Armenian Legends and Poems 14

Armenian Legends and Poems 14

THE EVE OF ASCENSION DAY [10]

 

By DERENIK DEMIRJIAN

 

 

Night with her ebon hair and starry crown

Upon the hills came down.

Her loosened tresses floated all unbound

And veiled her form around.

 

The fountain murmured like an endless tale

On her entrancing lips; and it would seem

As if God spake within the silent vale,

And sleeping Earth were listening, in a dream.

 

Like blackened clouds, in Jorokh’s stream arise

Those rocks that through her savage waters pierce;

Like dragons twain, they glare with threatening eyes,

Facing each other, arrogant and fierce.

 

Wild Jorokh through that fearsome valley flows—

Flows like a caravan that onward sweeps;

First roaring loud, then hushed into repose,

Groping its way through darkness, on it creeps.

 

The sounds of Earth are melted into rest,

While strikes the hour of expectation deep;

Earth’s waters heave, against each other pressed,

And breathless listening, all their vigils keep.

 

Decked out like lovely brides stand all the flowers;

With nuptial joy the forests trembling wait:

Until Heaven’s blessing fall in sacred showers,

And whispering softly, each may clasp its mate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“THY VOICE IS SWEET”

 

By SAYAT NOVA

 

 

Thy voice is soft, thy speech all sweetness flows;

May he protect who hath thy heart, my love!

Thy waist is the gazelle’s, thy hue the rose,

Brocade from Franguistan thou art, my love!

 

If I compare thee to brocade, ‘twill fray;

If to a plane-tree, ‘twill be felled one day;

All girls are likened to gazelles thou’lt say—

How then shall I describe thee truly, love?

 

The violet is wild, and low of birth;

Rubies are stones, for all their priceless worth:

The moon itself is made of rocks and earth—

All flame, thou shinest like the sun, my love.

 

Thy door I seek as pilgrims seek a shrine:

Thine eyes are roses, new-blown eglantine;

Thy tongue a pen, thy hands like paper fine,

A flower fresh from the sea thou art, my love!

 

Within my soul thy hand has placed love’s seed;

Thy wiles and coyness make my heart to bleed:

Thy Sayat Nova thou hast slain indeed,

Thine evil fate he bears for thee, my love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHRIST AND ABGARUS

 

From the History of Armenia, by

 

MOSES OF KHORENE

 

 

Abgar the son of Arsham began to reign in the twentieth year of the

reign of Arshavr King of Persia. This Abgar was called the Great Man

because of his exceeding meekness and wisdom. In the third year of his

reign the whole of Armenia fell under the jurisdiction of Rome....

Therefore the Romans sent commissioners unto the land of Armenia who

brought the image of Cæsar and placed it in all the temples.

 

At this time was born our Saviour Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

 

And there was a dispute between Abgar and Herod. For Herod commanded

that his image also should be placed in the temples of Armenia, with

that of Cæsar; to which Abgar not acceding, the anger of Herod was

kindled against him. And he sent his brother’s son with a great army

against him. And Abgar met and fought him; and he was slain in the

battle and his army fled.

 

Soon after these things Augustus died, and Tiberius reigned over the

Roman Empire; and Germanicus sent messengers from Rome unto Arshavr and

Abgar concerning the battle in which Herod’s brother’s son was

slain. Whereupon Abgar was displeased, and thought to prepare for

revolt and war. Then did he build the city of Edessa wherein to keep

the hosts of Armenia, and removed thither his court from Mdzpin, with

all his idols: Nebog, Bel, Batnikol, and Tarata; also with the Royal

Palace he removed the books of the schools belonging to the temples.

 

But strife had arisen between his kinsmen of the reigning house of

Persia, and Abgar collected his armies and went to reconcile and pacify

them. And having settled their disputes he returned home; not sound in

his body, but tormented with a painful disease.

 

At that time Marinus was governor over Phœnicia, Palestine, Assyria,

and Mesopotamia. And Abgarus sent two of his notables unto him to show

him the treaty of peace between Arshavr and his brother (for the Romans

suspected that he had been to Persia to collect armies against them).

And Marinus received them with peace and great honour, sending word

unto Abgarus, “Fear nothing, only hasten to raise all the taxes.”

 

And on their return the messengers went up to Jerusalem to see our

Saviour Christ, having heard of His wonderful deeds.

 

And when they had seen Him with their own eyes they returned and told

Abgar; at which the king marvelled, and believed Him to be the very Son

of God. And because His body was tormented with a painful disease

contracted in the land of Persia seven years before, and he was not

able to find any cure by men, he sent unto Him a letter asking Him to

come and heal him of his disease.

 

 

 

The Letter of Abgarus to our Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

“Abgarus, a prince of the world, unto Jesus, the Saviour and

Benefactor, Who hast appeared in the City of Jerusalem, greetings.

 

“I have heard of Thee and of the healings wrought by Thy hands,

without drugs and without roots; for it is said that Thou givest sight

to the blind, Thou makest the lame to walk, and Thou cleansest the

lepers; Thou curest those who have been long tormented by diseases, and

raisest even the dead. And when I heard all this concerning Thee I

thought that either Thou art God come down from Heaven that workest

these things, or the Son of God. I have written unto Thee that Thou

shouldest trouble Thyself to come unto me, and heal me of my disease. I

have heard also that the Jews murmur against Thee, and think to torture

Thee. My city is a small one, but it is beautiful, and it is sufficient

for us twain.”

 

 

 

And taking the letter they found Him in Jerusalem. And unto this the

gospel beareth witness, saying: “There were some amongst the heathen

that came up to Him.” But our Saviour did not undertake to come at

the time when they called Him, but made Abgarus worthy of a letter

thus.

 

 

The Answer to the Letter of Abgarus, written at the command of our

Saviour by the Apostle Thomas.

 

“Blessed is he who believeth on Me though he hath not seen Me. For it

is written concerning Me thus: ‘They that have seen Me believed not

on Me, but they that have not seen Me shall believe and live.’ And

concerning that which thou hast written unto Me to come down unto thee,

it is needful that I fulfil all that for which I was sent; and when I

have fulfilled it I will ascend unto Him that sent Me. And after My

ascension I will send one of My disciples, who shall heal thee of thy

disease, and give Life unto thee and unto all them that are with

thee.”

 

 

 

This letter did Anan the messenger bring unto Abgarus, with the Image

of the Saviour, which remaineth in the city of Edessa until this day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARAXES CAME DEVOURINGLY

 

By HOVHANNES HOVHANNESSIAN

 

 

Araxes came devouringly,

Swept o’er her boulders scouringly—

Where shall I lay my aching head

Bowed down with grief o’erpoweringly?

 

Oh my Araxes, flow serene;—

Tell me, hast thou my sweet love seen?