The knight in the panther's skin, 1979
PROLOGUE
1. HE who created the firmament, by omniponent might of his power, Gave breath to all living creatures and to man spirits celestial; Gave us the world to possess with all its unlimited varieties, And Kings ordained by Him, each in his own image.
2. O ONE God! Who has created the form of every man's body, Assist us, give us strength , to conquer the wiles of Satan, Fill us with longing for love, endless, enduring to death! Lighten the load of sins we must bear to the world to come!
3. I sing of the lion, who has strength, to conquer the wiles os Satan; OF Tamar, rhe Queen of Queens, the ruby-cheeked and Jet-haired. How shell I dare pay tribute to her praiseworthy verses, Whom to look upon the choicest of honey?
4. Tears of blood flow profusely as I exult our Queen Tamar whose praises I uttered forth in well-chosen words. For ink I have used a lake of jet, and for pen, a pliant reed. My words, like jagged spears will pierce the heart of the hearer
5. I was told to compose in her honour stately and sweet sounding verses, To laud her eyebrows and here lashes, her hair, her lips and her teeth- Badakhshan ruby and cristal arrayed in two even ranks. An anvil of lead can break even the hardest stone.
6. Fire my mind and tongue with skill and power for utterance Which I need, O Lord, for the making of majestic and praiseworthy verses; Thus will the deeds of Tariel be remembered in eloquent language, And of the three star-like heroes who faithfully served one another.
7. Come, let us sit together and weep with undrying tears forTariel. There never breathed a man born under the same star as his. I Rustaveli, whose heart is pierced though by his sorrows have threaded Like a necklace of pearls a tale told untill now as tale.
8. I, who am maddened to frenzy by love, have composed these lines. She , whom vast armies call mistress has deprived me of life and reason. Thus sickened am I by love for which there exists no cure. She alone can cure me, or leave me to death and the grave.
9. I have found this Persian tale, and have set it in Georgian verse Until now like peerless pearl it was rolled on the palm of the hand. I have done this praiseworthy and disputable deed for her; Therefore let her who has robbed me of heart and reason judge it.
10. Though deprived of their light by gazing upon her yet my eyes long again To behold her for whom with lovee-ladaen heart I roam like madman. Let her pray for and soothe my soule; it is anough that my body is burning. Eloquent must my verses be , majestic, melodious and sweet.
11. Man, do not complaint at fate. Be content and accept it. Let the warior always be brave, lrt the worker anjoy his labour; So let the love-maddened man learn the meaning of love and know it. Disdain not the love of the another not let him disdaine yours.
12. Poetry is, first of all, a brunch of divine wisdom. Conceived by and known by the godly edifying to all who hear it. It pleases the ear of the listener if he be a virtous man. A poem uttered with surfeit of words lacks grace and excellence.
13. A race on a course proves a horse's fire and mettle, A player's skill is seen when hi strikes the ball at the goal. Even so it is with the poet the composes majestic poems: He must call forth all his skill when utterans is hard and fails him.
14. Thus indeed, is the poet, and his poem is proof of his prowess. When at a loss of words and he cannot attain perfeection He must seek for words that will not diminish the poem of its worth, But strike the ball and score the goal like a dexterous player.
15. A verse of two composed by chance do not make a poet; Let him not think himself a poet on the level of great singers. Even though, now and then, he may write a few discordant verses; Yat if he says,”truly , mine is the better", he is a srubborn mule.
16. Than again there are poets who wish but powerless compose Verses capable penetrating deep into one's heart. I may compere tham to the bows and arrows of youthful hunters Who cannnot bring down big beasts, but kill only small game.
17. A third kind of poems is composed for mirth and revelry, For the lover, the joyous and marry, for the pleasures of boon companions. We may find some of tham pleasing both to the heart and the ear, But remember, only he who writes majestic poetry is a poet.
18. All the poet's endeavours must not be spent in vain. He must be devoted to one whom he considers worthy of loving, And amploy all his talents and skill in praising and glorifyiing her name. For her alone must he sing in sweet melodious measures.
19. Hear all and know, I praise her whom I have hitherto praised! In this I have endless, glory; in this I am bold and shameless. She, who is my life, is a beautuful mercilles panther. I shell devote my skill hereafter to exalt her name.
