Sónius Fulgéssus Lengo

A short introduction

Sónius Fulgéssus Lágo, often referred to only by his first name, Sónius, was one of the most ingenius poets during the Imperial Era of the Confederation of Tarrabaenia. He lived during the transition from elective to hereditary monarchy and was commissioned by the first emperor Baius Válés Aemiliánus to write paeans and Tarrabaenias most well known epos - or even piece of art in general. He fell into disgrace and was exiled to the north eventually for his flamboyant lifestyle and licentious sexual innuendos in non-commisioned works. This, in the end, might have saved his life, as only after being sent into exile his bold criticism snuck into his commissioned works was unveiled as such.

With regret one begins to write a chapter about the most accomplished, Sónius Fulgéssus Lengo, as only an entire scroll would do justice him, who wrote our history, our very fatherland.

- Ávius Hirsius Larsa in Poets of the Past

Family background and personal life

Sónius stems from Palissa in the very southwest of the Confederation of Tarrabaenia. He was born some time around the year 3110 of the Era of the Earth. Not much is known about his family or his early life, as he was born into the Second Tarrabaenian Civil War. The historian Ávius Hirsius Larsa claims, during his research for his work Poets of the Past, he found sources linking Sónius to the Fulgéssus family, that was known for their olive oil trade. This might make him a relative of Ólus Fulgéssus Potitor, holder of the title induperátor manpelóm contentóm, one of Tarrabaenias most capable military leaders during the Reconquest of the South against the Mdûlûn.

When Sónius was a young man he left his home state in Palissa and moved to Savína. His early time in the capital lies as much in the dark as his youth. In 3129 he was discovered by Soránus Sillius Caelína, who was famous for his support of all kinds of art and artists. He was also responsible for bringing Sónius to Baius Válés Aemiliánus' attention.

During the final stretches of the Second Tarrabaenian Civil War, Baius Válés Aemilianus began to ask Sónius to write and recite paeans on occasion of victories he achieved. These paeans are said to be the most artful ever written in the Tarrabaenian language. When the civil war ended, though, it became clear that Baius wouldn't restore the elective monarchy, but rather cling to the title and inherit it to his son. Sónius seemed to have put a good face on the matter, as he composed the 12.000 verse epic Paridis on Emperor Válés' behest, probably his most famous work. The Paridis is universally acclaimed as the defining text of the Tarrabaenians and was - unlike other of Sónius' work - not forbidden and burnt after his falling out of favour.

The first years of Emperor Válés were a time of success for Sónius, but being a devout supporter of the old political setup, Sónius withdrew gradually from work at the court and worked more on private commissions. Not only felt Emperor Válés slighted by this, but Sónius' private work stood in harsh opposition to Válés' policy. Válés saw himself as restitutor of traditional Tarrabaenian values and beliefs. His notoriously conservative legislature was caricated and undermined in a lot of Sónius' works. In 3142 of the Era of the Earth Sónius published his poem Through the Closed Door, which was seen as so outrageous and obscene, that Válés exiled him to the former provisory province of Trásacuina. Later he vanished, as he was eventually proscribed. He might have fled to Madini, as his capture or execution was never documented.

"Maestre, maestre, did Sónius write something besides the Paridis?"
"Of course - Kó flús claríssus or Lituí clúint porriú próiá or Fériátí nós come to mind."
"I heard about something with a beaker as well and also Through the clo...."
"By the gods, your mouth shall be closed and nothing come through about that!"

- A student and a teacher during class

Works

Sónius' works can be divided into four phases. Due to his falling out of favour only parts of his work survived to different capacities. (For a possibly complete list see right.)

The first phase is his youth, up to the time when he was discovered by Soránus Sillius Caelína. Not much of his work from this phase survives, but what we have are mostly lists of titles indicating he wrote on topics like escapism and idealised land life. One of his most well known poems from that time that actually survived to this day is the Úquádó luscinnula.

The second phase spans from 3129 to 3136, the time from his discovery up until the publication of his magnum opus, the Paridis.

The third phase is characterised by being disparate: Works written on behest of Emperor Válés as well as private commissions or poems of own experimentation fall into this phase.

After his exilation in 3142, during the fourth phase, he wrote versed letters to his friends in Savína and supposedly also to his family back in Palissa lamenting on his fate. A collection of the still extant letters was compiled by Cécius Trevérus Varró under the name Gemitús Séis. Furthermore a lament called O Gelú Ginátris Gela exists from that time.

Úquádó luscinnula in Tarrabaenian

Translation

Úquádó luscinnula intibicantórat súter et implicátur lúné lús stellé splendré. Ó ávis in fronde viríde velátá nébula lís. Age penniculáta perinsibilá amatóré híc. Tene amatóré studiósé ventram horam sciditís. Nam lepidíma humús nótra scitulát dieí sed pressitat ingravitat nótra praecordia umbré. Fídés dát prossús homo nóis et ager id ad tempus. Fundere nóis arás est dátricis lós. Ita ornant nós fere dacria. Ávis et noitú mónét cordé: Patria bella sed orba sine fámiliáte amícís. Ávis arát et donút isa síc et adaecat et hominís.

Once a nightingale wistled underneath moon and stars, engulfed by their shine and splendor. Oh bird, you're sitting in emerald leaves amidst the misty fluff. On, featherbearer, entice your lover to come hence with your song! Hold him tight, ere the coming morrow separates you! While, alas, this most beautiful of lands is fair by day, it presses and burdens our heart at night. At due time, our most closest or the land offers us hold. You be praised for the gift your song brings us. It adorns us with teary pearls. You, bird, who reminds us in the night: Beautiful is our homeland, but lonely without family and friends. You, bird, bestow a gift and are one yourself, feeling like us humans.

Position in Tarrabaenian literary history and reception

Even with all its diversity and different cultural influences, all of Tarrabaenia is at least united by its unshaken love for the Paridis. It is still the most often used text in schools almost 1400 years after its inception. His other works have varying fates. Most of his early works are lost to time with only lists of titles being preserved, while the works of the third and fourth phase of his artistic life have suffered bans and book burnings, as they either contradicted the morale rules and laws of the empire or even contained hidden scorn towards Emperor Válés himself. It is not known, what share of his later letters Cécius Trevérus Varró could collect, as these were also sought out by emperor Válés' and his successors' henchmen.

Ironically the poem, that earned him his exilation nowadays is his second most popular work. Though still being considered titillating, also by current standards, the subversive nature of the work has led to it being handed around in secret, while it was forbidden. Today many know it, but not many dare to talk about it in public.

by Kveldulfr83

List of Sónius Fulgéssus Lengo's known works (if underlined, only titles or fragments are extant)

First phase
Lós ótunális (Praising autumn)
Oés spergentés coiís (Sheep scattered across the hills)
Murmur ríbulí (Whispering of a brook)
Óiés sasónici (Firs on a rocky patch)
Úquádó luscinnula (Once the nightingale sang a song...)
Umrae ólua (In the shade of an olive tree)
Lurulé noitis (Sounds of the night)
Kó flús claríssus (Where the spings are the most clear)

Second phase

Cótus ísplenditur (The north is lit)
Reímus trás príssió línnia (Beyond old frontiers)
Sívolúns únósse quod únórat (If on were what was one)
Órélús atínit satúrá glébá (Dawn touches upon the the entire world)
Agramus pré níoré (We shall farm by the forest)
Cíntó Mácriá óleáié (All around the olive gardens)
Lituí clúint porriú próiá (The trumpets sound farther than before)
O náta Dióvis hercií (Oh daughter of our Magnificent Protector)
Paridis

Third phase

Réstitúta vécús (Our capital is restored)
Fériátí nós (God-bestowed festivities upon us)
Sollenipíla sintillant (The ritual weapons are shining bright)
Pás peréva (Lasting peace)
Ábulássó (Strolling)
Lóticillia (Small poems accompanied by the lute)
Poculluló (My little beaker)
Váticináta varia vínária (Collection of rhymes made while drinking wine)
Porticús (The collonade)
Paraclósitiró (Through the closed door)

Fourth phase

Missicula 1-23 (Short letters 1 to 23; 2, 7, 17, 23 extant)
Missús 1-4 (Long letters 1-4; only parts of 3 and 4 extant)
O Gelú Ginátris Gela (Oh Gela, Bearer of Ice)