The Knight in the Tiger's Skin, 1938
1615. WHEN he saw the viziers of the court apparelled in mourning; once again :Tariel uttered a shrill cry. Blood and tears flowed from his eyes in torrents. The viziers came and embraced him as a brother, asa son.
1616. THE: lords embraced him, they expressed their sympathy' to the bridegroom and bride. The maid lost consciousness; she did not venture to lament for her father; the branches feU from the rase bush, no one could raise jt. You could not meet there a laughing or a smiling man.
1617. THE queen ran forth to see them. "Who is weeping and why weep you?" quoth she. She was angry and said: "God hath changed His wrath to mercy, we must thank Him, we have no time for grief, no time to say 'Alas.' "
1618. SHEDDING hot tears she embraced Tariel. She said: "My flaming fire is out, now a slow. fire consumes me; be silent, be calm, hear my tidings; God, who makes joyful the orphans, hath rejoiced me sending thee back alive." .
1619. THE weeping maiden addressed her mother: "0, mother, what must I do! When I left thee, in red and yellow raiment wert thou clad, but now I see thee in black. My father has abandoned his throne. Alas, no longer does he sit thereon!" Her mother dried the maiden's tears: "Do not weep, be silent, ill-omened one!"
1620. SHE kissed her face and the delicate roses of her lips. She crushed the rose with her mouth, she drowned the aloe-tree. She said to NestanDaredjan: "Why should we speak ill-omened words? We must all enjoy a thousand felicities, not merely one."
1621. WHEN some time had passed, the lords came to do homage, presenting themselves. Those suns came forth to meet them and embraced them with heartfelt love. They kissed and greeted each one separately. J604 AvT'HANDIL and P'hridon expressed their sympathy to the queen. Tariel said: "0, queen, you do not know them. They are our saviours, we have no time at present for lengthy discourse. We bo•th have received life through them."
1622. THEY rose and went into the town, they entered their palace. The queen said a few words, addressing them as it were: God hath destroyed our foes, no more can they do us harm; therefore am I joyous and glad of heart."
1623. SHE commanded: "Put off your mourning,beat the drums and the cymba1s, let a great noise and exultation come fram our court, engirdle your brocades with golden belts. Laugh and sing, let the murmuring of your tears cease."
The Wedding of Tariel and Nestan-Daredjan
1624. THE queen took the bride and the bridegroom by the hand, she" placed them together on the royal throne, she abandoned her sadness, she made staunch her womanly heart, she changed her grid; into joy, she obliged no one to weep any longer.
1625. TARIEL and his bride, sitting together on the royal throne, suited each other, the woman suited the knight; whose. mind or whose tongue can express their praise-what son of Adam can be like them?
1626. THE queen attired herself,she doffed her black: garments, she prepared gay robes for the lords, rejoicing the eye. She dressed them all, augmenting their joy. Quoth she: "Let us forget grief since joy has come to us."
1627. What Tariel and his wife had desired fell to their lot, seven royal thrones, (seats) of joy, unassailable; this present solace makes them forget their sufferings. A man unacquainted with sorrow cannot find pleasure in joy.
1628. See the two sitting together; even the sun could not be better! They blow the trumpet and proclaim him king, copper drums make the voices sound sweet; they give him the key of the treasuries, they gave themselves into his hands as subjects. "This is our king!" they cried, and they acclaimed him.
1629. They caused two thrones to be prepared for Avt’handil and P’hridon, they sat royally thereon, they extolled their majesty, what other human beings did God create like them! They related their sorrows; they revealed them to all.
1630. They drank, ate, made merry, they increased the household; as befits a wedding so did they celebrate it; to each of the four they gave presents equally. They gathered together treasure to give to the poor.
1631. All the Indians considered Avt’handil and P’hridon to be helpers (allies). "From you every good happens to us," said they ceaselessly; they looked upon them as lords (suzerains), whatever they willed that they did, they came before them continually to pay court to them.
1632. The King of the Indians said to Asmat’h, the sharer of his sorrows: "What thou hast done, neither upbringer nor upbrought hath done (for each other). Now I enthrone thee over one seventh part of the kingdom of India, thine let it be, serve us, sweet to the sweet!
1633. "Whomsoever thou desirest as husband wed him, rule the kingdom, henceforth serve us, be subject to us." Asmat’h covered his feet with kisses. "From thee is my power," quoth she; "what can I find, what better service can I have than thine!"
