he coast and interior of the islands
of Manila, Mindoro, Luban, and some others. Bisaya is in use through
all the islands of the Pintados, although in some of the villages
therein the Harayan is spoken. Of all these languages, it was the
Tagal which most pleased me and which I most admired. As I told the
first bishop, and, afterwards, other persons of dignity in the islands
and in Europe, I found in this language four qualities of the four
greatest languages of the world, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and Spanish:
it has the abstruseness and obscurity of the Hebrew; the articles
and distinctions in proper as well as in common nouns, of the Greek;
the fulness and elegance of the Latin; and the refinement, polish,
and courtesy of the Spanish. Examples of all these characteristics may
be seen in the "Ave Maria" done into Tagal; and, as that is a short
prayer, and more easily understood than the others, I will place it
here with its explanation in our vernacular, and with word-for-word
equivalents. In this way may be seen the idioms and characteristic
expressions of this language which will please some readers, and
furnish information, both useful and curious.

_The "Ave-Maria" in the Tagal language_

Aba Guinoo Maria matoa ca na.
Hail Lady Mary, joyful thou now,

Napono ca nan gracia,
full thou of grace;

An Panguinoon Dios na saio.
the Lord God is with thee

Bucor can pinagpala sa babain lahat.
especially, thou blessed among women all.

Pinagpala naman ang iong anac si Jesus.
Blessed also be thy son Jesus.

Santa Maria ina nang Dios
Holy Mary, mother of God,

Ipana languin mo cami macasalanan
Let us be interceded for by thee, us sinners

ngayon at cum mamatai cami. Amen, Jesus.
now and when shall die we.

The first word of this prayer _Aba_, is obscure, but apparently has the
force of "salute," like the Latin _Ave. Bucor_ expresses diversity,
distinction, and singularity. The article is _Si_ (Jesus), as _Ton_
in Greek. The richness of the language lies in its many synonyms
and phrases; consequently this prayer, which, as it stands, is very
elegant, could be formed with equal elegance in various other ways,
without losing its original sense and meaning. The polish and courtesy
consist in not saying, as in Latin, _Ave Maria_ (which would seem in
this language abrupt and barbaric), without adding that polite word,
_Guinoo_.

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