-
|
- The Letter Written by
P'hatman to Nestan-Daredjan
|
- 1268
|
- P'HATMAN writes: "0 star, heavenly sun of the world,
- consumer and griever of all them that are afar from thee,
- elegant and eloquent in words, lovely, fair-tongued,
- crystal and ruby both welded in one!
|
- 1269
|
- THOUGH thou gavest me not to hear thy story, I have
- learnt the truth, thereby hath my heart been comforted.
- Console with news Tariel, who is become mad for thee!
- May you both attain your desire, may he be a rose and thou
- a violet!
|
- 1270
|
- "HIS sworn brother is come in quest of thee, Avt'handil,
- an Arab knight renowned in Arabia, Spaspeti of King
- Rostevan, to be contemned of none. Write news of thyself,
- thou proud one, wise in understanding!
|
- 1271
|
- "FOR this purpose have we sent this slave to your
- presence: We would know tidings of Kadjet'hi. Have the
- Kadjis come home ? We wish to know in detail the number
- of warriors there. Who are thy guards, and who is their
- chief?
|
- 1272
|
- "WHATEVER thou knowest concerning that place. write
- to us, make il known. Then send some token for thy lover.
- All the sorrow thou hast had hitherto, change it into jov!
- May it please God that I unite the lovers so befitting each
- other!
|
- 1273
|
- "GO, O letter, hasten, if swift be thy knee! I envy thee,
- thou goesi to see the crystal, jest and rubies. In Fate
- thou art happier than I, O letter; the eyes other who
- consumes me will look upon thee. If thou hearest of my
- life after thee, shalt thou not pity me!"
|
- 1274
|
- P'HATMAN gave the letter to that cunning sorcerer: "Give
- this letter to the sun-like maiden!" The wizard donned a
- certain green mantle over his form: in that very moment
- he was lost to view, he flew over the roofs.
|
- 1275
|
- HE went like an arrow shot by a swift-bowed archer.
- When he reached Kadjet’hi it was just dusk twilight.
- Invisible he passed the multitude of knights guarding the
- gates. He gave to that sun the greeting of her who longed
- for her.
|
- 1276
|
- HE passed the closed gates of the castle as if they had
- been open; the Negro entered, the black-faced, long-haired,
- cloaked; that sun was affrighted, she thought it was
- somewhat to harm her; the rose was changed to saffron
- and the violets to sky blue.
|
- 1277
|
- THE Kadj said: "Whom think'st thou me to be, and why
- swoonest thou thus ? I am P'hatman's slave despatched to
- thy presence, this letter will justify me, I speak not falsely
- to thee. Let the sun's rays come forth, 0 rose, fade not so
- soon.
|
- 1278
|
- THE sun-faced marvelled at P'hatman's wonderful news;
- she split her almonds, the jets quivered with the rod of jet.
- The slave gave her the letter with his own hand. She sighs,
- she reads the letter, she wets it with her hot tears.
|
- 1279
|
- SHE asked the slave: "Tell me, who is my seeker, or who
- knows me to be alive, treading the earth ?" He said:
- "I will venture to tell you only what I know. When thou
- wentest forth, since then hath our sun been darkened.
|
- 1280
|
- "HENCEFORTH P'hatman's heart hath been torn by
- lances; the tears she shed are such as to be united to the
- seas. Once already I brought news of thee to her. I call
- God to witness that for her since then the tear hath not
- ceased.
|
- 1281
|
- "NOW there came a certain knight, fair efface; in detail
- she told him all, what trouble you are in; he with hero-like
- arm is thy seeker; they sent me, they entreated me to
- hasten with ceaseless haste."
|
- 1282
|
- THE maiden said: "What thou hast said, 0 man, seems to
- me to be truth. How could P'hatman know from whom I
- was carried away! Doubtless somewhere is he who burns me
- with fire. I will write to her; thou also shalt tell how my
- heart boils."
|