After 1000 hours of pynchon-l celibacy

[Heikki Raudaskoski]

an *attempt* at translation; I'm no native. But what the hell:

> - En furste skall offra alla små betänkligheter, samla all makten hos
> sig, bli sitt folks urbild och vilja.... Rådsherrarna och adeln kivas nu
> endast om sin andel i makten efter ers majestäts höge herr fader. Och
> Oxenstjerna och Gyllenstjerna och... Nåja... Man lyss!

A sovereign shall give up all little misgivings, assemble all power around
him, become his people's archetype and will... The councillors and nobility
scramble now only for their share of power after Your Majesty's [Karl XII, 
lethal lunatic; this scene supposedly takes place shortly after he has
become a king at the age of 15 after the death of his father Karl XI in
1697] respected father. And Oxenstjerna and Gyllenstjerna and... Oh well... 
People are listening!
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O, G, and Gyllenborg were quite common Elect names in those centuries,
too. A still earlier form of "star" in Swedish was "stierna". But I don't 
know how they wrote it in 1786. Knowing Pynchon's interest in astrology,
it may be good to notice that Oxenstjerna is Taurus. Well, I don't know.

Heikki
Butler County (where a summer night won't smile)