The knight in the panther's skin, 1979
634. "Why should I lengthen the story? Soon from all sides came the seekers. , Though they had journeyed everywhere and searched with unabated ardour, Yet their endeavours were futile, for no tidings of her were discovered. And as for me, once again undrying tears flowed profusely.
635. I said to Pridon: 'This is for me a day of great sorrow. I can find no words to express the pangs of the anguish I suffer. Without you, beloved. Day and night are alike -a funereal darkness. Joy cast me off and my heart Is shackled, a slave to affliction.
636. “'Since all the hope has departed of ever finding my loved one. Let me depart, for no longer can I tarry here in your castle." Pridon on hearing this wept and the field was watered with tears. 'Brother,' he said. 'from this day all my joy shall be fraught with sorrowl"
637. in vain did he try with entreaties and tears to dissuade me from going. His armies came forth lamenting and on bended kness did me homag e. They kissed and embraced me and wept, made me weep loud as they pleaded: 'Go not away, o King, let us suffer with you,' they implored me.
638. 'Parting from-you', I said, 'is also grievous to me. But I can feel no joy when absent from her whom I long for. Even you have been moved in pity for her whom I cannot abandon. Hinder me not, my brothers; nothing can prevent me from goingl"
639. Pridon led in his horse and said as he bowed low before me: 'Take this. o sun-faced cypress. As token of love and of friendship. Heedless it is of impediments and in speed and beauty unrivalled. You will enjoy its temper, its impetuous rush aJd its swiftness.'
640. Pridon accompanied me. We wept loud as we journeyed together. Fondly we embraced each other, then with anguished groans we parted. The armies lamented for me and their wail rose high up in heaven. The pain of our parting was painful as the parting of son and of father.
641. “Bidding Pridon farewell I turned and hastened away. I wandered alone in my quest over the face of the earth. I met no man who had heard or ever beheld that maiden. I roamed like a wild beast with my heart distracted and maddened.
642. I said to myself: 'No more will I seek the places of mankind. Perhaps if I roam with the beasts my heart may forget its sorrow.' Thereat, though groaning in spirit, I said to my slaves and Asmab ' I have brought sorrow upon you; you have reason to murmur against me.
643. “'Go now, return to your homes, provide for yourselves,' I told them. ' Why should you suffer my woes and gaze on the flow of my tears” Hearing me say this they stood spell-bound and mute for a moment. Then they exclaimed: 'Alas I our ears cannot hear what you utterl
644. “'We wish for no other master to rule over us, o sovereign, Keep us with you, your highness, sunder us not from your footsteps. Even the bravest are made faint by the hand of Heaven. Deprive us not of the joy of gazing upon your beauty.'
645. “So they remained with me sparing no pain to serve me. We abandoned the places of man, found refuge in forests and caverns; A fitting abode for me were the haunts of the stag and of goats. Thus we roamed every plain and valley and the highest and wildest of mountains.
646. “Soon we carne to these caves hollowed out by the savage Devis. Though they were fierce and irresistible I alone engaged and slew them, But to my sorrow they killed my faithful slaves in the struggle. III had they buckled their armour and fate poured more sorrow upon me
647. “Ever since then I am here and wiII remain till the end of my days. Maddened I roam in the forests, worn out and faint from weeping. Asmat is also consumed in hot fires and will not forsake me. Nothing remains now for me but to spend all my life in these caverns
648. “Since a beautiful panther is portrayed to me as her image, Therefore I love Its skin which I keep with me as a garment. Asmat unceasingly weeps as she brushes the skin or sews it. Oh could I kill myselfl In vain is my broad sword whetted
649. "The tongues of the sages are powerless to praise or describe that maiden. Though I am haunted by anguish yet her image is ever before me. I have consorted with beasts and tm now myself like a madman. I am a suitor of death, I ask nothing else of Heaven
650. Thereat he tore at the rose of his cheeks and rent it asunder. Ruby was turned to dull amber, the crystal was shattered to fragments. Avtandil wept and his tears dripped one by one from his lashes. Asmat on bended knees endeavoured to smooth down his anguish.
651. Tariel calmed by the maid now said to Avtandil sighing: d have related to you all you have asked me to tell you. I who can never find joy have pleased and fulfilled your desire. Therefore go to your sun, the time has corne for the meeting'.
652. Avtandil said: “could my heart endure the pain of your absence' If I am parted from you my tears will never cease flowing. Verily, listen to me, be not wroth at my boldness, I beg you. Would you bring joy to your loved one by dying alone in this cavern'
653. “However' seasoned he is, whenever' a doctor falls ill. He calls another' physician, skUled In the craft to cure him; To him does he tell what onerous illness afflicts him. He who is ill must seek the counsel and aid of another.
