I will not dwell on, nor mourn over, our untimely decay, nor reproach my paleface brothers with hastening it, as we too may have been somewhat to blame.
chief seatlle will not mourn or dwell on the deaths nor take revenge upon the whites for doing it, as he considers that they are somewhat in blame as well
There was a time when our people covered the land as the waves of a wind-ruffled sea cover its shell-paved floor, but that time long since passed away with the greatness of tribes that are now but a mournful memory.
Their tribe used to be a large number and occupied land like waves of a wind ruffled sea covering the shell paved floor. But that time is long gone which is now a mournful memory.
This indeed appears just, even generous, for the Red Man no longer has rights that he need respect, and the offer may be wise, also, as we are no longer in need of an extensive country.
It is generous of the white men to allow them to live peacefully after buying their land, he says. He considers that the offer may be good because since they are so less in number, they don't need such a big country.
His people are many. They are like the grass that covers vast prairies. My people are few. They resemble the scattering trees of a storm-swept plain.
Contrast between the two people; Chief Seattle compares how the whites are many and the red indians are only a remaining dew like scattering trees
The white chief says that Big Chief at Washington sends us greetings of friendship and goodwill. This is kind of him for we know he has little need of our friendship in return.
The big chief of washington send greetings of friendship and goodwill only as a formality; the red indians know that they don't actually need their friendship
Yonder sky that has wept tears of compassion upon my people for centuries untold, and which to us appears changeless and eternal, may change. Today is fair
The nature for e.g the sky which shed tears for red indians for centuries may change even though it appears changeless and eternal