Page:Man in the Panther's Skin.djvu/221

 Kadjis, but men (who) put their trust in steep rocks," quoth she.

1225. "Their name is called Kadji because they are banded together, men skilled in sorcery, exceeding cunning in the art, harmers of all men, themselves unable to be harmed by any; they that go out to join battle with them come back blinded and shamed.

1226. "They do something wondrous, they blind the eyes of their foes, they raise fearful winds, they make the ship to founder midst the seas, they run as on dry land, (for) they clean dry up the water; if they wish they make the day dark, if they wish they enlighten the darkness.

1227. "For this reason all those that dwell round about call them Kadjis, though they, too, are men fleshly like us." Avt'handil thanked her: "Thou hast extinguished my hot flames; the tidings just told me have pleased me greatly."

1228. Avt'handil, shedding tears, magnifies God with his heart; he said: "O God, I thank Thee, for Thou art the Comforter of my woes, who wast and art, Unspeakable, Unheard by ears: Your mercy is suddenly spread forth over us!"

1229. For the knowledge of this story he magnified God with tears. P'hatman thought of herself; therefore she was again burned up. The knight kept his secret, he lent himself to love; P'hatman embraced his neck, she kissed his sun-like face.

1230. That night P'hatman enjoyed lying with Avt'handil; the knight unwillingly embraces her neck with his crystal neck; remembrance of T'hinat'hin slays him, he quakes with secret fear, his maddened heart raced away to the wild beasts and ran with them.

1281. Avt'handil secretly rains tears, they flow to mingle with the sea ; in an inky eddy floats a jetty ship. He