XXII
AVT'HANDIL'S PRAYER IN THE MOSQUE,[1] AND HIS FLIGHT
790. He prayed and said: "Great God of earths and heavens, who sometimes punishest, sometimes art ready to reward,[2] Unknowable and Unspeakable, Lord of lordships, give me to endure longings,[3] O ruler of heart-utterances![4]
791. "God, God, I beseech Thee, who govern'st the deeps and heights; Thou didst create love, Thou hast decreed its law;[5] Fate[6] has sundered me from mine excellent sun; uproot not the love sowed by her for me!
792. "God, God, merciful, I have none beside Thee; from Thee I beg aid on the road, however long I travel; shelter me from the mastery of foes, the turmoil of the seas, the evil one by night! If I survive, I shall serve Thee, I shall offer sacrifice to Thee."
793. When he had prayed, he mounted his horse (and) privily passed through the gates; he sent back Shermadin, albeit he made great lamentations. The vassal weeps and beats his breast; the wretched man sheds floods of tears. What can rejoice the vassal deprived of the sight of his lord!
794. Now will I begin another tale; I will attend[7] the parting knight. There was no audience that day for the wrathful Rosten. When day dawned he rose sullen; he was as if he poured flame from his face; he commanded the vizier to be called; thither they led him pale with fear.
- ↑ Migzit'ha, A., is not in Ch.'s dictionary. The form mizgit'hi occurs in the Odes (M., iv., r.g.; Odes, VIa., 12, 2). There is no reason to think that the chapter headings are contemporary with the poem. The use of the word here does not seem justified by the text of the succeeding quatrains. It is possible that Migzit'ha is a corruption of some word with the root gza, and that the heading should run "Prayer for the Road." Cf. 792.
- ↑ ? preparest bounties.
- ↑ Master my desires.
- ↑ Passions.
- ↑ "Arte regendus amor"; "lois d'amour."
- ↑ Sop'helman, the world.
- ↑ ? inconsistent with the immediate sequel.