You are a Fale-alili man;

[So] listen to me;

For our lives are about to be sung,—

[The story] about Fa'a-vavau and Mate-mate.

Tua and Lo'o were their parents;

Le-tonu was their sister;

She was married in Siumu to Atu-u'u;

By which marriage they got a pig;

They were married [and lived] in an inland village.

Then went Malietoa-fe'ai [thither] to wash his head. [up.

Some one pointed out to him, lo!, the head [of the pig] hanging

Let us two eat of it, [said he],

But there is one drawback—

That, if it is turned, we shall have no desire to eat of it.

O chief, [says Tui,] go into the house;

Sit down pleasantly with them, and chat pleasantly with them,

While we two will take down the head and prepare it.

We will cook it with cocoa-nut juice poured over it;

And [for it] I will pluck the leaves of the best bananas,

Which I will bring hither in my hands;

[When] the head [is ready], I will bring it and show it to you.

Malietoa replies—

Friend, come gently hither;

I am exhausted with hunger.

I will set up my staff of office—our Fale-atua;

Now then, here is our Fale-atua; leave it here;

But let us have our first feast.

On a pig that ran about at large inland.

Go up [inland] and get it;

Take out the two lumps of lard

And the liver; squeeze them out [for cooking].

Friend, when you have got your feast [ready],

Lay it out as on a tray; lay it out

Close to the seat of Malietoa-fe'ai.

Friend, walk gently hither;

I am exhausted with hunger.

O chief, do you sit still and rest,

Till I uncover the prepared viands;

Then you will eat of them.

Malietoa ate, continued to eat

Well pleased, and he said,

‘Friend, this is the very best of feast days,

[For] I have eaten good food [to-day].

Friend, tear off the skin of the dish you two [prepared],

Lo! a dry cocoa-nut leaf is on the outside,

And a green cocoa-nut leaf is on the inside;

Tui's eyes are shining.

‘Friend, come now, since you have done so well,

Let those to the east live, let those to the west live;

And if you have any number of followers, you will so arrange

That your feast-offering shall not become a burden.'