Page:Man in the Panther's Skin.djvu/34

 64. The proud youth hearkened modestly to these words of the king; with bent head he smiled. Well did a smile befit him; his shining white teeth gleamed like sunshine on a mead. The king asked: "Why smilest thou? or why wert thou shy of me?"

65. Yet again he said: "Why dost thou smile at me? What is laughable in me?" The youth replied: "I shall tell you if you grant me leave to speak. With what I say be not offended; be not wroth, blame me not, call me not bold, ruin me not for this!"

66. He answered: "How can I take aught thou sayst as displeasing?" He took an oath by the sun (i.e., life) of T'hinat'hin, that contemner of the sun. Avt'handil said: "Then will I speak boldly ; vaunt not yourself of your archery, it is better to speak modestly.

67. "I, Avt'handil, earth under your feet, am an archer before you; let us lay a wager ; let your armies attend as witnesses. 'Who is like me in the lists?' said you—vain indeed is denial!—that is decided by the ball and the field."

68. "I will not let thee thus dispute with me! Say the word, let us draw the bow; do not shirk. Let us make good men witnesses of our rivalry; then in the field it will be manifest whose praises should be sung."

69. Avt'handil obeyed; they ceased their discourse. They laughed, they sported like children, lovingly and becomingly they behaved. They fixed the wager, and laid down this condition: Whoever shall be beaten, let him go bareheaded for three days.

70. (The king) commanded, moreover: "Let twelve slaves be chosen to attend us, twelve to give me arrows