Page:Man in the Panther's Skin.djvu/96

 like the sun; he rejoiced at the coming of me, the lovely and fair.

460. "He said secretly to his wife, but unknown to me: 'To gaze on Tariel returned from war is desirable, he brings light to the onlooker's heart, however dark it may be; whatever I ask thee to do, do it without delay.

461. Now, without (consulting) thee I have thought of a plan; but thou too must know it: Since the maid is to be king, and has been so nominated by us ourselves, whoever shall see her, now let him who is like a tree in Eden see her—lo! even to-day; seat her by thy side, both of you meet us in the palace, I shall come joyful.'

462. "We hunted over plain, mountain-foot and hill; there was a multitude of hounds, falcons and hawks. We returned early without having gone a stage from the long road. They did not play at ball; they broke up two games.

463. "Folk eager to gaze on me filled the city, the bazaar and the roofs; tasselled robes adorned me who had finished the war; I was fair as a pale-hued rose bathed in tears, he who looked on me fainted; true is this, and no falsehood.

464. "The veils I had found in the city of the Khatavians I bound round me, they became me, I maddened (still more) the heart of the mad. The king dismounted; we entered the apartments of my foster-parents. I saw the flash of her cheeks like sunlight, I trembled.

465. "The form of that sun (Nestan) was clad in robes of orange ; behind her was a host of eunuchs in cohorts and lines ; with light she quite filled house, street and