i

1 1 11

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

TAJftttAJTt

,1

TO

CONSUL GENERAL
OF

THE SUBLIME PORTE

EGG. EGG. EGG.

J.H presenting
Collection of our
that

to

the

British

Public

this

volume of a
thought

Armenian Popular Songs

dedicate
it

we have

we could not

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

Muses.

leisure to cultivate the

The
Society

cordiality with

which You
visit

receive the

members of our

who from

time to time

England has emboldened

, ,

us to publisli the frendship that subsists between us

est tie

tlie

strong-

which connects Connationalists in a foreign country.

2111213

<At's

frendship
tts
,

and

respect for

You, we doubt not

would be shared with

by any studious Englishman

little

who may

peruse and favourably receive our

work.

London 22 August 1852-

LEO M. ALISHAN DD.

ARMENIAN

n-uiriin.il

To

THE BRITISH PUBLIC

To your

enterprising spirit of inquiry? which

its

more than any other nation has extended

ches into the regions of the East? this
little

resear-

collection
is

of ARMENIAN POPULAR SONGS

denied that from a nation
boasts?

is

presented. It

not be

like the

Armenian? which

of the East?

and justly? of being one of the most ancient and which has possessed for so long a
something more copious and elegant might

period the advantages of a cultivated and flourishing

litterature?

have been expected', but considering the frequent

revolutions of that
sions of so

unhappy

nation?

and

the incur-

many

barbarous tribes? which? during the

its

oppressive slavery to which they reduced

tants^ not only destroyed
its

inhabi-

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
work

lan-

guage, may find favour with a People, so enlightened,

and one

that so greatly encourages every

cal-

culated to illustrate any portion of the vast field of

Ancient East.

ARMENIAN

On Leo

son of Haithon

/.

say alas ! for Leo, who has fallen Into slavery into the power of Moslems.

My

light,

my

light,

The holy Gross

aid

and holy Virgin! Leo and all!

The Sultan is come into the meydan He plays with his golden globe.

'\

My

light,

my

light,

The holy Gross

aid

and holy Virgin! Leo and all!

to Leo:
it

He played and gave " and

Take, play

it

give

to thy papa.

My light, my light, and holy Virgin! The holy Gross aid Leo and all!
w
Leo,
I
if

thou wilt become Moslem,

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
i

Joj intuit

I-

[I- 1
t

yr

in

Iff

rjin'lnifli fftn

JUUIIJUJJ

f
|

I'" /'/'

|u"'

r/ '

^>if lniifftiili

I,

^lifin in

iiiifl.'liin

ntiU l.nl.,,,.

^
'

"*-

motf
t.
/

^
nt- uiJlriiai-u

My

light,

my

light,

The holy Gross

Leo
44

aid

and holy Virgin Leo and all!

sitting in the fortress

With

a handkerchief to his eyes wept.

Thou caravan which Thou shalt announce

his

goest to Sis,
to

my

papa!

When

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
The holy Gross
aid

of his heart.
Virgin!

My light, my light, my light, and holy

Leo and
all
!

II.

On

the daughter

departure

to be

of an Armenian prince on her marled to a Tartar prince.

THE MAID

Why

dost thou

sit silent at

Rise,

come

forth, hear
!

thy work ? what they say.

of thee

Oh unhappy was this worthy To be the bride of a Tartar?

Thou wert worthy
to

be the

mistress.,

L
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/y

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mini nililili

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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
I

dost thou say, o foolish maid

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

What news

thy tongue turn black, thy mouth do they speak of?

THE MAID

become dry

The great prince has given thee To the Can of Tartary to take thee with him.
THE DAUGHTER

maids maids, come come

Weep

the misfortune of

my

lost

head!

Black was the day of

my

birth,

**

tru
ffftL. f'turj

iyY
I

tuuutqnn. [J (iiiuti
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until. f,

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10

unhappy was born. from thy tomb, Mother, Hear the news of thy daughter.
I

On which

rise

My
It

black fate has willed

it so,

has driven

May May

alone to Tartary. death tear my soul away, pitiless the earth open and swallow me up.
THE MAID

me

W^iat sighs are these, young princess, Salt-tears and bitter lamentation
:

Let us

bear thy grief together, Let us offer our heads for thee :
all

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

Enough

grief, for thee, beat not thy breast.

THE OLD

WOMAN
:

have been sixty years at thy gate Thy father and grand father were on
ders

my
;

shoul-

Born, brought up and became princes 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

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\riett
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if

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Hill
II It

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12

And always

Forget not our Armenian nation ; assist and protect it.

in thy

Always keep

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
Ye

to ye poor

Without a
are

fault

Armenian people! and without a thought ye have

;

been scattered

gone into slavery to Ispahan, Hungry and thirsty and naked and poor.

Ye have supported

And ye have &

a hundred thousand sorrows, 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
it

left

them, ye

who go?
?

How
I

happens

that ye forget

them

fear they will

But while ye

be effaced from your mind: live do not forget them:

13
1

lit/nil

nilniiii

-^tt/jnij u///rj{iu

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J mil

i/yi//yyy -y/y /n/

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in

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fifi

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rift

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tli'iij,!. ^I'IHII

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^^JL*"*'

nf

l2_*HL

JuigtrpUni-q. ytutfufi

14
At least recount to your children and grand dren ,
chil-

That you have

left

your country so ruined.

The name

, that of the Noah's Ark, That of the plain of Ararat, of S. Etcmiazin , That of the deep Abyss % of S. Lance and Moo-

of Masis

ghni

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
When we
arrived before

l4
:

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
//////,////,///./

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|

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ml.

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till III

III. I

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16

Thundered the heaven, thundered the The waves of the blue sea arose:

earth,

On every side the heavens shot forth Black terror invaded my heart.

fire,

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

sea has no pity
freezes in

my

heart

. .

The savage
It

hears not the plaintive voice of my broken heart;

The blood

my

veins,

Black night descends upon

my

eyes...

Go tell to my mother To sit and weep for her darkened

That John was the prey of the

son ;

sea,

The sun

of the

youngman

set

17
/J/m/y
1

!
'/

l'l(l' 'l'

mi ""/
in H
fin

I.

if

tuflli

;//////. //u//

f"<

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fif,

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11

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i

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'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
I

this newly-built vineyard.

must not come from

this vineyard

Because there are thorns around it: I cannot come forth from my vineyard

From my
I

beautiful vineyard.

have brought stones to my valleys, I have brought thorns to my mountains

I

have built round

say:

it

a wall.

They
f

Gome

forth from this vineyard.

have planted young vines, I have watered the roots of

this plantation..

iffi

(inji "'j'//' inCilfbji

fbu
I,

'"j<il>f<
ft

mm w/
n n fill

ni
ft

n
If

n
iij

vim hi }l. if ojifid rfwRmR Hutuhn

ni/pi wiufc/ t:

m,/!,,/,,!!,/,/;

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L uyu
//////'/
,

uyu

20
have not yet eaten of their fruit: They say: Gome forth from this
I
I

vineyard.

have built a wine-press, I have buried the wine-vat,

have not yet tasted the wine, They say: Gome forth from this vineyard.
1
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.

have brought water to my valleys, Gold and savouring fountains:

I

They
I

have not yet drunk of their water: say: Gome forth from this vineyard.
in my vineyard, of heaven into this basin, it are flowers and light:

have built a basin

The dew
Around

They
I

say:

Gome

forth from this vineyard.

have planted roses in this vineyard, There are red and white roses
:

have not yet smelt their fragrance: They say: Gome forth from this vineyard.
in this vineyard
:

have sown flowers

I

There are green and yellow:

have not yet picked these flowers: They say: Gome forth from this vineyard.

n
juiju
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.

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it

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1

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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 will

may imbibe

the fragrance:

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

light of

The

my eyes was dimmed:

brief sun
!

Alas! for

my

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'" '"
I"(i

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M/
j

/,'// 4"
.

^utut-p uyy.tyu
f^

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nl'
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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
Oh

sitting

at the gate of Paradise

Wept

and said sadly: Seraphim, oh Cherubim

enter Paradise,

Who
I

was king

in

Eden,
:

Like to a powerful king For one only command

Of that

fruit of that

immortal tree,

<

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My y //,/

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26

On account

Who

of Eve my consort. 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

was deceived.

When

saw her

so shameless

Despoiled of her glory as the devil,

was touched with pity Of the immortal fruit

I said:

for her:
I

took and eat

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

to Paradise, and I

Coming

was surprised:

With

the leaf of the figtree I girt Among the trees I hid myself:
:

my

reins,

He come and called Adam where naked: I replied: I am

art thou ?

My
I

Lord,

have heard thy voice,

told ye that ye are
tell

was frighted and ashamed. o

But

who

naked ?

Or who deceived ye ?

me.

27

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'/////.,

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ill,

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,

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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:
shall

Dust je were and dust ye I pray ye, o Seraphim,

I

become.

lament, o, hear

me

When

Take

ye enter Eden, 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
I

me

will look

standing at the gate, a moment and then bring

me

back.

Ah!

remember
I

And sweet
Ah!

ye, o flowers, smelling fountains 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
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30

VII.

Lament of a mother on her son who died

in infancy.

gaze and weep mother of my boy, I say alas and woe is me wretched

What
I

will

become

of wretched

me
!

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
tree

flourishing

beautiful

almond-

And

left

me

without

fruit;

//'//-

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\\lfl.
<] fill

Lik^u
/inii/ifm

anuutr^ium

fiJy

'//>{>///">

iun

[ill

(J

inflfinijitii

-^

'>

if

(i

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^
lufi/flt

il[IILlllSll[lll

rj/.if*

tu

O ullun yii^imlli

'(l

J_ u

1 1.

It

11

[in

^iu^tu.^f.^l.u
tiiltuiutni.il
Uiflffil '[['I!

32

By beating

it

And

trod

it

they threw it on the ground under foot with the earth of the

grave.

What

will become of wretched me! Many sorrows surrounded me.

O my
And

God, receive the soul of

my

little

one
!

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 The summer was snowy, The seasons were changed to me And the freezing air struck me.

winter,

The sweet was bitter And my food became

ashes ;

My My tongue

flesh stuck to in

my my mouth was

bones was dried,

dried,

33
{
j

j"///i////

,u
i>

ii

[i (It'

inputJni-(3 fillip

H/.////I/. ,y/i

//

rf
1.

"

1 iff /'/*

'

'

nifil.

if

inffjili
i

(unii
i

ni^il. ifiin
'li

\|

ml.

ii

ii

1,

[i

f'ji/.l

\*~

"mini,

1,

ijiin/ 1

<\

1^1

in<\

Iff.

ifini

*ut[inL.'b(ib

n f (in in
i
i

Xftiflrn. ffbZi
If

\*

ill

n n't

n unit, I

.\(n'liuif

I.

I.

^i

ijjfiu

fulfill,'

3i

if

11(11 (i[i

jni

I.

lj

[in

ffjiiil.

uij
t

I.

ijiii

fi

ffii/ii

faiT yuttlutpktJUlt-

34

When my
My

beautiful boy died

breath was gathered,

this
life

When
My

my lips were bound

my pretty boy died was equal to the earth.

my
peacock and lamb died
dearest
little

When
My

this

brain turned and was lost:

this

When

my

one flew
deaf.

My mouth was hushed, my ear was

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
Yet
let

ground.

me

thank

God

Who
O my
And

received him with the holy boys. God, receive the soul of my little one

place

him

at rest in the bright

heaven!

II
r.

wsi
fmSyjm

' j

/"

ii/i[iiitt/iiJ(iij

ijiun'lifilfti

ill.

nfl

nun

lrg
nj,
\/.
|

fin/////

yin-trui!)

J"

liMJUfXiufi tnn

I.

ui i
If

IJ

I.

fin Ifinn^il. ijtin

I''/"/

i""

[>('

i/iiflilfii/lijli [irjiiiit ftifffiu^nti

IX.

Song of the new

bride.

Little threshold.,
It is for

be thou not shaken

me

to be shaken,

To

bring

lilies.

Little plank, be thon not stirred; It is for me to be stirred,

To
Little

bring

lilies.

It is for

ground, shake thou not; me to be shaken,

lilies.

To

bring

Little tree,
It is for

tremble not;
to tremble,
lilies.

me

To

bring

Little leaf,
It is for

be thou not thrown down:

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

lit

III'//

Illlllll

I,

fill

/'//

^ ^./
/.

^ </

'/

unnjuittL.
UlUl'lll.

III

lilt I

fll!

}*l

II II III

If

I//I

/JIHJItl
,

I\U
(

/.

y/iy,/,//;,
i/i
i

in

^nlli

it'll/,

fin

I ,

in

^nlli

iintilil.

fin

in

TIII'II

inui'lil.

[in

1
/

^//.

I///
I.

XM

if*

iifiiunl. fin
iintflil.

(^

ill

^nili

fin

38

Moon,

arise not:

It is for

me

to arise,

To
Moon,

bring

lilies.

It is for

circulate not; me to circulate,

lilies.

To

bring

Stars, sparkle not: It is for me to sparkle,

To

bring

lilies.

fs

Crane, cry not;

It is for

me

to cry,

To

bring

lilies.

Mamma, weep
It is for

me

not; to weep,

To
Papa,

bring

lilies.

weep
bring

It is for

me

not; to weep,

To

lilies.

Brother,
It is

weep not;

for

me

to

weep,

To

bring

lilies.

They had deceived the

needle and a ball:

mamma

with a knitting-

They had deceived papa with a cup of wine: They hade deceived the brother with a pair
boots:

of

They had deceived the

of

little

sister

with a finger

antimony.

39

in

Ttilii

/u a

fill
I.

JH
it'

uiuiinn
mi'iu'l. i"<
iinu'lil.
,

\f"
("*

in

fuili

[in

in

fnili

iinu'lil.

fin

\\jin, n'lilf

lift

///"/'"
,

|/
(

IriT

faijiuiiH-

in *uili unii'lil.

[in

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
soul.
fill

the wish of thy

They passed with a r

/

sieve the raisin

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
All
altar:

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

seek the brother,

to our king.
ec.)

Go and

(sister., ec.

41

O tiu

Wht
ni.

iff

iliiiijinj

ifniijl. tifili

^"t^c

fiy'-sfi'
f

i/Y'/'"/ Xttit/fUILb i[[i[ll.ij[i'li

>'//// (

jx^

y//'^
-

11

ij

I, i^i If

a t a f if utfquAtffii
/J
,//y

|u/./-'/'
|

juupfit

i/lrp

Go and

Let him come and

seek the crane from the desert; sit and observe

:

knees before the holy All good and prosperity to our king. Go and seek the duck from the lake ;
his

Let him bend

altar:

Let him come and Let him bend

his

sit

and observe

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
All

altar

good and prosperity to our king.

ANSWER

To

our king became flowers of flowers {Thrice). What sort of flower must we give him?
of flowers
:

The flower
balsam
Because
it

which becomes him

is

the

blossoms and flowers together.

of the flowers

The flower

which becomes him

which becomes him

is

the snow-bell.

The flower of the The

flowers

is

the everlasting. flower of the flowers which becomes him

the

is

pomegranate, (the

lily,

the rose).

ANSWER

By the help of the holy Precursor, yes by his There came a king with a face like a cross.

help

43

I ''/"//

'l>

fin

111

('

ulypuA
,,,,,

in'/'/,
,//.

Y'''"' '/ '/'//

ijnifilf!,

f,f

y ,,//////,
t

rfi (<1

ivy, ny/ff*

Jlrf,
1

{J <,,,(,/;/,

/,
1

v/

/.

//././../

f^u^iuiif
ill,

,/,/Y,///,
*

I ''/'"/ '/y "'"'/'

/^i

nil i

t tilt I,

Y''

""^ '/'// lutpfyk uni^ip.

./ /.

y i,/'i///ij

<'

1 u > ( )* "lf 4'*' folk''!'

/ \iiinififf uMutiutunli

nln ul,

1 1

ANSWER

Our king was crossed., our king was crossed " His fez was red, his sun was green. was crossed, our king was crossed; Our king 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?
it is

That large heap

lage.

the provisions of the

vil-

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.

fy lJiu^Lp H
^j
>///.//'

Iff /mi/.
,

i/trp

Puiii-npu
ljn,'liii!li*

Ifp //////,.
,

Ifp fytupjflp

tUpt-Lb Iff

*/
1

f^iuif-i-npit Ifp (uutfj, i/Irp

fi utit-n(fu

Ifp //////,.

!//''

4/ QtupJliF

ujplrib

A^f [^uf^t.nffu Ifp

\\lnnifi, ,/(

fuui^ Jlrp
ilut*
,

[IUUMII

iflrp

Ifp

//,;////////,:

'

//"i(ii/j'i>

t'li

nifif.

Ifp

ill 1 1 ill 1

If

/Y /J,,,y,
|

/y///

4/

/W"^
1'

^7
n'l'f-

[uill-.npU Ifp
'''>

fill"*

''/'/' '/''''

'/'

'''I

'"I"'"'

///
if

[t i]

it'll

p.lftn

f l,in

if f> if

ill i

i/i/.

i//,y

/./

/.

////

lyi'/f

4"

If

^jiji fitii/niif

I-U

ml.
Ifll
,

1 1 1,,

ft

(3-lf tfti nnli If

i

~\iiji initiiiiii

imiiiljl.

fi/jlil. flli

If

46

Who

is

he
she

like a

That large column

large column among them? is the father of the king.

Who

is

who

has the headdress of cotton with

a hole in it?

That of that headdress of cotton with it, is the mother of the king.

a hole in

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,
shed,

yes

we

have praised, yes

fini-

We have

placed the cross over them.

47
'
-

///
I

fin (in fnitl'fmljli

fi

tuff

ml.

ill,

/./

/,

////

iifili

If

'//

fin fit f

in,

/f infill
:t' .^
v

/i
1

<\

mff [J mif

tiffi

i/l,f'li

If

..'.>

i." -

'*'-

v.vVi", '-^' \

A
|

qo<^Utf^

n a, n
ij

I.

ml.
I.

ii'ilnj

ml. ul,
l.'li

f3-tf IfU npll If

"
'/

V'Y

'""""/

ml.

ni'liy*

[<1

mif
////

in
,

*^(i'li
//,

tf
.

/,

4
4-

,,

,f,//i,

ft fl.f,,!,,,

^nfc

/,,'[ (>['"

If

48

XI.

The

pilgrim to the crane.

Crane, whence doest thou come?

thy voice.

am

servant of

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?
possessions and vineyard, and hither:
I

have

left

my

ha-

ve

come

How

often do

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

ask
the**:
is

to those

who

Thy woice

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

We

and we arose and departed

have found out the miseries of

:

this false

world

cftt

<ii

|/i

W,

,,/,
iAfy
/.

1,1
/f

i,

ii/n

i//

|/i

'/,/, ,

'/'

'/'in/I. l>

(IIHI/II,/*

"in

11:11

if

Ifji-^iiiii'lifiii

f \\n,n'ul
1
1
-i

UfiU^

Jf,
'//

/i/

v//^

//t^, /I/YJ/I/Y/^V,

/,,,,,/{,/,//

fi

^
in
'li

\Y"i''l'f/

'A&Y* iu->{uui[i-^/,'/i htutufpfrll

'//'

(in

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
in tears.

of the pilgrim

is

in sorrow,, his eyes

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
are consumed:

lungs

The bread he
is

eats

is

bitter, the

water he drinks

tasteless.

Crane, hast thou not news from our country?

know not
:

either the holy day, nor the

working

day They have put

the
I

me on

the spit and placed

I feel

me

at

fire

mind not the burning, but

the

want

of

you. Crane, hast thou not news from our country ?

Thou comest from Bagdad and goest

tiers,
I will

to the fron-

write a

little letter

God will be the Thou wilt carry

and give it to thee witness over thee ;

it

and give

it

to

my

dear ones.

Si
l*jjin ^iiiyfjf.n 1/lUfirj.ffnflig

(
|

/,,'/,

/, ,

,ltrp utzJlltutflfU

,[/,/,//

I//,

'."

l \\n,n'l,l

If

ijtu

*,

in I n ft

(!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
eyes:

my

dear ones, I am always anxious for you! Crane, hast thou not news from our country?

my

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) birds! And weeping on a stone: And lamented with the little birds
:

birds, o fowls of the air

I

ascended high mountains (Double)^ 1 gazed on verdant meadows:

O
I

birds, o fowls of the air

fell

descended and

into the snare,

Into a net spread on the lake: 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'^- //'/'
,

^1i/i"'i'!.

[\>in,'l,/f

lOp lU^UUtp^lfU

/inn

iff

/i /f

JJl

^tl^lfu

J niji/f. fi

'/

'

^iiiijiun'lif. /'

/'/"/'

k'//

|
J

iifiin/iinu/niii/i
/</

MIIIII

fai

t-ftUft y'lni/ij/ifi
l

|/l

'//^

I//,

II

^i

lll*/l,lltfl*)[.'ll

If

fill

^1.

II

<lllll>[>

|/

ifiu'lilfunii

If'

in'1 1

1,

.\n,ij

l.nin'li

iluinif
J,
|

I.

'liiiijl.

yiiij

Y"' t

'"'/'/

54

My

purple blood They shed upon the ground:

rosy beak
sparkling flame
:

My

They exposed on the

My

They

little-stepping feet cut off at the knees.

My many-coloured

feathers
hill

They dispersed one to the That which fell on the hill,

one to the

valley:

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 for my shroud, And buried me with red wine.
:

2I

cried out the lamentation of Jeremiah,

And

that of the

first

father

and mother.

M
t

IUtU
1 1

fill' //liifli/f'firu
/.//;////

III
//

[I [it'll

1 1

(l tltUfl

t/Ujf^lrfffA
influx
Iff

iji

C) tu iii f"f tfiuitmnni-nutii nuiunt-bpu

|^
^j.'i.iju.if,, f,

far in

, t

,,

L ,i.,,i',,,.

\J
1

/tin

/"/'

it

iit'liiniii in'li

i/il.

nun

iiii

O
1-

(
1
1

if

('Vf- [i

fi

ii

if1.

11

1/

in

it

in
t[if. (i

Uuyb
I/

I*

Z-ffu

kf fitty
nc.

B(>^yi

IT

ftp <lrqkqli

tnutplrfi

/ ;

1 1
(

///
,/,'j,i,ji'ti

IfttUIftjtut k-gffu

fiui

iu"'fi
//'/

XIII.

On

the partridge.

"

The sun The

beats from the mountain'

top,

Pretty pretty:

Was

partridge comes from his nest saluted by the flowers,

He flew and came from the Ah pretty pretty, Ah dear little partridge
!

mountain'

top.

When
I

break

hear the voice of the partridge my fast on the house top:

s side.

The partridge comes chirping And swinging from the mountain'

Ah
*

pretty pretty,
little

Ah! dear

partridge!

Thy

nest

is

enamelled with flowers,

With

vasilico, narcissus

and

water-lily:

Thy place is full of dew, Thou delightest in the fragrant Ah pretty pretty, Ah dear little partridge
!
!

odour.

cf.9-

uil.nyu,

uuipflU
<,/,/,

i//. [i

/,'!.

JUI

y <"/'/'
*

/IK, [i
/.

j/. ////.
*

/.,////,

^////
<\

^i
l l

ff.

,;/,/.'/,

f
J(|

mil if.
w/
/;//

tuntg
I.

tiiiiljjiiii. [il.'ii
1

[Hi

[l {'it

^[In mb
ml.
i]
ii

fiy,

nth

If

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,
chirping:
In truth there
is

They come around thee

not one like thee.

Ah Ah

pretty pretty, beautiful little

partridge

59
\kn
,/,/.,.

fn 1.
(

>

IA ,/,//,/,/,,
IfjtianLy ttf^ijuifilf
.

'

*(n

in'in a

I.

jmiiij

I.

ly,,

1
'1,^1

VmJ

\fffL

///.nq,,,,, /,//!.

^^u

n'li

t\

in

I'll

uflflUI

If

[i^i

it 1 1

/r

VmJ

^nii

/.

11

ill.'1 1

fi'i
.

j>'
/.

I.

^,'1,1. If

/^

n n

in' i.

^,1. tn y

/({n

ufii
if

gu/nutit fin[n

til i

60

XIV.

To

the stork.

45

Welcome
Thou Thou Thou

stork!

stork

welcome

hast brought us the sign of spring. hast made our heart gay.

Descend o stork! Descend o stork upon our roof, Make thy nest upon our ash-tree,

Thou our dear

Stork,
I

one.

lament to thee

Yes, o stork, I lament to thee, I will tell thee my thousand sorrows,

The sorrows
rows.

of

my

heart, the thousand sor-

Stork,

When

didst go away thou didst go away from our tree, Withering winds did blow, o
'

when thou

They dried up our smiling

flowers.

The

brilliant

sky was obscured,

That

brilliant

sky was cloudy:

61

^&-

i ui^l

in!1 1

'/YI^I,/// fl-l'l'l*

Kte

>

i/irn ni i n'1 1

'

w<
|

W/

^111 11 1 a 1 1 iiuii

I.

nit

n n [nl*

I/'/""/'"

<\

inn

f
/, ti

lr

p.

trnlfffbgii

a
From above they were breaking
pieces:

the

snow

in

Winter

approached., the destroyer of flowers.

24 Beginning from the rock of Varaca, Beginning from that rock of Varaca,

The snow descended and covered

In our green

all,

meadow
garden,

it

was

cold.

Stork, our

little

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

flows through the village. Ha! dark boy came forth And washing his hands and face,

The water

Washing, yes washing,

to the water asked. Ha! from what mountain dost thou come ? Water, my cool and sweet water Ha I came from that mountain., Where the old and the new snow one on the
! !

And turning

other.

iit^iii if nif

i/uyr////

fji
,

it'll

iih

ujj

fnl&
.

w
i

uluiiiPt

;>""//'/./'

mi u

1. '!

ft

utUtjutUft
k/(
j(|

^nij

///

ifui'hut

//*'
/i

^j

nni_nu

64

Water,

to

what

river dost

thou go ?
!

O my
I

cool and sveet water

Ha

go

to that river

Where
Water,
I

the bunches of violets abound.

Ha

to

what vineyard dost thou go?

!

O my cool and sweet water go to that vineyard

Where
the vinedresser
is

Ha

within.

Ha
?

Water, what plant dost thou water

O my
I

cool and sveet water

Ha

water that plant

roots give food to the lamb, roots give food to the lamb, Where the apple tree and the anemone.

Whose

The

Water,

to

what garden dost thou go

my
I

cool and sweet water! Ha!

go into that garden Where the sweet song of the nightingale. Ha ]vVater, into what fountain dost thou go? O my cool and sweet little water
!

1
1

go to that fountain ^/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
if'lf

tun
t

I *//

uiutnnli

P/'/'ff

iii-iitiint

TIII til

I,

ilnilint

flffili

t ni fij"? "vtb
-

yt-pp-iuu

j^/

n J,

ffii fi

//

P//

4
II

M/

^/

M(

/Y

HUIl'llIf

//III

$(l[tl.

if

tun [ill
,

ft-

1'

I,

if-utn-^tt

ipb'-u*

kc&v
ni-

^utc^
|

fat-p
ui

T fti[/j.m5tf*b
\"/"' 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!

My

you ray brothers! brothers, take this oldman into the ship.
sailors
.

many prayers for you Go away, go away, white-bearded oldman!

Our Our
ship
ship
is
is

I will offer

not for prayers: 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
:

you He paid his passage-money and entered the for you. There is money and dehkan The waters of the abyss were troubled, The ship was overturned by the waves
!
2tt

There

is

money

for

ship:

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 With the left he

right hand, steared the ship.

67

( I

),,///

.y, finiiill. nif

^4/^

,"//<"/'/
./.

|^kl*

tuqofifo
JZr*

//// //
j

utuiptut-

lui luili

f tun.

\>

"/

-^/.
'/

ffflUftT

t-L.

*UtUL.

rftu^l. fjutli

ynLjfi*
' i

n;i,,

ll

;i,,

n,

J uffiquinplrguJL.
ffi^uYiini
iff-

///'//

/i
I-

^jujfi
fyl'l'

iit'ii

llii

If tun.

j|' ""'/'^
j

'f'"l"l
ifI,

HUH

ti[i

J/
i

y/(
ft1 1 111
1

l(it[ini[i
1111

if it

Ijii^ini

ufai

"

iiini

'in 11 1 in

//'"

.\f.

<y>

'him

ffli

/JiUifr [l

68
It

was not yet midday

at the shore. ship arrived

The

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
ft

//////

/.

[tiuifiit

in

i,!ii/jl.

m/

^^^

in

iinnjiin

jilt iiiiitjnii
,

A- /'titfi/f/i
/

4
I,

<\

'/>"
(111

[J mil

'

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

he took

rag,

He made

a hole and put his head in

it,

a stick,

He put on an
stone.

iron shoe, he

made
!

a hole in the

False monk, false hermit, false

The
I

fox sent the wolf to fetch the bear

have accepted for thee this solitary And thou dost not send me rations,
ankles are sore,

life,

My
In the

my

knees are sore

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
j|///(//
1

l.'ii

[i

i, i lj

I.

1 1

in in

i/

ujqof*)

utnutn inn in

<\ i//y'//

ut/jf, [i

'//"/''

tf uilii/iii yl. [I

mi
if

ijiu'li

uinjrn

///
|

)//i

[i

it
If

I.

///

xy;

mrjt>[J

ii/fiiiip

IIIILUI

\\qnuliuU

//>/<"//'<>

ungntS* /'"'/ fa

>

'I

*/M-

////.v

f-ni

J fill ^L-u jnt-n^tunlflrn

,

uikn.t*n l/n^'u If

ml.

iLl.ji

bin'ii/ju If

mt-nJrn

V;
J
|

i///

o //;/n

'//

/-^Y' I'll uitijiuL

j mni

I'll

7
\~wjL njuuHUL.nn
,

fni_/L

t.ui<-uiUtunuJt

(\

IILII

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 So hard he

eyes
I
:

raised his

paw and

struck the wolf.

struck that he took

away both

his

am the first among you and you have me the ewe.

given

Unjust judge, unjust economist., unjust!

The

fox

who saw

it

was much

afraid:

And

seeing the cheese in the trap, said to the bear:

uncle,
is I have built a fine convent, place of retreat, a place of prayer.

My grand
The
place

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.

fox seeing it, was much pleased: a funeral service and prayed for his

The

little

He made
soul:

The misery

of the wolf, which thou hast occasioned, has seeized thee This place is a place of retreat, a place of prayer.
:

73
1

<///'"

piftUHtu u.tfin'h

fiiuJ-/fl, If

\y/y>//// ////

/,/<//,

/. //

!/////

J-nun.

ii

/I

rfn/iiiiui

ii(,

<\

n,

f'n/J in'hii/fiiufi

}f nL.lt.

ijU ft

in
if

^u

t^ufiflrp

bin

it.

p.utJ- tuUutftutp

\*,I,H
'

I.

,,,,,

l/i,

nfi y //////

,nf.

nf.fi

ifninilifi^li

m Iflu i
.

ii

in ml. nl.

[i

iu(iVni'li iiiiif.fi

"
lrq^ utijo(3-k[nL.
uin.l.

S^/. y/y j/,

ijii/lj/ii ij

uil.
ij

iuifn[J

I.

fiiL

inf.
ij

1J

1'

<)tuyt.i* (ulrijtt

njt y.nt5*

inlrqj

10

74

Justice.,

them pleasest
in the
is

me much!
perishes:
ol
is

\Vhoever does harm to another soon

As the bear
trap

That place
prayer!

obliged to fast: a place of retreat, a place

XIX.

On

little

knife

lost.

My heart trembled in my breast from From fear my heart was powerless What shall I answer to my papa,
For
I

fear:
:

have

lost

my

little

knife ?

It

was strong and sounding,

\Vith a single stroke
1

it

cut through a large cuof others

in

cumber: did not sleep out

I

in the

village

And

did not take

it

from

my bosom

the hou-

ses of others.

My

It

had good manners: remained with me all day without being They made me drunk, they deceived me
knife

tied:

And they

seized

it.

My

knife gave
I

me

advice,

That

should keep aloof from dry bread.

75
v
1 ,

tutP

tfti

fuftuut
.

1'/ "'//"'/

'/"""

f/llllll- '/I- 1<

Till III

If

I/'"/'" tUftjfU

ft JtU^UtUUiinU

tfutUni-y

wlr

fuunjviffilf L

/i

jut/urn

)/'/"""

^
/''//

ifrnpfcliu

'/'"/'('/{'

^^Irnjti.fiu
I iis

ft fin'ii

J.

^i[*1 ui^i ^
11^11111^111

"%CjtL.uiui iiifniniiil

[|/T

V.
|

///,

(\L

k^-P&b b J^JUS
frngnt-u
ft

in
,/.

'hi, [t

uttjtjlf

jtuuiiuuf
mil

tn

/i'li.\

[jl.'luu^i

y<Y///

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
My

went

to the banquet

and

feast,

knife told

me

slily:

When

thou seest nice

bits

Without me thou
W^ith
It

shalt not put out thy hand.

sliced the ham.,

much

address

it

encouraged me and

exhorted me:

the glass and give it to my hand Let us eat and drink, that my soul may be gay.
Fill

My

knife

It

had great care of me, gave me good counsels with

not
sit

affection

Do

down near any body

mayest
satisfy thyself

In order that thou

little

with

care.

pity

thee that thou hast no teeth, When thou meetest with raw meats.
it

Do not swallow
That
it

remain not
a joke.

greedily, in thy throat and thou be-

come

My

knife

When we

was very went

affectionate with

me:

into the house of others,

77

\\uiffn,
\\,
(

ij

fun

*l.

11

/fl/i
,

/.,, f^, y/.^A V

i

\\liiiinin>

'initial

inin

ii

uniilnii^iljliiii

11

O
I

/, //

<Y/

/.

[i/J

iii'iif

<ujftfy

in

/I,

~^

i (in

Oo/^/t.</
''/'

mill.

"{'

a a 'in a

n
|

nn

tufunt-u
J

ft -^

1.

in a Ifn aa (11(1

\(/Y</'

fuftntum K 'h u fin 1(1^1

ft

fin

ij,

ai

uiifnuif

<.,,,'!,(

in

-/3 1. nn If*
ufnqtuifff.
,

f^ffufiu "Xiunfiu

(i

^!. inn

/,[i

(11(1,1111

|,V Y"Y'

78

When
It flicl

it

saw the roasting

let

meat..

not

me

take the curds.

My

knife

was more than a

it

doctor..

Every day

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

merciful,

lost

it.

God was good and

I

found

my
I

When
My
My

and it never left me more: saw others eat any thing

knife

heart trembled before them.

knife said to me:

Rejoice that thou hast found

Till

Care not so much: me:

And then
honey.

July thou must have patience, with I will give thee to eat cucumber

My

knife

was honest with

near the ladies
:

affection,

It sat

It gave many good counsels: Take milk with cream.

79
l-

i['"y

U/./ '"/./' <"'/'/''

.'/../

/'

( )

/y

<YY''

Y "'7 ""/"""//'
'"
"><>''
f>

'

Illllllll II

III! Ill 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

V/{_'?

"""^ j""^ fofy

ii

^1.

ii'lnn il*

in in i it
i

ii

[iii

11

in

ft

it.lt

Jutn

jni-Lbu
if/,
i

/fi.^ujji'iii.ir

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
Give a
little

it,

glass also over o

it.

It

was
It

older then

you

in time.,

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:
abandoned

Because the two days in which

it

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 )

1 I' '/

iniiiiin

f.

iinil

/.

i/j

/tin il)iiniii

I*

^iinl
I

tiijii

nij jt'li

iiit

HI

'

/'"

vM "^ P"
1,1,1
<(>'!' If,,
i,

^^llllf

it

^'li^'ijin

If

//l

1//IH

II

NOTE*

These songs or poem> are written in the annenian vulgar

language, but in different dialects; although

many of them are

very

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
near the
literal

or classic armenian tongue.

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
first

the I, returning from

Tartan j

by force of arms, and afterwards by conferring a favour on the

sultan, recovered his son.

Mry-dtin, a tnrkish word, which signifies a square or place.

4 Sis

was the capital of the armenian kings of Cilicia

near the river of Aras and

and

now

it is

the seat of an armenian patriarch.

city

This was a

mount Ararat

inhabited by rich merchants, adorned with

many

beautiful palaces

and churches

which were

in

part destroyed by the great

its

Cbah-

Abbas, king of Persia, who carried

at the

inhabitants into his dominions

beginning of the

XVII
it

century. This

new colony

built a

town

opposit Ispahan

and

called

New

Cinlfa or Cingba (*!,/

84
and on
which
this

account their ancient habitation was called Old Ciugha,

entirely destroyed.
is

is

now almost

6 Massis (!)'//'")
Ararat.
7

the

name used by Armenians

near Erivan,
its

instead of

Etcmiazin

(^$itA/4)

is

the

most celebrated

convent of Armenia, and the seat of

great patriarch or Gatholicos

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^)

in Armenia,

is

a great

and celebrated convent

.

Ayrivank ( [^.jf^'l^f vern) where the sacred Lance was long preserved.

named

also

Convent of the Ca-

Mooghni

(ip.^)

another convent, where there was a pilgrimage to S. George. 10 Sea of Van (iL".?w/ is the most celebrated and the

fc)
:

largest of

the

armenian lakes, so named from the

(QuiJfrfiiuiRufylrpui)

city

of

Van

or

Semiramocerta
i i

Aghtamar
Avan

(\*fip-uuTuip) t

one of the four islands of the lake of

Van, and the

12 the lake.
1

seat of

an armenian patriarch.

(ULt-tuV), a little

town or

village

on the opposite side of

Osdan

((]"""*')? a
is

little

town on the

S. E. shores of the lake.

j

i^ This song
shorter,

much changed

in the manuscripts

some are

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
1

The bridegroom
Fez or
fess:,

is

called king

among

the Armenians.
the

a cap of red cloth

worn by

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,
a3

as also the following

XIV,

are specimens of their popular

language and poetry.

The

stork

is

considered by the Orientals sacred

Y
>

lo hospitality.

-i

Varac M|

is

a rocky

mountain

lo the

!',.

of the town

and

lake of Van.
a5

Dehkan

'j. ./.-;/. ///'//

is

the

unity

of

money among

the

Armenians.

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A 000022236

INDEX
To
I.

the British public

II.

On Leo son of Haithon On the daughter of an armenian

.

.
,

4T

on her departure
tar prince
III.

..'....
to be

married

to

prince a Tar-

The Armenians
OldCiulfa.

in their emigration from

.
.
.

.12

IV.

On one who was shipwrecked of Fan

'

in the lake
.

.14
thus.
1

V.

The lamentation of a
fruit^ his last

bishop, who having planted a vineyard, and before it gave

day coming, he sings

VL
VII.

Elegy of Adam

24

Lament of a mother on her son who died

in infancy.
.
.

VIII.

IX.

the same subject Song of the new bride

On

X.
XI.
XII.
XIII.

A song on the bridegroom

The pilgrim to the crane The elegy of a partridge
the partridge the stork

.30 .32 .36 .40 .48 .52

56

On

XIV.

XV.
XVI.
XVII.
XVIII.

To The youngman and the water The oldman and the ship
.

60 62
68 70 74

.66
.
.

Canzonette which

is

taught
the

to

children
.

The

bear, the fox,

little

and
.

wolf
"
.

XIX.

On
Notes

knife lost

83

University of Oslifomid

SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388
Return this material to the library from which i? was borrowed.

':

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1997

QUARTER
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