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rose, or what have they in common? But upon it the nightingale has not yet sweetly sung. Every unfitting deed is brief, and then it is fruitless.[1] What says she? What nonsense she talks! What a letter she has written!"
1069. This kind of thought he thought[2] in his heart. Then said he to himself: "Save thee I have no helper. For the sake of that for which I am a wanderer, since I wish to seek her (Nestan) I will do everything by which I can find her; what else should my heart heed![3]
1070. "This woman sits here seeing many men, a keeper of open house[4] and a friend to travellers coming hither from all parts. I will consent, she will tell me all; however much the fire burns me with its flames, perchance she will be of some use to me; I shall know how to pay my debt to her."
1071. He said: "When a woman loves anyone, becomes intimate with him and gives him her heart, shame and dishonour she weighs not, being wholly accursed; whatever she knows she declares, she tells every secret.[5] It is better for me, I will consent; perchance I shall somewhere find out the hidden thing."
1072. Again he said: "None can do aught if his planet[6] favour him not[7]; so what I want I have not, what I have I want not. The world is a kind of twilight, so here all is dusky.[8] Whatever is in the pitcher,[9] the same flows forth."
- ↑ Okheri.
- ↑ ? "blamed."
- ↑ The end justifies the means.
- ↑ Mosadgure, entertainer, innkeeper.
- ↑ 1059; cruli, ? fettered, cf. 700, 781, and 994 note.
- ↑ Etli, planet, constellation, fate; 269, 978, 1188.
- ↑ Most'hmindebis, ? "if he endure not his fate"; Ch., "if his fate direct him not."
- ↑ If M. Beridze be right in deriving bindebis from binaoba, to settle, the phrase might run, "It seems that things are settled thus."
- ↑ Coca, large water or wine jar.