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tread on);, since thou art in haste, what can I say to thee! Go! Thine arm be thy guide!"[1]

1423. The king fitted out a ship on the shore. Tariel set out; those who were parted shed tears, they beat their heads, they tore their hair and beards (and) cast them away.[2] P'hatman's tears in their flow even augmented the sea.[3]

1424. The three sworn brothers crossed the seas together,[4] again they confirmed by their word what they formerly affirmed; singing and laughter were beseeming to them, who were not ignorant thereof; the ray from their lips shone upon the planks of crystal (their teeth).[5]

1425. Thence they sent a man to Asmat'h as a messenger of good tidings; also to the households of[6] P'hridon's chiefs who had been in the fight, to announce to them: "He[7] comes hither, as the sun he[7] rises high, reinforcing[8] (?) the planets; we erstwhile frozen shall be frozen now no more."

1426. They seated that sun (Nestan) in a palanquin; they wended their way along the coast. They sported like children; the passing away of woe gladdened them. They came where was the land of the hero[9] Nuradin, they were met, they heard the sound of frequent song.

1427. There all P'hridon's magnates met them. Asmat'h, full of joy, whose wounds no longer appeared, was riveted to Nestan-Daredjan so that axes could not unloose them. Now she had ended all her faithful services.

1428. Nestan-Daredjan embraces her, kisses her face with her mouth. She said: "Mine own, woe is me, I have filled thee too with grief. Now God hath granted us grace,

  1. Ch. rhymes in a, Car. in o.
  2. Cf. 594, 806; cf. Poema del Cid, 375, "asis parten vnos dotros commo la vña de la carne"; also Chanson de Roland for similar excess of emotion.
  3. Cf. 259, 824.
  4. Cf. 1366.
  5. Cf. "crystal mounds," 1540.
  6. T'havt'hasa.
  7. 7.0 7.1 ? "She" (Nestan).
  8. Mamagroblad, Ch., "for shade"; magari, strong; ? "enlightening (or obscuring) the stars."
  9. Gmiri, 290, 333, 1365, 1509.