The Wedding of Tariel and Nestan-Daredjan
1629	THE queen took the bride and the bridegroom by the hand, she placed them together on the royal throne, she abandoned her sadness, she made staunch her womanly heart, she changed her grief into joy, she obliged no one to weep any longer.
1630	TARIEL and his bride, sitting together on the royal throne, suited each other, the woman suited the knight; whose mind or whose tongue can express their praise—what son of Adam can be like them ?
1631	THE queen attired herself, she doffed her black garments, she prepared gay robes for the lords, rejoicing the eye. She dressed them all, augmenting their joy. Quoth she: "Let us forget grief since joy has come to us."
1632	WHAT Tariel and his wife had desired fell to their lot, seven royal thrones, seats of joy, incomparable; this present solace makes them forget their sufferings, A man unacquainted with sorrow cannot find pleasure in joy.
1633	SEE the two sitting together; even the sun could not be better! They blow the trumpet and proclaim him king, copper drums make the voices sound sweet; they give him the key of the treasuries, they gave themselves into his hands as subjects. "This is our king!" they cried, and they acclaimed him.
1634	THEY caused two thrones to be prepared for Avt'handil and P'hridon, they sat royally thereon, they extolled their majesty, what other human beings did God create like them! They related their sorrows; they revealed them to all.
1635	THEY drank, ate, made merry, they increased the household; as befits a wedding so did they celebrate it; to both they gave presents, equally to each. They gathered together treasure to give to the poor.
1636	ALL the Indians considered Avt'handil and P'hridon to be helpers. "From you every good happens to us," said they ceaselessly; they looked upon them as lords, whatever they willed that they did, they came before them continually to pay court to them.
1637	THE King of the Indians said to Asmat'h, the sharer of his sorrows: "What thou hast done, neither upbringer nor upbrought hath done. Now I enthrone thee over one-seventh part of the kingdom of India, thine let it be, serve us, sweet to the sweet!
1638	"WHOMSOEVER thou desirest as husband wed him, rule the kingdom, henceforth serve us, be subject to us." Asmat'h covered his feet with kisses. "From thee is my power," quoth she; "what can I find, what better service can I have than thine!"
1639	THE three sworn brothers tarried together a few days. They sported, they received more incomparable gifts; what rare pearls, what excellent horses! But longing for T'hinat'hin made Avt'handil to show lines on his face.
1640	TARIEL perceived that longing of the knight for his wife. He said: "Of a truth thy heart is angered against me. Now woe is me! Thought hath made of thy seven griefs eight. T shall be separated from thee; the passing world grudges me my joy."
1641	THEN P'hridon begged leave of him. "I will go home," quoth he; "my foot will oft tread this court and land if thou wilt command me as an elder to a younger. I shall desire thee as the deer the fountain."
1642	AS presents for Rostevan, Tariel made Avt'handil take with him beautiful short robes, also a vessel full of cut gems, not spoons, not ladles. "Take them from me, go," quoth he, "disobey me not!" Avt'handil said: "T know not how I shall survive without thee!"
1643	THE lady Nestan sent to the lady T'hinat'hin a short cloak and a veil; who save her was worthy of such garments! A jewel-he who carried it off could not say: "I have carried it in vain !"-at night it gives light like the sun; it is visible wherever thou lookest.
1644	AVT'HANDIL mounted, he departed, he said farewell to Tariel, the flame of the fire of separation burned them both; all the Indians wept, the tear moistened the mead. Avt'handil said: "The poison of this world slays me!"
1645	P'HRIDON and Avt'handil journeyed together for a few days; the road separated them, each went his way weeping; the things they had planned had turned out well for them; Avt'handil came to Arabia, he had not seen troubles in vain.
1646	THE Arabs came forth to meet him, he beautified the realm; he saw his sun, the affliction of his desires fled; he sat with her on the throne, he rejoiced at the joy of the onlookers. The Most High from above endowed his crown with sovereignty.
1647	THOSE three sovereigns loved one another, they visited one another, their desires were fulfilled, they that disputed their rule were put to the sword, they enlarged their kingdoms, they were sovereign, they increased their might.
1648	THEY poured down mercy like snow on all alike, they enriched orphans and widows and the poor did not beg, they terrified evil-doers; the lambs did not suck from strange ewes, within their dominions the goat and the wolf fed together.