942
THEY descended from the caves and went away crying
aloud with flowing tears. Asmat’h weeps and laments: “0
lions! whose tongues can chant lamentations for you! The
sun has burned and consumed you heavenly stars. Alas for
my woes so great! Alas the sufferings of life!”
943
THOSE knights, departed thence, travelled that day
together. They came to the seashore, there they tarried,
they travelled not through dry land. That night they parted
not; again they shared their fire. They wept for the absence
from each other; they bewailed it.
944
AVT’HANDIL said to Tariel: “The channel of the flow
of tears is dried! Why didst thou separate from P’hridon,
the giver of this steed ? Thence are tidings and means to be
learnt regarding that beautiful sun. Now I go thither; teach
me the way to thy sworn brother.”
945
TARIEL teaches him by word the direction of the road to
P’hridon’s. He made him understand as well as he could by
his power of speech: “Go towards the east; fare even unto
the seashore. If thou seest him tell him of me; he will ask
news of his brother.”
946
THEY killed a goat and dragged it after them, they made
a fire on the seashore, they sat down and ate such a meal as
was fitting to their grief. That night they were together;
they lay together at the root of a tree. I curse the
treacherous passing world, sometimes generous, sometimes
niggardly.
947
AT dawn they rose to part, they embraced each other.
The things said by them then would have melted anyone
who heard. They shed on the fields tears from the eyes like
waters from a spring. Long they stand in a close embrace,
breast was welded to breast.
948
WITH tears and face-scratching and tearing of hair
they parted; one goes up, the other goes down; roadless
they ride by bridle-paths through the rushes; as long as they
saw each other, with drawn faces they shouted; looking
upon their frowns the sun would frown too.
Of the Going ofAvt’handil to P’hridon’s
When He Met Him at Mulghazanzar
949
ALAS! O world, what ails thee ? Why dost thou whirl us
round ? What habit afflicts thee ? All who trust in thee weep
ceaselessly like me. Whence and whither earnest thou ?
Where and whence uprootest thou ? But God abandons not
he man forsaken by thee.
950
AVT’HANDIL, parted from Tariel, weeps; his voice reaches
to the heavens. Quoth he: “The stream of blood which
flowed anew flows once again. Now is parting as hard as
union will be till we meet in heaven. Men are not all equal:
there is a great difference between man and man.”
951
THEN the beasts of the field drank their fill of the tears
he shed there; he could not quench the furnace, he burned
with frequent fire. Again the thought of T’hinat’hin fills
him all the more with grief; the coral-rooted crystal shines
on the rose of the lips.
952
THE rose is faded, it withers, the branch of the aloe-tree
quivers, the cut crystal and ruby are changed into
lapis-lazuli: He strengthened himself against death;
against him il vaunted not itself. He said: “Why should I
wonder at darkness since thou, O sun, hast abandoned me!”
953
HE said to the sun: “O sun, I compare thee to the cheeks
of T’hinat’hin, thou art like her and she is like thee, ye
light mountain and valley. The sight of thee rejoices me,
a madman, therefore unweariedly I gaze on thee; but why
have you both left my heart cold, unwarmed ?
954
“THE absence of one sun for a month in winter freezes
us; I, alas! have parted from two; how, then, should my
heart not be harmed ? Only a rock perceives not, is never
hurt! A knife cannot cure a wound; it cuts or causes a
swelling.”
955
WENDING his way he laments to the sky, he speaks; to
the sun he says: “O sun, to thee I pray, thou mighty of
the mightiest mights, who exaltest the humble, givest
sovereignty, happiness; part me not from my beloved, turn
not my day to night!
956
“COME, O Zual1, add tear to tear, woe to woe; dye my
heart black, give me to thick gloom, heap upon me a heavy
load of grief as on an ass; but say to her: ‘Forsake him not!
Thine he is, and for thee he weeps.’
957
“0 MUSHT’HAR2, I entreat thee, thou just, perfect
judge, come and do justice, heart takes counsel with heart;
twist not justice, destroy not thus thy soul. I am righteous, judge me, why wouldst thou wound afresh me wounded for her!
958
“COME,O Marikh3, mercilessly pierce me with thy
spear, dye me and stain me red with the flow of blood; tell
her my sufferings, let her hear them with the tongue; thou
knowest what I am become, no longer my heart hath joy.
959
“COME, Aspiroz4, aid me somewhat; she has consumed me
with the flame of fires, she who encircles the pearl with
lip of coral; thou beautifiest the fair with such charm as
thine; one like me thou abandonest and maddenst.
960
“OTARID5! save thee none other’s fate is like to mine.
The sun whirls me, lets me not go, unites with me and
gives me over to burning. Sit down to write my woes! For
ink I give thee a lake of tears, for pen I cut for thee a trim
form, slim as a hair.
961
“COME, O Moon, take pity on me; I wane and am wasted
like thee; the sun fills me, the sun, too, empties me;
sometimes I am full-bodied, sometimes I am spare. Tell her
my tortures, what afflicts me, how I faint. Go, say: ‘Forsake
him not!’ I am hers, and for her sake I die.
962
“BEHOLD, the stars bear witness, even the seven confirm
my words: the sun, Otarid, Musht’har and Zual faint for
my sake; moon, Aspiroz, Marikh, come and bear me
witness; make her hear what fires consume me
unquenchable.”
963
NOW he says to his heart: “As the tear still flows, and
is not dried, what avails it to slay thyself! It is clear
thou hast fraternized with the devil as a brother. I myself
know that she who maddened me has for hair the tail of a
raven; but if thou bearest not grief what is the enduring
of joy?
964
“IF I remain, this is better for me”-he speaks of the
uncertainty of life—”perchance it will be my lot to see the
sun, I shall not forever cry Alas!” He sang with sweet
voice; he checked not the channel of tears. Compared to
his voice even the voice of the nightingale was like an
owl’s.
965
WHEN the knight’s song was heard, the beasts came to
listen; by reason of the sweetness of his voice even the
stones came forth from the water, they hearkened, they
marvelled, when he wept they wept; he sings sad songs,
tears flow like a fount.
966
ALL living creatures on earth came to applaud: game
from the rocks, fishes in the water, crocodiles in the sea,
birds from the sky, from India, Arabia, Greece, Orientals
and Occidentals, Russians, Persians, Franks and Egyptians
from Misret’hi6.
1 Zual – Saturn, planet of woe.
2 Musht’har Jupiter, planet of justice
3 Marikh—Mars, planet of vengeance.
4 Aspiroz – Venus, planet of healing
5 Otarid – Mercury, planet of learning.
6 Misret’hi—Egypt.
Of Avt’handil’s Going to P’hridon’s
When He Parted From Tariel
967
WEEPING the knight went seventy days along the road to
the seashore. Afar off he saw in the sea boatmen
approaching; he waited and asked: “Who are you, I beg
you to tell me this: Whose realm is this or whose voice
doth it obey?”
968
THEY answered: “O fair efface and form, strange and
pleasing to us thou seemest, therefore with praise we
address thee; hereunto is the boundary of the Turks,
marching with the border of P’hridon, whose men we are: of
him shall we tell thee, if we faint not from gazing on thee.
969
“NURADIN P’hridon is king of this our land, a knight
brave, generous, mighty, on horseback a swift racer; none
has power to harm so fair a sun; he is our lord, he like the
beams spread forth from heaven.”
970
THE knight said: “My brethren, in you have 1 happed upon
good men. I seek your king, teach me whither I should go.
How shall I go, when shall I come thither, how long is the
road?” The boatmen guided him; they left not the shore.
971
THEY reported to him: “This is the road going to
Mulghazanzar, there our king will meet thee, he of the swift
arrow, the keen sword. Thou shalt arrive there ten days
hence, O thou of the cypress form, ruby in hue. Alas! why
dost thou, a stranger, burn us strangers, why consumest
thou us like a flame of fire!”
972
THE knight said: “I marvel, brethren, why you are
heart-slain for me, or how the faded winter roses can
please you thus! If you had seen us then when we sat
proud, uncrippled, we charmed them that gazed on us, with
us they sat joyful.”
973
THEY departed, the knight turned to pursue his road, he
whose form is like the cypress, whose heart is like iron. He
puts his horse to a canter, he discourses, he speaks aloud
to comfort himself; the narcissi thunder, it rains tears,
they lave the crystal and the enamel.
974
WHATEVER strangers he met on the road served him,
were subservient to him; they came to gaze on him, they
courted him, it was hard for them to let him go, scarce
could they bear parting, they gave him a guide for the road,
whatever he asked they told him.
975
HE neared Mulghazanzar; soon he ended the long road. In
the plain he saw an army of soldiers, and they were seen to
be destroying game; on all sides a chain was formed, they
encircled the outside of the field; they shot and shouted,
they mowed down beasts like standing corn.
976
HE met a man, he asked him tidings of that host; he
said : “Whose is this sound of trampling and stir?” He
answered: “P’hridon the monarch, King of Mulghazanzar,
hunts, he holds the edge of the sedgy plain engirt.”
977
MATCHLESS in mien he went towards the troops, he
became merry, how can I ever tell the beauty of that
knight! Those who are parted from him he makes to freeze,
like the sun he burns them that are met with him; he
maddens, if they look on him, those who gaze, his form
sways like a tree.
978
IN the very midst of the hosts an eagle soared from
somewhere. The knight urged on his horse, he emboldened
himself, he feared not; he drew his bow and let the arrow
fly; the eagle fell and blood flowed from it; he dismounted
and clipped its wings; calmly he remounted, he panted not.
979
WHEN they saw him, the archers ceased to shoot; they
broke the circle, they came, they pressed upon him, they
fainted, from all sides they surrounded him, some followed
behind. They dared not ask him: “Who art thou?” nor
could they say aught to him.
980
IN the meadow was a hill, on it stood P’hridon; forty
men worthy to shoot with him attended him; thither
Avt’handil made his way, after him followed the centre of
the host. P’hridon marvelled. “What are they doing?”
said he; he was angry with his armies.
981
P’HRIDON sent out a slave, saying: “Go, see the armies,
what they are doing, why they have broken the circle,
whither blind-like they go.” The slave swiftly reached
them, he saw the cypress, the sapling form; he stood, his
eyes became dazed, he forgot the words he had to say.
982
AVT’HANDIL perceived that this man was come to learn
news of him. He said: “I beg thee to convey this message
to thy lord from me: ‘I am a stranger, wanderer, far
removed from my home, sworn brother to Tariel, sent to
you.'”
983
THE slave went to P’hridon to tell him his message. He
said: “I have seen a sun arrived, he seems like the
lightener of day. I think even sages would be maddened
if they saw him anywhere. Quoth he: ‘I am Tariel’s brother,
come to join the brave P’hridon.”‘
984
WHEN he heard the name of Tariel, P’hridon’s woes were
lightened, from his eyes tears sprang forth, his heart grew
more agitated, a blast froze the rose, from his eyelashes
whirled snowstorms. They met each other, each was
praised by the other, not dispraised.
985
HASTILY P’hridon came down from the ridge; he
descended to meet Avt’handil. When he looked on him he
said: “If this be not the sun, who is it ?” Avt’handil outdid
the praise P’hridon had heard from the slave. They both
dismounted; joy made tears gush up.
986
THEY embraced; they were not shy for being strangers.
The knight seems peerless to P’hridon, and P’hridon
pleases the knight. Any onlookers who saw them would
despise the sun. Slay me! if another like them will ever be
bargained for or sold in the bazaar.
987
WHAT knights arc there like P’hridon! But near him is
one whom praises still more benefit; the sun makes the
planets invisible when they come near; a candle gives no
light by day, but its rays shine by night.
988
THEY mounted their horses and set out for P’hridon’s
palace. The chase was broken up; they made an end of
the slaying of beasts. From all sides the troops thronged to
gaze on Avt’handil; they said: “What creature can compare
with him ?”
989
THE knight said to P’hridon: “Thou art eager, I know,
to hear my tidings. I will tell thee who I am, whence I come,
inasmuch as thou wishest to know, also whence I know
Tariel and why I spoke of our brotherhood. He calls me
brother; ‘Thou art my brother,’ quoth he, though I am
scarce worthy to be his slave.
990
“I AM King Rostevan’s vassal, a knight nurtured in
Arabia, Spaspeti; by name they call me Avt’handil, I am
a noble of great family, reared as son of the king, one to be
respected, bold, none dares meddle with me.
991
“ONE day the king mounted, went forth to hunt; in the
plain we saw Tariel, he poured forth tears watering the
fields; we were astonished, he surprised us, we called and
he came not, he made us angry; we knew not how fire
consumed him.
992
“THE king shouted to the troops to seize him, and he was
irritated; without trouble he slew, battle was not hard for
him; of some he broke the arms and legs, some he slew
outright; there they learned that the course of the moon is
not to be turned back.
993
“THE king, greatly indignant, perceived that the troops
could not capture him; himself he mounted and went
against him, the haughtily unfearing. When Tariel knew it
was the king, then he avoided his sword, he gave the bridle
to his horse, he was lost to our eyes.
994
“WE sought and could find no trace; we believed it
devilry. The king was sad, forbad drinking, feast and
banquet. I could not endure lack of certainty about his
story. I stole away in quest of him, fire burned me, and
smouldered.
995
“THREE years I sought him; I enjoyed not even sleep. I
saw Khatavians he had mauled; they showed him to me. I
found the yellowish rose, faint-rayed, pale-tinted; he
welcomed me and loved me like a brother, like a son.
996
“HE took the caves from the Devis after great bloodshed.
There Asmat’h attends the solitary, none else is with
him; ever the old fire burns him, it is not newly roused.
Groaning befits one parted from him, a black-mourning
kerchief bound round the head.
997
“ALONE in the cave tearful, tear-stained damsel weeps.
The knight hunts game for her as a lion for its whelp;
he brings it and thus he feeds her. He cannot rest in one
place. Save Asmat’h he desires not the sight of any of man’s
race.
998
“TO me, a stranger, he pleasantly narrated his wondrous
and pleasing story; he told me his tale, and his beloved’s.
What woe he has suffered this tongue of a madman cannot
now tell; longing slays him, and lack of the sight of his
grave-digger.
999
“LIKE the moon he unceasingly roams, he rests not; he
sits on that horse thou gavest him, he never alights; he
sees no speaking being, like a wild beast he shuns men.
Woe is me, remembering him; alas for him dying for her
sake!
1000
“THE fire of that knight burns me, I am consumed with
hot fire: I pitied him, and I became mad, my heart grew
furious; I wished to seek remedies for him by sea and land.
I returned and saw the sovereigns, whose hearts were
gloomy.
1001
“I ENTREATED leave of absence; the king was enraged
at me, and fell into sadness. I deserted my soldiers, therefore
they there cried, ‘Woe!’ I stole away, I freed myself from
the flood of tears of blood. Now I seek balm for him;I turn
about hither and thither.
1002
“HE told me tidings of thee, how he had made brotherhood
with thee. Now have I found thee, peerless, worthy to be
praised by the tongue, counsel me where it is better to seek
that heavenly sun, the joy of those who gaze on her, the
disturber of those that cannot see her.”
1003
NOW P’hridon speaks, utters the words spoken by that
knight; both in unison lamented in a threnody worthy of
praise; sobbing, they wept with impatient hearts, there
the roses were sprinkled by the water of tears dammed up
in the jungle.
1004
AMONG the soldiers there arose the sound of great weeping,
the scratching of the face by some, the casting away of
the veils. P’hridon weeps, laments aloud the seven years’
separation. Alas! the inconstancy and falsity of this vain
world!
1005
P’HRIDON laments: “How can we tell forth thy praise,
thou who canst not be praised, thou inexpressible one!
0 sun of the earth, who transferrest the sun of the
firmament from its course, joy, life, quickener of them that
are near thee; light of the planets of heaven, consumer and
swallower up!
1006
“SINCE I was removed from thee, life has been hateful to
me. Though thou hast no leisure for me I long for thee; to
thee lack of me seems joy, it oppresses me greatly. Life
without thee is empty; the world is become hateful to me.”
1007
P’HRIDON uttered these words in a beautiful lament.
They grew calm, they were silent; they rode with no sign
of song. Avt’handil is fair to beholders in his ethereal
loveliness; he covers the inky lakes of his eyes with the jet
ceiling of his lashes.
1008
THEY entered the city, there they found the palace
adorned in perfection, with all the officers of state mustered,
the slaves delicately apparelled were in faultless order;
they were enraptured and ravished in heart with Avt’handil.
1009
THEY entered and held a great court, not a privy council;
on this side and on that side ten times ten lords were
ranged; apart sat the two together; who can tell forth their
praise? Here enamel, there jet, adorned the crystal and ruby
of their faces.
1010
THEY sat, they banqueted, they multiplied the best
liquor; they entertained Avt’handil as kinsman treats
kinsman; they brought beautiful vessels, all quite new.
But the heart of those who looked on that youth, alas! was
given to flame.
1011
THAT day they drank, they ate, there was a banquet for
the tribe of drinkers. Day dawned; they bathed Avt’handil;
there lies abundance of satin; they clad him in raiment
worth many thousands of drachmas; they girded him with a
girdle of inestimable worth.
1012
THE knight tarried some days, though he could not brook
delay; he went out hunting with P’hridon and sported, he
slew alike from far and near whatever offered itself to his
hand; his archery put every bowman to shame.
1013
THE knight said to P’hridon: “Hear what I have now to
tell thee. Parting from you seems to me like death, and
thereby shall I harm myself; but I, unhappy, have not time
to stay; another fire also consumes me. A long road, an
urgent deed I have to do, I shall be very late.
1014
“RIGHT is he who sheds tears at parting from. thee. Today
without fail I depart, therefore it is that another fire burns
me; to tarry is a mistake of a traveller, he will do well
to teach himself this; lead me to the seashore where thou
sawest that sun.”
1015
P’HRIDON answered: “Nothing shall be said by me to
hinder thee. I know thou hast no more time; another lance
pierces thee. Go! God will guide thee, may thy foes be
destroyed! But tell me, how shall I bear the lack of thee ?
1016
“THIS I venture to tell thee: It is not fitting that thou
go away alone, I will give thee knights with thee to serve
and attend thee, armour and bedding, a mule, a horse.
If thou take not these thou wilt have trouble, tears will
flow on the rose cheeks.”
1017
HE brought out four slaves, trustworthy in heart,
complete armour for each man, with armpieces and
greaves, sixty pounds of the red gold, full weight, not with
any shortage, a peerless stallion with complete harness.
1018
ON a strong-legged mule he packed bedding. He set out,
and P’hridon mounted and went forth with him also. Now
fire burned and consumed him who awaited the parting.
He laments: “If the sun were near us, winter could not
freeze us!”
1019
THE rumour of the knight’s departure spread, they gave
themselves up to grief; the burgesses flocked together, those
who sold silk goods like those who sold fruit; the voice of
their lamentation was like thunder in the air; they said:
“We are removed from the sun; come, let us close our eyes.”
1020
THEY passed through the city, they went on, they came
to the seashore where P’hridon had formerly seen the sun
seated; there they shed a rivulet of blood from the lake of
tears. P’hridon tells the story of that shining captive.
1021
“HITHER the two Negro slaves brought by ship the sun,
white-teethed, ruby-lipped – a black sight! I spurred my
horse, I determined to steal her by sword and arm; they saw
me from afar, they soon fled from me, the boat seemed like a
bird.”
1022
THEY embraced each other, they multiplied the springs
of tears; they kissed, and both their fires were renewed;
the inseparable sworn brothers parted like brothers.
P’hridon remained, the knight went away, the form the
slayer of gazers.
Avt’handil’s Departure From P’hridon to Seek Nestan-Daredjan
1023
THE knight speaks as he goes on his way like the full
moon; there is the thought of T’hinat’hin to gladden his
heart. He says: “I am far from thee; alas! the falseness of
the cursed passing world! Thou hast the healing balsam for
my wound.
1024
“WHY doth the ardour of grief for the heroes continually
burn me ? Why is my heart of rock and cliff become a hard
rock? Even three lances cannot show a bruise on me. Thou
art the cause that this world is thus envenomed for me.”
1025
AVT’HANDIL fares on alone to the seashore with the
four slaves, with all his might he seeks balm for Tariel;
weeping by day and night he pours forth pools of tears; all
the world seems to him as straw, even as straw in weight.
1026
WHEREVER he sees travellers walking by the shore he
addresses them, he asks tidings of that sun. He roamed a
hundred days. He went up a hill; camels loaded with stuff
appeared; merchants distressed stood in perplexity on the
shore.
1027
A COUNTLESS caravan was there on the seashore, they
were distressed, they were gloomy, they could neither stand
nor go forward. The knight greeted them; they hailed him
with praise. He asked: “Merchants, who are ye ?” They
began to converse.
1028
USAM was the chief of the caravan, a wise man. He uttered
respectfully a perfect eulogy, he invoked blessings on
Avt’handil and praised his manners; he said: “0 sun,
thou art come as our life and comforter. Dismount; we will
tell thee our story and business!”
1029
HE dismounted. They said: “We are Bagdad merchants,
holders of the faith of Mohammed; we never drink new
wines; we haste to trade in the city of the Sea-King; we are
rich in wholesale goods, we have no cut pieces of stuff.
1030
“HERE on the seashore we found a man lying senseless;
we succoured him till he could speak clearly with his tongue.
We asked him: ‘Who art thou, stranger? What business
dost thou follow after ?’ He said to us: ‘If ye go on they
will slay you. It is well that I still live!’
1031
“HE said: ‘From Egypt we set out with a caravan and a
guard, we embarked upon the sea laden with many kinds of
stuff, there pirates in ships with sharp iron-pointed wooden
rams slew us. All was lost; I know not how I came hither.”
1032
“0 LION and sun, this is the reason of our standing here. If we return, our loss will be a hundredfold; if we embark. alas! they may slay us, we have no strength for battle. We cannot stay, we cannot go, the power to maintain ourselves is gone from us.”
1033
THE knight said : “Whoever grieves is nought, and strives
in vain; whatever conies from above, we cannot avoid its
coming. I am surety for your blood, I take upon myself
what you shall shed; whoever fights with you, my sword will
wear itself out on your foes.”
1034
THEY of the caravan were filled with great joy; they
said: “He is some knight, some hero, not timid like us, he
has self-confidence, let us be calm in heart.” They
embarked, they went on board ship, they set out from the
coast.
1035
WITH pleasant weather they journeyed without hardship;
their conveyer, Avt’handil, leads them with brave heart. A
pirate ship appeared with an exceedingly long flag; that ship
had an iron-shod ploughshare with beam of wood for
shattering ships.
1036
THE pirates yelled and came on, they shouted and
trumpeted; the caravan was afraid of the multitude of
those warriors. The knight spoke: “Fear not their hardihood;
either I slay them all or this is the day of my death.
1037
“NOUGHT undecreed can they do to me, even if all the
hosts on earth engage me; if it be decreed, I shall not
survive, the spears are ready for me, neither strongholds nor
friends, not even brothers, can save me; who knows this
is stout-hearted like me.
1038
“YOU merchants are cowards, unskilled in war. Lest they
slay you with the arrow from afar, shut the doors behind
you. Behold me alone how I fight, how I use my lion-like
arms; see how I make the blood of the corsair’s crew flow.”
1039
WITH gesture like a swift tiger he clad his form in
armour; in one hand he held an iron mace. He stood forth
with dauntless heart in the front of the ship, and as he slew
onlookers with his gaze, so he slew foes with his sword.
1040
THOSE warriors yelled; their voices were uninterrupted.
They thrust the beam upon which was the ploughshare.
The knight stood fearless at the head of the ship, he
trembled not; he struck with the mace, he broke the beam,
the lion’s arm swerved not.
1041
THE beam was destroyed, and Avt’handil remained with
ship unshattered. Those warriors feared, they sought a way
to shelter, they could not contrive it in time; he leaped on
his foes, threshing them down round about him; there was
not left there living man unbacked by him.
1042
WITH intrepid heart he slew those warriors like goats;
some he threw down on the ship, some he cast into the sea;
he threw one upon another, eight upon nine and nine upon
eight; those who were left were hidden among the corpses,
they stifled their cries.
1043
AS much as his heart desired was he victorious in the
fight with them. Some humbly adjured him: “Slay us not,
by thy faith!” Those he slew not, he enslaved them,
whoever survived his wounds. Truly saith the Apostle:
“Fear makes love.”
1044
0 MAN! boast not of thy strength, brag not drunken
like! Might is of none avail if the power of the Lord aid
thee not. A tiny spark overcomes, and burns up great trees,
If God protect thee, it cuts alike well whether thou strike
with a log or a sword.
1045
THERE Avt’handil saw their great treasures. He grappled
twin-like ship to ship. He called the caravan. Usam was merry when he saw, he rejoiced, he lamented not, he spoke a eulogy in his praise, he gave form to great imaginings.
1046
PRAISERS ofAvl’handil need even a thousand tongues;
even they could not tell how fair he appeared after the
fight. The caravan shouted, saying: “Lord, thanks to Thee!
The sun has shed down on us his beams; the dark night has
broken into day for us.”
1047
THEY came up to him, they kissed his head, face, feet,
hand; they spoke praise unstinted to the fair, the
praiseworthy; the sight of him maddens the wise man as
well as the fool! “We all are saved by thee in so hard a
mischance.”
1048
THE knight said: “Thanks to God, the Creator, Maker of
all, by whom the heavenly powers decree what is to be done
here; ‘tis they that do all deeds hidden and some revealed.
It is necessary to everyone to believe; a wise man has faith
in the future.
1049
“GOD hath deigned to spare your blood, so many souls!
I, alas! vain earth, what am I ? Of myself, what can I do ?
Now I have slain your foes, I have fulfilled what I spoke;
I have brought you the ship complete with its wealth as a
gift.”
1050
PLEASANT it is when a good knight has won the battle,
when he has surpassed his comrades who were with him.
They congratulated him, they praised him, in this state they
were ashamed. The wound becomes him well, but little
was he hurt.
1051
THAT day they looked at that ship of the corsairs, they
put not off till the morrow. How could they count the
quantity of treasure lying there! They conveyed it to
their ship, they completely emptied the pirate ship; they
smashed i.t up and burned some of it; the wood they
bartered not for the drachma.
1052
USAM conveyed to Avt’handil a message from the
merchants: “We are strengthened by thee; we know our
baseness. Whatever we have is thine, of this there can be
no doubt; whatever thou givest us, let it be ours, we have
made an assembly here.”
1053
THE knight announced: “0 brothers, but now ye heard it:
the stream which flowed from your eyes has been perceived
by God, He hath saved you ali ve. What am I? What joy,
alas! have I given you ? What could I do with whatever
you gave me ? I have myself and my horse!
1054
“AS much treasure as I desired to amass I had of mine
own, countless priceless coverlets of silk. What use could I
make of yours? What do I want? I am but your companion.
Moreover, I have some other dangerous business.
1055
“NOW, of this countless treasure I have found here, take
what you each wish; I shall be a claimant against none.
One thing I entreat: grant my request, one not to be
mistrusted; I have a certain matter to be kept hidden
within you.
1056
“TILL the time comes, speak not of me as if I were not
your master. Say, ‘He is our chief,’ call me not knight.
I will clothe myself as a merchant, I will begin chaffering;
keep the secret, by the brotherhood between us.”
1057
THIS thing very greatly rejoiced the caravan; they came
and saluted him, saying: “It is our hope-the very request
we should have made to you, you yourself have made to
us—that we may serve him whose face we acknowledge as
the face of the sun.”
1058
THENCE they departed and travelled on, they wasted no
time; they met fair weather, they sailed ever pleasantly;
they delighted in Avt’handil, they sang his praises; they
presented him with a pearl of the tint of the knight’s
teeth.
The Story of Avt’handil’s Arrival in Gulansharo
1059
AVT’HANDIL crossed the sea; with stately form went he.
They saw a city engirt by a thicket of garden, with
wondrous kinds of flowers of many and many a hue. In
what way canst thou understand the loveliness of that land!
1060
WITH three ropes they moored the ship to the shore of
those gardens. Avt’handil clad his form in a cloak and sat
on a bench. They brought out men that were porters, hired
with drachmas. That knight bargains, acts as chief of the
caravan, and thereby conceals himself.
1061
THITHER came the gardener of him at whose garden
they had anded; with ecstasy he gazes at the knight’s face
flashing like lightning. Avt’handil hailed him, he spoke to
the man with faultless words: “Whose men are ye, who are
ye ? How call they the king reigning here ?
1062
“TELL me all in detail,” quoth the knight to that man;
“what stuff is dearer, or what is bought up cheap ?” He
said: “I see, thy face seems to me like the face of the sun.
Whatever I know I will tell thee truly; I will by no means
inform thee crookedly.
1063
“THE Sea Realm is this, ten months’ travel in extent, this
is the city of Gulansharo, full of much loveliness. Hither
everything fair cometh by ships sailing from sea to sea.
Melik Surkhavi rules, perfect in good fortune and wealth.
1064
“EVEN if he be old, a man is rejuvenated by coming
hither; drinking, rejoicing, tilting and songs are unceasing;
summer and winter alike we have many-hued flowers;
whoever knoweth us cnvieth us, even they who are our
foes.
1065
“GREAT merchants can find nought more profitable than
this: They buy, they sell, they gain, they lose; a poor man
will be enriched in a month; from all quarters they gather
merchandise; the penniless by the end of the year have
wares laid by.
1066
“I AM gardener to Usen, chief of the merchants. I shall
tell thee somewhat of the manner of his ordinance: This is
his garden, your resting-place for the day; first it is
necessary to show him all the fairest of your goods.
1067
“WHEN great merchants arrive they see him and give
him gifts, they show him what they have, elsewhere they
cannot unpack their goods; for the king they set aside the
best, they straightway count out the price; thereupon he
frees them to sell as they please.
1068
“HIS duty it is to receive such honourable folk as you, he
orders the caterers how to entertain them fitly; he is not
now here, what avails it me to speak of him ? To meet you
and carry you away with him, pressing you politely, is the
way he should treat you.
1069
“P’HATMAN Khat’hun, the lady, his wife, is at home,
a hospitable hostess, amiable, not rough. I shall inform her
of your arrival, she will take you in as one of her own folk,
she will send a man to meet you, you shall enter the city
by daylight.”
1070
AVT’HANDIL said: “Go, do whatever thou desirest.”
The gardener runs, he rejoices, sweat pours down to his
breast. He tells his tidings to the lady: “I boast of this:
a youth comes, to them that look on him his rays seem like
the sun.
1071
“HE is some merchant, chief of a great caravan, wellgrown
like a cypress, a moon of seven days, his coat and the fold
of his coral-hued turban become him; he called me, asked
me tidings and the tariff for the purchase of goods.”
1072
DAME P’hatman rejoiced; she sent ten slaves to meet him:
they prepared the caravanserais, she stored their wares. The rose-cheeked, crystal and ruby, enamel, jet, entered: they who looked on him compared his feet to the tiger’s, hi-palms to the lion’s paws.
1073
THERE was a hubbub, the hosts of the town all assembled :
they pressed on this side and on that, saying: “How shall we gaze on him ?” Some were carried away by desire, some had their souls reft from them; their wives grew wearv of them, their husbands were left contemned.
Avt’handil’s Arrival at Ph’atman’s; Her Reception of Him and Her Joy
1074
P’HATMAN, Usen’s wife, met him in front of the door,
joyful she saluted him, she showed her pleasure; they
greeted each other, they went in and seated themselves. As
I have observed, his coming annoyed not Dame P’hatman.
1075
DAME P’hatman was attractive to the eye, not young but
brisk, of a good figure, dark in complexion, plump-faced,
not wizened, a lover of minstrels and singers,
a wine-drinker; she had abundance of elegant gowns and
head-dresses.
1076
THAT night Dame P’hatman entertained him right well.
The knight presented beautiful gifts; they that received
them said: “They are worthy!” P’hatman’s entertainment
of him was worth while; by God! she lost not. When they
had drunken and eaten, the knight went out to sleep.
1077
IN the morning he showed all his wares, he had them all
unpacked; the fairest were laid aside for the king, he had
the price counted out; he said to the merchants: “Take
them away!” He loaded them, and had them carried away.
He said: “Sell as ye will; reveal not who I am!”
1078
THE knight was clad as a merchant; he was by no means
dressed in his proper raiment. Sometimes P’hatman calls
on him, sometimes he visits P’hatman. They sat together;
they conversed with refined discourse. Absence from him
was death to P’hatman, as Ramin’s was to Vis.
P’hatman Becomes Enamoured of Avt’handil:
Writes Him a Letter and Sends It
1079
BETTER, for him who can bear it, is aloofness from
woman; she plays with thee and pleases thee, she wins thee
over and trusts thee; but in a trice she betrays thee, she
cuts whatever pierces; so a secret should never be told to
a woman.
1080
DESIRE of Avt’handil went into the heart of Dame
P’hatman, love grew from more to more, it burned her like
fire, she essayed to conceal it, but could not hide her woes,
she said: “What am I to do, what will avail me ?” She
rained, she poured forth tears.
1081
“If I tell him this, alas! he will be worth, even the sight of
him will become rare to me; if I tell him not, I cannot
endure it, the fire will become more intense. I will speak,
let me die or live, let one or other be my lot! How can the
physician cure him who tells not what hurts him ?”
1082
SHE wrote a piteous letter to be presented to that youth
concerning her love, revealing her sufferings, moving and
shaking the listeners’ heart, a letter to be kept, not to be
idly torn up.
The Letter of Love Written by P’hatman to Avt’handil
1083
“O SUN, since it pleaspd God to create thee a sun, thus
a joy and not a desirer of woes to them removed from thee,
a burner of those near united, a consumer of them with fire,
thy glance seems sweet to the planets, a thing to be boasted
of.
1084
“THEY that gaze on thee become enamoured of thee; for
thy sake piteously they faint. Thou art the rose; I marvel
why nightingales quiver not on thee. Thy beauty withers
the flowers, and mine too are fading. If the sunbeams reach
me not timely I am quite scorched.
1085
“GOD is my witness that I fear to tell you this, but,
luckless, what can I do for myself? I am quite parted from
patience; the heart cannot constantly endure the piercing
of the black lashes! If by any means thou canst help me,
then help, lest I lose my wits.
1086
“TILL an answer to this letter reaches me, till I know if
thou wilt slay me or reassure me – till then shall I endure life.
however much my heart pains me. Oh for the time when life
or death will be decided for me!”
1087
DAME P’hatman wrote and sent the letter to the knight.
The knight read it as if it were from a sister or kinswoman;
he said: “She knows not my heart. Who is she who courts
the lover of her whose I am ? The beloved I have-how can
I compare her beauty to this one’s ?”
1088
SAID he: “What hath the raven to do with the rose, or
what have they in common ? But upon it the nightingale
has not yet sweetly sung. Every unfitting deed is brief, and
then it is fruitless. What says she? What nonsense she talks!
What a letter she has written!”
1089
THIS kind of thought he thought in his heart. Then said
he to himself: “Save thee I have no helper. For the sake of
that for which I am a wanderer, since I wish to seek her
I will do everything by which I can find her; what else
should my heart heed !
1090
“THIS woman sits here seeing many men, a keeper of
open house and a friend to travellers coming hither from
all parts. I will consent, she will tell me all; however much
the fire burns me with its flames, perchance she will be of
some use to me; I shall know how to pay my debt to her.”
1091
HE said: “When a woman loves anyone, becomes intimate
with him and gives him her heart, shame and dishonour she
weighs not, being wholly accursed; whatever she know she
declares, she tells every secret. It is better for me. I will
consent; perchance I shall somewhere find out the hidden
thing.”
1092
AGAIN he said: “None can do aught if his planet favour
him not; so what I want I have not, what I have I want
not. The world is a kind of twilight, so here all is dusky.
Whatever is in the pitcher, the same flows forth.”
Avt’handil’s Letter in Answer to P’hatman’s
1093
“THOU hast written to me; I have read thy letter in
praise of me. Thou hast anticipated me, but the burning of
the fire of love afflicts me more lhan thee. Thou wishest,
I too want thy company uninterrupted. Our union is agreed
since it is the desire of both.”
1094
I CANNOT tell thee how P’hatman’s pleasure increased.
She wrote: “The tears I, absent from thee, have shed
suffice. Now I shall be unaccompanied, here shalt thou
find me alone; hasten my union with thee, to-night when
evening falls. Come!”
1095
THAT very night when the letter of invitation was
presented to the knight, when twilight was falling and he
was going, another slave met him on the way with the
message: “Come not to-night; thou shalt find me unready
for thee.” This vexed him, he turned not back, he said:
“What sort of thing is this ?”
1096
THE invited guest went not back again on the withdrawal
of his invitation. P’hatman sits troubled. Avt’handil the
tree-like went in alone. He perceived the woman’s
uneasiness, he saw it forthwith on his going in; she could
not reveal it from fear, and also out of complaisance for
him.
1097
THEY sat down together and began to kiss, to sport
pleasantly, when a certain elegant youth of graceful mien
appeared standing in the doorway. He entered; close
behind followed a slave with sword and shield. When he
saw Avt’handil he felt afraid as before a rocky road.
1098
WHEN P’hatman saw, she was afraid, she shook and fell
a-trembling. The stranger gazed with wonder at them lying
caressing; he said: “I will not hinder, 0 woman … but
when day breaks I shall cause thee to repent that thou hast
had this youth.
1099
“THOU hast shamed me, 0 wicked woman, and made me
to be despised, but to-morrow thou shalt know the answer
to be paid for this deed; I shall make thee to devour thy
children with thy teeth; if fail to do this, spit upon my
beard, let me run mad in the fields!”
1100
THUS he spake, and the man touched his beard and went
out of the door, P’hatman began to beat her head, her
cheeks were scratched, the gurgling of her tears flowing like
a fountain was heard. She said: “Come, stone me with stone,
let the throwers approach!”
1101
SHE laments: “I have, alas! slain my husband, I have
killed off my little children, I have given away as loot our
possessions, the peerless cut gems! I am separated from my
dear ones! Alas! the upbringer! Alas! the upbrought! I have
made an end of myself; shameful are my words!”
1102
AVT’HANDIL hearkened to all this in perplexity. He said:
“What troubles thee, what say’st thou, why dost thou thus
lament, why did that youth threaten thee, what fault found
he in thee ? Be calm; tell me who he was and on what errand
he roved!”
1103
THE woman replied: “0 lion! I am mad with the flow of
tears; ask me no more tidings, nought can I tell thee with
my tongue. I have slain my children with mine own hand,
therefore can I no more be gay; impatient for thy love
I have slain myself.
1104
“THIS kind of thing certainly should happen to the utterer
of idle words, the chatterer who cannot hide a secret, the
witless, mad, raving. ‘Help me with your lamentations!’
This will I say to all who see me. A physician cannot cure
one who drinks his own blood!
1105
“DO one thing of two: desire nothing more than this: If
thou canst kill that man, go, slay him secretly by night:
thus shalt thou save me and all my house from slaughter:
return, I will tell thee all, the reason why I shed tears.
1106
“IF not, take away thy loads on asses this very night,
escape from my neighbourhood, gather everything for
flight. I doubt my sins will fill thee too with woe. If that
knight go to court he will make me eat my children with my
mouth.”
1107
WHEN Avt’handil, the proud, gifted with bold resolve
heard this, he arose and took a mace-how fair, how hold is
he! “To ignore this matter would be remissness on my
part!” said he. Think not any living is his like; there is none
other like unto him!
1108
TO P’hatman he said: “Give me a man as instructor, as
guide, let him show me the road truly, else I want no helper;
I cannot look on that man as a warrior and mine equal.
What I do I shall tell thee; wait for me, be calm!”
1109
THE woman gave him a slave as guide and leader. Again
she cried out: “Inasmuch as the hot fire is to be cooled, if
thou slay that knight to assuage the irritation of my heart,
he has my ring, I entreat thee to bring it hither.”
1110
AVT’HANDIL of the peerless form passed the city. On the
seashore stood a building of red-green stone; in the lower
part fair palaces, then above terrace upon terrace, vast,
beautiful, numerous, hanging one over the other.
1111
THITHER is the sun-faced Avt’handil led by his guide,
who says to him in a low voice: “This is the palace of him
thou seekest.” He shows it to him, and says: “Seest thou
him standing on yonder terraced roof? Know this, there he
lie? to sleep; or thou shalt find him sitting.”
1112
. BEFORE the door of that luckless youth lay two guards.
Avt’handil passed, he stole in without making a sound; he
put a hand on each of their throats, forthwith he slew them,
he struck head upon head, brain and hair were mingled.
Here Is the Slaying of the Chachnagir and His Two Guards by Avt’handil
1113
THAT youth lay alone in his chamber with angry heart.
Bloody-handed Avt’handil, strong in stature, entered, he
gave him no time to rise, privily he slew him, we could not
have perceived it; he laid hold of him, struck him on the
ground, slew him with a knife.
1114
.HE is a sun lo them that gaze on him, a wild beast and
a terror to those that oppose him. He cut off the finger with
the ring, he hurled him down to the ground; he threw him
from the window towards the sea, he was mingled with the
sands of the sea; for him nowhere is there a tomb, nor spade
to dig his grave.
1115
NOT a sound of their slaughter was heard. The sweet rose
came forth; whereby could he have been so embittered ?
This is a marvel to me, how he could thus steal his blood!
As he had lately come, by the same road went he away.
1116
WHEN the lion, the sun, the sweelly-speaking knight, came
into P’hatman’s house, he announced: “I have slain him;
no more will that youth see sunny day; thy slave himself I
have as witness; make him swear an oath in God’s name
that I did the deed; behold the finger and the ring, and
I have my knife bloodied.
1117
“NOW tell me of what thou spakest, why thou wert so
furiously enraged. With what did that man threaten thee?
I am in great haste to know it.” P’hatman embraced his
legs: “I am not worthy to look on thy face; my wounded
heart is healed; now am I ready to extinguish my fires.
1118
“I AND Usen with our children are now born anew. 0 lion,
how can we magnify thy praises! Since we may boast that
his blood is spilt, I will tell thee all from the beginning;
prepare to listen.”
P’hatman Tells Avt’handil the Story of Nestan-Daredjan
1119
“IN this city it is a rule that on New Year’s Day no
merchant trades, none sets out on a journey; we all
straightway begin to deck and beautify ourselves; the
sovereigns make a great court banquet.
1120
“WE, great merchants, arc bound to take presents to court;
the sovereigns must give gifts befitting us. For ten days
there is heard everywhere the sound of the cymbal and
tambourine; in the moedan, tilting, ball-play, the stamping
of horses.
1121
“MY husband, Usen, is the leader of the great merchants,
I lead their wives; I need none to invite me; rich or poor,
we give presents to the queen; we entertain ourselves
agreeably at court, we come home merry.
1122
“NEW Year’s Day was come, we gave our gifts to the
queen; we gave to them, they gave to us, we filled them,
we were filled. After a time we went forth merry, at our
will; again we sat down to rejoice, we behaved as we wished.
1123
“AT eventide I went into the garden to sport; I took the
ladies with me, it behoved me to entertain them; I brought
with me minstrels, they discoursed sweet song; I played
and gambolled like a child, I changed veil and hair.
1124
“THERE in the garden were fair mansions beautifully
built, lofty, with a prospect on every side, overhanging the
sea. Thither I led the ladies, them that were with me; anew
we made a banquet, we sat pleasantly, joyously.
1125
“MERRY, I entertained the merchants’ wives, pleasantly,
in a sisterly way. While drinking, without any cause
a distaste came upon me. When they perceived me thus,
they separated, all that sat at meal. I was left alone; some
sadness fell on my heart like soot.
1126
“I OPENED the window and turned my face to the road,
I looked out, I shook off the sadness growing within me.
Far away I saw something small, it floated in the sea,
methought a bird or beast; to what else could I liken it ?
1127
“FROM afar I could not recognize it; when it came near
it was a boat; two men clad in black, and black also of
visage, on either side stood close; only a head appeared:
they came ashore, that strange sight astonished me.
1128
“THEY beached the boat; they landed in front of the
garden. They looked thither, they looked hither, if any
anywhere observed them, they saw no creature, nothing
alarmed them. Secretly I watched them; I was quiet
indoors.
1129
“WHAT they landed from the boat in a chest-they took
off the lid—was a maiden of wondrous form, who stepped
forth; on her head was a black veil, beneath she was clad in
green. It would suffice the sun to be like her in beauty.
1130
“WHEN the maiden turned towards me, rays rose upon
the rock; the lightning of her cheeks flashed over land and
sky; I blinked mine eyes, I could no more gaze on her than
on the sun; I closed the door on my side; they could not
perceive that they were watched.
1131
“I CALLED for slaves who waited upon me; I pointed:
‘See what beauty the Indians hold captive! Steal down, go
forth, quietly, not racing hastily. If they will sell her to
you, give them the price, whatever they may be wanting.
1132
“‘IF they will not give her to you, let them not take her
away, capture her from them, slay them, bring hither that
moon, do the errand well, use your best endeavour!’ My
slaves stole down from above as if they flew; they chaffered,
they sold not. 1 saw the blacks looked right ill pleased.
1133
“I STOOD at the window; when I saw they would not sell her, I cried: ‘Slay them!’ They seized them and cut off their heads, they threw them out into the sea; they turned back, they guarded the maiden. I went down to meet her, I took her, she had not tarried long on the seashore.
