THE MAN IN THE PANTHER'S SKIN
INTRODUCTORY QUATRAINS
1. He who created the firmament,[1] by that mighty power made beings inspired from on high with souls celestial; to us men He has given the world, infinite in variety we possess it; from Him is every monarch in His likeness.
2. O one God! Thou didst create the face of every form![2] Shield me, give me mastery to trample on Satan, give me the longing of lovers lasting even unto death, lightening (of the burden) of sins I must bear thither with me.[3]
3. Of that lion whom the use of lance, shield and sword adorns, of the king,[4] the sun T'hamara, the ruby-cheeked, the jet-haired, of her I know not how I shall dare to sing the manifold praise[5]; they who look upon her must offer her the sweets[6] for which she hungers.
4. By shedding tears of blood we praise King T'hamara, whose praises I, not ill-chosen, have told forth. For ink I have used a lake of jet, and for pen a pliant crystal.[7] Whoever hears, a jagged spear will pierce his heart!
5. She bade me indite sweet verses in her praise, laud[8]
- ↑ Samqaro, 109.
- ↑ M., "form (kind) of every body."
- ↑ M., "bear with me into yonder world."
- ↑ I.e., queen regnant; but M. says the invocation is addressed to David, T'hamara's consort. Cf. Odes (introduction), Al. Saradjishvili's essay in Moambe (pp. 1–3), and Car. (p. viii), who makes the genitive of T'hamara dependent on "lance," etc.
- ↑ Khotba, A., 1009, 1025.
- ↑ Qandi.
- ↑ For mina (glass, crystal, enamel) M. reads nai (cf. 178) and translates "supple reed," which makes better sense. Cf. 942 for the metaphor.
- ↑ Keba, 603, 1027, 1073, 1430, 1435, 1512, 1524.
