The knight in the panther's skin, 1979
424. “They said: 'Our sovereign, King Ramaz will ,rise with the dawn on the morrow” Leaving his palace at daybreak in his haste to accord you his greeting' . Therefore, retaining the envoys, I bid my men to show favour Unto the men from the Khan. And. All slept quietly like brothers.
425. “Truly no benefit rendered passes away unrewarded: One of King Ramaz's men lingered behind for a moment. 'I have a debt' he said, 'one to be paid all my lifetime, And for this debt's sake I cannot ever forget or forsake you.
426. I was brought up when a youth in the court of your royal father.. I heard of the treachery planned, so I,hastened at once to Warn you. So listen, and I shall unravel the treason these men plot against you. How could I bear to behold you. Stretched, a corpse on the meadow?
427. “'Know that these men are all traitors sent by the king to deceive you. One hundred thousand soldiers are waiting in ambush to seize you. Can you with but three hundred men withstand the onslaught of thousands' You are in danger. Be warned: I fear disaster awaits you.
428. “'Ramaz will come forth to meet you. Whom none can forbear from admiring! Trust not his flattering speech, he comes with an army behind him, Raising great clouds of dust, thinking to take you by stealth, Thinking with one mighty effort, one sudden attack, to destroy you',
429. I was in debt to the man and thanked him for all he told me. 'If I am not slain, I shall surely repay you for this', I told him. Now, return to your comrades, lest they find you gone and suspect you .. – But if I ever forget you may God pour maledictions upon me.
430. “What I was told I kept secret, there was no time for discussion. What was to happen would happen, I must act without counsel, alone. I dispatched messengers quickly, bearing commands to my soldiers. 'Hasten to me', I enjoined them, 'though the march will be weary and arduous',
431. “Early next morning I sent through the envoys a courteous message: 'Do not delay, o great King, and I will hasten to meet you!' Then without more ado I rode on, regardless of comfort. For who can escape his fate? Why, then, attempt to avoid it?
432. “Then I descried in the distance a cloud of dust from a valley, And said to myself: 'King Ramaz is spreading his net to entrap me. Yet will I drive my sword into his treacherous bosom! Calling my troops before me, I warned them what lay before them.
433. "Brothers!' I cried, 'the foe is secretly plotting to slay us. Let not the terror of death weaken your arms, oh my brothers! Remember, the soul of heroes, who lay down their lives for their country. Are straightway carried to Heaven. Onward, then, to your glory!'
434. “Then I commanded my troops to gird themselves for the battle, Proudly I gazed on my soldiers, their weapons gleaming in sunlight. Gladly I led their columns, marching behind me in squadrons, Sure that my tempered blade would smite the foe and destroy him.
435. “As we advanced, no doubt they spied our glittering armour , For swiftly a courser arrived, bearing this message from Ramaz: 'If in friendship you come, why are these warriors in armour? You have deceived us and we shall henceforth regard you as traitors!'
436. “Then I replied: 'Am I blind to the snare you have laid for my footsteps' Believe me, your traitorous schemes will never come to fruition. Meet me in open battle, as is right between valorous warriors, Taste the might of my sword, feel its invincible keenness'.
437. “such was the answer I gave to King Ramaz's arrogant message And straight from the billows of dust the enemy came out of ambush, Marching in ranks from all sides, their armour shone in the distance, Till they surrounded my troops but yet. God granted me victory.
438. I seized my lance and my sword, donned my glittering helmet, Roused by the fury of vengeance, eager to face my opponents, UUering a warlike cry, I spurred my horse ever onward, Till I drew rein in silence, defying the hosts of the enemy.
439. “They viewed my approach with derision: 'This is a madman', they jested, But with the might of my sword I clove a path through their army, With one fierce stroke of my lance. I smote down a knight and his charger; When the lance broke I drew my trusty blade from its scabbard.
440. I swooped like a falcon that drops from the heights to the victim beneath him, Man after man was smitten to earth by the force of my onslaught. Bodies were piled upon bodies. As they fell to the might of my prowess; Thus, single-handed, I fell on the foe and demolished his cplumns.
441. They hemmed me in from all sides, but in vain they endeavoured to seize me; None could withstand my attack, blood flowed like water from fountains; Horsemen hung dead from their saddles. The ground was strewn with their corpses; All who were left turned tail. Fled from the field of battle.
442. “Just before sunset their watchman cried from the top of the mountain: 'Fight there no longerl But fly! The wrath of God is upon us! A terrible dust is approaching; tens of thousands of soldiers; Who can confront such a number' Alas! They will surely destroy us!"
443. “It was the troops I had ordered to follow with all expedition. Knowing no rest they had crossed plains and rivers and forests, And now their myriad hosts covered the sides of the mountains; They approached nearer and nearer with the sounds of drums and of trumpets.
