XXVII

 

Bere irripar gozoekin John’ek eskutitza irakurri zun.

“Zure aitak ingeles tankerako egikera bizkorra dauka,

Berak dionez egia da, ala xede;

Baño zer gudaz dio?

1812’garrenean ez genun borrokarik egin”.

                                                              “Bai, John,

Washington erre zenutenean”.

“Ezin genun ori egin maitia...”

                                           “Iria esan nai det”.

“Erre egin al genun?”

                              “Bai, ori egin zenuten”.

                                                                “Bai naigabea!!”

 

Ez da arritzekoa gureganako daukaten gorrotoa. Auxe esaten dizut,

Egunen batean zure aitak ni maitatzea lortuko detela”.

 

 

 

XXVII

John read the letter with his lovely smile. / ‘Your father has a vigorous English style, / And what he says is true, upon my word; / But what’s this war of which I never heard? / We didn’t fight in I8I2.’ / ‘Yes, John, / That was the time when you burnt Washington.’ / ‘We couldn’t have, my dear...’ / ‘I mean the city.’ / ‘We burnt it?’ / ‘Yes, you did.’ / ‘What a pity! / No wonder people hate us. But, I say, / I’ll make your father like me yet, some day.’