The Sing-Song of Old Man Kangaroo

Not always was the Kangaroo as now we do behold him, but a Different Animal with four short legs. He was grey and he was woolly, and his pride was inordinate: he danced on an outcrop in the middle of Australia, and he went to the Little God Nqa.

TIDAK selalu Kanguru seperti yang kita lihat sekarang, tetapi dahulu ia adalah Hewan yang Berbeda dengan empat kaki pendek. Ia berwarna abu-abu dan berbulu keriting, dan kesombongannya luar biasa: ia menari di atas sebuah batu yang menonjol di tengah Australia, dan ia pergi menemui Dewa Kecil Nqa.

He went to Nqa at six before breakfast, saying, ‘Make me different from all other animals by five this afternoon.’

Ia pergi menemui Nqa pada pukul enam sebelum sarapan, sambil berkata, 'Buatlah aku berbeda dari semua hewan lain sebelum pukul lima sore ini.'

Up jumped Nqa from his seat on the sandflat and shouted, ‘Go away!’

Nqa melompat berdiri dari tempat duduknya di dataran pasir dan berteriak, 'Pergi sana!'

He was grey and he was woolly, and his pride was inordinate: he danced on a rock-ledge in the middle of Australia, and he went to the Middle God Nquing.

Ia berwarna abu-abu dan berbulu keriting, dan kesombongannya luar biasa: ia menari di atas sebuah tepian batu di tengah Australia, dan ia pergi menemui Dewa Tengah Nquing.

He went to Nquing at eight after breakfast, saying, ‘Make me different from all other animals; make me, also, wonderfully popular by five this afternoon.’

Ia pergi menemui Nquing pada pukul delapan setelah sarapan, sambil berkata, 'Buatlah aku berbeda dari semua hewan lain; buat aku, juga, sangat terkenal sebelum pukul lima sore ini.'

Up jumped Nquing from his burrow in the spinifex and shouted, ‘Go away!’

Nquing melompat keluar dari sarangnya di semak spinifex dan berteriak, 'Pergi sana!'

He was grey and he was woolly, and his pride was inordinate: he danced on a sandbank in the middle of Australia, and he went to the Big God Nqong.

Ia berwarna abu-abu dan berbulu keriting, dan kesombongannya luar biasa: ia menari di atas gundukan pasir di tengah Australia, dan ia pergi menemui Dewa Besar Nqong.

He went to Nqong at ten before dinner-time, saying, ‘Make me different from all other animals; make me popular and wonderfully run after by five this afternoon.’

Ia pergi menemui Nqong pada pukul sepuluh sebelum makan malam, sambil berkata, 'Buatlah aku berbeda dari semua hewan lain; buat aku terkenal dan sangat diburu-buru sebelum pukul lima sore ini.'

Up jumped Nqong from his bath in the salt-pan and shouted, ‘Yes, I will!’

Nqong melompat berdiri dari pemandiannya di dataran garam dan berteriak, 'Ya, akan kulakukan!'

Nqong called Dingo—Yellow-Dog Dingo—always hungry, dusty in the sunshine, and showed him Kangaroo. Nqong said, ‘Dingo! Wake up, Dingo! Do you see that gentleman dancing on an ashpit? He wants to be popular and very truly run after. Dingo, make him SO!’

Nqong memanggil Dingo—Dingo si Anjing Kuning—yang selalu lapar, berdebu di bawah terik matahari, dan menunjukkan kepadanya sang Kanguru. Nqong berkata, 'Dingo! Bangunlah, Dingo! Kau lihat tuan yang sedang menari di atas tumpukan abu itu? Ia ingin menjadi terkenal dan benar-benar diburu-buru. Dingo, buatlah ia SEPERTI ITU!'

Up jumped Dingo—Yellow-Dog Dingo—and said, ‘What, that cat-rabbit?’

Dingo—Dingo si Anjing Kuning—melompat berdiri dan berkata, 'Apa, kucing-kelinci itu?'

Off ran Dingo—Yellow-Dog Dingo—always hungry, grinning like a coal-scuttle,—ran after Kangaroo.

Dingo—Dingo si Anjing Kuning—berlari pergi—selalu lapar, menyeringai seperti sekop arang,—berlari mengejar sang Kanguru.

Off went the proud Kangaroo on his four little legs like a bunny.

Sang Kanguru yang sombong pun berlari pergi dengan keempat kaki kecilnya seperti kelinci.

This, O Beloved of mine, ends the first part of the tale!

Ini, wahai Kesayanganku, mengakhiri bagian pertama dari kisah ini!

He ran through the desert; he ran through the mountains; he ran through the salt-pans; he ran through the reed-beds; he ran through the blue gums; he ran through the spinifex; he ran till his front legs ached.

Ia berlari melintasi gurun; ia berlari melintasi pegunungan; ia berlari melintasi dataran garam; ia berlari melintasi rawa-rawa alang-alang; ia berlari melintasi pohon-pohon karet biru; ia berlari melintasi semak spinifex; ia berlari sampai kaki depannya nyeri.

He had to!

Ia terpaksa!

Still ran Dingo—Yellow-Dog Dingo—always hungry, grinning like a rat-trap, never getting nearer, never getting farther,—ran after Kangaroo.

Dingo—Dingo si Anjing Kuning—terus berlari—selalu lapar, menyeringai seperti perangkap tikus, tak pernah semakin dekat, tak pernah semakin jauh,—berlari mengejar sang Kanguru.

He had to!

Ia terpaksa!

Still ran Kangaroo—Old Man Kangaroo. He ran through the ti-trees; he ran through the mulga; he ran through the long grass; he ran through the short grass; he ran through the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer; he ran till his hind legs ached.

Kanguru—Kanguru Tua—terus berlari. Ia berlari melintasi pohon-pohon ti-tree; ia berlari melintasi semak mulga; ia berlari melintasi rumput panjang; ia berlari melintasi rumput pendek; ia berlari melintasi Garis Balik Selatan dan Utara; ia berlari sampai kaki belakangnya nyeri.

He had to!

Ia terpaksa!

Still ran Dingo—Yellow-Dog Dingo—hungrier and hungrier, grinning like a horse-collar, never getting nearer, never getting farther; and they came to the Wollgong River.

Dingo—Dingo si Anjing Kuning—terus berlari—semakin lapar dan semakin lapar, menyeringai seperti tali kekang kuda, tak pernah semakin dekat, tak pernah semakin jauh; dan mereka tiba di Sungai Wollgong.

Now, there wasn’t any bridge, and there wasn’t any ferry-boat, and Kangaroo didn’t know how to get over; so he stood on his legs and hopped.

Nah, tak ada jembatan sama sekali, dan tak ada perahu tambang sama sekali, dan sang Kanguru tak tahu bagaimana menyeberanginya; maka ia berdiri di atas kakinya dan melompat-lompat.

He had to!

Ia terpaksa!

He hopped through the Flinders; he hopped through the Cinders; he hopped through the deserts in the middle of Australia. He hopped like a Kangaroo.

Ia melompat melintasi Flinders; ia melompat melintasi Cinders; ia melompat melintasi gurun-gurun di tengah Australia. Ia melompat seperti seekor Kanguru.

First he hopped one yard; then he hopped three yards; then he hopped five yards; his legs growing stronger; his legs growing longer. He hadn’t any time for rest or refreshment, and he wanted them very much.

Mula-mula ia melompat satu yard; lalu ia melompat tiga yard; lalu ia melompat lima yard; kakinya semakin kuat; kakinya semakin panjang. Ia tak sempat beristirahat atau menyegarkan diri, padahal ia sangat menginginkannya.

Still ran Dingo—Yellow-Dog Dingo—very much bewildered, very much hungry, and wondering what in the world or out of it made Old Man Kangaroo hop.

Dingo—Dingo si Anjing Kuning—terus berlari—sangat kebingungan, sangat lapar, dan bertanya-tanya apa gerangan di dunia ini atau di luarnya yang membuat sang Kanguru Tua melompat-lompat begitu.

For he hopped like a cricket; like a pea in a saucepan; or a new rubber ball on a nursery floor.

Sebab ia melompat seperti jangkrik; seperti sebutir kacang polong di dalam panci; atau bola karet baru di lantai kamar anak-anak.

He had to!

Ia terpaksa!

He tucked up his front legs; he hopped on his hind legs; he stuck out his tail for a balance-weight behind him; and he hopped through the Darling Downs.

Ia melipat kaki depannya; ia melompat dengan kaki belakangnya; ia menjulurkan ekornya sebagai pemberat penyeimbang di belakangnya; dan ia melompat melintasi Darling Downs.

He had to!

Ia terpaksa!

Still ran Dingo—Tired-Dog Dingo—hungrier and hungrier, very much bewildered, and wondering when in the world or out of it would Old Man Kangaroo stop.

Dingo—Dingo yang Kelelahan—terus berlari—semakin lapar dan semakin lapar, sangat kebingungan, dan bertanya-tanya kapan gerangan di dunia ini atau di luarnya sang Kanguru Tua akan berhenti.

Then came Nqong from his bath in the salt-pans, and said, ‘It’s five o’clock.’

Kemudian datanglah Nqong dari pemandiannya di dataran garam, dan berkata, 'Sudah pukul lima.'

Down sat Dingo—Poor Dog Dingo—always hungry, dusky in the sunshine; hung out his tongue and howled.

Dingo—Dingo yang Malang—duduk terjatuh—selalu lapar, berdebu di bawah terik matahari; menjulurkan lidahnya dan melolong.

Down sat Kangaroo—Old Man Kangaroo—stuck out his tail like a milking-stool behind him, and said, ‘Thank goodness that’s finished!’

Kanguru—Kanguru Tua—duduk terjatuh—menjulurkan ekornya seperti bangku pemerah susu di belakangnya, dan berkata, 'Untunglah itu sudah selesai!'

Then said Nqong, who is always a gentleman, ‘Why aren’t you grateful to Yellow-Dog Dingo? Why don’t you thank him for all he has done for you?’

Kemudian Nqong berkata, yang selalu berperilaku seperti tuan yang sopan, 'Mengapa kau tak berterima kasih kepada Dingo si Anjing Kuning? Mengapa kau tak berterima kasih kepadanya atas semua yang telah ia lakukan untukmu?'

Then said Kangaroo—Tired Old Kangaroo—He’s chased me out of the homes of my childhood; he’s chased me out of my regular meal-times; he’s altered my shape so I’ll never get it back; and he’s played Old Scratch with my legs.’

Kemudian Kanguru—Kanguru Tua yang Kelelahan—berkata, 'Ia telah mengusirku keluar dari rumah-rumah masa kecilku; ia telah mengusirku dari waktu-waktu makanku yang teratur; ia telah mengubah bentukku sehingga aku tak akan pernah mendapatkannya kembali; dan ia telah mengacaukan habis-habisan kakiku.'

Then said Nqong, ‘Perhaps I’m mistaken, but didn’t you ask me to make you different from all other animals, as well as to make you very truly sought after? And now it is five o’clock.’

Kemudian Nqong berkata, 'Mungkin aku keliru, tapi bukankah kau memintaku membuatmu berbeda dari semua hewan lain, sekaligus membuatmu benar-benar diburu-buru? Dan sekarang sudah pukul lima.'

‘Yes,’ said Kangaroo. ‘I wish that I hadn’t. I thought you would do it by charms and incantations, but this is a practical joke.’

'Ya,' kata sang Kanguru. 'Aku berharap aku tak pernah memintanya. Kupikir kau akan melakukannya dengan mantra dan jampi-jampi, tapi ini malah lelucon yang keterlaluan.'

‘Joke!’ said Nqong from his bath in the blue gums. ‘Say that again and I’ll whistle up Dingo and run your hind legs off.’

'Lelucon!' kata Nqong dari pemandiannya di antara pohon-pohon karet biru. 'Katakan itu lagi dan aku akan bersiul memanggil Dingo dan membuat kaki belakangmu lepas berlarian.'

‘No,’ said the Kangaroo. ‘I must apologise. Legs are legs, and you needn’t alter ‘em so far as I am concerned. I only meant to explain to Your Lordliness that I’ve had nothing to eat since morning, and I’m very empty indeed.’

'Tidak,' kata sang Kanguru. 'Aku harus minta maaf. Kaki tetaplah kaki, dan kau tak perlu mengubahnya sejauh menyangkut diriku. Aku hanya bermaksud menjelaskan kepada Yang Mulia bahwa aku belum makan apa pun sejak pagi, dan perutku benar-benar kosong.'

‘Yes,’ said Dingo—Yellow-Dog Dingo,—‘I am just in the same situation. I’ve made him different from all other animals; but what may I have for my tea?’

'Ya,' kata Dingo—Dingo si Anjing Kuning,—'aku juga berada dalam situasi yang sama persis. Aku sudah membuatnya berbeda dari semua hewan lain; tapi apa yang bisa kudapat untuk makan malamku?'

Then said Nqong from his bath in the salt-pan, ‘Come and ask me about it tomorrow, because I’m going to wash.’

Kemudian Nqong berkata dari pemandiannya di dataran garam, 'Datang dan tanyakan itu kepadaku besok, sebab sekarang aku hendak mandi.'

So they were left in the middle of Australia, Old Man Kangaroo and Yellow-Dog Dingo, and each said, ‘That’s your fault.’

Maka mereka pun ditinggalkan begitu saja di tengah Australia, Kanguru Tua dan Dingo si Anjing Kuning, dan masing-masing berkata, 'Itu salahmu.'

This is the mouth-filling song Of the race that was run by a Boomer, Run in a single burst—only event of its kind— Started by big God Nqong from Warrigaborrigarooma, Old Man Kangaroo first: Yellow-Dog Dingo behind.

INILAH lagu yang memenuhi mulut Tentang perlombaan yang dilari oleh seekor Boomer, Berlari dalam satu kali lomba—satu-satunya peristiwa semacam itu— Dimulai oleh Dewa besar Nqong dari Warrigaborrigarooma, Kanguru Tua di depan: Dingo si Anjing Kuning di belakang.

Kangaroo bounded away, His back-legs working like pistons— Bounded from morning till dark, Twenty-five feet to a bound. Yellow-Dog Dingo lay Like a yellow cloud in the distance— Much too busy to bark. My! but they covered the ground!

Kanguru melompat pergi, Kaki belakangnya bekerja seperti piston— Melompat dari pagi hingga gelap, Dua puluh lima kaki setiap lompatan. Dingo si Anjing Kuning tertinggal Seperti awan kuning di kejauhan— Terlalu sibuk untuk menggonggong. Astaga! betapa jauh mereka menempuh jarak!

Nobody knows where they went, Or followed the track that they flew in, For that Continent Hadn’t been given a name. They ran thirty degrees, From Torres Straits to the Leeuwin (Look at the Atlas, please), And they ran back as they came.

Tak seorang pun tahu ke mana mereka pergi, Atau mengikuti jejak yang mereka lalui secepat kilat, Sebab benua itu Belum diberi nama. Mereka berlari tiga puluh derajat, Dari Selat Torres hingga Leeuwin (Lihatlah Atlas, silakan), Dan mereka berlari kembali seperti semula.

S’posing you could trot From Adelaide to the Pacific, For an afternoon’s run Half what these gentlemen did You would feel rather hot, But your legs would develop terrific— Yes, my importunate son, You’d be a Marvellous Kid!

Andaikan kau bisa berlari kecil Dari Adelaide hingga Pasifik, Untuk lomba sore hari Setengah dari yang dilakukan kedua tuan ini Kau akan merasa cukup kepanasan, Tapi kakimu akan berkembang luar biasa— Ya, anakku yang tak sabaran, Kau akan menjadi Anak yang Luar Biasa!