A Salute to Robert Jordan!

BLOGGING ABOUT WHATEVER

ENTRY - 27

TITLE: "A Salute to Robert Jordan!"

AUTHOR: J. William Bell

DATE POSTED: 2026-10-1

A few years back, and more than I care to admit; one of my brothers introduced me to The Wheel of Time book series (initially and originally intended to be written only by Robert Jordan-- but more on that tangent in a future blog post). And thus I became familiar with the wit, wisdom, poetry and narrative voice of Robert Jordan.

A lot has already been written about Robert Jordan and his genius as a storyteller. So instead of going down that already well-travelled road; I'll instead be doing my usual gimmicky thing: I'll select some passages from his writings and provide Esperanto translations of them.

I am very confident that Robert Jordan's own words can do an excellent job of exalting themselves.

- MY SALUTE TO ROBERT JORDAN -

The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again.

La Rado de Tempo turnigxas, kaj Agxoj venas kaj foriras, lasante memorojn kiuj igxas legendo. Legendo velkas al mito, kaj ecx mito estas longe forgestia kiam revenas la Agxo kiu nakis gxin.

The Dark One was bound outside of time; by the Creator at the moment of creation.

La Malhela estis ligita ekster la tempo; de la Kreinto en la momento de la kreado.

"Only the wary dare trade with the ever-shifting sands."

- Sea Folk proverb, about Sharans

"Nur la singardaj kuragxas komerci kun la cxiam sxangxigxantaj sabloj."

"On the heights, the paths are paved with daggers."

- A Seanchan Saying

"Sur la altoj, la vojetoj estas pavmitaj per ponardoj."

Till shade is gone,

Till water is gone;

Into the Shadow with teeth bared;

Screaming defiance with the last breath;

To spit in Sightblinder's eye on the last Day.

- An Aiel Oath

Gxis malaperos ombro,

Gxis malaperos akvo;

En la Ombron kun nuditaj dentoj;

Kriegante spitemon per la lasta spiro;

Kracxi en la okulon de Sightblinder en la lasta Tago.

Clear the field, smooth it low;

Let no weed or stubble stand;

Here we labour, here we toil;

Here, the towering trees will grow.

- From an Ogier song

Purigu la kampon, glatigu gxin malte;

Nenia herbo aux stoplo staru;

Jen ni laboras, je ni penas;

Cxi tie, la altegaj arboj kreskos.

"An Aes Sedai never lies; but the truth she speaks may not be the truth you think you hear."

- A saying about the sisters of

The White Tower

"Aes Sedai neniam mensogas; sed la vero, kiun sxi parolas, eble ne estas la vero kiun vi pensas auxdi."

"Forward the White Lion of Andor!"

- Battle cry of the Queen's Guard

"Anauxen la Blankan Leonon de Andor!"

"Death is lighter than a feather; duty is heavier than a mountain."

- A Shienarian saying

"La morto estas pli malpeza ol plumo; devo estas pli peza ol monto."

"The dancing is sweeter on the edge of a sword."

- An Arafellan saying

"La dancado estas pli dolcxa sur la rando de glavo."

My heart rises with the sun.

To the chime of swords;

I die at sunset...

- A Saldean Poem

Mia koro levigxas kun la suno.

Al sonorado de glavoj;

Mi mortas cxe sunsubiro...

"Take what you want, and pay for it."

- A Cairhien saying

Prenu kion vi volas, kaj pagu por gxi.

"Lean back on your own knife and let your tongue go free."

- An Altaran saying

"Klinigxu malantauxen sur vian trancxilon kaj liberigu vian langon."

"Trust none but yourself, and yourself not too much."

- A Lugarder saying

"Fidu neniam krom vin mem, kaj vin mem ne tro."

"A man who trades with a Domani needs three sets of wits."

- a Proverb against foolishness

Viro kiu komercas kun Domani bezonas tri arojn de sagxeco.

"You may have any place you wish, so long as it is not larger than mine."

- Fateful words of Illian's first king

"Vi povas havi ajnan lokon, kiun vi deziras, kondicxe ke gxi ne estas pli granda ol mia."

Excelsior!