i 1 1 1 1 U R' 
 
 TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH 
 
 RY THE K, LEO I \\M\\ DD, 
 
 OF THE MKCIUTAKISTIC SOG IF/IT 
 
 VENICE 
 
 S. LA Z AR U S 1832
 
 * ,1 
 
 TAJftttAJTt
 
 TO 
 
 CONSUL GENERAL 
 
 OF 
 THE SUBLIME PORTE 
 
 EGG. EGG. EGG. 
 
 J.H presenting to the British Public this volume of a 
 Collection of our Armenian Popular Songs , we have thought 
 that we could not dedicate it to any person with greater pro- 
 priety than to Yourself the most conspicuous representative of 
 our nation in the English metropolis; who in spite of the fati- 
 gue and cares of diplomacy can find leisure to cultivate the 
 Muses. 
 
 The cordiality with which You receive the members of our 
 Society who from time to time visit England , has emboldened 
 us to publisli the frendship that subsists between us , tlie strong- 
 est tie which connects Connationalists in a foreign country. 
 
 2111213
 
 <At's frendship and respect for You, we doubt not 
 would be shared with tts , by any studious Englishman who may 
 peruse and favourably receive our little work. 
 
 London 22 August 1852- 
 
 LEO M. ALISHAN DD. 

 
 ARMENIAN 
 
 n-uiriin.il 

 
 To THE BRITISH PUBLIC 
 
 To your enterprising spirit of inquiry? which 
 more than any other nation has extended its resear- 
 ches into the regions of the East? this little collection 
 of ARMENIAN POPULAR SONGS is presented. It is not be 
 denied that from a nation like the Armenian? which 
 boasts? and justly? of being one of the most ancient 
 of the East? and which has possessed for so long a 
 period the advantages of a cultivated and flourishing 
 litterature? something more copious and elegant might 
 have been expected', but considering the frequent 
 revolutions of that unhappy nation? and the incur- 
 sions of so many barbarous tribes? which? during the 
 oppressive slavery to which they reduced its inhabi- 
 tants^ not only destroyed its arts and litterature? but 
 even extinguished the last gleam of the poetic fire 
 of the Sons of Ararat : it is hoped that even this 
 humble collection offered as a specimen only? and
 
 for the first time translated into an European lan- 
 guage, may find favour with a People, so enlightened, 
 and one that so greatly encourages every work cal- 
 culated to illustrate any portion of the vast field of 
 Ancient East.
 
 ARMENIAN 
 
 On Leo son of Haithon /. * 
 
 I say alas ! for Leo, who has fallen 
 
 Into slavery into the power of Moslems. 
 My light, my light, and holy Virgin! 
 The holy Gross aid Leo and all! 
 
 The Sultan is come into the meydan '\ 
 He plays with his golden globe. 
 My light, my light, and holy Virgin! 
 The holy Gross aid Leo and all! 
 
 He played and gave it to Leo: 
 
 " Take, play and give it to thy papa. 
 My light, my light, and holy Virgin! 
 The holy Gross aid Leo and all! 
 
 w Leo, if thou wilt become Moslem, 
 
 I and my fosterfather slaves to thee.
 
 wA 4*g a- 
 
 | I'" /7' JU'"' 7 ' <>i/'lniilfiiili | I, nli fin in null.' Inn n 
 
 \)ni /if ni'ti'it ft Joj intuit I- [I- 1 
 
 | yr i in Iff i rjin'lnifli fftn JUUIIJUJJ t 
 
 | I'" /'/' |u"' r/ ' ^>if f lniifftiili | I, ^lifin in iiiifl.'liin n : 
 \ ntiU l.nl.,,,. 
 
 ^ "*- mot f 
 
 ' t. / ^ 
 
 nt- 
 
 uiJlriiai-u
 
 My light, my light, and holy Virgin ! 
 The holy Gross aid Leo and all! 
 
 Leo sitting in the fortress 
 
 With a handkerchief to his eyes wept. 
 44 Thou caravan which goest to Sis, * 
 Thou shalt announce to my papa! 
 
 When his papa heard it 
 
 He collected many troops of horsemen; 
 Gome and he went against the Sultan 
 And made many rivers of blood flow. 
 
 He took his son Leo, 
 
 And obtained the desire of his heart. 
 
 My light, my light, my light, and holy Virgin! 
 
 The holy Gross aid Leo and all ! 
 
 II. 
 
 On the daughter of an Armenian prince on her 
 departure to be marled to a Tartar prince. 
 
 THE MAID 
 
 Why dost thou sit silent at thy work ? 
 Rise, come forth, hear what they say. 
 Oh unhappy ! was this worthy of thee 
 To be the bride of a Tartar? 
 Thou wert worthy to be the mistress.,
 
 L 11,11 [,f \\nju 
 1 1 "*/'/* Jll"^ oifuutl^uiit | t,, In I,, i HL. 1 1, i //.'/i,,, i, 
 
 ' | ^iiimiiii in f/h UiJtljU in /fin filial 
 
 trpuiitntl . 
 
 fi ma i ,j,,,'ii'ii I. in,, , 
 (i/tff y /.(/;/. ^/ I, ^i u'li f/YY////. /y t 
 
 J|f- ^tUUIUL. ,,/{,,,,/,'/, ,/, f, i,, ,/,'/, I 
 
 _ unt-fifL \\nju . 
 
 I, ,!i, /n, at. unll.'i,,,, ,, 
 
 Iflll/ll,/! I//. S'/l /></,,,,'/!/, 
 
 | I 
 
 jl ' y-^/'^ , ', '/ / F / y mini nililili 
 
 l\T
 
 The mistress of mistresses of the great prince; 
 
 And not so the wife of an infidel, 
 
 To have thy hands bound and become a slave. 
 
 THE DAUGHTER 
 
 What dost thou say, o foolish maid ! 
 
 I understand thee not, speak more clearly. 
 
 THE MAID 
 
 To day thy star is fallen and vanished, 
 Thy radiant sun is obscured: 
 Unhappy me! unhappy thou Susanna! 
 Thou art gone as a slave to Tartary ; 
 Thou must forget thy bright faith, 
 And turn to the faith of Mahomet. 
 
 THE DAUGHTER 
 
 May thy tongue turn black, thy mouth become dry ! 
 What news do they speak of? 
 
 THE MAID 
 
 The great prince has given thee 
 
 To the Can of Tartary to take thee with him. 
 
 THE DAUGHTER 
 
 O maids maids, come come 
 
 Weep the misfortune of my lost head! 
 Black was the day of my birth,
 
 ** 
 
 tru 
 
 ffftL. f'turj 
 
 iyY tuuutqnn. [J (iiiuti 
 
 I // // 1 1 /(if. i j irj limn 111^1. ijiui 
 
 *l"l'l '"('fl'l'""' 1 ' 
 ui/,uiff If JnnSituu 
 
 ^ v'" // " 
 
 jfJu^, /uufh/fh ^Lut L fli Uiu/Ulf 
 
 '(I I'll", until. f, /""/,/ 
 
 op
 
 10 
 
 On which I unhappy was born. 
 
 Mother, rise from thy tomb, 
 
 Hear the news of thy daughter. 
 
 My black fate has willed it so, 
 
 It has driven me alone to Tartary. 
 
 May pitiless death tear my soul away, 
 
 May the earth open and swallow me up. 
 
 THE MAID 
 
 W^iat sighs are these, young princess, 
 Salt-tears and bitter lamentation : 
 Let us all bear thy grief together, 
 Let us offer our heads for thee : 
 Where thou goest let us go also, 
 How can we forget thy bread and salt: 
 Can we see with our eyes 
 Thee go from us all alone ? 
 Dry thy eyes and sooth thy grief, 
 Enough for thee, beat not thy breast. 
 
 THE OLD WOMAN 
 
 I have been sixty years at thy gate : 
 
 Thy father and grand father were on my shoul- 
 ders 
 
 Born, brought up and became princes ; 
 I never saw such sorrow. 
 Open thy ear, and listen to my counsel, 
 Remember this old woman : 
 Wherever thou shalt go and wherever thou 
 
 shalt be, 
 Always hold fast thy bright faith.
 
 11 
 
 I \n I. 
 
 \riett 
 
 ^. /<// f if / Ifulf ///y-Y //,/////, y * 
 
 I '//'///. f I" Hill II It l^ltUiKU I lilt L If , 
 
 *f.utn.nU Ifiih 4 
 I I l^li n UJulriinnu nun in i i/i/i/// /.'/// 
 1 1 *y 1^ i in f iifi ft" I t/iuinuiij^ If' 
 
 ^V./iy.y 
 
 j J /. '/Y > ij n'li, j njf, t jy> If ////./////. '/Y 
 
 ^\f. ljf,ll lljl'lllllff If fSlllllll /,,!/,!!/ . 
 
 Yttpfyri- of,/'/, tl. v////y ,/y ,//// / 
 "^ ''/'/'/' I- I/ 1 '" .('! 'I 'I I' iN/. A/i/ ^yr t 
 
 i/i/J ,,/,/'// ,11,1 y,/, A//'/.,, .^/, r v/l ,i/,, 
 
 I \UUflfU I//I/I ijll/l I. ii /.//" 111/. nuil\ t 
 
 I '//'"^/'V ^"V Z/!"^ fupuunfiu , 
 
 1 ) V""/"/ ' V' 7 '" " ' 
 
 t/jfittuu (ni a ^iiii iniii/m t
 
 12 
 
 Forget not our Armenian nation ; 
 And always assist and protect it. 
 Always keep in thy mind 
 To be useful to thy country. 
 Oh! God be with thee, farewell! 
 May Christ preserve thy bright sun! 
 
 III. 
 
 The Armenians in their emigration from Old 
 Ciulfa ". 
 
 Woe to ye poor Armenian people! 
 
 Without a fault and without a thought ye have 
 
 been scattered ; 
 
 Ye are gone into slavery to Ispahan, 
 Hungry and thirsty and naked and poor. 
 
 Ye have supported a hundred thousand sorrows, 
 & And ye have never put your foot out of your sweet 
 
 native country: 
 
 But now ye leave the tombs of your parents, 
 And abandon to others your churches and houses. 
 
 These beautiful fields, great towns, 
 Sweet waters and well-built villages 
 To whom have ye left them, ye who go? 
 How happens it that ye forget them ? 
 
 I fear they will be effaced from your mind: 
 But while ye live do not forget them:
 
 13 
 
 1 ) lit/nil nilniiii -^tt/jnij u///rj{iu , 
 
 I *///, '/;*///// J mil i/yi//yyy -y/y /n/ 
 /'//'""'/ //^ 
 
 I '/ '/""""" "/" ' V' / '" /','/" '"I'l- ' 
 
 / ^/Y"" v'"' 7 ' '/'"/ 
 
 i> '{I. "i /> 
 
 * \\tuti ijiuh in <\ iijinui , uiuittn ft) tin ujiLtulfitili i 
 
 in <.! mi//, fifi in [i /IT /i mni in (> * 
 
 k i / n/i^i in 'ii ijiuTiuil. [fii , ,fl. i\ til. !\ Y ""'// 7' r/ ' ^ /'''' 
 
 j j </'/// /^ f^nqtfuA im-JL "f 
 
 rift Jnn.uiUni.ir 
 
 | | in [inn if mil' Ijiiif!,!! tli'iij,!. ^I'IHII y,j jfulfufa . 
 
 I ^^JL*"*' T nf l2_*HL JuigtrpUni-q. ytutfufi .
 
 14 
 
 At least recount to your children and grand chil- 
 dren , 
 That you have left your country so ruined. 
 
 The name of Masis G , that of the Noah's Ark, 
 That of the plain of Ararat, of S. 1 Etcmiazin 7 , 
 That of the deep Abyss % of S. 1 Lance and Moo- 
 
 ghni 9 , 
 They will not forget till the day of judgment. 
 
 That my eyes had been blind, my neck broken, 
 Poor Armenia, that I might not see thee thus: 
 If I were dead I should be happy 
 Rather than live and see thee. 
 
 IV. 
 
 On one who was shipwrecked in the lake 
 of Van ". 
 
 We sailed in the ship from Aghtamar ", 
 W^ directed our ship towards Avan l4 : 
 When we arrived before Osdan l3 
 We saw the dark sun of the dark day. 
 
 Dull clouds covered the sky, 
 
 Obscuring at once stars and moon: 
 
 The winds blew fiercely 
 
 And took from my eyes land and shore.
 
 IS 
 
 f^fiiLuAy //////,////,///./ 
 
 | | ' 
 
 ( ( )4- 
 
 ml. ' i,l,(, 
 
 fl Inn 'in//, ,SI,i,tf/i f, Viu//j.'//' I/ iirlniij 
 
 \\l-> till III [I III. I Utftt-L. llll. Illlflif 
 
 j() //( ^// tuJuft-ft I. [i If [lit f 
 
 J\/W^ [in ii'luiilf ifl, If ml. if If 11^111111 ijf ili 
 ( 'l/''"/ '{/'"/ .('""//''''f' I' 'I'^-jl' 1 '
 
 16 
 
 Thundered the heaven, thundered the earth, 
 The waves of the blue sea arose: 
 On every side the heavens shot forth fire, 
 Black terror invaded my heart. 
 
 There is the sky, but the earth is not seen ; 
 There is the earth, but the sun is not seen : 
 The waves come like mountains, 
 And open before me a deep abyss. 
 
 sea, if thou lovest thy God 
 
 Have pity on me forlorn and wretched: 
 
 Take not from me my sweet sun, 
 
 And betray me not to flinty-hearted death. 
 
 Pity o sea, o terrible sea! 
 
 Give me not up to the cold winds: 
 
 My tears implore thee 
 
 And the thousand sorrows of my heart . . . 
 
 The savage sea has no pity ! 
 
 It hears not the plaintive voice of my broken heart; 
 The blood freezes in my veins, 
 Black night descends upon my eyes... 
 
 Go tell to my mother 
 
 To sit and weep for her darkened son ; 
 That John was the prey of the sea, 
 The sun of the youngman set !
 
 17 
 
 /J/m/y ! l'l(l' l 'l' '/ ! mi ""/ if I. tuflli , 
 1 1 ;//////. //u// f"< [i /j in H fin 
 tiinu iil.lul.'ii Lniul/tnuig 
 \]t'i- utupuiuifi (ifiuJL- fit/* upjiuifiU 
 
 ||Jfy /////y /// '//y uinVl.i i, If fif, it'll 1 11 I 
 
 it? it"- e ntL IV 
 
 i >/ y-^ "//'.^"Y'/'" y "' 
 
 \\* 
 
 ^ ) " "/ ijunjnll'il, /">///' nijiifii/' n 
 
 ffeff 
 
 -+^11 fli/, 1 1 //"<(' / 'Jim
 
 18 
 
 The lamentation of a bishop, who having planted 
 a vineyard^ and before it gave fruit , his last 
 day coming, he sings thus '*. 
 
 Every morning and at dawn 
 
 The nightingale sitting in my vineyard 
 Sang sweetly to this my rose : 
 Rise and come from this vineyard. 
 
 Every morning and at dawn 
 Gabriel says to my soul: 
 Rise and come from this vineyard, 
 From this newly-built vineyard. 
 
 I must not come from this vineyard : 
 Because there are thorns around it: 
 I cannot come forth from my vineyard 
 From my beautiful vineyard. 
 
 I have brought stones to my valleys, 
 
 I have brought thorns to my mountains : 
 
 I have built round it a wall. 
 
 They say: Gome forth from this vineyard. 
 
 f have planted young vines, 
 
 I have watered the roots of this plantation..
 
 iffi (inji "'j'//' inCilfbji t 
 fbu '"j<il>f< w/ mm if vim hi }l. 
 I, ni ft n If n iij n n fill ojifid rfwRmR Hutuhn 
 ft m,/!,,/,,!!,/,/; ?yw ni/pi wiufc/ t: 
 
 tun.iui.oui i 
 
 ' ' I/- V" /'' 
 
 u ,/,{,,/, 
 
 i I. i i "j n 
 ' | ^ r/ . /'/,//' i 
 \\nfl fy l^fjuju uya-yu 
 
 ifint ^ fftiij nfinui/.-[itu n 
 
 .1 v y /./ 
 
 L uyu 
 
 //////'/ , 
 
 uyu
 
 20 
 
 I have not yet eaten of their fruit: 
 
 They say: Gome forth from this vineyard. 
 
 I have built a wine-press, 
 I have buried the wine-vat, 
 1 have not yet tasted the wine, 
 They say: Gome forth from this vineyard. 
 
 I have shut the entry of my vineyard, 
 I have not yet opened the close gate 
 Of my well-dressed vineyard : 
 They say: Gome forth from this vineyard. 
 
 I have brought water to my valleys, 
 Gold and savouring fountains: 
 I have not yet drunk of their water: 
 They say: Gome forth from this vineyard. 
 
 I have built a basin in my vineyard, 
 The dew of heaven into this basin, 
 Around it are flowers and light: 
 They say: Gome forth from this vineyard. 
 
 I have planted roses in this vineyard, 
 There are red and white roses : 
 I have not yet smelt their fragrance: 
 They say: Gome forth from this vineyard. 
 
 I have sown flowers in this vineyard : 
 There are green and yellow: 
 I have not yet picked these flowers: 
 They say: Gome forth from this vineyard.
 
 n 
 
 juiju 
 
 \\nn,l.'l. . \\pf 
 
 I. il' vfi'lil. y uijif iiji, 
 
 \\uiptuu 
 
 I /. /; i /. // ^> mill, n naihtuL 11 in n i 
 
 \\j u b*r jup*Kii tu 
 
 ' _ JUfJU 
 
 ( ) i/nt [iui l.i filial, -^niil' iiniffit [in 
 
 | ' 
 
 \\uiulA. \\fft V L juyu 
 
 I |i/Y"//Y' 
 I * /. /i /.//' -^ i in i 1 11 a I. n ijiiinti in 
 
 uy 
 
 I | ///'//, ;^, |_ ij/./ 
 
 I *l. n \l, il piiiiil, it n ctutnLniu 
 
 1 1 'n,,,/. /, . |\ r /
 
 2l 
 
 f have planted fruit-trees around the walls. 
 Pomegranate., almond and nuts: 
 I have not jet tasted of the fruits: 
 They say: Gome forth from this vineyard. 
 
 The turtle-dove is sitting in my vineyard, 
 He sings to the birds : 
 The spring is arrived to my vineyard : 
 They say: Gome forth from this vineyard. 
 
 Bring me fruits from my vineyard, 
 Roses and flowers of many hues, 
 That I may imbibe the fragrance: 
 I will not leave this vineyard. 
 
 The nightingale sang in my vineyard 
 From morning to evening : 
 The dew fals from the clouds ; 
 They say: Gome forth from this vineyard 
 
 Gabriel come to my soul : 
 
 My tongue from fear was tied : 
 The light of my eyes was dimmed: 
 Alas! for my brief sun ! 
 
 The tendrils of my vine were green, 
 The grapes of my vine are ripe : 
 He says: Gome forth from this vineyard., 
 From my newly-built vineyard. 
 
 They took my soul from my body, 
 
 And dragged me forth from my vineyard.
 
 1 
 
 X'" '" 
 
 ' j M/ Y /,'// 4" ^utut-p uyy.tyu 
 
 \\,,n,t.'i, . j^/( f^ 
 
 I"- 
 
 (i 
 
 '/'/('/" 
 
 1] U/pf. A-i. y .y'/y-yy ,,/// A ////// '//,/ 
 nl' 
 
 I* 
 
 | ';, ,m ,/. I////M/. , ^ ^^U 
 
 (V*ft**r#^-iB 
 
 1 1 '/,//./. . j^/f ^ ,/"//'/ 
 
 4 I M; V7 ,/,/./// ^^U**. V"/' I'/" 
 
 {\t_nS, If fyu'lnu* ufju 
 \\lunj, i ,[li k 
 
 \ V
 
 24 
 
 It is time that I leave my vineyard 
 This beautiful vineyard. 
 
 My newly-built vineyard was destroyed, 
 Every plant and flower grew dry : 
 The beauty of my body was faded: 
 They say; Gome forth from this vineyard. 
 
 They drag me forth from my vineyard : 
 The nightingale sings in my vineyard, 
 The dew descends from the clouds 
 Every morning and at dawn. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Elegy of Adam. 
 
 Adam sitting at the gate of Paradise 
 Wept and said sadly: 
 Oh Seraphim, oh Cherubim ! 
 Who enter Paradise, 
 
 I was king in Eden, 
 
 Like to a powerful king : 
 
 For one only command 
 
 Of that fruit of that immortal tree,
 
 < | 
 
 \\j u I* 1 * t^i^sbk 
 
 < I >/ ,,/, V,,y ,,, /> My y //,/ , 
 
 //'"; '/'/i' uintHify kt. fLiyu , 
 
 \\n,,, l.'i, . \* 
 
 qfiU fi j/,,/' ,,,,,/nj,, , 
 
 ('/'/"/" , 
 
 ^ Ji//////// tun.tUL.oui I. i i ii i a 
 
 \ 
 
 1 1 
 
 9 '' 
 
 ft
 
 26 
 
 On account of Eve my consort. 
 
 Who was deceived by the cunning of the 
 
 serpent, 
 
 They took my beautiful ornaments 
 And without pity they stripped me. 
 
 This only time that I failed 
 
 By the words of my wife I was deceived. 
 When I saw her so shameless 
 Despoiled of her glory as the devil, 
 
 I was touched with pity for her: 
 
 Of the immortal fruit I took and eat : 
 I said: Perhaps my Creator may come 
 And seeing me and Eve naked., 
 
 With paternal love he will take pity on us 
 And will have compassion on me and her. 
 I heard the sound of the footsteps of the Lord 
 Coming to Paradise, and I was surprised: 
 
 With the leaf of the figtree I girt my reins, 
 Among the trees I hid myself: 
 He come and called : Adam where art thou ? 
 I replied: I am naked: 
 
 My Lord, I have heard thy voice, 
 I was frighted and ashamed. 
 
 o 
 
 But who told ye that ye are naked ? 
 Or who deceived ye ? tell me.
 
 27 
 
 O /// iiflin/]npi/*ifi (t/fiutjnt-ijftii 
 
 | '/////., 
 
 l/fr fruywwlt uikuuy >/{,*<,, 
 
 {\}itin niijfili ill, [iff .f'liil' ijiinniiiii'luuj , 
 
 {>.//// V {, ,,,,/!, tun.lruii_ fatty 
 
 IVrf 
 
 I T /.,,/ 
 
 \*i nqnpt/fr [fliZ /. / 'ttnntui i 
 
 \\u'ilnii\it,jli ^f, uin fill 1 1" ">/ 
 ')"-/"/ ^ fftufuuiV ti- "-/V A .'/"// 
 
 * //^P <\ tunny i,i'lil(l.,iii[J,,iifl.iui 
 
 ~~) ill/mi i t-tui/ofa-crntru *
 
 28 
 
 Eve replied to him: 
 
 The serpent deceived me and I eat. 
 The Lord cursed the serpent and Eve, 
 And I was enslaved between them. 
 
 The Lord commanded: Go forth: 
 
 Dust je were and dust ye shall become. 
 I pray ye, o Seraphim, 
 I lament, o, hear me ; 
 
 When ye enter Eden, 
 
 Take a branch of the immortal fruit, 
 Bring and place it on my eyes 
 And heal my obscured sight. 
 
 When ye enter Eden 
 
 Shut not the gate of Paradise, 
 Place me standing at the gate, 
 I will look a moment and then bring me 
 back. 
 
 Ah! I remember ye, o flowers, 
 And sweet smelling fountains : 
 Ah! I remember ye, o birds 
 Sweet singing, and ye, o beasts: 
 
 Ye, who enjoy Paradise 
 
 Come and weep over your king, 
 
 Ye who are in Paradise planted by God 
 
 Elected from the earth of every kind and sort.
 
 29 
 
 l*W Vyri//;/ . 
 
 ITL. Ifl. ^uij < 
 
 uf. L , ,,:!(. I, r 
 ( I '/;/// y/y///' 
 
 if in 
 
 Oj,u ft 
 
 ///"///' Vg^ 
 
 minimi lu^ 
 
 >lK<
 
 30 
 
 VII. 
 
 Lament of a mother on her son who died 
 in infancy. 
 
 I gaze and weep mother of my boy, 
 I say alas and woe is me wretched ! 
 What will become of wretched me 
 I have seen my golden son dead ! 
 
 They seized that fragrant rose 
 
 Of my breast, and my soul fainted away 
 They let my beautiful golden dove 
 Fly away, and my heart was wounded. 
 
 That falcon death seized 
 
 My dear and sweet-voiced turtle-dove and 
 
 wounded me: 
 
 They took my sweet-toned little lark 
 And flew away through the skies ! 
 
 Before my eyes they sent the hail 
 
 On my flowering green pomegranate ; 
 That my rosy apple on the tree, 
 AVhich gave fragrance among the leaves. 
 
 They shook my flourishing beautiful almond- 
 tree 
 And left me without fruit;
 
 //'//- '/"/' /' '/""/""""-'/"'/ "i 1 'i I' 1 ' 
 
 I] ! l.< /./////// /, y, //.//'/"/'"'/' V 1 ''"' 
 
 IW /^ iffiriv-t Lik^u 
 
 ^/. ufi tflrnJrtui anuutr^ium /inii/ifm 
 
 ijtufHp* fiJy '//>{>///"> 
 
 \\lfl. <] fill iun [ill , (J inflfinijitii -^ ' > if (i 
 
 O y.i/f/y/y^///////fi uyy ufai/n'/i i/iiui/ifiiu/f/i/fii 
 |Pf^m. fLUMiftuU kyutfify , [untjlriuij ijt 
 
 ( ) [iJ'&tUqlflU^fl IftulHU^ r il[IILlllSll[lll 
 
 lufi/flt rj/.if* tu 
 
 O ullun yii^imlli '(l J_ u 1 1. 11 It [in t 
 
 ^iu^tu.^f.^l.u 
 
 tiiltuiutni.il Uiflffil '[['I!
 
 32 
 
 By beating it they threw it on the ground 
 And trod it under foot with the earth of the 
 grave. 
 
 What will become of wretched me! 
 Many sorrows surrounded me. 
 O my God, receive the soul of my little one 
 And place him at rest in the bright heaven ! 
 
 VIII. 
 
 On the same subject. 
 
 My sun was eclipsed, 
 
 The light of my eyes obscured; 
 
 The day was to me the darkest night 
 
 And the light of the stars was covered. 
 
 The spring became to me the roughest winter, 
 The summer was snowy, 
 The seasons were changed to me 
 And the freezing air struck me. 
 
 The sweet was bitter 
 
 And my food became ashes ; 
 
 My flesh stuck to my bones was dried, 
 
 My tongue in my mouth was dried,
 
 33 
 
 { 
 
 j j"///i//// ,u i> i ii [i (It' 
 
 input Jni-(3 fillip H/.////I/. ,y/i r // 
 
 rf " 
 
 1. 1 iff /'/* 
 
 | ' ' nifil. if inffjili (unii ni^il. ifiin 
 | \- , ml. [i i ii ii i n 1 1, i 'li f'ji/.l n 
 
 \*~ "mini, ijiin/ 1 1, i n 1^1 1 <\ in<\ Iff. ifini 
 
 | *ut[inL.'b(ib f n (in in Xftiflrn. ffbZi 
 
 \* ill n n't i n i unit, I i If .\(n'liuif I. ^i I. 
 
 ijjfiu fulfill,' t 
 
 3i if 11(11 (i[i 
 jni i lj I. [in ffjiiil. uij 
 | I. ijiii u fi ffii/ii faiT yuttlutpktJUlt- t
 
 34 
 
 When my beautiful boy died 
 
 My breath was gathered, my lips were bound : 
 When this my pretty boy died 
 My life was equal to the earth. 
 
 When this my peacock and lamb died 
 My brain turned and was lost: 
 When this my dearest little one flew 
 My mouth was hushed, my ear was deaf. 
 
 When this joyful plant faded 
 
 My foot was broken, my arm burst, 
 
 AH my body was brought to dust 
 
 And with my boy was bowed to the ground. 
 
 Yet let me thank God 
 
 Who received him with the holy boys. 
 
 O my God, receive the soul of my little one 
 
 And place him at rest in the bright heaven!
 
 II 
 
 r. wsi 
 
 fmSyjm 
 
 j ' /" ii/i[iiitt/iiJ(iij ijiun'lifilfti nfl ill. nun 
 
 lrg 
 nj, 
 
 | \/. fin///// yin-trui!) 
 J" liMJUfXiufi tnn 
 
 f I. If ui i , I J I. i fin Ifinn^il. ijtin , 
 
 I''/"/ i"" [>(' i/iiflilfii/lijli [irjiiiit ftifffiu^nti
 
 IX. 
 
 Song of the new bride. 
 
 Little threshold., be thou not shaken : 
 It is for me to be shaken, 
 To bring lilies. 
 
 Little plank, be thon not stirred; 
 It is for me to be stirred, 
 To bring lilies. 
 
 Little ground, shake thou not; 
 It is for me to be shaken, 
 To bring lilies. 
 
 Little tree, tremble not; 
 It is for me to tremble, 
 To bring lilies. 
 
 Little leaf, be thou not thrown down: 
 It is for me to be thrown down, 
 To bring lilies. 
 
 Sun, arise not : 
 
 It is for me to arise, 
 To bring lilies. 
 
 Sun, circulate not; 
 
 It is for me to circulate, 
 To bring lilies.
 
 37 
 
 Ju.Jn, . 
 uiJuifiii, 
 ( in ^ it'll i nil i !lil. fin I 
 
 ( lit ^ III'// Illlllll I, fill 
 
 /'// ^ ^./ . 
 
 I ^ </ /. '/ unnjuittL. , 
 
 ( III ^ lilt I UlUl'lll. fll! 
 
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 in TIII'II inui'lil. [in * 
 
 I 1 ^//. / I/// 
 
 | XM I. if* iifiiunl. fin , 
 (^ ill ^nili iintflil. fin t
 
 38 
 
 Moon, arise not: 
 
 It is for me to arise, 
 To bring lilies. 
 
 Moon, circulate not; 
 It is for me to circulate, 
 To bring lilies. 
 
 Stars, sparkle not: 
 
 It is for me to sparkle, 
 To bring lilies. 
 
 Crane, cry not; fs 
 It is for me to cry, 
 To bring lilies. 
 
 Mamma, weep not; 
 It is for me to weep, 
 To bring lilies. 
 
 Papa, weep not; 
 
 It is for me to weep, 
 To bring lilies. 
 
 Brother, weep not; 
 It is for me to weep, 
 To bring lilies. 
 
 They had deceived the mamma with a knitting- 
 needle and a ball: 
 
 They had deceived papa with a cup of wine: 
 
 They hade deceived the brother with a pair of 
 boots: 
 
 They had deceived the little sister with a finger 
 of antimony.
 
 39 
 
 ( in Ttilii 
 
 I /u a fill JH uiuiinn 
 \f" I. it' mi'iu'l. i"< , 
 
 ("* in fuili iinu'lil. [in t 
 
 ( in fnili iinu'lil. fin 
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 ( M/ 'I//// Itllll/lf. fill 
 
 /// ^^ ^ /* . 
 
 * t-tf juifni- , 
 
 in * nil i inuilil. jin 
 
 frun.1; 
 
 Jfr
 
 40 
 
 They have loosed the knot of money 
 
 And detached the girl from her grand mother. 
 Mother, sweep thou not the little plank 
 
 In order that the little trace of thy girl may not 
 
 be effaced: 
 
 Let a little memory remain to thee 
 In order that thou mayest fill the wish of thy 
 soul. 
 
 They passed with a sieve the raisin 
 
 / r 
 
 And filled the pockets of the girl, 
 And they put her on the foreign way ! 
 
 X. 
 
 A song on the bridegroom. 
 
 Blessed be the merciful God; 
 
 Blessed the will of our Creator (Thrice). 
 We have united, we have finished, 
 
 We have placed the Gross over them (Thrice). 
 Go and seek the father of the king ", 
 
 Let him come and prepare the feast: 
 
 Let him bend his knees before the holy altar: 
 
 All good and prosperity to our king (Thrice). 
 Go and seek the mother of our king, 
 
 Let her come and bend her knees before the 
 holy altar: 
 
 All good and prosperity to our king. 
 Go and seek the brother, (sister., ec. ec.)
 
 41 
 
 O tiu 
 
 Wht 
 
 iff ni. 
 
 iliiiijinj ifniijl. tifili , 
 
 ^"t^c fiy'-sfi' 
 
 i/Y'/'"/ Xttit/fUILb i[[i[ll.ij[i'li f 
 
 ( jx^ >'//// y//'^ ij 1 1 i^i If I, a t a f if utfquAtffii 
 |u/./-'/' - juupfit i/lrp /J ,//y 
 |
 
 Go and seek the crane from the desert; 
 Let him come and sit and observe : 
 Let him bend his knees before the holy altar: 
 All good and prosperity to our king. 
 
 Go and seek the duck from the lake ; 
 Let him come and sit and observe : 
 Let him bend his knees before the holy altar : 
 All good and prosperity to our king. 
 
 Go and seek the partridge from the hill: 
 Let him come and sit and observe: 
 Let him bend his knees before the holy altar : 
 All good and prosperity to our king. 
 
 ANSWER 
 
 To our king became flowers of flowers {Thrice). 
 
 What sort of flower must we give him? 
 The flower of flowers which becomes him is the 
 
 balsam : 
 
 Because it blossoms and flowers together. 
 The flower of the flowers which becomes him is 
 
 the snow-bell. 
 The flower of the flowers which becomes him is 
 
 the everlasting. 
 The flower of the flowers which becomes him is 
 
 the pomegranate, (the lily, the rose). 
 
 ANSWER 
 
 By the help of the holy Precursor, yes by his help 
 There came a king with a face like a cross.
 
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 43 
 
 <' ) 
 ( )* u "lf > 4'*' folk' 1 '!' 
 
 / \iiinififf uMutiutunli i nln ul, 1 1
 
 ANSWER 
 
 Our king was crossed., our king was crossed : 
 
 His fez " was red, his sun was green. 
 Our king was crossed, our king was crossed; 
 
 His turban was red, his sun was green. 
 Our king was crossed, our king was crossed; 
 
 His tunic was crossed, his sun was green. 
 Our king was crossed, our king was crossed ; 
 
 His apple IB was red, his sun was green. 
 Our king was crossed, our king was crossed; 
 
 His cloak was red, his sun was green. 
 Our king was crossed, our king was crossed ; 
 
 His cape was vari-coloured, his sun was green. 
 
 ANSWER 
 
 Arise let us go and meet him, 
 That he may not be offended. 
 
 ANSWER 
 
 That large heap, that large large heap, what 
 is it? 
 
 That large heap it is the provisions of the vil- 
 lage. 
 The lion is roaring, look who is it? 
 
 The lionis roaring, it is the doctors. 
 The partridge is chirping, look who is it? 
 
 The partridge is chirping, it is the priests. 
 The sparrow is warbling, look who is it? 
 
 The sparrow is warbling, it is the deacons.
 
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 If 
 
 ^jiji fitii/niif I-U , ml. 1 1 1,, ft (3-lf tfti nnli If 
 
 ~\iiji initiiiiii Ifll , imiiiljl. i fi/jlil. flli If
 
 46 
 
 Who is he like a large column among them? 
 
 That large column is the father of the king. 
 Who is she who has the headdress of cotton with 
 
 a hole in it? 
 That of that headdress of cotton with a hole in 
 
 it, is the mother of the king. 
 What is that bright star behind them? 
 
 That Bright star behind them, is the queen. 
 That brush behind the door, who is it? 
 
 That brush behind the door, it is the servants. 
 The hound came with the bag in his mouth, who 
 
 is it? 
 The hound came, with the bag in his mouth, it is 
 
 the collector of the village. 
 The mouse covered with flour came, who is it? 
 The mouse covered with flour came, it is the 
 miller. 
 
 ANSWER 
 
 We have praised, yes we have praised, yes fini- 
 shed, 
 We have placed the cross over them.
 
 47 
 
 ' - 
 
 I /// fin (in fnitl'fmljli fi \ tuff ml. ill, f /./ /, //// iifili If . 
 | '// fin fit f in, /f infill /i <\ mff [J mif i tiffi i/l,f'li If * 
 
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 //// , Y //, /, . 
 4 
 
 4- 
 
 ,, r ,f,//i, ft fl.f,,!,,, ^nfc /,,'[ (>['" If
 
 48 
 
 XI. 
 
 The pilgrim to the crane. 
 
 Crane, whence doest thou come? I am servant of 
 
 thy voice. 
 
 Crane, hast thou not news from our country? 
 Run not to thy flock, thou wilt arrive soon 
 
 enough : 
 Crane, hast thou not news from our country? 
 
 I have left my possessions and vineyard, and I ha- 
 ve come hither: 
 How often do I sigh, it seems that my soul is 
 
 torn from me : 
 
 Crane, stay a little, thy voice is in my soul : 
 Crane, hast thou not news from our country? 
 
 Thou dost not carry disappointment to those who 
 
 ask the**: 
 Thy woice is sweeter to me than the sound of 
 
 the well-wheel : 
 
 Crane, thou alightest at Bagdad or Aleppo: 
 Crane, hast thou not news from our country? 
 
 Our heart desired it and we arose and departed : 
 We have found out the miseries of this false 
 world :
 
 cftt 
 
 t |/i <ii W, , ,,/, /f 1,1 y m i, , A ii/n f i// 
 
 | |/i m '/,/, , iAfy 
 
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 fi ^ 
 \Y"i''l'f/ i 'A&Y* iu->{uui[i-^/,'/i htutufpfrll '//' * in 'li (in s
 
 50 
 
 We are deprived of the sight of our table-com- 
 panions. 
 Crane, hast thou not news from our country? 
 
 The affairs of this landlord are long and tedious : 
 Perhaps God will hear and open the little gate: 
 The heart of the pilgrim is in sorrow,, his eyes 
 
 in tears. 
 Crane, hast thou not news from our country? 
 
 My God, I ask of thee grace and favour: 
 
 The heart of the pilgrim is wounded, his lungs 
 
 are consumed: 
 The bread he eats is bitter, the water he drinks 
 
 is tasteless. 
 Crane, hast thou not news from our country? 
 
 I know not either the holy day, nor the working 
 
 day : 
 They have put me on the spit and placed me at 
 
 the fire : 
 I mind not the burning, but I feel the want of 
 
 you. 
 Crane, hast thou not news from our country ? 
 
 Thou comest from Bagdad and goest to the fron- 
 tiers, 
 
 I will write a little letter and give it to thee : 
 God will be the witness over thee ; 
 Thou wilt carry it and give it to my dear ones.
 
 Si 
 
 l*jjin ^iiiyfjf.n 1/lUfirj.ffnflig 
 
 ( | /,,'/, /, , ,ltrp utzJlltutflfU / ,[/,/,// I//, 
 | '." 
 
 \\n,n'l,l l , 
 
 If ijtu *, in I ft n i (!li , f'/>'i'(nu<\ 
 
 Ifitt if inn , lfl.-n(Jiuu // 
 
 fiiT ufolr^utg
 
 52 
 
 I have put in my letter, that I am here, 
 
 I have never even for a single day opened my 
 eyes: 
 
 my dear ones, I am always anxious for you! 
 
 Crane, hast thou not news from our country? 
 
 The autumn is near, and thou art ready to go: 
 Thou hast joined a large flock: 
 Thou hast not answered me and thou art flown ! 
 Crane, go from our country, and fly far away! 
 
 XII. 
 
 The elegy of a partridge. 
 
 The partridge was sitting (Double) 
 
 And weeping on a stone: birds! 
 And lamented with the little birds : 
 
 birds, o fowls of the air ! 
 
 I ascended high mountains (Double)^ 
 
 1 gazed on verdant meadows: 
 O birds, o fowls of the air ! 
 
 I descended and fell into the snare, 
 Into a net spread on the lake: 
 O birds, o fowls of the air ! 
 
 They came and took me out, 
 
 And showed me the terrible sword: 
 
 My tuneful throat 
 
 'they cut from ear to ear:
 
 r>3 
 
 | I/Y'^- //'/' ^1- i/i"'i'!. 
 
 [\>in,'l,/f , lOp lU^UUtp^lfU /inn i iff i /i /f JJl ^tl^lfu * 
 
 . n J niji/f. fi ^iiiijiun'lif. /' '/ ' /'/"/' * 
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 | |/ ifiu'lilfunii If' in' 1 1 1, 1 1 .\n,ij l.nin'li 
 | 
 
 iluinif I. n 'liiiijl. yiiij 
 
 J, | Y"' t '"'/'/ , i
 
 54 
 
 My purple blood 
 
 They shed upon the ground: 
 My rosy beak 
 
 They exposed on the sparkling flame : 
 My little-stepping feet 
 
 They cut off at the knees. 
 My many-coloured feathers 
 
 They dispersed one to the hill one to the valley: 
 That which fell on the hill, 
 
 That the breeze carried away : 
 That which fell in the valley, 
 
 That the torrent rose and carried away. 
 And like saint Gregory l9 
 
 They let me down into the deep well. 
 They came and drew me up, 
 
 They sat round a table ; 
 And like saint James the Intercised * 
 
 They cut me in little pieces : 
 They made the pancake 2I for my shroud, 
 
 And buried me with red wine. 
 I cried out the lamentation of Jeremiah, 
 
 And that of the first father and mother.
 
 M 
 
 t ) IUtU fill' //liifli/f'firu // III [I [it'll 1 1 
 1 1 y /.//;//// (l tltUfl t/Ujf^lrfffA . 
 
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 1 
 
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 I/ 1 - 
 
 1 1 
 
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 ( ) fiui iu"'fi //'/
 
 XIII. 
 
 On the partridge. " 
 
 The sun beats from the mountain' s top, 
 Pretty pretty: 
 
 The partridge comes from his nest ; 
 Was saluted by the flowers, 
 He flew and came from the mountain' s top. 
 
 Ah ! pretty pretty, 
 
 Ah ! dear little partridge ! 
 
 When I hear the voice of the partridge 
 I break my fast on the house top: 
 The partridge comes chirping 
 And swinging from the mountain' s side. 
 Ah ! pretty pretty, 
 
 Ah! dear little partridge! 
 * 
 
 Thy nest is enamelled with flowers, 
 
 With vasilico, narcissus and water-lily: 
 
 Thy place is full of dew, 
 
 Thou delightest in the fragrant odour. 
 
 Ah ! pretty pretty, 
 
 Ah ! dear little partridge !
 
 cf.9- 
 
 uil.nyu, uuipflU i//. [i /,'!. 
 JU- y <"/'/' /IK, [i <,/,/, . 
 
 I j/. ////. /.,////, /. ^//// ^i ff. ,;/,/.'/, 
 
 f * mil if. * tuntg <\ tiiiiljjiiii. [il.'ii , 
 
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 ^ [In mb 
 
 ml. i] i fiy, ii nth If 
 I Y" untKuiinu tula/tu^
 
 S8 
 
 Thy feathers are soft, 
 
 Thy neck is long, thy beak little, 
 The colour of thy wing is variegated: 
 Thou art sweeter than the dove. 
 Ah! pretty pretty, 
 Ah ! dear little partridge ! 
 
 When the little partridge descends from the tree 
 And with his sweet voice chirps, 
 He cheers all the world, 
 He draws the heart from the sea of blood. 
 
 Ah ! pretty pretty, 
 
 Ah ! dear little partridge ! 
 
 AH the birds call thee blessed, 
 They come with thee in flocks, 
 They come around thee chirping: 
 In truth there is not one like thee. 
 Ah ! pretty pretty, 
 Ah ! beautiful little partridge !
 
 59 
 
 \kn ,/,/.,. ( fn 1. 1 > IA ,/,//,/,/,, 
 
 IfjtianLy ttf^ijuifilf . 
 
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 VmJ 
 
 \fffL ///.nq,,,,, /,//!. 
 
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 VmJ 
 
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 ^,1. tn y . /. /({n if ufii gu/nutit fin [n til i
 
 60 
 
 XIV. 
 
 To the stork. 45 
 
 Welcome stork! 
 
 Thou stork welcome ! 
 
 Thou hast brought us the sign of spring. 
 
 Thou hast made our heart gay. 
 
 Descend o stork! 
 
 Descend o stork upon our roof, 
 Make thy nest upon our ash-tree, 
 Thou our dear one. 
 
 Stork, I lament to thee ; 
 
 Yes, o stork, I lament to thee, 
 I will tell thee my thousand sorrows, 
 The sorrows of my heart, the thousand sor- 
 rows. 
 
 Stork, when thou didst go away 
 
 When thou didst go away from our tree, 
 Withering winds did blow, 
 
 o ' 
 
 They dried up our smiling flowers. 
 
 The brilliant sky was obscured, 
 That brilliant sky was cloudy:
 
 61 
 
 ^&- i i ui^l in! 1 1 '/YI^I,/// fl-l'l'l* 
 
 Kte > 
 
 i/irn ni i n' 1 1 
 
 ' | w< 
 
 1 W/ ^111 11 1 a 1 1 iiuii I. nit i n n [nl* 
 
 \ I/'/""/'" 
 
 <\ inn /, f ti lr p. 
 
 trnlfffbgii
 
 a 
 
 From above they were breaking the snow in 
 
 pieces: 
 Winter approached., the destroyer of flowers. 
 
 Beginning from the rock of Varaca, 24 
 Beginning from that rock of Varaca, 
 The snow descended and covered all, 
 In our green meadow it was cold. 
 
 Stork, our little garden, 
 
 Our little garden was surrounded with snow, 
 
 Our green rose trees 
 
 Withered with the snow and the cold. 
 
 XV. 
 
 The youngman and the -water. 
 
 Down from yon distant mountain 
 
 The water flows through the village. Ha! 
 
 A dark boy came forth 
 
 And washing his hands and face, 
 
 Washing, yes washing, 
 
 And turning to the water asked. Ha! 
 Water, from what mountain dost thou come ? 
 
 my cool and sweet water ! Ha ! 
 I came from that mountain., 
 
 Where the old and the new snow one on the 
 other.
 
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 ujj , 
 fnl& 
 
 . 
 
 c w u l uiii P t 
 
 ;>""//'/./' mi u i 1 1. '! ft 
 
 utUtjutUft ^nij 
 j(| k/( /// ifui'hut /i //*' ^j nni_nu 
 
 4
 
 64 
 
 Water, to what river dost thou go ? 
 
 O my cool and sveet water ! Ha ! 
 I go to that river 
 
 Where the bunches of violets abound. Ha ! 
 Water, to what vineyard dost thou go? 
 
 O my cool and sweet water ! Ha ! 
 I go to that vineyard 
 
 Where the vinedresser is within. Ha ! 
 Water, what plant dost thou water ? 
 
 O my cool and sveet water ! Ha ! 
 I water that plant 
 
 Whose roots give food to the lamb, 
 
 The roots give food to the lamb, 
 
 Where the apple tree and the anemone. 
 Water, to what garden dost thou go ? 
 
 my cool and sweet water! Ha! 
 I go into that garden 
 
 Where the sweet song of the nightingale. Ha ! 
 ]vVater, into what fountain dost thou go? 
 I O my cool and sweet little water ! 
 1 go to that fountain 
 1 ^/Vhere thy lover comes and drinks : 
 
 1 go to meet her and kiss her chin, 
 
 And satiate myself with her love.
 
 65 
 
 nt -f ij-ni. ft Jitf* uin.itL. If I. [i[J tun . 
 I *// uiutnnli P/'/'ff iii-iitiint if'lf t 
 
 TIII til I, ilnilint flffili 
 
 t ni - fij"? "vtb yt-pp-iuu 
 
 j j^/ n J, ffii fi // P// 4 
 
 M/ ^/ y M( /Y HUIl'llIf //III $(l[tl. II 
 
 if tun [ill 
 
 ft- 1' I, if-utn-^tt , 
 
 ipb'-u* t kc&v 
 ^ ut c^ ni - fat-p 
 
 T fti[/j.m5tf*b ui 
 | \"/"' ufipntfjfu jiiuj l.'liiuil':
 
 66 
 
 XVI. 
 
 The oldman and the ship. 
 
 Our Lord an oldman with the white beard 
 
 Seated with glory on the cross: 
 
 Cried sweetly to the sailors : 
 
 Oh! sailors you ray brothers! 
 
 My brothers, take this oldman into the ship. 
 
 I will offer many prayers for you . 
 Go away, go away, white-bearded oldman! 
 
 Our ship is not for prayers: 
 
 Our ship is large and the passage-money is 
 great: 
 
 This ship is freighted by a merchant. 
 He made the sign of the cross, and sealed a paper: 
 
 He extended his hand and took some sand, 
 
 He took the stone for money : There ! 
 
 There is money for you ! 
 He paid his passage-money and entered the ship: 
 
 There is money and dehkan 2tt for you. 
 The waters of the abyss were troubled, 
 
 The ship was overturned by the waves . 
 Whence didst thou come, o sinful man? 
 
 Thou art lost and thou hast lost us ! 
 I a sinner? give me the ship, 
 
 And you go to sweet sleep. 
 He signed with the right hand, 
 
 With the left he steared the ship.
 
 67 
 
 m 
 
 ( I ),,/// .y, finiiill. nif ^4/^ 
 
 | ,"//<"/'/ , 
 
 |^kl* ./. y 
 
 tuqofifo 
 JZr* ^ , * 
 
 j ; //// // 
 
 utuiptut- , 
 
 lui luili f tun. 
 
 j \> "/ -^/. '/ ffflUftT t-L. 
 *UtUL. 
 
 rftu^l. fjutli I 
 
 ynLjfi* n;i,, ll ;i,, l n, J uffiquinplrguJL. , 
 
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 I ^ " i ft- 1 1 111 1 1111 iiini it 'in 11 1 in p //'" . 
 
 .\f. a <y> 'him ffli /JiUif r [l
 
 68 
 
 It was not yet midday 
 
 The ship arrived at the shore. 
 Brothers, arise from sweet sleep, 
 
 From your sweet sleep and sad dreams: 
 
 Fall at the feet of Jesus : 
 
 Here is our Lord, here is our ship! 
 
 XVII. 
 
 Canzonette which is taught to children. 
 
 The light appears, the light appears! 
 
 The light is good : 
 
 The sparrow is on the tree, 
 
 The hen is on the perch. 
 The sleep of the lazymen is a year, 
 Workman, rise and commence thy work ! 
 
 The gates of heaven are opened , 
 
 The throne of gold was erected, 
 
 Christ was sitting on it: 
 
 The Illuminator was standing, 
 
 He had taken the golden pen, 
 
 He wrote great and small. 
 
 Sinners were weeping 
 
 And the just playing.
 
 69 
 
 ^ututuftutlfuiy 
 
 | } nn'li fi ijiiiifiiif'li 
 
 , yr ////// /. [tiuifiit in 
 i,!ii/jl. m/ ft ^^^ 
 
 I in iinnjiin jilt iiiiitjnii 
 A- /'titfi/f/i , 
 
 / 4 <\ '/>" , 
 
 I, [J mil (111 t 
 
 J ' 
 
 I in nun niiji\'li 
 
 pt" 
 
 ,/j,[i,n if /,f, 
 fnt-tf* /,/''/' , 
 futuqnLif /,/''/'
 
 70 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 The bear^ the fox^ and the wolf. 
 
 The wolf and the bear and the little fox had 
 
 made peace, 
 
 They were become uncles and nephews : 
 They have made the little fox a monk. 
 False monk, false hermit, false ! 
 
 The little fox went into the street and found an old 
 
 rag, 
 He made a hole and put his head in it, he took 
 
 a stick, 
 He put on an iron shoe, he made a hole in the 
 
 stone. 
 False monk, false hermit, false ! 
 
 The fox sent the wolf to fetch the bear : 
 I have accepted for thee this solitary life, 
 And thou dost not send me rations, 
 My ankles are sore, my knees are sore . 
 
 In the morning at day-light they go to the chase: 
 They caught a sheep a lamb and a ram: 
 They made the wolf the pious economist. 
 Unjust judge, unjust economist, unjust!
 
 71 
 
 , tuqtufa fez 
 
 ^, y,/. , 
 
 C/ utnnL.trunt.Lnii uputlifrn l.'ii 
 j|///(// 1 1 [i i, i lj I. i/ , 1 1 in in ujqof*) utnutn inn in s 
 
 O i//y'// <\ ut/jf, [i '//"/'' tf uilii/iii yl. [I , if mi ijiu'li uinjrn 
 
 | )//i /// 1 1 [i i it If I. y , /// xy; mrjt>[J ii/fiiiip IIIILUI 
 
 \\qnuliuU //>/<"//'<> ungntS* /'"'/ fa > 
 
 'I */M- ////.v f-ni J fill ^L-u jnt-n^tunlflrn , l/n^'u If uikn.t*n 
 
 4 ml. iLl.ji , bin'ii/ju If mt-nJrn 
 
 J V; i/// o //;/n '// /-^Y' I'll uitijiuL j mni I'll 
 | | 7 
 
 ( \~wjL njuuHUL.nn , fni_/L t.ui<-uiUtunuJt (\ IILII t
 
 72 
 
 The volf had made a portion for the bear of the 
 
 ewe 
 
 And ordered the lamb for the poor monk : 
 The ram for me , says he , for I have walked 
 
 much. 
 Unjust judge., unjust economist, unjust! 
 
 The bear had raised his paw and struck the wolf. 
 So hard he struck that he took away both his 
 
 eyes : 
 I am the first among you and you have given 
 
 me the ewe. 
 Unjust judge, unjust economist., unjust! 
 
 The fox who saw it was much afraid: 
 
 And seeing the cheese in the trap, said to the 
 
 bear: 
 
 My grand uncle, I have built a fine convent, 
 The place is a place of retreat, a place of prayer. 
 
 The bear had extended his paw to take the cheese: 
 The trap seized his neek on both sides; 
 Little fox, my nephew, why do you not help 
 
 me? 
 This is not a convent, not a place of prayer. 
 
 The little fox seeing it, was much pleased: 
 
 He made a funeral service and prayed for his 
 
 soul: 
 
 The misery of the wolf, which thou hast oc- 
 casioned, has seeized thee : 
 This place is a place of retreat, a place of prayer.
 
 73 
 
 1 ) <///'" piftUHtu u.tfin'h fiiuJ-/fl, If 
 
 | J \y/y>//// //// J , /,/<//, , /. // !///// J-nun. 
 
 ( ) ii /I rfn/iiiiui ii(, , <\ n, n f'n/J in'hii/fiiufi }f nL.lt. 
 
 ijU ft if in ^u t^ufiflrp 
 
 , bin it. p.utJ- tuUutftutp 
 
 \*,I,H I. ,,,,, l/i, nfi y ////// ,nf. nf.fi , 
 
 I ' ifninilifi^li i m Iflu ii in ml. nl. [i i iu(iVni'li iiiiif.fi 
 
 . " 
 
 lrq^ utijo(3-k[nL. 
 
 uin.l. p 
 
 S^/. y/y j/, ijii/lj/ii ij uil. ij t i iuifn[J I. fiiL inf. ij . 
 
 1J 1 ' 
 
 
 <)tuyt.i* (ulrijtt njt y.nt5* 
 
 . inlrqj 
 
 10
 
 74 
 
 O Justice., them pleasest me much! 
 
 \Vhoever does harm to another soon perishes: 
 As the bear in the trap is obliged to fast: 
 That place is a place of retreat, a place ol 
 
 prayer! 
 
 XIX. 
 
 On a little knife lost. 
 
 My heart trembled in my breast from fear: 
 From fear my heart was powerless : 
 What shall I answer to my papa, 
 For I have lost my little knife ? 
 
 It was strong and sounding, 
 
 \Vith a single stroke it cut through a large cu- 
 cumber: 
 
 1 did not sleep out in the village of others 
 And I did not take it from my bosom in the hou- 
 ses of others. 
 
 My knife had good manners: 
 
 It remained with me all day without being tied: 
 They made me drunk, they deceived me 
 And they seized it. 
 
 My knife gave me advice, 
 
 That I should keep aloof from dry bread.
 
 75 
 
 v , tutP tfti fuftuut 
 
 1 1'/ "'//"'/ '/""" f/llllll- '/I- 1< . Till III If 
 
 I I/'"/'" tUftjfU ft JtU^UtUUiinU 
 
 tfutUni-y wlr 
 
 M fuunjviffilf L /i jut/urn 
 
 | )/'/""" ^ ifrnpfcliu '/'"/'('/{' 
 
 ^^Irnjti.fiu ft fin'ii J. ^i[*1 ui^i ^ 
 
 I iis /''// "%CjtL.uiui iiifniniiil 11^11111^111 a , 
 
 [|/T 
 
 | } V. A ///, A 
 
 (\L k^-P&b b J^JUS 
 
 frngnt-u ft 
 
 in 'hi, [t uttjtjlf jtuuiiuuf , 
 
 ,/. tn /i'li.\ [jl.'luu^i y<Y/// mil nilij 
 fuiup. 
 
 ' ^luflinLJI /fin unii^i ffbXft /lift iiuni
 
 76 
 
 I know that it is not good for thy teeth.; 
 And also without pity it burthens thee. 
 
 When there are soft loaves and hot bread, 
 Rejoice and expand thy visage: 
 Give advice and preach to the matrons 
 To knead them with oil. 
 
 When we went to the banquet and feast, 
 My knife told me slily: 
 When thou seest nice bits 
 Without me thou shalt not put out thy hand. 
 
 W^ith much address it sliced the ham., 
 It encouraged me and exhorted me: 
 Fill the glass and give it to my hand 
 Let us eat and drink, that my soul may be gay. 
 
 My knife had great care of me, 
 
 It gave me good counsels with affection : 
 Do not sit down near any body 
 In order that thou mayest satisfy thyself with 
 little care. 
 
 I pity thee that thou hast no teeth, 
 When thou meetest with raw meats. 
 Do not swallow it greedily, 
 That it remain not in thy throat and thou be- 
 come a joke. 
 
 My knife was very affectionate with me: 
 When we went into the house of others,
 
 77 
 
 \\uiffn, ij fun *l. 11 /fl/i , 
 
 \\, ( /.,, f^, y/.^A , V 
 
 \\liiiinin> i 'initial inin ii uniilnii^iljliiii 11 
 
 O /, // <Y/ /. [i/J iii'iif <ujftfy in i / I, ~^ i (in , 
 Oo/^/t.</ mill. ^ 
 
 I ''/' ^ "{' a a 'in a 
 
 | n 
 
 nn 
 
 tufunt-u ft -^ 1. in a Ifn (11(1 a a i 
 J \(/Y</' fuftntum 
 
 K 'h fin u 1(1^1 ft 
 
 i fin ij, a i uiifnuif <.,,,'!,( in 
 
 -/3 1. nn If* 
 ufnqtuifff. , f^ffufiu "Xiunfiu t 
 
 (i ^!. inn /,[i (11(1,1111 
 |, V Y"Y'
 
 78 
 
 When it saw the roasting meat.. 
 It flicl not let me take the curds. 
 
 My knife was more than a doctor.. 
 
 Every day it preached to my parishioners: 
 When the day of blessing houses arrived 
 Bring to my master fried fish. 
 
 My knife said to me: Thou art my master,, 
 Do not show me to any body : 
 Here for a moment abstain from wine 
 And do not let me be stolen. 
 
 This song had written Martiros : 
 My knife was fond of ham : 
 They carried me to the wedding of a bridegroom, 
 I had not advantage, because I lost it. 
 
 God was good and merciful, 
 
 I found my knife and it never left me more: 
 When I saw others eat any thing 
 My heart trembled before them. 
 
 My knife said to me: Care not so much: 
 Rejoice that thou hast found me: 
 Till July thou must have patience, 
 And then I will give thee to eat cucumber with 
 honey. 
 
 My knife was honest with affection, 
 It sat near the ladies : 
 It gave many good counsels: 
 Take milk with cream.
 
 79 
 
 l- i['"y 
 U/./ '"/./' <"'/'/'' .'/../ /' 
 
 ( ) <YY'' /y Y "'7 ""/"""//' 
 
 '" "><>'' f> 
 
 ' Illllllll II I III! Ill I I I *ll til I, II III I 'I HI , 
 
 ( ) //</ ///i yiu ylil.^t unll^li lfiuptj.nl- 
 
 ( '|'"> //"///,/,/< ,,[.,,^1, '/.j>f- >/ /' if (flint. 
 
 iiiifiini a anintui , \l. jim Acrnjuq 
 
 I V/{_'? """^ j""^ fofy 
 
 ^1. ii'lnn il* ii in i in i it ii [iii 11 in ft it.lt Jutn 
 
 j ni -Lb u 
 
 /fi.^ujji'iii.ir if/, i i ^n iij fuftutjt 
 
 fuftuui 
 
 m/,i 
 I \uinn jiinnuiut /fin mmii jiiftti/
 
 80 
 
 When thou meetest with lamb's meat, 
 With pepper ground and roasted., 
 Sit down on the border and exhort it, 
 Give a little glass also over it. 
 
 o 
 
 It was older then you in time., 
 It said always to itself: 
 Bring not dry bread, 
 Because it will not tender the hand for shame. 
 
 In reading this psalm 
 
 I bless the soul of him who give it me: 
 Because the two days in which it abandoned 
 
 me 
 Not even a single sparrow fell into my teeth. 
 
 In the world there is not a more foolish man than 
 
 me: 
 
 I was desirous, although ignorant, of this song: 
 In order that men might srnile and mock me 
 When they repeat it at great feasts. 

 
 81 
 
 C ) I' 1 '/ 1 iniiiiin f. iinil A /. A i/j A /tin il)iiniii , 
 
 I* 
 
 i 
 
 ^iinl tiijii nij jt'li iiit HI 
 
 I , V ' / /'" vM "^ P" 
 
 ^^llllf it 1,1,1 <(>'!' If,, i, ^'li^'ijin If I //l 1//IH t 
 
 II
 
 NOTE* 
 
 i These songs or poem> are written in the annenian vulgar 
 language, but in different dialects; although many of them are very 
 near the literal or classic armenian tongue. They were also composed 
 at different epochs from the XIV and some perhaps from the XIII 
 up to the last century. The greatest part of them we have collected 
 from armenian manuscripts in our library of St. Lazarus, but some 
 of the copies are very incorrect, and the sense left in incertitude : 
 there are others in which obsolete and foreign words are employed: 
 we have therefore judged it opportune to accompany these songs 
 with the following brief illustrations. 
 
 a This Leo who was afterwards Leo the III, having made war 
 during his father's absence, against the sultan of Egypt, who had 
 invaded Cilicia, was made prisoner and taken to Egypt. After some 
 lime his father Haithon or Hethum the I, returning from Tartan j 
 first by force of arms, and afterwards by conferring a favour on the 
 sultan, recovered his son. 
 
 3 Mry-dtin, a tnrkish word, which signifies a square or place. 
 
 4 Sis was the capital of the armenian kings of Cilicia : and 
 now it is the seat of an armenian patriarch. 
 
 5 This was a city near the river of Aras and mount Ararat , 
 inhabited by rich merchants, adorned with many beautiful palaces 
 and churches : which were in part destroyed by the great Cbah- 
 Abbas, king of Persia, who carried its inhabitants into his dominions 
 at the beginning of the XVII century. This new colony built a town 
 opposit Ispahan and called it New Cinlfa or Cingba (*!,/
 
 84 
 
 and on this account their ancient habitation was called Old Ciugha, 
 which is now almost entirely destroyed. 
 
 6 Massis (!)'//'") is the name used by Armenians instead of 
 Ararat. 
 
 7 Etcmiazin (^$itA/4) near Erivan, is the most celebrated 
 convent of Armenia, and the seat of its great patriarch or Gatholicos 
 
 8 Arm. lwf> \ijiputuf . This was anciently an abyss or well, 
 in which criminals were thrown. S. Gregory the Illuminator of the 
 Armenians was also thrown into it: after his apostolate this place 
 was converted into a church and convent, and was one of the most 
 celebrated pilgrimages of Armenia. 
 
 9 S. Lance (f^lfquifi^iy t^oA^) is a great and celebrated convent 
 in Armenia, named also Ayrivank ( [^.jf^'l^f . Convent of the Ca- 
 vern) where the sacred Lance was long preserved. Mooghni (ip.^) 
 another convent, where there was a pilgrimage to S. George. 
 
 10 Sea of Van (iL".?w/ fc) is the most celebrated and the 
 largest of the armenian lakes, so named from the city of Van or 
 Semiramocerta (QuiJfrfiiuiRufylrpui) : 
 
 i i Aghtamar (\*fip-uuTuip) t one of the four islands of the lake of 
 Van, and the seat of an armenian patriarch. 
 
 12 Avan (ULt-tuV), a little town or village on the opposite side of 
 the lake. 
 
 1 3 Osdan ((]"""*')? a little town on the S. E. shores of the lake. 
 
 i^ This song is much changed in the manuscripts j some are 
 shorter, some longer: we have united all the verses together. 
 
 15 The crane, the stork, and the partridge are the favourite 
 birds of the armenian popular poets, as will be seen in other songs. 
 
 16 The bridegroom is called king among the Armenians. 
 
 1 7 Fez or fess:, a cap of red cloth worn by the Turks and many 
 other oriental people. 
 
 18 The bridegroom holds in his hand an apple during the 
 < eremony of the marriage. 
 
 19 Seethe Note 8. 
 
 20 Jagovig (p,<4///'4) in arm: is a persian martyr, who was 
 put to death by cutting off all his limbs at the joint*.
 
 85 
 
 at The oriental pancake is named in armenian losh or lavash 
 (!.*_. l-*~i.) 
 
 22 The men of Van have the peculiar gift of poetry: this song and 
 number IV, as also the following XIV, are specimens of their popular 
 language and poetry. 
 
 a 3 The stork is considered by the Orientals sacred lo hospitality. 
 
 -i Varac M| y Y > is a rocky mountain lo the !',. of the town 
 and lake of Van. 
 
 a 5 Dehkan i 'j. ./.-;/. ///'// 1 is the unity of money among the 
 Armenians.
 
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 SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388 
 
 Return this material to the library 
 
 from which it was borrowed. 
 
 
 : 
 
 JAN 2 5 1999 
 
 NOV i 1 REDD :00
 
 A 000022236 4 
 INDEX 
 
 To the British public . . 2 
 
 I. On Leo son of Haithon . . , . 4T 
 
 II. On the daughter of an armenian prince 
 
 on her departure to be married to a Tar- 
 tar prince ..'.... 6 
 
 III. The Armenians in their emigration from 
 
 OldCiulfa. . . . .12 
 
 IV. On one who was shipwrecked in the lake 
 
 of Fan . . . ' . . .14 
 
 V. The lamentation of a bishop, who having 
 
 planted a vineyard, and before it gave 
 fruit^ his last day coming, he sings thus. 1 8 
 VL Elegy of Adam 24 
 
 VII. Lament of a mother on her son who died 
 
 in infancy. . . . . .30 
 
 VIII. On the same subject . . . .32 
 
 IX. Song of the new bride . . . .36 
 
 X. A song on the bridegroom . . .40 
 
 XI. The pilgrim to the crane . . .48 
 
 XII. The elegy of a partridge . . .52 
 
 XIII. On the partridge 56 
 
 XIV. To the stork 60 
 
 XV. The youngman and the water . . 62 
 
 XVI. The oldman and the ship . . .66 
 
 XVII. Canzonette which is taught to children . 68 
 
 XVIII. The bear, the fox, and the wolf . . 70 
 
 XIX. On a little knife lost . . " . . 74 
 
 Notes 83

 
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 SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388 
 
 Return this material to the library 
 
 from which i? was borrowed. 
 
 ': 
 DC! 
 
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 NOV i 1 RBTD : OOAM 
 
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