King Rostevan and Avt'handil Go Hunting
72	EARLY in the morning Avt'handil came forth like a well-grown lily; he was clad in crimson, his face was of crystal and ruby, over his face was a golden veil, he was fair in huntsman's apparel. He rode upon a white steed; he invited the king to come forth.
73	THE king was arrayed, he mounted, they set out for the chase. The people surrounded the field, they made a ring round about it; there was much mirth and excitement; the armies kept the ground. For their wager were they hooting and striving together.
74	THE king commanded the twelve slaves: "Come, accompany us, bring us the swift bows, prepare the arrows, compare what is struck and keep count of the shots. " Game began to come in from every corner of the plain.
75	HERDS of game, innumerable, flocked in: stags, goats, wild-asses, high-leaping chamois. Lord and vassal pursued them; what sight could be fairer! Behold the bow, the arrow, and the untiring arm!
76	THE dust from their horses' tracks cut off the sun's rays. They slew, their arrows sped, blood flowed through the field; as the shafts were shot away the slaves brought more of them. The beasts wounded by them could not take another step.
77	THEY ran through that field; they drove the herd before them. They slew and exterminated, they made wroth the God of the heavens, the fields were dyed crimson with the blood they shed from the beasts. Those who watched Avt'handil said: "He is like an aloe-tree planted in Eden."
78	THEY coursed over the whole of that plain only they had travelled over. There on the farther edge of the plain flows a stream; on the bank of the stream are rocks. The game fled into the wood, where horse could not follow. They were tired in spite of their strength.
79	EACH laughingly said to the other: "'Tis I that have won!" Merry were they; they sported, hither and thither they frolicked. Then came the slaves who had tarried, and the king said; "Tell the truth; we seek not flattery from you."
80	THE slaves said: "We shall speak the truth; think not we shall deceive you, 0 king; we may by no means liken you to him. Slay us at once if you will, it matters not; we cannot help you in any way. We observed the beasts stricken by him; they could not move forward a step.
81	"TOGETHER ye have slain in all a hundred score, but Avt'handil killed more by a score; he missed not even one at which he aimed his bow, but we cleaned up many of your arrows which left blots on the earth."
82	THE king heard this with as little concern as the result of a game of backgammon, he rejoiced so at the victory of his foster-son; he loved him as the rose loves the nightingale; smiling he made merry, all grief was gone from his heart.
83	THERE they both sat to cool themselves at the foot of the trees; the soldiers assembled and stood round them, countless as chaff; near them were the twelve slaves, bravest of the brave. As they sported they gazed at the stream and the edge of the glens.