the castle in dark of night.
"She and princess Zelda seem as twins two, but this one has no light in her eyes—more as a dead thing than not.
"When she is asked about these walks, princess Zelda of that been nothing remembered.
"What monster, or spirit of darkness, be this vision? So afraid I am of my imaginings that I cannot sleep."
For the Hero's Sake
The ancient Hyrulean:
"Sith hire founding has Hyrule swich hardshippe ysene, but that is onli smale moment of time.
"Mineru, the kynges elder suster, seyes of this kyngdom that hit ne mot nat awaren aye be ycaccht, nat evenforth fer futur.
"Princesse Zelda tells hire that this futur be wrat alredi, that a champioun bith from the skie comen.
"Bitwene the two, thei imaked to finden a wei this champioun in that distaunt time to ohelpen.
"Her min treuthe, sogte thei to up-reisen the Temple of Time, into the skie to warden hit onyenes ivil.
"Al dyden so in fer distaunt dai, our kingdom mighte be safed.
"In min herte y woot y helpen mot, ond y asked of Mineru, canst yow devyse the menes to upreisen in the skie thaes stane.
"Min wordes iseie nat enow, but thei thaes memorie safen, of the roial familie, heigh in the skie for that future time."
What Wortsworth tells you:
"That one is all about the feats that Zelda performed for the sake of the hero.
"The details are unclear, but essentially, the chamberlain trusted in Mineru and Zelda's predictions and wanted to help.
"She put forth the suggestion to Mineru to build a mechanism that could make her stone tablets float in the sky.
"Which I take it are the very tablets you found, Link? But it doesn't end there.
"If my translation is correct, it suggests that their Zelda worked with Mineru to raise the Temple of Time into the sky!
"The idea of the Temple of Time—a grand edifice built in that ancient era—being lifted to the skies to await a hero…
"Although given the appearaance of the sky islands after the Upheaval, perhaps it's not so far-fetched as it seems.
"What must it have been like for the chamberlain to live through such miraculous times?"
The actual translation:
"Since her founding has Hyrule such hardship seen, but that is only small moment of time.
"Mineru, the king's elder sister, says of this kingdom that it nay may not aware it be caught, not even for the far future.
"Princess Zelda tells her that this future be wrought already, that a champion be from the sky comes.
"Between the two, they made to find a way this champion in that distant time to help.
"Her my truth, sought they to up-risen the Temple of Time, into the sky to ward it against evil.
"All done so in far distant day, our kingdom might be saved.
"In my heart I want to help more, and I asked of Mineru, can you devise the means to uprisen in the sky these stones.
"My words I see not now, but they these memories safe, of the royal family, high in the sky for that future time."
The Day the Land Rose
The ancient Hyrulean:
"Swich wondrous sight y hav bihelden that ne con hit nat justil be described.
"The Temple of Time y sawe, ond al londe yheld it, reisen to the skie, both ferful ond majestatic.
"As princesse Zelda itold mi, in fer distaunt future comes a champioun to that place, the hope that Hyrule safen.
"For that champioun be hit that y thes grete stane inscriben.
"The kynges elder suster, Mineru, sendes nou thes stane to the skie, that the champioun mought hem ireden."
What Wortsworth tells you:
"This is an eyewitness account of the day the Temple of Time floated into the sky.
"It's a landmark discovery for the history of Hyrule. It may be one of the top 10 most important discoveries of all time!
"Even among all the breathtaking displays of power we knew of from the era, to raise the land and its buildings into the sky…
"That was a feat impressive even to those accustomed to wonders. You can tell as much from this account.
"Zelda predicted that a hero would appear in the land they raised into the sky and that he would save Hyrule.
"The chamberlain took this on faith and wanted to know how she could help.
"So she inscribed these records on the stone tablets that Mineru sent into the sky.
"Give me a moment. I need to view these accounts as a historian and not get so swept up in personal sentiments…"
The actual translation:
"Such wonderous sight I have beheld that nay can it not just be described.
"The Temple of Time I saw, and all land held it, risen to the sky, both fearful and majestic.
"As princess Zelda told me, in far distant future comes a champion to that place, the hope that Hyrule is safe.
"For that champion be it that I these great stones inscribe.
"The king's elder sister, Mineru, sends now these stones to the sky, that the champion might him read."
A Parting Resolve
The ancient Hyrulean:
"Rauru, Hyrules kyng. Sonia, hir quen. His elder suster, Mineru. Ond eek princesse Zelda.
"Al whom y served, ond loved. Al whom thurghhon. Alon kerv y thes wordes upon this stan.
"This stan, ond al thritene, serven als roial families recorde, min werk final, ful-wroht for al age.
"Mani the mark made bi thes much biloved peples—som eth-sene, som unsene.
"Whan y make remembraunce of hir markes, fele y flaume of hope, though ful small, within mi.
"Hit be als though thes markes som graunt design describen.
"I ne con nat met princesse Zelda hir lov for hir londe. What mor than, ask y, can y do for Hyrules peples.
"Let min lyf lede mi fro hennes-forth an answere ful-worthi to this questioun."
What Wortsworth tells you:
"It seems this is the last of the records.
"The royals whom the chamberlain served so faithfully were gone, one by one…
"It's heartrending to read. Her pain comes across so clearly in her words.
"What's less clear from these entries is the cause of all these partings…
"Well, each new mystery is an opportunity to do more research. If I keep digging, someday I'll unravel it."
The actual translation:
"Rauru, Hyrule's king. Sonia, her queen. His elder sister, Mineru. And the princess Zelda.
"All whom I served, and loved. All whom they're gone. Alone carve I these words upon this stone.
"This stone, and all thirteen, serve as royal family's record, my work final, full-wrought for all ages.
"Many the mark made by these much beloved peoples—some as seen, some unseen.
"When I make remembrance of her marks, feel I a flame of hope, though full small, within me.
"It be as though these mark some grand design described.
"I nay can not meet princess Zelda her love for her land. What more than, ask I, can I do for Hyrule's peoples.
"Let my life lead me for hence-forth an answer full-worthy to this question."
And that is all thirteen slabs translated.
¹ "Eck" has no apparent equivalent, but can be guessed to mean "with" from context.
² "Laudation" might not be correct; failing to translate "lausion" in English, I turned my switch to French mode, and the word that took its place was "admiration." "Laudation" was the closest related word with similar letters.
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