1.Salutation, Rabòdonàndrianimpòina![1]
Suns (there are) not two;
Suns but one only (namely),
Rabòdonàndrianimpóina!
2.Going to Imànga,[2] she's no stranger;
Coming to Iarìvo,[2] sovereign of the land.
3.A shield of beaten gold;
Rising up (she is) light of the heaven;
Stooping down, lamp of the earth.
Another song is in more regular form, consisting of six stanzas of five lines each:
1.Rabòdonàndrianimpòina:
South of Ambàtonafàndrana,[3]
North of Ambòhimitsìmbina,
West of Imàndroséza,
East of Ambòhijànahàry.
2.May you live, Rabodo,
And Rambòasalàma-Razàka,[4]
And Rakòto (son of) Radàma;[5]
And the whole (royal) family,
Not to be counted up.
3.A single tree by the river,
One only who rules,
For there is our sovereign!
The new moon coming from the west,
The full moon coming from the east.
4.The woods of Ambòhimànga,[6]
Bending down in their growth.
Behold the child reigning;
There Rabòdo reigns,
Thou indeed art our lady.
- ↑ This was the official and semi-sacred name of the queen, meaning "The beloved of Andrianimpoina," her first husband and predecessor.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Shortened forms of Ambohimanga and Antananarivo, the ancient and present capitals.
- ↑ This and the three following words are the names of the northern, southern, eastern, and western portions of the capital city, the royal palaces being in the centre, and on the summit of the long rocky ridge on and around which the city is built.
- ↑ The queen's nephew, and heir to the throne until the birth of her son; see p. 37.
- ↑ Her son, afterwards king as Radama II. (1861—1863); see p. 38.
- ↑ The old capital is surrounded by woods, which clothe the hill up to its summit.
