XI. The Fifth Praise

Sencan’s city: Sing the praises
Of the One who set your borders
Round the ancient, holy hilltop!
Nankeinela gates of iron
Set to ward you from the serpents.

Sencan’s city: Walls of marble
Nankeinela set around you,
High to guard against the Giants,
Mighty sons of Gasojean;
For their hearts are full of treachery.

Sencan’s City: Many waters
From the deep abyss beneath you,
From the world of darkness springing,
Bubble upwards under Starlight.
Nankeinela all things hallows.

Sencan’s city: As your waters
Feed and fill the Inland Ocean—
The sea which ,shining under Heaven,
Holds the memory of Starlight—
So they fill the world with justice.

Sencan’s city: Bring forth justice.
Nankeinela rules the nations.
To the northern lands a monarch
He has given, a scion of Starland:
Sencan’s heir to rule in justice.

Sencan’s city: Who is like him?
Who before the Mighty Maker
Blameless stands, without compunction?
I will go unto the Queen’s Pool,
Go to pay my vows unto him.

Ranhor’s Isle, mighty fortress:
On a barren rock he set you,
Well to ward the Water’s Children
From the menace of the Jade Hills;
From the servants of the Dark One.

Leopard Isles, shining gemstones:
Nankeinela set you midmost
In the Sea which Ranhor promised
To Lanenomen, first of fathers,
When he woke from bitter battle.

Moorlands wide, cold as winter:
Great the majesty he shows you
When he passed in the silence
Of a thousand storm-clouds riding
To range and thunder in the southlands.

Storming southlands, Dalian homeland,
Land of wars and strivings ceaseless:
Cease your raging! Nankeinela
Sits in judgment o’er the nations.
Bow your heads, accept his kingship.

Shining stars of Middle Heaven,
And Raos, faithful champion Polestar:
Sing the Song the Maker taught you;
Reject the path the southern star-host
Followed into rack and burning.

Kodihan, mighty mortals:
Long as rebels under Heaven
You have lived, and envied Sencan,
Envied wide-famed Lanenomen.
Nankeinela judges swiftly.

King and peasant, ancient poet,
All you priestesses and merchants,
Warriors bright with banners waving,
All the Water’s happy Children:
Bless the name of Nankeinela!