Page:Man in the Panther's Skin.djvu/149

 beats his breast; the wretched man sheds floods of tears. What can rejoice the vassal deprived of the sight of his lord!

794. Now will I begin another tale; I will attend the parting knight. There was no audience that day for the wrathful Rosten. When day dawned he rose sullen; he was as if he poured flame from his face; he commanded the vizier to be called; thither they led him pale with fear.



795. When he saw the vizier arrived with reverence in the hall of audience, Rosten said: "I recall not what thou saidst yesterday; thou didst annoy and enrage me, for a long-time I could not compose my soul, therefore did I scold thee, vizier, heart of heart.

796. "I remember not what he (Avt'handil) wanted, (nor) why I treated thee so ill! Truly say the sages: 'Spite is a net of woes!' Never act in such a way! Consider the matter carefully. Now, tell me what thou saidst! Speak and repeat thy discourse!"

797. Again the vizier submitted his speech of yesterday. When he (Rosten) heard it, he made no lengthy answer: "If I think thee not mad may I be the Jew Levi! Let me hear no more of this, else I wholly give thee up!"

798. When the vizier went forth to seek, he could not find the crystal one (Avt'handil); only the slaves with