Book 1 - The Behemoth came to Canterlot

by Equimorto

Qontainer

"You known, there's an old saying used to wish someone luck, in the language of my parents' home country. It roughly translates to 'in the mouth of the wolf' as it's said, though accounting for the implicit meaning it would be more appropriate to say it translates to 'may you end up in the mouth of the wolf'.

"Of course, 'a wolf' would fit better in this language, the original saying happens to be referring to some specific but unspecified wolf but that can't be expected to carry over well. Of course, one should more properly try to adapt the saying to the language rather than simply translating it, working out those oddities characteristic to the original language. However, that is complicated in this case.

"You see, there is actually some controversy as to what the saying is trying to imply. This is reflected in how the one hearing it responds. Some will simply thank you for saying it, others will reply in a single word by saying what would be translated as 'die', although accounting for what that language can imply with a single word that this one we're using cannot the more correct translation would be 'may it die'. Although 'may it croak' could also be an apt translation, as the specific word typically used is indeed a synonym for dying but has other meanings by itself. To crack, specifically, but that's beside the point.

"Let me get back to the heart of the matter. There are indeed two different interpretations of what the saying means. One views the wolf as an evil entity, with the one saying the saying playing the part of one who poses a challenge that the other then mocks as hopefully easily dealt with thanks to their luck. In this version, it could maybe be adapted as 'may the wolf eat you', answered by 'may it die trying'. Almost a curse posed in jest to exorcise the fear of an oncoming task.

"In the other interpretation, however, the wolf is seen as a benevolent entity. The statement becomes a blessing, as the wolf carries the one receiving it within their mouth and protects them along the way. So 'may the wolf carry you in its mouth' would work as a translation here, although a better sounding version of it that still preserves the overall meaning could be 'may the wolf watch over you on your path'.

"But I wouldn't trust myself on any of this. I'm not a scholar or anywhere close to an expert in either of the languages I'm dealing with, I'm not particularly knowledgeable in the culture that spawned the saying, and in all honesty I'm not particularly good with either language even on a base level. The one thing I have studied is magic, but looking at how poorly I do with even that I would sincerely advise against taking a single word of what I say as being worth something."

"Is this really the time to be talking about this?" Twilight asked, drawing back as the giant timberwolf below them once more pounced and tried to bite the torn open half of a train carriage she was holding in her magic, housing both herself and the other.

The old unicorn peacefully sighed.

Comments

[FanOfMostEverything]

I love this. It honestly works devoid of any context beyond familiarity with Friendship is Magic. Compounded with this story, it raises some interesting questions, but it still works as an amusing interlude.

And the fact that it's specifically an Italian proverb means that we have context for this old unicorn. Most intriguing...

[WanderingPony]

Given the language, context also brings to mind Romulus and Remus, who were nursed by a she-wolf.

To be in the mouth of the wolf is to find yourself in the benevolent care of strangers.