Prevod
To je mit o Endimionu in Diani, kakor so ga na obalah zaliva Saginaw v Michiganu pripovedovali Indijanci, ki za Grke niso nikoli slišali. Lovilec oblakov, čeden mladenič iz ljudstva Odžibvejcev, je užalil svojo družino, ker se med obredom prehoda v odraslost ni hotel postiti, zato so ga izgnali iz očetovega vigvama. Noč je bila tako lepa, da mu je nebo prav dobro nadomestilo streho, sam pa je z deško samozavestjo verjel, da se bo znal preživljati in si morda pridobiti tudi nekaj slave in bogastva. Legel je na blazinico mahu, da bi skoval načrte za prihodnost, in zaspan opazoval vzhajajočo luno, v kateri se mu je zdelo, da vidi obraz. Ko se je prebudil, je ugotovil, da še ni dan, a temo je napol razpršila svetloba, ki je žarela iz postave ob njem — iz podobe prelepe ženske.
»Lovilec oblakov, prišla sem pote,« je rekla. Ko se je obrnila proč, ga je nekaj gnalo, da je vstal in ji sledil. Toda namesto da bi hodila, se je kakor orel dvignila v zrak in tudi on se je, obdarjen z novo močjo, vzpel ob njej. Zemlja pod njima je bila motna in prostrana, zvezde pa so zažarele, ko sta se jim približala, vendar se je zdelo, da ženin sij zasenči njihovo bleščavo. Kmalu sta stopila skozi vrata iz oblakov in se znašla na čudoviti ravnini, kjer so kristalni ribniki in potoki napajali mogočna drevesa in neskončne cvetoče travnike; ptice najživahnejših barv so švigale sem ter tja in pele kakor piščali; celo kamni so bili iz ahata, jaspisa in kalcedona. Na ravnini je stalo velikansko bivališče, v njem pa so bile vezenine in okraski, ležišča iz dragocenega krzna, pipe in orožje, izrezljani iz jaspisa in okovani s srebrom. Medtem ko se je mladenič navdušeno razgledoval, se je prikazal brat njegove vodnice in jo okaral ter ji svetoval, naj mladeniča nemudoma pošlje nazaj na zemljo. Ker pa je to odločno zavrnila, je Lovilcu oblakov podaril pipo, lok in puščice v znamenje privolitve v njuno poroko ter jima zaželel srečo, ki sta jo resnično tudi uživala.
Ta brat, visok in veličastne postave ter tako bleščeč v svojih zlatih in srebrnih okraskih, da ga je bilo komaj mogoče gledati, je bil ves dan zdoma, njegova sestra pa je odhajala za del noči. Lovilcu oblakov je dovolil, da ga spremlja na enem njegovih vsakodnevnih sprehodov, in ko sta prečkala prelepo Nebeško deželo, sta skozi odprtine na dnu dolin pogledovala na zeleno zemljo pod seboj. Ob hitri hoji je Lovilec oblakov postal lačen in vprašal, ali tu ni nobene divjadi. »Potrpi,« mu je svetoval spremljevalec. Ko sta prispela do kraja, kjer je v nebu zevala velika luknja, sta se zleknila na rogoznice, visoki mož pa je snel enega svojih srebrnih okraskov in ga vrgel med otroke, ki so se igrali pred nekim bivališčem. Eden od malčkov je padel in med žalovanjem so ga odnesli noter. Tedaj so vaščani opustili igre in delo ter se zazrli v nebo. Visoki mož je z gromkim glasom zaklical: »Darujte žrtev in otrok bo spet zdrav.« Ubili so belega psa, ga spekli in v hipu je švignil k nogam Lovilca oblakov, ki se ga je sestradan požrešno lotil.
Sledilo je še mnogo takšnih sprehodov in pojedin, pogled na zemljo in okus mesa pa sta v smrtniku vzbudila hrepenenje, da bi spet videl svoje ljudi. Ženi je povedal, da se želi vrniti. Čez čas je privolila in rekla: »Ker so ti skrbi, tegobe, delo in revščina sveta ljubši od udobja in obilja Nebeške dežele, se smeš vrniti; vendar pomni, da si še vedno moj mož, in nikar si ne drzni vzeti zemeljske mladenke za ženo.«
Lahkotno je vstala, prijela Lovilca oblakov za zapestje in z njim zaplavala skozi zrak. Gibanje ga je zazibalo v spanec in prebudil se je pred vrati očetovega bivališča. Sorodniki so se zbrali in mu zaželeli dobrodošlico, on pa je izvedel, da je v nebesih preživel leto dni. Pomanjkanje v življenju lovca in bojevnika je prenašal slabše, kot je pričakoval, in čez čas je njegovo enoličnost poživil tako, da je za ženo vzel dekle živih oči iz svojega plemena. Čez štiri dni je bila mrtva. Za nauk se ni zmenil in se je spet poročil. Kmalu zatem je nekega večera stopil iz svojega bivališča in se ni nikoli več vrnil. Gozdove je tisto noč napolnil nenavaden sij in pravijo, da so Lovilca oblakov odpeljali nazaj v bivališče Sonca in Lune, kjer zdaj zadovoljno živi v nebesih.
Izvirnik
Here is the myth of Endymion and Diana, as told on the shores of Saginaw Bay, in Michigan, by Indians who never heard of Greeks. Cloud Catcher, a handsome youth of the Ojibways, offended his family by refusing to fast during the ceremony of his coming of age, and was put out of the paternal wigwam. It was so fine a night that the sky served him as well as a roof, and he had a boy's confidence in his ability to make a living, and something of fame and fortune, maybe. He dropped upon a tuft of moss to plan for his future, and drowsily noted the rising of the moon, in which he seemed to see a face. On awaking he found that it was not day, yet the darkness was half dispelled by light that rayed from a figure near him--the form of a lovely woman.
“Cloud Catcher, I have come for you,” she said. And as she turned away he felt impelled to rise and follow. But, instead of walking, she began to move into the air with the flight of an eagle, and, endowed with a new power, he too ascended beside her. The earth was dim and vast below, stars blazed as they drew near them, yet the radiance of the woman seemed to dull their glory. Presently they passed through a gate of clouds and stood on a beautiful plain, with crystal ponds and brooks watering noble trees and leagues of flowery meadow; birds of brightest colors darted here and there, singing like flutes; the very stones were agate, jasper, and chalcedony. An immense lodge stood on the plain, and within were embroideries and ornaments, couches of rich furs, pipes and arms cut from jasper and tipped with silver. While the young man was gazing around him with delight, the brother of his guide appeared and reproved her, advising her to send the young man back to earth at once, but, as she flatly refused to do so, he gave a pipe and bow and arrows to Cloud Catcher, as a token of his consent to their marriage, and wished them happiness, which, in fact, they had.
This brother, who was commanding, tall, and so dazzling in his gold and silver ornaments that one could hardly look upon him, was abroad all day, while his sister was absent for a part of the night. He permitted Cloud Catcher to go with him on one of his daily walks, and as they crossed the lovely Sky Land they glanced down through open valley bottoms on the green earth below. The rapid pace they struck gave to Cloud Catcher an appetite and he asked if there were no game. “Patience,” counselled his companion. On arriving at a spot where a large hole had been broken through the sky they reclined on mats, and the tall man loosing one of his silver ornaments flung it into a group of children playing before a lodge. One of the little ones fell and was carried within, amid lamentations. Then the villagers left their sports and labors and looked up at the sky. The tall man cried, in a voice of thunder, “Offer a sacrifice and the child shall be well again.” A white dog was killed, roasted, and in a twinkling it shot up to the feet of Cloud Catcher, who, being empty, attacked it voraciously.
Many such walks and feasts came after, and the sights of earth and taste of meat filled the mortal with a longing to see his people again. He told his wife that he wanted to go back. She consented, after a time, saying, “Since you are better pleased with the cares, the ills, the labor, and the poverty of the world than with the comfort and abundance of Sky Land, you may return; but remember you are still my husband, and beware how you venture to take an earthly maiden for a wife.”
She arose lightly, clasped Cloud Catcher by the wrist, and began to move with him through the air. The motion lulled him and he fell asleep, waking at the door of his father's lodge. His relatives gathered and gave him welcome, and he learned that he had been in the sky for a year. He took the privations of a hunter's and warrior's life less kindly than he thought to, and after a time he enlivened its monotony by taking to wife a bright-eyed girl of his tribe. In four days she was dead. The lesson was unheeded and he married again. Shortly after, he stepped from his lodge one evening and never came back. The woods were filled with a strange radiance on that night, and it is asserted that Cloud Catcher was taken back to the lodge of the Sun and Moon, and is now content to live in heaven.
