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99. He said: "God is weary of the happiness I have had hitherto, therefore He turns my pleasure into the gall of bitterness; He has wounded me unto death, none can cure me. Such, by His grace,[1] is His will and desire."
100. Thus he spoke, and returned; he went frowning away. They summoned not to the lists; groan was mingled with groan. Each ceased from the chase wherever he was following it. Some said: "He is right!" others said: "O God!" (?)
101. The king went into his bedchamber sad and frowning. Avt'handil watched like a son that none save himself should follow; all went away, the household[2] dispersed; merriment ceased, the castanet[3] and the sweet harp.[4]
102. T'hinat'hin heard of her father's great sadness. She rose and came to the door; she with whom the sun strove asked the chamberlain: "Sleeps he or wakes he?" He answered: "He sits brooding; his colour has suffered a change.
103. "Avt'handil alone is present; he sits in a chair before him. They have seen a certain stranger knight; this is the cause of his melancholy." T'hinat'hin said: "I will now depart; it is not time for me to go in. When he asks for me, say: 'She was here but now.'"
104. Time passed; he inquired: "What doth the maiden, my solace and jewel, my water of life?" The chamberlain replied: "She came, pale-faced, but now; she learned of your sadness and went away, but she is ready to come to your presence."
105. He said: "Go, call her; how can I bear absence from her! Say unto her: 'Why didst thou turn back, O life of thy father? Come, drive away my grief,
- ↑ Car. reads mas vemadli; other editions, masve madli.
- ↑ Djalabi, P., 714.
- ↑ Chaghana, P., 704, 1444. Abul. interprets "a stringed instrument" (t'hari).
- ↑ Changi, P., lyre, harp; 120, 178, 472, 704, (1421), 1444. Cf. note to 178. Arakchiev says the harp was probably introduced by the early Jewish immigrants; it appears on the arms of Georgia. Cf. "David's harp," 1574.
