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the utterer of idle words, the chatterer who cannot hide a secret, the witless, mad, raving. 'Help me with your lamentations!'[1] This will I say to all who see me. A physician cannot cure one who drinks his own blood!
1085. "Do one thing of two: desire nothing more than this: If thou canst kill that man, go, slay him secretly by night; thus shalt thou save me and all my house from slaughter; return, I will tell thee all, the reason why I shed tears.[2]
1086. "If not, take away thy loads on asses this very night, escape from my neighbourhood, gather everything for flight.[3] I doubt my sins[4] will fill thee too with woe. If that knight go to court he will make me eat my children with my mouth."
1087. When Avt'handil, the proud, gifted with bold resolve,[5] heard this, he arose and took a mace[6]—how fair, how bold is he![7] "To ignore this matter would be remissness[8] on my part!" said he. Think not any living is his like; there is none other like unto him!
1088. To P'hatman he said: "Give me a man as instructor, as guide, let him show me the road truly, else I want no helper; I cannot look on that man as a warrior and mine equal. What I do I shall tell thee; wait for me, be calm!"
1089. The woman gave him a slave as guide and leader. Again she cried out: "Inasmuch as the hot fire is to be cooled, if thou slay that knight to assuage the irritation[9] of my heart, he has my ring, I entreat thee to bring it hither."
- ↑ Vaglakh shetseva, to lament the death of a neighbour as a sign of sympathy.
- ↑ Ch., movit'h mit'hkhar; Car., me vit'ha var.
- ↑ ? flee together.
- ↑ ? here "punishment."
- ↑ Buneba ziari, Ch. Dict., s.v. buneba, nature; ziari, sharer, communicant. Car. suggests buneba-zeari, connoting the qualities of cadniereba, daring, and simkhne, manliness. Herein he follows Ch., note, p. 233. Abul. interprets "divine."
- ↑ Lakhti, P.; Ch. Dict., mace, whip of metal strands or thong without handle.
- ↑ Mkhne, brave, manly, ? preux.
- ↑ Sidzunte, unconcern, listlessness.
- ↑ P'hkhana, itching, scratch.
