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1452. "Go and report to Tariel the answer spoken by me: 'What thanks are needed, O king, however great is thy compassion; even from my mother's womb am I born to be your servant,[1] and, by God, let me be but earth till thou be recognized as king.'
1453. "Thou hast said: 'I desire thy union to thy beloved!' This is like your compassionate heart. There my sword cuts not,[2] nor breadth of tongue. It is better for me to await the deed of yon celestial Providence.
1454. "This is my wish and my desire, that I may see thee powerful in India, enthroned upon the thrones, the heavenly light (Nestan), too, sitting by thy side, the face flashing lightning; that your foes be exterminated, that no adversary appear there.
1455. "When these the desires of my heart have been fulfilled to me, then indeed shall I go to Arabia, it will befall me to be near that sun; when she wills she shall quench the burnings of this fire for me. Nought else do I wish from you; I hate all kinds of flattery."[3]
1456. When P'hridon reported to Tariel these words of the knight, he said: "That will I not do; for that it needs no wizard.[4] As he found the cause of the existence of my life (Nestan), even so he too shall see the valour of a brother (used) in his favour.
1457. "Go, speak on my behalf words not of adulation: 'I will not remain without seeing thy foster-father. I suspect I slew many servants beloved by him. I will only beg forgiveness, and so I shall return.'
1458. Speak thus: 'Send me no more messages. Tomorrow I shall not fail to set out; I shall have no more of the word "if"; the King of the Arabs will not make my words to be of no avail; pleasantly shall I beg his daughter, I shall entreat of him, I shall persuade him."
1459. P'hridon told Avt'handil Taria's message: "He
