Miracle of St. Mina
/
Old Nubian Transliterate
English
o . ŋokkora khristosin martyros-u-ŋiss-u-minana awsa-lo . tillin tokinnawėlo amin .
1 . ontakraguė-ke .
2 . itt-u-wel-lo dipp-u-wella duȧra . ȧlexandren šikgula .
3 . tar-on mira ȧgen-de unnaramenna-lo . ŋak’-ende’ ask’-ende .
4 . iñitt-u-ŋuktlo . diyk-on koȧ-lo enona .
5 . ṡ ewattkon konmenna-lo .
6 . in-ŋeyn-juriȧ iȧ-yon tan’ aylla maïkarisna .
7 . tan ŋogla duȧra-miššangu-ketalle-yon miraguė-lo issana . medjunin-taygul . tuygul . dutrapi-gulo-kiyskillo .
8 . ukrugulo well-yon . man’ittil khristïanosigun iliwgul pesran ulgra . toykaguė-sin-ŋiss-u-minana-mareȯtin-kissela-awjilguka . tariȧ pessna .
9 . ȧle-sin ŋ̇iss-u-minan tillil an dutrapigula wekka unne-s’ ilenkonno . ȧy-on kumpu-tuskante-lo-unnusin-ka-lo tan kissela utuddre .
10 . ukur’-diel’ awtakon-non . dutrapigula wel juntuŋa kumpun kakilwekka unnusna .
11 . man’ittil-lon kumpuk’ en’ita ȧmando’sukka kisna . medjun-tal’- wel’dal . awik ėla man-kumpuka ŋiss-u-minan kisse-marėotioŋonjilla-gil iteni-ȧ .
12 . awl’-philoxenitigil-jodra-meddaŋol’wekk’on ėla . pessna ittil ȧgoppigille . pisse-so pap-o-ȧgoppa .
13 . tar-on pessna . ik-ketal pisse-so .
14 . ittil-lon pessna . ȧle-sin inno tukren isgil jodin .
15 . apoggil pesara . ȧle-sin ŋodal ȧika mudwukon-no’ philoxeniti-gillelo jure .
16 . ittil-lon pessna . magren-non aydal untik’ awȧ philoxenitigille ayik’ eddal kojue-so .
17 . ȧgoppil pesara . manno minka dollina-ï .
18 . ittil pesara . ŋiss-u-minan kissegille-lo jure .
19 . ȧpoggil-lon pessna . id-de ellino’inil-lē kissela mink awarrinna .
20 . ittil pesara . in-kumpuka-lo man-kissela kenduk’arril-le . ŋiss-iminan tillil itkin kojirka ayka denkon-no-ȧ .
21 . ȧle-sin unnre ėnen-non . khristiȧnosanȧdimme .
22 . ȧpoggil pesara . itta . id-de aēttaka-ta-mē .
23 . magirkon’-ende in-kumpuk-on ayka dine-so .
24 . ay-sin penutuddre-sin .
25 . ir-on in ŋooggille gipirte-so in ogjil ŋegimenkonno-ȧ .
26 . ittil-lon pistewȧ kumpuka tan’ ila’ utratirsna .
27 . tar-on tan ŋooggille gipirtisna tan medjun-taaddal .
28 . apoggil-lon kumpuka dum’-ita asin-tula kena kappa-sewėla uskursna . philoxenitiȯ kien-pawka .
29 . ukri-diygul ŋoka-joruan-non . philoxenitin gaaddo kisna .
30 . ogjil-lon kumpuk’ agora is-u-irkane-widilla-gille gipirtisna .
31 . ukrigullo wello-yon . ȧpoggil man-kumpuka ȧwn’-ȧsin-tula kappasewėla piyn ŋalen . in’tan’ uskra ȧgorisska . pessna tan ŋalgille .
32 . ė tota in-kumpul islo issna-ka .
33 . tar-on pessna . papo ir-u inka ankiminna-ï . itt-u-wenna ekka denjiska . ŋiss-u-minan kissela tijjana-s-a .
34 . papil-lon pessna totigille . ė ȧlelo . tak’ aygil tok’-arre-so kapkoï-o-a .
35 . tan ŋal-lon tokka takka kenotron . kap’itirsna .
36 . suȧy-tuskon ukrigul ŋoka-joruan-non . kipp-u-weddo kisana .
37 . ȧwkk-on man-dippin gaddo kenȯossna .
38 . kyriaken ukur’inin-non . ȧpoggil dippiddo keda-kisna . korek’ itni-ȧ .
39 . man-dippila-yon parthenos-u-ŋiss-u-marian kissle-lo ŋonjara .
40 . tariȧ-yon tora-kisna . korek’ itni-ȧ .
41 . trisȧgion kiesin-no-kono-yon . kipta-miššan-non kaskaseldo timmisana . ȧgiȯsin amanka paynu-ȧ .
42 . apoggin mañil-lon gallitakon ŋiss-u-minaka pillaallo ŋilsna . nurtu-ŋuluka’ doka-kin . takk-on tuzin šak arrinnagra .
43 . tar-on ŋalen tillik-unnol marian igongille gudala kiȧ wuȧpessna .
44 . iriȯ-ma-lo tillik-unnara Maria ayka awlose . ŋapek’-awėsi-lo-jun .
45 . ŋiss-u-mina-yon widillo ŋonja pessna tadgille .
46 . minka iddal awarre ėlin ukurro .
47 . ŋod-u-anni-lo-sin-ma-lo torrasi .
48 . ŋissil-lon man ogijka dumma tak urildo jagŋon . kumpu-in tan’na kipsil . dumal dutrap’ añaraŋa tanna-tawȯ-ketal sukka pala kutta
ŋonja tuskono jawisna .
49 . ŋiss-u-mina-yon murtiddo ȧkil dutrapka tan awir-wello dumma tak’enėta pessna .
50 . indo guse . inka-lo isse .
51 . ŋiss-u-mina-yon man-ittin ŋoglo jora-kiȧ . šaakka kimma’ ȯȯkirsna .
52 . man-ittil-lon midil ki’ šaakka gallisna .
53 . ŋissil-lon pessna tadgille .
54 . itta in-ditrapka dum’eta in dutrapigulo pelire-so . ikka unnatikkoan-no-ȧ .
55 . ik-ketalle-yon ė itta ŋak unnarrasi tan taŋiska minaȧ ȯke-so .
56 . in medjunin-tayguk-ketal-kello unnadimmana . on in tuygul .
57 . ir-on ė itta pistitti ite-so in ŋapegun tokderragille .
58 . inka pesa-toka-yon . dumak-kono ŋissil miwtakra ŋissna .
59 . ittil-lon dutrapka dumėta tan dutrapigulo peliron . dumak-konokello unnisana . medjunin-taygul . on tuygul .
60 . tar-u-ittil-ketalle-yon juntuŋa’ ŋan kakikka unnusna .
61 . tan taŋisk-on okisna minaȧ . ŋissna tadgil pesesin-kello .
62 . tan medjunin-tayguk-ketalle-yon juntuŋa’-kello unnusana . ŋakka aska .
63 . man-ittil-lon tan kokkanen ukrigul kiriŋuan-ŋi ŋiss-u-mina-kisselo jora-kisna . mareȯtiȯ .
64 . kisse-ŋissla kien-non . sortok’ iskelisna tekka pistakkon-no-ȧ .
65 . sortol-lon dummija . teddo silela . tad-de-tan-ogjil-de-tan-ŋad’- de-tan-medjunigul-de-kek-ka pistarisna papil-de-oŋ-ŋal-de-onsewart-u-ŋissil-de-ke-n taŋslo-ko .
66 . ikarigra-yon khristianosa kelkinnan inin duȧrisana . ten añen ukramiššanno .
67 . ŋiss-u-mina-kissena-yon degeri’inin duȧrisana . ten darpneka kissegille kaka-jojokil . ten dien-pawuka .
68 . jimmilgul-lon in ŋokkor-dawikka ŋal-u-ulgren . tillika ŋoktirsana . ȯn niss-u-minaka . tanna-sin ŋokil on toėkil . el’-ȯn tawka-miššanno jelguna ellengulo-kieskillo . ȧmin :
1 . ontakraguė-ke .
2 . itt-u-wel-lo dipp-u-wella duȧra . ȧlexandren šikgula .
3 . tar-on mira ȧgen-de unnaramenna-lo . ŋak’-ende’ ask’-ende .
4 . iñitt-u-ŋuktlo . diyk-on koȧ-lo enona .
5 . ṡ ewattkon konmenna-lo .
6 . in-ŋeyn-juriȧ iȧ-yon tan’ aylla maïkarisna .
7 . tan ŋogla duȧra-miššangu-ketalle-yon miraguė-lo issana . medjunin-taygul . tuygul . dutrapi-gulo-kiyskillo .
8 . ukrugulo well-yon . man’ittil khristïanosigun iliwgul pesran ulgra . toykaguė-sin-ŋiss-u-minana-mareȯtin-kissela-awjilguka . tariȧ pessna .
9 . ȧle-sin ŋ̇iss-u-minan tillil an dutrapigula wekka unne-s’ ilenkonno . ȧy-on kumpu-tuskante-lo-unnusin-ka-lo tan kissela utuddre .
10 . ukur’-diel’ awtakon-non . dutrapigula wel juntuŋa kumpun kakilwekka unnusna .
11 . man’ittil-lon kumpuk’ en’ita ȧmando’sukka kisna . medjun-tal’- wel’dal . awik ėla man-kumpuka ŋiss-u-minan kisse-marėotioŋonjilla-gil iteni-ȧ .
12 . awl’-philoxenitigil-jodra-meddaŋol’wekk’on ėla . pessna ittil ȧgoppigille . pisse-so pap-o-ȧgoppa .
13 . tar-on pessna . ik-ketal pisse-so .
14 . ittil-lon pessna . ȧle-sin inno tukren isgil jodin .
15 . apoggil pesara . ȧle-sin ŋodal ȧika mudwukon-no’ philoxeniti-gillelo jure .
16 . ittil-lon pessna . magren-non aydal untik’ awȧ philoxenitigille ayik’ eddal kojue-so .
17 . ȧgoppil pesara . manno minka dollina-ï .
18 . ittil pesara . ŋiss-u-minan kissegille-lo jure .
19 . ȧpoggil-lon pessna . id-de ellino’inil-lē kissela mink awarrinna .
20 . ittil pesara . in-kumpuka-lo man-kissela kenduk’arril-le . ŋiss-iminan tillil itkin kojirka ayka denkon-no-ȧ .
21 . ȧle-sin unnre ėnen-non . khristiȧnosanȧdimme .
22 . ȧpoggil pesara . itta . id-de aēttaka-ta-mē .
23 . magirkon’-ende in-kumpuk-on ayka dine-so .
24 . ay-sin penutuddre-sin .
25 . ir-on in ŋooggille gipirte-so in ogjil ŋegimenkonno-ȧ .
26 . ittil-lon pistewȧ kumpuka tan’ ila’ utratirsna .
27 . tar-on tan ŋooggille gipirtisna tan medjun-taaddal .
28 . apoggil-lon kumpuka dum’-ita asin-tula kena kappa-sewėla uskursna . philoxenitiȯ kien-pawka .
29 . ukri-diygul ŋoka-joruan-non . philoxenitin gaaddo kisna .
30 . ogjil-lon kumpuk’ agora is-u-irkane-widilla-gille gipirtisna .
31 . ukrigullo wello-yon . ȧpoggil man-kumpuka ȧwn’-ȧsin-tula kappasewėla piyn ŋalen . in’tan’ uskra ȧgorisska . pessna tan ŋalgille .
32 . ė tota in-kumpul islo issna-ka .
33 . tar-on pessna . papo ir-u inka ankiminna-ï . itt-u-wenna ekka denjiska . ŋiss-u-minan kissela tijjana-s-a .
34 . papil-lon pessna totigille . ė ȧlelo . tak’ aygil tok’-arre-so kapkoï-o-a .
35 . tan ŋal-lon tokka takka kenotron . kap’itirsna .
36 . suȧy-tuskon ukrigul ŋoka-joruan-non . kipp-u-weddo kisana .
37 . ȧwkk-on man-dippin gaddo kenȯossna .
38 . kyriaken ukur’inin-non . ȧpoggil dippiddo keda-kisna . korek’ itni-ȧ .
39 . man-dippila-yon parthenos-u-ŋiss-u-marian kissle-lo ŋonjara .
40 . tariȧ-yon tora-kisna . korek’ itni-ȧ .
41 . trisȧgion kiesin-no-kono-yon . kipta-miššan-non kaskaseldo timmisana . ȧgiȯsin amanka paynu-ȧ .
42 . apoggin mañil-lon gallitakon ŋiss-u-minaka pillaallo ŋilsna . nurtu-ŋuluka’ doka-kin . takk-on tuzin šak arrinnagra .
43 . tar-on ŋalen tillik-unnol marian igongille gudala kiȧ wuȧpessna .
44 . iriȯ-ma-lo tillik-unnara Maria ayka awlose . ŋapek’-awėsi-lo-jun .
45 . ŋiss-u-mina-yon widillo ŋonja pessna tadgille .
46 . minka iddal awarre ėlin ukurro .
47 . ŋod-u-anni-lo-sin-ma-lo torrasi .
48 . ŋissil-lon man ogijka dumma tak urildo jagŋon . kumpu-in tan’na kipsil . dumal dutrap’ añaraŋa tanna-tawȯ-ketal sukka pala kutta
ŋonja tuskono jawisna .
49 . ŋiss-u-mina-yon murtiddo ȧkil dutrapka tan awir-wello dumma tak’enėta pessna .
50 . indo guse . inka-lo isse .
51 . ŋiss-u-mina-yon man-ittin ŋoglo jora-kiȧ . šaakka kimma’ ȯȯkirsna .
52 . man-ittil-lon midil ki’ šaakka gallisna .
53 . ŋissil-lon pessna tadgille .
54 . itta in-ditrapka dum’eta in dutrapigulo pelire-so . ikka unnatikkoan-no-ȧ .
55 . ik-ketalle-yon ė itta ŋak unnarrasi tan taŋiska minaȧ ȯke-so .
56 . in medjunin-tayguk-ketal-kello unnadimmana . on in tuygul .
57 . ir-on ė itta pistitti ite-so in ŋapegun tokderragille .
58 . inka pesa-toka-yon . dumak-kono ŋissil miwtakra ŋissna .
59 . ittil-lon dutrapka dumėta tan dutrapigulo peliron . dumak-konokello unnisana . medjunin-taygul . on tuygul .
60 . tar-u-ittil-ketalle-yon juntuŋa’ ŋan kakikka unnusna .
61 . tan taŋisk-on okisna minaȧ . ŋissna tadgil pesesin-kello .
62 . tan medjunin-tayguk-ketalle-yon juntuŋa’-kello unnusana . ŋakka aska .
63 . man-ittil-lon tan kokkanen ukrigul kiriŋuan-ŋi ŋiss-u-mina-kisselo jora-kisna . mareȯtiȯ .
64 . kisse-ŋissla kien-non . sortok’ iskelisna tekka pistakkon-no-ȧ .
65 . sortol-lon dummija . teddo silela . tad-de-tan-ogjil-de-tan-ŋad’- de-tan-medjunigul-de-kek-ka pistarisna papil-de-oŋ-ŋal-de-onsewart-u-ŋissil-de-ke-n taŋslo-ko .
66 . ikarigra-yon khristianosa kelkinnan inin duȧrisana . ten añen ukramiššanno .
67 . ŋiss-u-mina-kissena-yon degeri’inin duȧrisana . ten darpneka kissegille kaka-jojokil . ten dien-pawuka .
68 . jimmilgul-lon in ŋokkor-dawikka ŋal-u-ulgren . tillika ŋoktirsana . ȯn niss-u-minaka . tanna-sin ŋokil on toėkil . el’-ȯn tawka-miššanno jelguna ellengulo-kieskillo . ȧmin :
The
miracle
of
Saint
Menas
o . A miracle which Saint Mena , the Martyr of Christ , performed . In God’s love , Amen .
1 . Beloved !
2 . A woman lived in a village , in the region of Alexandria .
3 . And she , being infertile , could give birth neither a son nor a daughter .
4 . She had a lot of perishable wealth .
5 . But she did not have a heir .
6 . And because of this ( , knowing that ? ) she was ashamed , in her heart .
7 . And all who lived in her house were also infertile : the servantgirls , the cows and even the chickens .
8 . And one day , she hears how Christian women ( or : shepards ) tell about the miracles which they performe in the church of Saint Mena in Mareotes , and she said to herself :
9 . " Here it is , truly , if the God of Saint Mena made one of my chickens give birth , I will donate to his church the egg that it has first laid . "
10 . When many a day passed , one of the chickens became pregnant and gave birth offspring , i . e . , one egg .
11 . And that woman went down to the river with a servant-girl , in order to find a boat and take that egg to the church of Saint Mena located in Mareotes .
12 . And finding a boat ready ( or : loaded ) to go to Philoxenite , the woman said to the skipper : " Greetings , father skipper . "
13 . And he said : " Greetings to you too . "
14 . And the woman said : " Truly , when everything is ready , where will you go ? " ( or : " Truly , when you depart from here , where will you go ? " ) .
15 . The skipper said : " Truly , if the Lord guide me , I am going to Philoxenite . "
16 . And the woman said : " If you have mercy on me , do me a favor and take me with you to Philoxenite . "
17 . The skipper said : " What do you want there ? "
18 . The woman said : " I am going to the church of Saint Mena . "
19 . And the skipper said : " But a heathen like you , what will you do in the church ? "
20 . The woman said : " I will bring this egg to that church , in order that the God of Saint Mena may give me fertility ( or : offspring ) . "
21 . " Truly , if I give birth , I shall become Christian ! "
22 . The skipper said : " Woman , do not be anxious ! "
23 . " Do not be anxious , and give me that ( or : your ) egg . "
24 . " For I will take it away . "
25 . And you return to your house , so that your husband will not fear for you .
26 . And the woman believed and placed the egg in his hand .
27 . And she returned to her house , with her servant-girl .
28 . And the skipper took the egg , placed it within the hold [ of the boat ] and set it among the rest of the provisions for the trip to Philoxenite .
29 . When many a day passed , he came to the shore of Philoxenite .
30 . But the man forgot about the egg and returned to the place from where he departed .
31 . And one day , the skipper saw within the hold of the boat among the rest of the provisions that egg , this one which he had placed and forgotten , he said to his son :
32 . " Oh boy , where does this egg come from ? "
33 . And he said : " Father , you remember , a woman gave it to us , in order to take it away to the church of Saint Mena . "
34 . And the father said to the son : " Oh , indeed . Cook it and bring it to me so that I may eat it . "
35 . And when his son cooked and placed it before him , he took it and ate it .
36 . When the days of three months had gone by , they came to a village .
37 . And ( they ) beached the boat at the shore of that village .
38 . When the Sunday day begun , the skipper went up to the village to receive the sacrament .
39 . And in that village was situated a church of Saint Mary .
40 . And he entered it to receive the sacrament .
41 . And after the Trisagion , all the people assembled at the baptistery , in order to cross themselves with the water of the holy one .
42 . And when the eyes of the skipper were opened , he saw Saint Mena brigthly ( or : clearly ) , riding a white horse and holding a hunting spear ( or : targeting a spear in flames ) .
43 . And when he saw ( that ) , he , in fear , approached the image of Saint Mary and shouted :
44 . " May it be your will , Saint Mary , save me , because I have committed sin . "
45 . And again Saint Mena revealed himself and said to him :
46 . " What am I to do with you today ?
47 . It is because my Lord’s will that I came . "
48 . And when the Saint took that man and kicked him in the head , the egg , this one which he ate , suddenly became a living chicken , and came out from under him , stood up and at once squawked .
49 . And Saint Mena , sitting on the horse , grasped the chicken by its two wings , took it up and said :
50 . " For this I came , this I gave birth . " ( ? )
51 . And Saint Mena went to the house of that woman , knocked on the door and called ( for her ) :
52 . And that woman came running and opened the door .
53 . And the Saint said to her :
54 . " Woman , take this chicken and place it among your chickens so that they may give birth for you .
55 . And also you , oh woman , when you give birth to a son , call his name Mena .
56 . Also your servant-girls will give birth , and so will your cows .
57 . And you , oh woman , receive baptism for remission of your sins .
58 . And having said that , the Saint at once disappeared ( ? ) .
59 . And when the woman place the chicken among her chickens , they at one started giving birth , the servantgirls , and so did the cows .
60 . And also she , ( that ) woman , became pregnant and gave birth offspring , i . e . , a son .
61 . And she called his name Mena , according as the Saint had said to her .
62 . And also her servant-girls became pregnant and gave birth to sons and daughters .
63 . And that woman , when the days of her sickness had passed , went to the church of Saint Mena in Mareotes .
64 . And when she came into the holy church , she begged the priest to baptize her .
65 . And the priest took them , prayed for them and baptized her , her husband , her son , and her servants in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost .
66 . And thus they became Christians , and so they remained all the days of their life .
67 . And being servants of the church of Saint Mena , they made their offering to the church until their death .
68 . And all who saw this great miracle or listened ( about it ) , gave glory to God and Saint Mena , whose is the glory and the power , now and forever , unto the times of the ages . Amen .
o . A miracle which Saint Mena , the Martyr of Christ , performed . In God’s love , Amen .
1 . Beloved !
2 . A woman lived in a village , in the region of Alexandria .
3 . And she , being infertile , could give birth neither a son nor a daughter .
4 . She had a lot of perishable wealth .
5 . But she did not have a heir .
6 . And because of this ( , knowing that ? ) she was ashamed , in her heart .
7 . And all who lived in her house were also infertile : the servantgirls , the cows and even the chickens .
8 . And one day , she hears how Christian women ( or : shepards ) tell about the miracles which they performe in the church of Saint Mena in Mareotes , and she said to herself :
9 . " Here it is , truly , if the God of Saint Mena made one of my chickens give birth , I will donate to his church the egg that it has first laid . "
10 . When many a day passed , one of the chickens became pregnant and gave birth offspring , i . e . , one egg .
11 . And that woman went down to the river with a servant-girl , in order to find a boat and take that egg to the church of Saint Mena located in Mareotes .
12 . And finding a boat ready ( or : loaded ) to go to Philoxenite , the woman said to the skipper : " Greetings , father skipper . "
13 . And he said : " Greetings to you too . "
14 . And the woman said : " Truly , when everything is ready , where will you go ? " ( or : " Truly , when you depart from here , where will you go ? " ) .
15 . The skipper said : " Truly , if the Lord guide me , I am going to Philoxenite . "
16 . And the woman said : " If you have mercy on me , do me a favor and take me with you to Philoxenite . "
17 . The skipper said : " What do you want there ? "
18 . The woman said : " I am going to the church of Saint Mena . "
19 . And the skipper said : " But a heathen like you , what will you do in the church ? "
20 . The woman said : " I will bring this egg to that church , in order that the God of Saint Mena may give me fertility ( or : offspring ) . "
21 . " Truly , if I give birth , I shall become Christian ! "
22 . The skipper said : " Woman , do not be anxious ! "
23 . " Do not be anxious , and give me that ( or : your ) egg . "
24 . " For I will take it away . "
25 . And you return to your house , so that your husband will not fear for you .
26 . And the woman believed and placed the egg in his hand .
27 . And she returned to her house , with her servant-girl .
28 . And the skipper took the egg , placed it within the hold [ of the boat ] and set it among the rest of the provisions for the trip to Philoxenite .
29 . When many a day passed , he came to the shore of Philoxenite .
30 . But the man forgot about the egg and returned to the place from where he departed .
31 . And one day , the skipper saw within the hold of the boat among the rest of the provisions that egg , this one which he had placed and forgotten , he said to his son :
32 . " Oh boy , where does this egg come from ? "
33 . And he said : " Father , you remember , a woman gave it to us , in order to take it away to the church of Saint Mena . "
34 . And the father said to the son : " Oh , indeed . Cook it and bring it to me so that I may eat it . "
35 . And when his son cooked and placed it before him , he took it and ate it .
36 . When the days of three months had gone by , they came to a village .
37 . And ( they ) beached the boat at the shore of that village .
38 . When the Sunday day begun , the skipper went up to the village to receive the sacrament .
39 . And in that village was situated a church of Saint Mary .
40 . And he entered it to receive the sacrament .
41 . And after the Trisagion , all the people assembled at the baptistery , in order to cross themselves with the water of the holy one .
42 . And when the eyes of the skipper were opened , he saw Saint Mena brigthly ( or : clearly ) , riding a white horse and holding a hunting spear ( or : targeting a spear in flames ) .
43 . And when he saw ( that ) , he , in fear , approached the image of Saint Mary and shouted :
44 . " May it be your will , Saint Mary , save me , because I have committed sin . "
45 . And again Saint Mena revealed himself and said to him :
46 . " What am I to do with you today ?
47 . It is because my Lord’s will that I came . "
48 . And when the Saint took that man and kicked him in the head , the egg , this one which he ate , suddenly became a living chicken , and came out from under him , stood up and at once squawked .
49 . And Saint Mena , sitting on the horse , grasped the chicken by its two wings , took it up and said :
50 . " For this I came , this I gave birth . " ( ? )
51 . And Saint Mena went to the house of that woman , knocked on the door and called ( for her ) :
52 . And that woman came running and opened the door .
53 . And the Saint said to her :
54 . " Woman , take this chicken and place it among your chickens so that they may give birth for you .
55 . And also you , oh woman , when you give birth to a son , call his name Mena .
56 . Also your servant-girls will give birth , and so will your cows .
57 . And you , oh woman , receive baptism for remission of your sins .
58 . And having said that , the Saint at once disappeared ( ? ) .
59 . And when the woman place the chicken among her chickens , they at one started giving birth , the servantgirls , and so did the cows .
60 . And also she , ( that ) woman , became pregnant and gave birth offspring , i . e . , a son .
61 . And she called his name Mena , according as the Saint had said to her .
62 . And also her servant-girls became pregnant and gave birth to sons and daughters .
63 . And that woman , when the days of her sickness had passed , went to the church of Saint Mena in Mareotes .
64 . And when she came into the holy church , she begged the priest to baptize her .
65 . And the priest took them , prayed for them and baptized her , her husband , her son , and her servants in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost .
66 . And thus they became Christians , and so they remained all the days of their life .
67 . And being servants of the church of Saint Mena , they made their offering to the church until their death .
68 . And all who saw this great miracle or listened ( about it ) , gave glory to God and Saint Mena , whose is the glory and the power , now and forever , unto the times of the ages . Amen .
Bacchae 1-9
/
(homework.)
Ἑλληνική Transliterate
English
ἥκω Διὸς παῖς τήνδε Θηβαίων χθόνα
Διόνυσος , ὃν τίκτει ποθ᾽ ἡ Κάδμου κόρη
Σεμέλη λοχευθεῖσ᾽ ἀστραπηφόρῳ πυρί :
μορφὴν δ᾽ ἀμείψας ἐκ θεοῦ βροτησίαν
πάρειμι Δίρκης νάματ᾽ Ἰσμηνοῦ θ᾽ ὕδωρ . 5
ὁρῶ δὲ μητρὸς μνῆμα τῆς κεραυνίας
τόδ᾽ ἐγγὺς οἴκων καὶ δόμων ἐρείπια
τυφόμενα Δίου πυρὸς ἔτι ζῶσαν φλόγα ,
ἀθάνατον Ἥρας μητέρ᾽ εἰς ἐμὴν ὕβριν .
Διόνυσος , ὃν τίκτει ποθ᾽ ἡ Κάδμου κόρη
Σεμέλη λοχευθεῖσ᾽ ἀστραπηφόρῳ πυρί :
μορφὴν δ᾽ ἀμείψας ἐκ θεοῦ βροτησίαν
πάρειμι Δίρκης νάματ᾽ Ἰσμηνοῦ θ᾽ ὕδωρ . 5
ὁρῶ δὲ μητρὸς μνῆμα τῆς κεραυνίας
τόδ᾽ ἐγγὺς οἴκων καὶ δόμων ἐρείπια
τυφόμενα Δίου πυρὸς ἔτι ζῶσαν φλόγα ,
ἀθάνατον Ἥρας μητέρ᾽ εἰς ἐμὴν ὕβριν .
I’ve
arrived
here
in
the
land
of
Thebes
,
I , Dionysus , son of Zeus , born to him
from Semele , Cadmus’ daughter , delivered
by a fiery midwife — Zeus’s lightning flash .
Yes , I’ve changed my form from god to human ,
appearing here at these streams of Dirce ,
the waters of Ismarus . I see my mother’s tomb —
for she was wiped out by that lightning bolt .
It’s there , by the palace , with that rubble ,
the remnants of her house , still smoldering
from Zeus’s living fire — Hera’s undying outrage
against my mother .
I , Dionysus , son of Zeus , born to him
from Semele , Cadmus’ daughter , delivered
by a fiery midwife — Zeus’s lightning flash .
Yes , I’ve changed my form from god to human ,
appearing here at these streams of Dirce ,
the waters of Ismarus . I see my mother’s tomb —
for she was wiped out by that lightning bolt .
It’s there , by the palace , with that rubble ,
the remnants of her house , still smoldering
from Zeus’s living fire — Hera’s undying outrage
against my mother .
Bacchae 13-22
/
Ἑλληνική Transliterate
English
λιπὼν δὲ Λυδῶν τοὺς πολυχρύσους γύας
Φρυγῶν τε , Περσῶν θ᾽ ἡλιοβλήτους πλάκας
15 Βάκτριά τε τείχη τήν τε δύσχιμον χθόνα
Μήδων ἐπελθὼν Ἀραβίαν τ᾽ εὐδαίμονα
Ἀσίαν τε πᾶσαν , ἣ παρ᾽ ἁλμυρὰν ἅλα
κεῖται μιγάσιν Ἕλλησι βαρβάροις θ᾽ ὁμοῦ
πλήρεις ἔχουσα καλλιπυργώτους πόλεις ,
20 ἐς τήνδε πρῶτον ἦλθον Ἑλλήνων πόλιν ,
τἀκεῖ χορεύσας καὶ καταστήσας ἐμὰς
τελετάς , ἵν᾽ εἴην ἐμφανὴς δαίμων βροτοῖς .
Φρυγῶν τε , Περσῶν θ᾽ ἡλιοβλήτους πλάκας
15 Βάκτριά τε τείχη τήν τε δύσχιμον χθόνα
Μήδων ἐπελθὼν Ἀραβίαν τ᾽ εὐδαίμονα
Ἀσίαν τε πᾶσαν , ἣ παρ᾽ ἁλμυρὰν ἅλα
κεῖται μιγάσιν Ἕλλησι βαρβάροις θ᾽ ὁμοῦ
πλήρεις ἔχουσα καλλιπυργώτους πόλεις ,
20 ἐς τήνδε πρῶτον ἦλθον Ἑλλήνων πόλιν ,
τἀκεῖ χορεύσας καὶ καταστήσας ἐμὰς
τελετάς , ἵν᾽ εἴην ἐμφανὴς δαίμων βροτοῖς .
I’ve
left
the
fabulously
wealthy
East
,
lands of Lydians and Phrygians ,
Persia’s sun-drenched plains , walled towns in Bactria .
I’ve moved across the bleak lands of the Medes ,
through rich Arabia , all Asian lands ,
along the salt-sea coast , through those towns
with their beautifully constructed towers ,
full of barbarians and Greeks all intermingled .
Now I’ve come to Thebes , city of Greeks ,
only after I’ve set those eastern lands
dancing in the mysteries I established ,
making known to men my own divinity .
lands of Lydians and Phrygians ,
Persia’s sun-drenched plains , walled towns in Bactria .
I’ve moved across the bleak lands of the Medes ,
through rich Arabia , all Asian lands ,
along the salt-sea coast , through those towns
with their beautifully constructed towers ,
full of barbarians and Greeks all intermingled .
Now I’ve come to Thebes , city of Greeks ,
only after I’ve set those eastern lands
dancing in the mysteries I established ,
making known to men my own divinity .
Beard neopos 4
/
Latin
English
Hac pugna pugnata Romam profectus est nullo resistente . In propinquis urbi montibus moratus est . Cum aliquot ibi dies castra habuisset et Capuam reverteretur , Q . Fabius Maximus , dictator Romanus , in agro Falerno ei se obiecit . Hic clausus locorum angustiis noctu sine ullo detrimento exercitus se expedivit ; Fabioque , callidissimo imperatori , dedit verba . Namque obducta nocte sarmenta in cornibus iuvencorum deligata incendit et multitudinem magnam dispalatam immisit . Quo repentino obiecto visu tantum terrorem iniecit exercitui Romanorum , ut egredi extra vallum nemo sit ausus . Hanc post rem gestam non ita multis diebus M . Minucium Rufum , magistrum equitum pari dictatorem imperio , dolo productum in proelium fugavit . M . Claudium Marcellum , V consulem , apud Venusiam pari modo interfecit . Longum est omnia enumerare proelia . Quare hoc unum satis erit dictum , ex quo intellegi possit , quantus ille fuerit : quamdiu in Italia fuit , nemo ei in acie restitit , nemo adversus eum post Cannensem pugnam in campo castra posuit .
With
this
fight
having
been
fought
,
he
set
out
for
Roman
with
no
one
resisting
.
He
has
been
delayed
in
the
mountains
close
to
the
city
.
When
he
had
held
camp
there
for
so
many
days
and
was
being
turned
back
to
Capua
,
Quintus
Fabius
Maximus
,
the
Roman
dictator
,
threw
himself
against
him
in
the
Falerian
field
.
He
,
having
been
closed
off
by
the
narrowness
of
the
terrain
,
extracted
himself
at
night
without
any
harm
of
his
army
,
and
he
tricked
Fabius
,
the
cleverest
commander
.
For
,
with
night
having
been
led
in
,
he
lit
on
bundles
of
sticks
,
having
been
tied
on
the
horns
of
cattle
,
on
fire
,
and
sent
down
a
great
multitude
having
been
scattered
.
With
this
sudden
sight
having
been
thrown
in
,
he
threw
in
such
great
terror
to
the
army
of
the
Romans
with
the
result
that
no
one
dared
to
go
outside
of
the
intrenchment
.
After
this
thing
having
been
done
,
in
not
so
many
days
,
he
routed
Marcus
Minucius
Rufus
,
the
commander
of
Master
of
the
Horse
with
equal
power
,
having
been
led
into
a
battle
by
a
trick
.
He
killed
Marcus
Claudius
Marcellus
,
consul
for
the
fifth
time
,
at
Venusia
in
a
similar
way
.
It
would
take
a
long
time
to
count
his
battles
.
For
this
reason
,
this
alone
will
be
enough
to
have
been
said
,
from
what
is
able
to
be
known
,
about
how
great
he
was
:
As
long
as
he
was
in
Italy
,
no
one
resisted
him
in
the
battle
lines
,
no
one
set
up
camps
in
the
battle
field
against
him
after
the
Battle
of
Cannae
.
Johnny Cardarelli Nepos 4
/
Latin
English
Hac pugna pugnata Romam profectus est nullo resistente . In propinquis urbi montibus moratus est . Cum aliquot ibi dies castra habuisset et Capuam reverteretur , Q . Fabius Maximus , dictator Romanus , in agro Falerno ei se obiecit . Hic clausus locorum angustiis noctu sine ullo detrimento exercitus se expedivit ; Fabioque , callidissimo imperatori , dedit verba . Namque obducta nocte sarmenta in cornibus iuvencorum deligata incendit et multitudinem magnam dispalatam immisit . Quo repentino obiecto visu tantum terrorem iniecit exercitui Romanorum , ut egredi extra vallum nemo sit ausus . Hanc post rem gestam non ita multis diebus M . Minucium Rufum , magistrum equitum pari dictatorem imperio , dolo productum in proelium fugavit . M . Claudium Marcellum , V consulem , apud Venusiam pari modo interfecit . Longum est omnia enumerare proelia . Quare hoc unum satis erit dictum , ex quo intellegi possit , quantus ille fuerit : quamdiu in Italia fuit , nemo ei in acie restitit , nemo adversus eum post Cannensem pugnam in campo castra posuit .
With
this
fight
having
been
fought
,
he
set
out
for
Roman
with
no
one
resisting
.
He
has
been
delayed
in
the
mountains
close
to
the
city
.
When
he
had
held
camp
there
for
so
many
days
and
was
being
turned
back
to
Capua
,
Quintus
Fabius
Maximus
,
the
Roman
dictator
,
threw
himself
against
him
in
the
Falerian
field
.
He
,
having
been
closed
off
by
the
narrowness
of
the
terrain
,
extracted
himself
at
night
without
any
harm
of
his
army
,
and
he
tricked
Fabius
,
the
cleverest
commander
.
For
,
with
night
having
been
led
in
,
he
lit
on
bundles
of
sticks
,
having
been
tied
on
the
horns
of
cattle
,
on
fire
,
and
sent
down
a
great
multitude
having
been
scattered
.
With
this
sudden
sight
having
been
thrown
in
,
he
threw
in
such
great
terror
to
the
army
of
the
Romans
with
the
result
that
no
one
dared
to
go
outside
of
the
intrenchment
.
After
this
thing
having
been
done
,
in
not
so
many
days
,
he
routed
Marcus
Minucius
Rufus
,
the
commander
of
Master
of
the
Horse
with
equal
power
,
having
been
led
into
a
battle
by
a
trick
.
He
killed
Marcus
Claudius
Marcellus
,
consul
for
the
fifth
time
,
at
Venusia
in
a
similar
way
.
It
would
take
a
long
time
to
count
his
battles
.
For
this
reason
,
this
alone
will
be
enough
to
have
been
said
,
from
what
is
able
to
be
known
,
about
how
great
he
was
:
As
long
as
he
was
in
Italy
,
no
one
resisted
him
in
the
battle
lines
,
no
one
set
up
camps
in
the
battle
field
against
him
after
the
Battle
of
Cannae
.
Paragraph 4- Thomas Bruen
/
Latin
English
Hac pugna pugnata Romam profectus est nullo resistente . In propinquis urbi montibus moratus est . Cum aliquot ibi dies castra habuisset et Capuam reverteretur , Q . Fabius Maximus , dictator Romanus , in agro Falerno ei se obiecit . Hic clausus locorum angustiis noctu sine ullo detrimento exercitus se expedivit ; Fabioque , callidissimo imperatori , dedit verba . Namque obducta nocte sarmenta in cornibus iuvencorum deligata incendit et multitudinem magnam dispalatam immisit . Quo repentino obiecto visu tantum terrorem iniecit exercitui Romanorum , ut egredi extra vallum nemo sit ausus . Hanc post rem gestam non ita multis diebus M . Minucium Rufum , magistrum equitum pari dictatorem imperio , dolo productum in proelium fugavit . M . Claudium Marcellum , V consulem , apud Venusiam pari modo interfecit . Longum est omnia enumerare proelia . Quare hoc unum satis erit dictum , ex quo intellegi possit , quantus ille fuerit : quamdiu in Italia fuit , nemo ei in acie restitit , nemo adversus eum post Cannensem pugnam in campo castra posuit .
With
this
fight
having
been
fought
,
he
set
out
for
Roman
with
no
one
resisting
.
He
has
been
delayed
in
the
mountains
close
to
the
city
.
When
he
had
held
camp
there
for
so
many
days
and
was
being
turned
back
to
Capua
,
Quintus
Fabius
Maximus
,
the
Roman
dictator
,
threw
himself
against
him
in
the
Falerian
field
.
He
,
having
been
closed
off
by
the
narrowness
of
the
terrain
,
extracted
himself
at
night
without
any
harm
of
his
army
,
and
he
tricked
Fabius
,
the
cleverest
commander
.
For
,
with
night
having
been
led
in
,
he
lit
on
bundles
of
sticks
,
having
been
tied
on
the
horns
of
cattle
,
on
fire
,
and
sent
down
a
great
multitude
having
been
scattered
.
With
this
sudden
sight
having
been
thrown
in
,
he
threw
in
such
great
terror
to
the
army
of
the
Romans
with
the
result
that
no
one
dared
to
go
outside
of
the
intrenchment
.
After
this
thing
having
been
done
,
in
not
so
many
days
,
he
routed
Marcus
Minucius
Rufus
,
the
commander
of
Master
of
the
Horse
with
equal
power
,
having
been
led
into
a
battle
by
a
trick
.
He
killed
Marcus
Claudius
Marcellus
,
consul
for
the
fifth
time
,
at
Venusia
in
a
similar
way
.
It
would
take
a
long
time
to
count
his
battles
.
For
this
reason
,
this
alone
will
be
enough
to
have
been
said
,
from
what
is
able
to
be
known
,
about
how
great
he
was
:
As
long
as
he
was
in
Italy
,
no
one
resisted
him
in
the
battle
lines
,
no
one
set
up
camps
in
the
battle
field
against
him
after
the
Battle
of
Cannae
.
Iblis and Zahhak
/
Ainu
Ainu
The Story of Zahhadk and his Father
One of the desert spear-armed Bedouins
Of noble birth then lived a virtuous king ,
Just , highborn , generous , and hight Mardas ,
Who sought his God with reverence and sighs ,
He kept a thousand head of all milch cattle ,
Goats , camels , sheep , and kine—a gentle breed—
With Arab steeds , all timid beauties they ,
And grudged the milk to none . He had a son
Whom much he loved—Zahhak , a gallant prince ,
But hasty . People called him Biwarasp .
Ten thousand is " biwar " in ancient Persian ,
And he possessed ten thousand Arab steeds
With golden equipage—a famous stud .
Most of his days and nights he spent on horseback
[ p . 136 ]
Engaged in superintendence not in war .
One day Iblis approached him as a friend
And led his wits astray . The youth gave ear
With pleasure and all unsuspectingly
Gave to Iblis heart , reason , and pure soul ,
And heaped the dust on his own head . Iblis
Exulted seeing that the youth was snared
And gulled the simpleton with specious words ,
Thus saying : " I could tell thee many things
Known to myself alone . "
The youth made answer : —
" Tell me at once , my worthy monitor ! "
Iblis replied : " First promise , then my story . "
The guileless youth swore as Iblis dictated : —
" Thy secret shall be kept , thy bidding done . "
Then said Iblis : " Great prince ! shall any rule
Here but thyself ? What profiteth a sire
With such a son ? Now hearken to my rede :
The lifetime of this ancient potentate
Continueth , thou art shelved . Seize on his court
And goods . His place will suit thee , thou shalt be
King of the world if thou durst do my bidding . "
Zahhak looked grave ; to shed his sire ' s blood grieved him .
He said : " Not so , suggest some other course :
This cannot be . "
" Then thou , " Iblis rejoined ,
" Art perjured and wilt still be despicable ,
Thy father honoured . "
Thus he snared the Arab ,
Who asked : " What must I do ? I will obey . "
Iblis replied : " Leave me to scheme . Thy head
Shall touch the sun . I only ask thy silence ;
No help need I , myself am competent ,
But keep the sword of speech within the scabbard . "
[ p . 137 ]
Now in the palace was a jocund garth ,
And thither used Mardas to go at dawn
To bathe him ere he prayed , without a slave
To light him on his way . The wicked Div ,
Intent on ill , dug in the garden-path
< milestone unit= " vullers " n= " 30 " / >
A deep pit , masked and made it good with boughs .
Ere dawn the Arab chieftain hied him thither
And , as he reached the pit , his fortunes fell ;
That good man tumbled , broke his back , and died .
He ne ' er had breathed a cold breath on his son ,
But cherished him and lavished treasure on him ,
Yet that abandoned youth respected not
His father , but conspired to shed his blood .
I heard a sage once say : " Though fierce in strife
No son will dare to take his father ' s life ;
If such a crime should seem to be implied ,
Seek for the reason on the mother ' s side . "
Vile and unjust Zahhak thus seized the throne ,
Assumed the Arabs ' crown and governed them
For good or ill .
Iblis encouraged thus
Began again and said : " Since Thou hast turned
To me , and gained thy heart ' s desire , come pledge me
Thy word once more to do as I require ;
And then thy realm shall spread throughout the world ,
Birds , beasts , and fishes shall be all thine own . "
When this was said he set about to use ,
Most marvellous ! another kind of ruse . < /div >
One of the desert spear-armed Bedouins
Of noble birth then lived a virtuous king ,
Just , highborn , generous , and hight Mardas ,
Who sought his God with reverence and sighs ,
He kept a thousand head of all milch cattle ,
Goats , camels , sheep , and kine—a gentle breed—
With Arab steeds , all timid beauties they ,
And grudged the milk to none . He had a son
Whom much he loved—Zahhak , a gallant prince ,
But hasty . People called him Biwarasp .
Ten thousand is " biwar " in ancient Persian ,
And he possessed ten thousand Arab steeds
With golden equipage—a famous stud .
Most of his days and nights he spent on horseback
[ p . 136 ]
Engaged in superintendence not in war .
One day Iblis approached him as a friend
And led his wits astray . The youth gave ear
With pleasure and all unsuspectingly
Gave to Iblis heart , reason , and pure soul ,
And heaped the dust on his own head . Iblis
Exulted seeing that the youth was snared
And gulled the simpleton with specious words ,
Thus saying : " I could tell thee many things
Known to myself alone . "
The youth made answer : —
" Tell me at once , my worthy monitor ! "
Iblis replied : " First promise , then my story . "
The guileless youth swore as Iblis dictated : —
" Thy secret shall be kept , thy bidding done . "
Then said Iblis : " Great prince ! shall any rule
Here but thyself ? What profiteth a sire
With such a son ? Now hearken to my rede :
The lifetime of this ancient potentate
Continueth , thou art shelved . Seize on his court
And goods . His place will suit thee , thou shalt be
King of the world if thou durst do my bidding . "
Zahhak looked grave ; to shed his sire ' s blood grieved him .
He said : " Not so , suggest some other course :
This cannot be . "
" Then thou , " Iblis rejoined ,
" Art perjured and wilt still be despicable ,
Thy father honoured . "
Thus he snared the Arab ,
Who asked : " What must I do ? I will obey . "
Iblis replied : " Leave me to scheme . Thy head
Shall touch the sun . I only ask thy silence ;
No help need I , myself am competent ,
But keep the sword of speech within the scabbard . "
[ p . 137 ]
Now in the palace was a jocund garth ,
And thither used Mardas to go at dawn
To bathe him ere he prayed , without a slave
To light him on his way . The wicked Div ,
Intent on ill , dug in the garden-path
< milestone unit= " vullers " n= " 30 " / >
A deep pit , masked and made it good with boughs .
Ere dawn the Arab chieftain hied him thither
And , as he reached the pit , his fortunes fell ;
That good man tumbled , broke his back , and died .
He ne ' er had breathed a cold breath on his son ,
But cherished him and lavished treasure on him ,
Yet that abandoned youth respected not
His father , but conspired to shed his blood .
I heard a sage once say : " Though fierce in strife
No son will dare to take his father ' s life ;
If such a crime should seem to be implied ,
Seek for the reason on the mother ' s side . "
Vile and unjust Zahhak thus seized the throne ,
Assumed the Arabs ' crown and governed them
For good or ill .
Iblis encouraged thus
Began again and said : " Since Thou hast turned
To me , and gained thy heart ' s desire , come pledge me
Thy word once more to do as I require ;
And then thy realm shall spread throughout the world ,
Birds , beasts , and fishes shall be all thine own . "
When this was said he set about to use ,
Most marvellous ! another kind of ruse . < /div >
The
Tale
of
Merdas
and
His
Son
Zahhak
In those days , in the land of the Arabs , there was a good and fine king who sighed with fear before God . His name was Merdas , and he was a man of great generosity and justice .
Each of the herds he had entrusted to his shepherds numbered a thousand , whether of cows , or Arab horses , or goats , or milk-giving sheep , and he freely gave milk to anyone who needed it .
This righteous man had a son , whose character had very little kindness in it . He was an ambitious youth named Zahhak , brave , turbulent in his moods , and of an evil disposition . Everyone called him Bivarasp , a Pahlavi word meaning " ten thousand horses , " because he had ten thousand Arab horses , all with golden bridles . He spent most of his days and nights riding them , not into battle so much as to demonstrate his wealth and greatness .
One day at dawn Eblis appeared before Zahhak , presenting himself as a friendly well-wisher , and the youth was charmed by his conversation . Eblis said , " First I want your promise that our talk will be confidential , and then I will tell you what I have to say . " The young man greeted him kindly , and answered , " I will tell no one about anything I hear from you . "
Eblis said , " Listen to my advice . No one but you should be in charge here ; with a son like you , why should an old , worn-out father go on ruling for so long ? Take his place , you’re the person best fitted for his position . If you listen to my advice , you will be the ruler of the world . " Zahhak heard him out and considered his words , but the thought of shedding his father’s blood troubled his heart . He said , " This is wrong ; give me different advice , this is not something I can do . " Eblis said , " If you don’t follow my advice , you’re breaking your promise ; you’ll stay as a wretched subject and your father will stay as ruler . "
And so he led the Arab into his trap , and Zahhak decided to obey him . He said , " Tell me how to do it , what’s the best way to accomplish this ? Don’t make excuses now . " Eblis replied , " I will take care of how it’s to be done ; Your head will rise in heaven , like the sun . " King Merdas owned a fine orchard , and he would go there in the dawn’s darkness , to wash his head and body , and to pray . The servant who accompanied him did not bring a lamp .
Eblis dug a deep pit there , and when the Arab king arrived in the orchard the next morning he fell into the pit and broke his back . The reverent man’s good fortune was at an end , and his life departed . Then Eblis filled the pit in with soil and went on his way . This noble king had taken pains to bring up his son in comfort ; he had rejoiced in him and given him wealth . But his evil offspring broke faith with him and became complicit in his father’s murder .
I heard a wise man say that , no matter how much of a savage lion a man might be , he does not shed his father’s blood , and if there is some untold secret here , it is the mother who can answer an inquirer’s questions .
In this way the willful , unjust Zahhak seized his father’s throne , placed the Arab crown on his head , and became the dispenser of largess and punishments to his people . When Eblis saw how effective his words had been , he gave some new evil advice . He said to Zahhak , " If you do my will , I will give you all you could wish from the world . Follow my orders and you will be king of the earth ; its animals , men , birds , and fish will all be yours . "
In those days , in the land of the Arabs , there was a good and fine king who sighed with fear before God . His name was Merdas , and he was a man of great generosity and justice .
Each of the herds he had entrusted to his shepherds numbered a thousand , whether of cows , or Arab horses , or goats , or milk-giving sheep , and he freely gave milk to anyone who needed it .
This righteous man had a son , whose character had very little kindness in it . He was an ambitious youth named Zahhak , brave , turbulent in his moods , and of an evil disposition . Everyone called him Bivarasp , a Pahlavi word meaning " ten thousand horses , " because he had ten thousand Arab horses , all with golden bridles . He spent most of his days and nights riding them , not into battle so much as to demonstrate his wealth and greatness .
One day at dawn Eblis appeared before Zahhak , presenting himself as a friendly well-wisher , and the youth was charmed by his conversation . Eblis said , " First I want your promise that our talk will be confidential , and then I will tell you what I have to say . " The young man greeted him kindly , and answered , " I will tell no one about anything I hear from you . "
Eblis said , " Listen to my advice . No one but you should be in charge here ; with a son like you , why should an old , worn-out father go on ruling for so long ? Take his place , you’re the person best fitted for his position . If you listen to my advice , you will be the ruler of the world . " Zahhak heard him out and considered his words , but the thought of shedding his father’s blood troubled his heart . He said , " This is wrong ; give me different advice , this is not something I can do . " Eblis said , " If you don’t follow my advice , you’re breaking your promise ; you’ll stay as a wretched subject and your father will stay as ruler . "
And so he led the Arab into his trap , and Zahhak decided to obey him . He said , " Tell me how to do it , what’s the best way to accomplish this ? Don’t make excuses now . " Eblis replied , " I will take care of how it’s to be done ; Your head will rise in heaven , like the sun . " King Merdas owned a fine orchard , and he would go there in the dawn’s darkness , to wash his head and body , and to pray . The servant who accompanied him did not bring a lamp .
Eblis dug a deep pit there , and when the Arab king arrived in the orchard the next morning he fell into the pit and broke his back . The reverent man’s good fortune was at an end , and his life departed . Then Eblis filled the pit in with soil and went on his way . This noble king had taken pains to bring up his son in comfort ; he had rejoiced in him and given him wealth . But his evil offspring broke faith with him and became complicit in his father’s murder .
I heard a wise man say that , no matter how much of a savage lion a man might be , he does not shed his father’s blood , and if there is some untold secret here , it is the mother who can answer an inquirer’s questions .
In this way the willful , unjust Zahhak seized his father’s throne , placed the Arab crown on his head , and became the dispenser of largess and punishments to his people . When Eblis saw how effective his words had been , he gave some new evil advice . He said to Zahhak , " If you do my will , I will give you all you could wish from the world . Follow my orders and you will be king of the earth ; its animals , men , birds , and fish will all be yours . "
Tale 2
/
English
English
One of the desert spear-armed Bedouins
Of noble birth then lived a virtuous king ,
Just , highborn , generous , and hight Mardas ,
Who sought his God with reverence and sighs ,
He kept a thousand head of all milch cattle ,
Goats , camels , sheep , and kine—a gentle breed—
With Arab steeds , all timid beauties they ,
And grudged the milk to none . He had a son
Whom much he loved—Zahhak , a gallant prince ,
But hasty . People called him Biwarasp .
Ten thousand is " biwar " in ancient Persian ,
And he possessed ten thousand Arab steeds
With golden equipage—a famous stud .
Most of his days and nights he spent on horseback
[ p . 136 ]
Engaged in superintendence not in war .
One day Iblis approached him as a friend
And led his wits astray . The youth gave ear
With pleasure and all unsuspectingly
Gave to Iblis heart , reason , and pure soul ,
And heaped the dust on his own head . Iblis
Exulted seeing that the youth was snared
And gulled the simpleton with specious words ,
Thus saying : " I could tell thee many things
Known to myself alone . "
The youth made answer : —
" Tell me at once , my worthy monitor ! "
Iblis replied : " First promise , then my story . "
The guileless youth swore as Iblis dictated : —
" Thy secret shall be kept , thy bidding done . "
Then said Iblis : " Great prince ! shall any rule
Here but thyself ? What profiteth a sire
With such a son ? Now hearken to my rede :
The lifetime of this ancient potentate
Continueth , thou art shelved . Seize on his court
And goods . His place will suit thee , thou shalt be
King of the world if thou durst do my bidding . "
Zahhak looked grave ; to shed his sire ' s blood grieved him .
He said : " Not so , suggest some other course :
This cannot be . "
" Then thou , " Iblis rejoined ,
" Art perjured and wilt still be despicable ,
Thy father honoured . "
Thus he snared the Arab ,
Who asked : " What must I do ? I will obey . "
Iblis replied : " Leave me to scheme . Thy head
Shall touch the sun . I only ask thy silence ;
No help need I , myself am competent ,
But keep the sword of speech within the scabbard . "
[ p . 137 ]
Now in the palace was a jocund garth ,
And thither used Mardas to go at dawn
To bathe him ere he prayed , without a slave
To light him on his way . The wicked Div ,
Intent on ill , dug in the garden-path
< milestone unit= " vullers " n= " 30 " / >
A deep pit , masked and made it good with boughs .
Ere dawn the Arab chieftain hied him thither
And , as he reached the pit , his fortunes fell ;
That good man tumbled , broke his back , and died .
He ne ' er had breathed a cold breath on his son ,
But cherished him and lavished treasure on him ,
Yet that abandoned youth respected not
His father , but conspired to shed his blood .
I heard a sage once say : " Though fierce in strife
No son will dare to take his father ' s life ;
If such a crime should seem to be implied ,
Seek for the reason on the mother ' s side . "
Vile and unjust Zahhak thus seized the throne ,
Assumed the Arabs ' crown and governed them
For good or ill .
Iblis encouraged thus
Began again and said : " Since Thou hast turned
To me , and gained thy heart ' s desire , come pledge me
Thy word once more to do as I require ;
And then thy realm shall spread throughout the world ,
Birds , beasts , and fishes shall be all thine own . "
When this was said he set about to use ,
Most marvellous ! another kind of ruse
Of noble birth then lived a virtuous king ,
Just , highborn , generous , and hight Mardas ,
Who sought his God with reverence and sighs ,
He kept a thousand head of all milch cattle ,
Goats , camels , sheep , and kine—a gentle breed—
With Arab steeds , all timid beauties they ,
And grudged the milk to none . He had a son
Whom much he loved—Zahhak , a gallant prince ,
But hasty . People called him Biwarasp .
Ten thousand is " biwar " in ancient Persian ,
And he possessed ten thousand Arab steeds
With golden equipage—a famous stud .
Most of his days and nights he spent on horseback
[ p . 136 ]
Engaged in superintendence not in war .
One day Iblis approached him as a friend
And led his wits astray . The youth gave ear
With pleasure and all unsuspectingly
Gave to Iblis heart , reason , and pure soul ,
And heaped the dust on his own head . Iblis
Exulted seeing that the youth was snared
And gulled the simpleton with specious words ,
Thus saying : " I could tell thee many things
Known to myself alone . "
The youth made answer : —
" Tell me at once , my worthy monitor ! "
Iblis replied : " First promise , then my story . "
The guileless youth swore as Iblis dictated : —
" Thy secret shall be kept , thy bidding done . "
Then said Iblis : " Great prince ! shall any rule
Here but thyself ? What profiteth a sire
With such a son ? Now hearken to my rede :
The lifetime of this ancient potentate
Continueth , thou art shelved . Seize on his court
And goods . His place will suit thee , thou shalt be
King of the world if thou durst do my bidding . "
Zahhak looked grave ; to shed his sire ' s blood grieved him .
He said : " Not so , suggest some other course :
This cannot be . "
" Then thou , " Iblis rejoined ,
" Art perjured and wilt still be despicable ,
Thy father honoured . "
Thus he snared the Arab ,
Who asked : " What must I do ? I will obey . "
Iblis replied : " Leave me to scheme . Thy head
Shall touch the sun . I only ask thy silence ;
No help need I , myself am competent ,
But keep the sword of speech within the scabbard . "
[ p . 137 ]
Now in the palace was a jocund garth ,
And thither used Mardas to go at dawn
To bathe him ere he prayed , without a slave
To light him on his way . The wicked Div ,
Intent on ill , dug in the garden-path
< milestone unit= " vullers " n= " 30 " / >
A deep pit , masked and made it good with boughs .
Ere dawn the Arab chieftain hied him thither
And , as he reached the pit , his fortunes fell ;
That good man tumbled , broke his back , and died .
He ne ' er had breathed a cold breath on his son ,
But cherished him and lavished treasure on him ,
Yet that abandoned youth respected not
His father , but conspired to shed his blood .
I heard a sage once say : " Though fierce in strife
No son will dare to take his father ' s life ;
If such a crime should seem to be implied ,
Seek for the reason on the mother ' s side . "
Vile and unjust Zahhak thus seized the throne ,
Assumed the Arabs ' crown and governed them
For good or ill .
Iblis encouraged thus
Began again and said : " Since Thou hast turned
To me , and gained thy heart ' s desire , come pledge me
Thy word once more to do as I require ;
And then thy realm shall spread throughout the world ,
Birds , beasts , and fishes shall be all thine own . "
When this was said he set about to use ,
Most marvellous ! another kind of ruse
In
those
days
,
in
the
land
of
the
Arabs
,
there
was
a
good
and
fine
king
who
sighed
with
fear
before
God
.
His
name
was
Merdas
,
and
he
was
a
man
of
great
generosity
and
justice
.
Each of the herds he had entrusted to his shepherds numbered a thousand , whether of cows , or Arab horses , or goats , or milk-giving sheep , and he freely gave milk to anyone who needed it .
This righteous man had a son , whose character had very little kindness in it . He was an ambitious youth named Zahhak , brave , turbulent in his moods , and of an evil disposition . Everyone called him Bivarasp , a Pahlavi word meaning " ten thousand horses , " because he had ten thousand Arab horses , all with golden bridles . He spent most of his days and nights riding them , not into battle so much as to demonstrate his wealth and greatness .
One day at dawn Eblis appeared before Zahhak , presenting himself as a friendly well-wisher , and the youth was charmed by his conversation . Eblis said , " First I want your promise that our talk will be confidential , and then I will tell you what I have to say . " The young man greeted him kindly , and answered , " I will tell no one about anything I hear from you . "
Eblis said , " Listen to my advice . No one but you should be in charge here ; with a son like you , why should an old , worn-out father go on ruling for so long ? Take his place , you’re the person best fitted for his position . If you listen to my advice , you will be the ruler of the world . " Zahhak heard him out and considered his words , but the thought of shedding his father’s blood troubled his heart . He said , " This is wrong ; give me different advice , this is not something I can do . " Eblis said , " If you don’t follow my advice , you’re breaking your promise ; you’ll stay as a wretched subject and your father will stay as ruler . "
And so he led the Arab into his trap , and Zahhak decided to obey him . He said , " Tell me how to do it , what’s the best way to accomplish this ? Don’t make excuses now . " Eblis replied , " I will take care of how it’s to be done ; Your head will rise in heaven , like the sun . " King Merdas owned a fine orchard , and he would go there in the dawn’s darkness , to wash his head and body , and to pray . The servant who accompanied him did not bring a lamp .
Eblis dug a deep pit there , and when the Arab king arrived in the orchard the next morning he fell into the pit and broke his back . The reverent man’s good fortune was at an end , and his life departed . Then Eblis filled the pit in with soil and went on his way . This noble king had taken pains to bring up his son in comfort ; he had rejoiced in him and given him wealth . But his evil offspring broke faith with him and became complicit in his father’s murder .
I heard a wise man say that , no matter how much of a savage lion a man might be , he does not shed his father’s blood , and if there is some untold secret here , it is the mother who can answer an inquirer’s questions .
In this way the willful , unjust Zahhak seized his father’s throne , placed the Arab crown on his head , and became the dispenser of largess and punishments to his people . When Eblis saw how effective his words had been , he gave some new evil advice . He said to Zahhak , " If you do my will , I will give you all you could wish from the world . Follow my orders and you will be king of the earth ; its animals , men , birds , and fish will all be yours . "
Each of the herds he had entrusted to his shepherds numbered a thousand , whether of cows , or Arab horses , or goats , or milk-giving sheep , and he freely gave milk to anyone who needed it .
This righteous man had a son , whose character had very little kindness in it . He was an ambitious youth named Zahhak , brave , turbulent in his moods , and of an evil disposition . Everyone called him Bivarasp , a Pahlavi word meaning " ten thousand horses , " because he had ten thousand Arab horses , all with golden bridles . He spent most of his days and nights riding them , not into battle so much as to demonstrate his wealth and greatness .
One day at dawn Eblis appeared before Zahhak , presenting himself as a friendly well-wisher , and the youth was charmed by his conversation . Eblis said , " First I want your promise that our talk will be confidential , and then I will tell you what I have to say . " The young man greeted him kindly , and answered , " I will tell no one about anything I hear from you . "
Eblis said , " Listen to my advice . No one but you should be in charge here ; with a son like you , why should an old , worn-out father go on ruling for so long ? Take his place , you’re the person best fitted for his position . If you listen to my advice , you will be the ruler of the world . " Zahhak heard him out and considered his words , but the thought of shedding his father’s blood troubled his heart . He said , " This is wrong ; give me different advice , this is not something I can do . " Eblis said , " If you don’t follow my advice , you’re breaking your promise ; you’ll stay as a wretched subject and your father will stay as ruler . "
And so he led the Arab into his trap , and Zahhak decided to obey him . He said , " Tell me how to do it , what’s the best way to accomplish this ? Don’t make excuses now . " Eblis replied , " I will take care of how it’s to be done ; Your head will rise in heaven , like the sun . " King Merdas owned a fine orchard , and he would go there in the dawn’s darkness , to wash his head and body , and to pray . The servant who accompanied him did not bring a lamp .
Eblis dug a deep pit there , and when the Arab king arrived in the orchard the next morning he fell into the pit and broke his back . The reverent man’s good fortune was at an end , and his life departed . Then Eblis filled the pit in with soil and went on his way . This noble king had taken pains to bring up his son in comfort ; he had rejoiced in him and given him wealth . But his evil offspring broke faith with him and became complicit in his father’s murder .
I heard a wise man say that , no matter how much of a savage lion a man might be , he does not shed his father’s blood , and if there is some untold secret here , it is the mother who can answer an inquirer’s questions .
In this way the willful , unjust Zahhak seized his father’s throne , placed the Arab crown on his head , and became the dispenser of largess and punishments to his people . When Eblis saw how effective his words had been , he gave some new evil advice . He said to Zahhak , " If you do my will , I will give you all you could wish from the world . Follow my orders and you will be king of the earth ; its animals , men , birds , and fish will all be yours . "
Iblis and Zahhak
/
English
English
The Story of Zahhak and his Father ( Warner )
One of the desert spear-armed Bedouins
Of noble birth then lived a virtuous king ,
Just , highborn , generous , and hight Mardas ,
Who sought his God with reverence and sighs ,
He kept a thousand head of all milch cattle ,
Goats , camels , sheep , and kine—a gentle breed—
With Arab steeds , all timid beauties they ,
And grudged the milk to none . He had a son
Whom much he loved—Zahhak , a gallant prince ,
But hasty . People called him Biwarasp .
Ten thousand is " biwar " in ancient Persian ,
And he possessed ten thousand Arab steeds
With golden equipage—a famous stud .
Most of his days and nights he spent on horseback
[ p . 136 ]
Engaged in superintendence not in war .
One day Iblis approached him as a friend
And led his wits astray . The youth gave ear
With pleasure and all unsuspectingly
Gave to Iblis heart , reason , and pure soul ,
And heaped the dust on his own head . Iblis
Exulted seeing that the youth was snared
And gulled the simpleton with specious words ,
Thus saying : " I could tell thee many things
Known to myself alone . "
The youth made answer : —
" Tell me at once , my worthy monitor ! "
Iblis replied : " First promise , then my story . "
The guileless youth swore as Iblis dictated : —
" Thy secret shall be kept , thy bidding done . "
Then said Iblis : " Great prince ! shall any rule
Here but thyself ? What profiteth a sire
With such a son ? Now hearken to my rede :
The lifetime of this ancient potentate
Continueth , thou art shelved . Seize on his court
And goods . His place will suit thee , thou shalt be
King of the world if thou durst do my bidding . "
Zahhak looked grave ; to shed his sire ' s blood grieved him .
He said : " Not so , suggest some other course :
This cannot be . "
" Then thou , " Iblis rejoined ,
" Art perjured and wilt still be despicable ,
Thy father honoured . "
Thus he snared the Arab ,
Who asked : " What must I do ? I will obey . "
Iblis replied : " Leave me to scheme . Thy head
Shall touch the sun . I only ask thy silence ;
No help need I , myself am competent ,
But keep the sword of speech within the scabbard . "
[ p . 137 ]
Now in the palace was a jocund garth ,
And thither used Mardas to go at dawn
To bathe him ere he prayed , without a slave
To light him on his way . The wicked Div ,
Intent on ill , dug in the garden-path
< milestone unit= " vullers " n= " 30 " / >
A deep pit , masked and made it good with boughs .
Ere dawn the Arab chieftain hied him thither
And , as he reached the pit , his fortunes fell ;
That good man tumbled , broke his back , and died .
He ne ' er had breathed a cold breath on his son ,
But cherished him and lavished treasure on him ,
Yet that abandoned youth respected not
His father , but conspired to shed his blood .
I heard a sage once say : " Though fierce in strife
No son will dare to take his father ' s life ;
If such a crime should seem to be implied ,
Seek for the reason on the mother ' s side . "
Vile and unjust Zahhak thus seized the throne ,
Assumed the Arabs ' crown and governed them
For good or ill .
Iblis encouraged thus
Began again and said : " Since Thou hast turned
To me , and gained thy heart ' s desire , come pledge me
Thy word once more to do as I require ;
And then thy realm shall spread throughout the world ,
Birds , beasts , and fishes shall be all thine own . "
When this was said he set about to use ,
Most marvellous ! another kind of ruse .
One of the desert spear-armed Bedouins
Of noble birth then lived a virtuous king ,
Just , highborn , generous , and hight Mardas ,
Who sought his God with reverence and sighs ,
He kept a thousand head of all milch cattle ,
Goats , camels , sheep , and kine—a gentle breed—
With Arab steeds , all timid beauties they ,
And grudged the milk to none . He had a son
Whom much he loved—Zahhak , a gallant prince ,
But hasty . People called him Biwarasp .
Ten thousand is " biwar " in ancient Persian ,
And he possessed ten thousand Arab steeds
With golden equipage—a famous stud .
Most of his days and nights he spent on horseback
[ p . 136 ]
Engaged in superintendence not in war .
One day Iblis approached him as a friend
And led his wits astray . The youth gave ear
With pleasure and all unsuspectingly
Gave to Iblis heart , reason , and pure soul ,
And heaped the dust on his own head . Iblis
Exulted seeing that the youth was snared
And gulled the simpleton with specious words ,
Thus saying : " I could tell thee many things
Known to myself alone . "
The youth made answer : —
" Tell me at once , my worthy monitor ! "
Iblis replied : " First promise , then my story . "
The guileless youth swore as Iblis dictated : —
" Thy secret shall be kept , thy bidding done . "
Then said Iblis : " Great prince ! shall any rule
Here but thyself ? What profiteth a sire
With such a son ? Now hearken to my rede :
The lifetime of this ancient potentate
Continueth , thou art shelved . Seize on his court
And goods . His place will suit thee , thou shalt be
King of the world if thou durst do my bidding . "
Zahhak looked grave ; to shed his sire ' s blood grieved him .
He said : " Not so , suggest some other course :
This cannot be . "
" Then thou , " Iblis rejoined ,
" Art perjured and wilt still be despicable ,
Thy father honoured . "
Thus he snared the Arab ,
Who asked : " What must I do ? I will obey . "
Iblis replied : " Leave me to scheme . Thy head
Shall touch the sun . I only ask thy silence ;
No help need I , myself am competent ,
But keep the sword of speech within the scabbard . "
[ p . 137 ]
Now in the palace was a jocund garth ,
And thither used Mardas to go at dawn
To bathe him ere he prayed , without a slave
To light him on his way . The wicked Div ,
Intent on ill , dug in the garden-path
< milestone unit= " vullers " n= " 30 " / >
A deep pit , masked and made it good with boughs .
Ere dawn the Arab chieftain hied him thither
And , as he reached the pit , his fortunes fell ;
That good man tumbled , broke his back , and died .
He ne ' er had breathed a cold breath on his son ,
But cherished him and lavished treasure on him ,
Yet that abandoned youth respected not
His father , but conspired to shed his blood .
I heard a sage once say : " Though fierce in strife
No son will dare to take his father ' s life ;
If such a crime should seem to be implied ,
Seek for the reason on the mother ' s side . "
Vile and unjust Zahhak thus seized the throne ,
Assumed the Arabs ' crown and governed them
For good or ill .
Iblis encouraged thus
Began again and said : " Since Thou hast turned
To me , and gained thy heart ' s desire , come pledge me
Thy word once more to do as I require ;
And then thy realm shall spread throughout the world ,
Birds , beasts , and fishes shall be all thine own . "
When this was said he set about to use ,
Most marvellous ! another kind of ruse .
The
Tale
of
Merdas
and
His
Son
Zahhak
(
Davis
)
In those days , in the land of the Arabs , there was a good and fine king who sighed with fear before God . His name was Merdas , and he was a man of great generosity and justice .
Each of the herds he had entrusted to his shepherds numbered a thousand , whether of cows , or Arab horses , or goats , or milk-giving sheep , and he freely gave milk to anyone who needed it .
This righteous man had a son , whose character had very little kindness in it . He was an ambitious youth named Zahhak , brave , turbulent in his moods , and of an evil disposition . Everyone called him Bivarasp , a Pahlavi word meaning " ten thousand horses , " because he had ten thousand Arab horses , all with golden bridles . He spent most of his days and nights riding them , not into battle so much as to demonstrate his wealth and greatness .
One day at dawn Eblis appeared before Zahhak , presenting himself as a friendly well-wisher , and the youth was charmed by his conversation . Eblis said , " First I want your promise that our talk will be confidential , and then I will tell you what I have to say . " The young man greeted him kindly , and answered , " I will tell no one about anything I hear from you . "
Eblis said , " Listen to my advice . No one but you should be in charge here ; with a son like you , why should an old , worn-out father go on ruling for so long ? Take his place , you’re the person best fitted for his position . If you listen to my advice , you will be the ruler of the world . " Zahhak heard him out and considered his words , but the thought of shedding his father’s blood troubled his heart . He said , " This is wrong ; give me different advice , this is not something I can do . " Eblis said , " If you don’t follow my advice , you’re breaking your promise ; you’ll stay as a wretched subject and your father will stay as ruler . "
And so he led the Arab into his trap , and Zahhak decided to obey him . He said , " Tell me how to do it , what’s the best way to accomplish this ? Don’t make excuses now . " Eblis replied , " I will take care of how it’s to be done ; Your head will rise in heaven , like the sun . " King Merdas owned a fine orchard , and he would go there in the dawn’s darkness , to wash his head and body , and to pray . The servant who accompanied him did not bring a lamp .
Eblis dug a deep pit there , and when the Arab king arrived in the orchard the next morning he fell into the pit and broke his back . The reverent man’s good fortune was at an end , and his life departed . Then Eblis filled the pit in with soil and went on his way . This noble king had taken pains to bring up his son in comfort ; he had rejoiced in him and given him wealth . But his evil offspring broke faith with him and became complicit in his father’s murder .
I heard a wise man say that , no matter how much of a savage lion a man might be , he does not shed his father’s blood , and if there is some untold secret here , it is the mother who can answer an inquirer’s questions .
In this way the willful , unjust Zahhak seized his father’s throne , placed the Arab crown on his head , and became the dispenser of largess and punishments to his people . When Eblis saw how effective his words had been , he gave some new evil advice . He said to Zahhak , " If you do my will , I will give you all you could wish from the world . Follow my orders and you will be king of the earth ; its animals , men , birds , and fish will all be yours . "
In those days , in the land of the Arabs , there was a good and fine king who sighed with fear before God . His name was Merdas , and he was a man of great generosity and justice .
Each of the herds he had entrusted to his shepherds numbered a thousand , whether of cows , or Arab horses , or goats , or milk-giving sheep , and he freely gave milk to anyone who needed it .
This righteous man had a son , whose character had very little kindness in it . He was an ambitious youth named Zahhak , brave , turbulent in his moods , and of an evil disposition . Everyone called him Bivarasp , a Pahlavi word meaning " ten thousand horses , " because he had ten thousand Arab horses , all with golden bridles . He spent most of his days and nights riding them , not into battle so much as to demonstrate his wealth and greatness .
One day at dawn Eblis appeared before Zahhak , presenting himself as a friendly well-wisher , and the youth was charmed by his conversation . Eblis said , " First I want your promise that our talk will be confidential , and then I will tell you what I have to say . " The young man greeted him kindly , and answered , " I will tell no one about anything I hear from you . "
Eblis said , " Listen to my advice . No one but you should be in charge here ; with a son like you , why should an old , worn-out father go on ruling for so long ? Take his place , you’re the person best fitted for his position . If you listen to my advice , you will be the ruler of the world . " Zahhak heard him out and considered his words , but the thought of shedding his father’s blood troubled his heart . He said , " This is wrong ; give me different advice , this is not something I can do . " Eblis said , " If you don’t follow my advice , you’re breaking your promise ; you’ll stay as a wretched subject and your father will stay as ruler . "
And so he led the Arab into his trap , and Zahhak decided to obey him . He said , " Tell me how to do it , what’s the best way to accomplish this ? Don’t make excuses now . " Eblis replied , " I will take care of how it’s to be done ; Your head will rise in heaven , like the sun . " King Merdas owned a fine orchard , and he would go there in the dawn’s darkness , to wash his head and body , and to pray . The servant who accompanied him did not bring a lamp .
Eblis dug a deep pit there , and when the Arab king arrived in the orchard the next morning he fell into the pit and broke his back . The reverent man’s good fortune was at an end , and his life departed . Then Eblis filled the pit in with soil and went on his way . This noble king had taken pains to bring up his son in comfort ; he had rejoiced in him and given him wealth . But his evil offspring broke faith with him and became complicit in his father’s murder .
I heard a wise man say that , no matter how much of a savage lion a man might be , he does not shed his father’s blood , and if there is some untold secret here , it is the mother who can answer an inquirer’s questions .
In this way the willful , unjust Zahhak seized his father’s throne , placed the Arab crown on his head , and became the dispenser of largess and punishments to his people . When Eblis saw how effective his words had been , he gave some new evil advice . He said to Zahhak , " If you do my will , I will give you all you could wish from the world . Follow my orders and you will be king of the earth ; its animals , men , birds , and fish will all be yours . "
Catullus 8
/
Latin
English
English
Miser Catulle , desinas ineptire ,
et quod vides perisse perditum ducas .
Fulsere quondam candidi tibi soles ,
cum ventitabas quo puella ducebat
amata nobis quantum amabitur nulla ;
ibi illa multa cum iocosa fiebant
quae tu volebas nec puella nolebat ,
fulsere vere candidi tibi soles .
Nunc iam illa non volt ; tu quoque , impotens , noli ,
nec quae fugit sectare , nec miser vive ,
sed obstinata mente perfer , obdura .
Vale puella ! Iam Catullus obdurat ,
nec te requiret , nec rogabit invitam .
At tu dolebis , cum rogaberis nulla .
Scelesta , vae te ! Quae tibi manet vita ?
Quis nunc te adibit ? Cui videberis bella ?
Quem nunc amabis ? Cuius esse diceris ?
Quem basiabis ? Cui labella mordebis ?
At tu , Catulle , destinatus obdura .
et quod vides perisse perditum ducas .
Fulsere quondam candidi tibi soles ,
cum ventitabas quo puella ducebat
amata nobis quantum amabitur nulla ;
ibi illa multa cum iocosa fiebant
quae tu volebas nec puella nolebat ,
fulsere vere candidi tibi soles .
Nunc iam illa non volt ; tu quoque , impotens , noli ,
nec quae fugit sectare , nec miser vive ,
sed obstinata mente perfer , obdura .
Vale puella ! Iam Catullus obdurat ,
nec te requiret , nec rogabit invitam .
At tu dolebis , cum rogaberis nulla .
Scelesta , vae te ! Quae tibi manet vita ?
Quis nunc te adibit ? Cui videberis bella ?
Quem nunc amabis ? Cuius esse diceris ?
Quem basiabis ? Cui labella mordebis ?
At tu , Catulle , destinatus obdura .
Sad Catullus , stop playing the fool ,
and let what you know leads you to ruin , end .
Once , bright days shone for you ,
when you came often drawn to the girl
loved as no other will be loved by you .
Then there were many pleasures with her ,
that you wished , and the girl not unwilling ,
truly the bright days shone for you .
And now she no longer wants you : and you
weak man , be unwilling to chase what flees ,
or live in misery : be strong-minded , stand firm .
Goodbye girl , now Catullus is firm ,
he doesn’t search for you , won’t ask unwillingly .
But you’ll grieve , when nobody asks .
Woe to you , wicked girl , what life’s left for you ?
Who’ll submit to you now ? Who’ll see your beauty ?
Who now will you love ? Whose will they say you’ll be ?
Who will you kiss ? Whose lips will you bite ?
But you , Catullus , be resolved to be firm .
and let what you know leads you to ruin , end .
Once , bright days shone for you ,
when you came often drawn to the girl
loved as no other will be loved by you .
Then there were many pleasures with her ,
that you wished , and the girl not unwilling ,
truly the bright days shone for you .
And now she no longer wants you : and you
weak man , be unwilling to chase what flees ,
or live in misery : be strong-minded , stand firm .
Goodbye girl , now Catullus is firm ,
he doesn’t search for you , won’t ask unwillingly .
But you’ll grieve , when nobody asks .
Woe to you , wicked girl , what life’s left for you ?
Who’ll submit to you now ? Who’ll see your beauty ?
Who now will you love ? Whose will they say you’ll be ?
Who will you kiss ? Whose lips will you bite ?
But you , Catullus , be resolved to be firm .
Woe-full Catullus ! cease to play the fool
And what thou seest dead as dead regard !
Whilòme the sheeniest suns for thee did shine
When oft-a-tripping whither led the girl
By us beloved , as shall none be loved .
There all so merry doings then were done
After thy liking , nor the girl was loath .
Then certès sheeniest suns for thee did shine .
Now she ' s unwilling : thou too ( hapless ! ) will
Her flight to follow , and sad life to live :
Endure with stubborn soul and still obdure .
Damsel , adieu ! Catullus obdurate grown
Nor seeks thee , neither asks of thine unwill ;
Yet shalt thou sorrow when none woos thee more ;
Reprobate ! Woe to thee ! What life remains ?
Who now shall love thee ? Who ' ll think thee fair ?
Whom now shalt ever love ? Whose wilt be called ?
To whom shalt kisses give ? whose liplets nip ?
But thou ( Catullus ! ) destiny-doomed obdure .
And what thou seest dead as dead regard !
Whilòme the sheeniest suns for thee did shine
When oft-a-tripping whither led the girl
By us beloved , as shall none be loved .
There all so merry doings then were done
After thy liking , nor the girl was loath .
Then certès sheeniest suns for thee did shine .
Now she ' s unwilling : thou too ( hapless ! ) will
Her flight to follow , and sad life to live :
Endure with stubborn soul and still obdure .
Damsel , adieu ! Catullus obdurate grown
Nor seeks thee , neither asks of thine unwill ;
Yet shalt thou sorrow when none woos thee more ;
Reprobate ! Woe to thee ! What life remains ?
Who now shall love thee ? Who ' ll think thee fair ?
Whom now shalt ever love ? Whose wilt be called ?
To whom shalt kisses give ? whose liplets nip ?
But thou ( Catullus ! ) destiny-doomed obdure .