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THE LETTER WRITTEN BY THE KING OF THE KHATAVIANS IN ANSWER TO TARIEL
387. "He wrote: 'I, Ramaz[1] the king, write a letter to thee Tariel. I marvelled at what was written in the letter penned by thee. How dost thou summon thither me who am lord over many peoples! I will look at no other letter which comes from thee.'
388. "I commanded the soldiers to be summoned; I sent forth the Lord of the Marches.[2] They gathered together the armies of India more numerous than the stars, from near and far all hastened towards me, plain, rock and waste[3] were altogether filled with soldiers.
389. "They came swiftly; they made no tarrying at home. I held a review[4]; the good order of the troops pleased me—their alertness[5] and valour, beautifully drawn up in squadrons, the speed of their steeds, their Khvarazmian[6] armour.
390. "I raised the royal standard with flag of red and black.[7] I commanded the countless troops to set out in the morning. I myself wept, I mourned exceedingly my evil fate: 'If I see not the sun I know not how I can ever depart.'
391. "I went in. The sadness of my pensive heart was increased unto me[8]; burning tears welled forth from mine eyes like a pool. 'My luckless fate,' said I, 'has never yet ruled. Why did my hand lay hold of the rose since thus it could not cull it!'
- ↑ David VIII. (1407–1413) had a son named Ramaz, and a wife named Nestan-Djar, thus showing the vogue of the poem at that period.
- ↑ Marzapani, P., lieutenant, governor of frontier province; 303, 761.
- ↑ Capani, Ch., rock, rocky place; Abul., mountain-top, village in a glen, hollows, stony place.
- ↑ Aghlumi, Turk.
- ↑ Sichauke, 487.
- ↑ Khvarazinia, the Khanate of Khiva, 1543.
- ↑ Ch. says the flag of Georgia was red and black; for alami, A., 923, 1285. Cf. M., iv., page rng.
- ↑ Miiep'hda, was made cheap to me—i.e., grew abundant.
