An extract from the novel *The Cypriot*

A Plea to Funda...

My darling. You are my goddess of love. All-holy daughter of Uranus, a virgin sent from heaven to bring the gift of life into the world.

Like the most precious of pearls, your love was placed on a shell and gently carried to me by the moist breath of the North Wind. And as the waves broke against the jagged rocks of Cyprus, the foam was fashioned into human form.

And the sea nymphs wrapped you in divine silk garments. They perfumed you with incense and anointed you with the sacred oil of the gods, to create an effervescent beauty with the power of the ocean.

And upon your head they laid a crown, bejewelled with precious stones. And
through the pierced lobes of your ears they hung ornaments of copper. Round your delicate neck they placed a necklace of pure gold. And round your milky-white hips they set the embroidered girdle of desire.

Your melodious call entranced all who heard you and your fragrant aroma intoxicated all who breathed you. Your perfect figure captivated all who set eyes on you and your immaculate flesh beguiled all who touched you. Like the ocean, you beckoned all to come to you. You demanded that all explore you.

And no man could resist your spell. Even the gods themselves wished to possess you. For the love you offered was eternal. But you rejected them all. Like the ocean, you were tempestuous and sought vengeance against anyone who dared try and conquer you.

And so the maiden of love sought sanctuary. In accordance with ancient rites you sat in the sacred garden waiting for the lonely stranger to claim you. Only he with an open mind, a generous heart and a pure spirit could triumph over those who sought only to control you.

I threw a small offering to you and invoked upon you the name of Afrodhidi, borne of the foam. I begged you to share with me your sensuous blessings.
We came together like the union of the goddess of fertility with the god of vegetation. You unlocked within me the door to affirmation and self-love and I in turn released within you the seed of devotion and of honour.

Oh, my goddess of love, let no impediment hinder our path to ecstacy and meaning. Open to me my own true feelings. Spark our beings with the magic
of love. Guide our pairing with wisdom and fill our hearts with tender devotion. Let us dance the love and passion of equals. Radiant, joyous beings, sipping from the cup of eternity.

I DRIS BARANJELIES DU BANIKU DU BELEGANU
by Andreas Koumi

(The following 'istoria' has been written using the internationally recognised Latin alphabet, itself a derivation of the Greek alphabet, as an alternative means of writing the Cypriot language. This approach has been developed by the Cypriot Academy, a new organisation dedicated to the advancement of Cypriot culture and achievements in an international environment.)

Don balion jeron stin Gibron, se enan migron horkon, enan androinon ebandreftigen. Idan bolla ftoshi. En ihan bu don ilion miran. Istera bu don ghamon dus o athrobos anangastin na bai magria yia na evri dhulian na xigonomisi lia rialia.

Se mian bolin arhisen dhulian me enan beleganon bu don lalusan Banikon. Jinon don jeron en je exerasin ghramada je en ishen ude aftoginida ude
dilefona na mborusin na sinenoithusin o athrobos me din yenegan du. Zhusan je i thkio moni dus. Je da hronia ejilusasin...

Istera bu gamboson jeron abofasisen o athrobos na strafi biso sto horkon du. "Na bais sto galon yie mu," iben du o mastros du, "Rialia bolla en je grado. Etsi en na su dhoso dris hrisimes baranjelies yia na thimase don Banikon don beleganon. Brodin, aman dhis je gleftusin esu drava biso je men glepsis. Dhefterin, aman dhis je mallonusin esu drava biso je men negadothis. Dridin, aman gadi se nevriasi esu bale drava biso je jimise don thimon su."

En rialia bu ehriazedun o athrobos, oi baranjelies. Alla efharistisen je ebosheredisen don mastron du, je ebiasen din stradan yia do horkon du. San
ebienen o athrobos, ien thkio-dris bu egleftasin mila bu enan bervolin. Esketfin o athrobos na bai na glepsi je jinos, efoson ebinusen je olas. Amesos omos ethimithin din brodin baranjelian du Baniku du beleganu, je emedanosen. En do medaxin, jinus bu egleftasin ebiaasin dus i zafties.

Lion bio gado o athrobos ivren allus thkio bu mallonasin. Esketfin na bai na dus horisi, efoson idan bolla aghriomeni. Amesos omos ethimithin din dhefterin baranjelian du Baniku du beleganu, je emedanosen. En do medaxin, jini bu emalonasin emasherothigasin.

Din nihta, ebi delus, eftasen eso du o athrobos. Anixen din gamarobortan je embigen mesa. Idan skodina. Ien din yenegan du alla jini en don egadalaven.
Brin na mbori na dis sindishi o athrobos, embigen mesa enas allos, neos je psilos. Bu mesa du ethimothin bolla o athrobos. Bios idan dudos? Eskeftin jinin din stighmin na dus skodosi je dus thkio. Amesos omos ethimithin din dridin baranjelian du Baniku du beleganu, je emedanosen.

"Mboro na jimitho dhame bopse?" erodixen din yenegan. I yenega edhixen du din garkolan bu idan oxo.

"An thelis jimithu jame. En se thkiohno."

Stenohorimenos alla je bolla gurasmenos, ebojimithin o athrobos. Do broin anixen i borta dis gamaris je o athrobos ien odi eboloyazen i yenega don levendin, je efilisen don je olas bano stin vuka. En andexen allon o athrobos:

"Bios en dudos o mandrahalos bu filas?" erodixen din. "Ime eyio o andras su! En me 'gadalaves?"

"Skodina epses, bu na se gadalavo, istera bu dosa hronia?" abandisen i yenega. "Aghabi mu, o levendis dudos en o yios mas. Banikon don efkala!"
Je dode egadalaven o athrobos boson hrisimes idan i dris baranjelies. Je exeren bos idan na thimade yia banda don Banikon don beleganon.