The knight in the panther's skin, 1979

233. “Maiden”, AvtandH pleaded, “you know not the woes I have suffered. I have searched long for that swordsman but no one could tell me about him. Heaven be praised, I have found you! But know however I vex you I will not go till you tell me something about that horseman.

234. “Why should I tell you about him' To me you are only a stranger. You know that the sun is now absent, hence your cowardly boldness. Listenl my words will be few, for a long discourse is tedious. Do what you wish, kill mel I will tell you nothing about him!.

235. Flinging himself on his knees, again he fervently begged her. But not a word would she utter however much he entreated. Wearied at length and impatient. with eyes blazing red in his fury. He savagely seized her long tresses and lifted his dagger to slay her.

236. “Can I forgive you your malice, such hardness of heart' he shouted. “Shal all my endeavours be shattered, the tears I have shed made futile' I advise you to tell me about him. Refuse and you imperil your life. Tell me of him, or, by Heaven, may I slaughter my foe as I kill youl,

237. Then the maiden replied: “You do ill by using such violence. Though I am young and love life I fear not your threat to kill me. What you desire me to say must remain in my bosom for ever. But if I die what avails it' Can the tongues of the dead speak words?,

238. She said to him: “Who are you' Why, alas, have you found me' Neither persuasion nor violence can make me narrate his story. When I desire to die, only then can you slay me, o stranger. And only then, like an old, discarded letter, shall you tear me.

239. “Think not that death would be grievous -a loathsome thing to be dreaded. It would dry up the wells of my sorrow, and free me from unceasing weeping. To me all life is as straw, and as lightly I weigh and esteem it. You are a stranger to me, so why should I tell you his secret"

240. “No force can induce her to speah, Avtandil sadly reflected. Letting her go he sat down and wondered what course he should follow. Covering his face with his hands he gave himself up to weeping. He said to her: “I have vexed you. Alasl Can I ever survive It”

241. She sat with a gloomy frown, morose and troubled in spirit. Avtandll, silently weeping, was prey to conflicting emotions. The river of tears overflowed and dammed the fair garden of roses. The heart of the maiden now softened on seeing him bitterly weeping.

242. Seeing his agonized weeping her heart was moved to compassion. Stifling their tears they sat silent, far from each other like strangers. Avtandil saw she was softened, that her anger had somewhat abated. So taking fresh heart he rose and kneeling before her entreated:

243. Now every hope is extinguished of being forgiven or pitied. I have offended you sorely and am guilty before you, o maiden. Hence I remain a stranger, alone in my sorrow and wretched. Seven times Is a sinner forgiven. So I hope I may also be pardoned.

244. Though I have vexed you, yet know, a lover should always be pitied. No one save you is my refuge, no one save you can heal me. Though I have only one life to yield for the sake of my loved one, Yet will I yield it to you. What more can I do? Tell me.

245. When she heard of his love and his suffering, of the fire that burned and consumed him, T he pain in her heart was redoubled and her tears flowed downwards in torrents. Making a piteous wailing she abandoned herself to lamenting. Avtandil's wish was fulfilled and his heart thanked God for His goodness.

246. Avtandil said to himself: My words have moved her to pity. Perhaps she is also in love else why has her face changed its colour? cEven the foe”, he said loudly, “pities the lover, o sister. You know very well that lovers shrink not from death but seek it.

247. I am a lover, a madman, whose life is unbearably painful. She, the bright sun of my life, has sent me in quest of that swordsman. Even a cloud cannot reach the wild places through which I have journeyed. But thanks to the Lord I have found you whose heart with his heart throb together.

248. His face is engraved on my mind, in divine. Ineffaceable image, All other feelings are burnt in the flames of eternal passion. Only one thing I implore -reject or accept me for ever. I want you to crown or slay me. Grant me new life or oblivion!:.

249. Touched by his grief, she replied, speaking in tones low and kindly: “What you now say is truth, spoken in words more propitious, Uprooting the hate that you sowed with speech that was bitter and hostile. Now you have made me your friend, closer and truer than sister.

250. “Now that you seek to find aid by Invoking love's power and glory, I can no longer refuse it -all I can do shall be done. I, who once brought you so low, fostered your grief and dejection, I, even I, am your slave, ready to die in your service.

251. “Trust to my counsel and listen to all I shall say with attention. Then shall your wish be fulfilled, then you will meet him you seek. If not your attempts will be vain and the tears you have shed un availing. Cursing the world and its cares, you will die dishonoured and wretched:..

252. Avtandil said to the maiden: “I remember a similar story. Once on a desolate roadside, two men were journeying together. Suddenly one saw the other fall in a well before him. Swiftly he ran to the well and looking down he cried loudly: