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"That maiden was called by the name Nestan-Daredjan. When she was seven years old she was a gentle and wise maid, moonlike, not equalled by the sun in beauty

​ from her how can the heart bear separation (even if it were) adamant or forged (steel)?

"Asmat'h drew aside the curtain

I stood outside the curtain. I saw the maiden (Nestan)

a lance pierced my mind and heart. (Asmat'h) came, I gave her the partridges, she took them from me who was burned with fire. Ah me! since then in eternal furnace I burn!"

"The form of that sun (Nestan) was clad in robes of orange

behind her was a host of eunuchs in cohorts and lines

"For the sake of her for whom I am dying I was pleased to see Asmat'h,

as if I saw herself (Nestan). I hindered her from doing me homage,

I kissed her, I took her hand and seated her near me on my couch,

" 'If God hath given me my tongue it befits me to use it for thy praise

dead for thy sake I can by no means speak, for lacking thee I die. The sun ( i.e. , Nestan) made a little garden of rose and jet, as a garden for the lion

by thy sun, my self pertains to none save thee.

" 'She seized her, dragged her along, tore her long hair, wounded her, bruised her, fiercely she frowned

(Nestan) could make no answer, but only sighed and moaned, a black woman was of no avail, she could not heal her wounds.

"Only this Asmat'h and two slaves remained with me as

my comforters and counsellors. I could learn no news of her (Nestan),

not even a grain's weight. Weeping seemed to me as joy,

sometimes I weep and sometimes I faint. This maid will not abandon me

she too is burned by fire for her (Nestan's) sake. I have no other resource to try but death.

"This armlet thou wearest is golden, molten by the goldsmith, inanimate, lifeless, speechless, unreasoning

​ thou no longer wantest Asmat'h! Behold a true judgment! First, she, luckless, was with her (Nestan)

then she is thine own adopted sister.

"Between you (and Nestan) she formed a bond, by thee she has been called sister

she was the servant who contrived your meeting, (while) she herself was worthy of being summoned by thee

to tarry is a mistake of a traveller, he will do well to teach himself this

lead me to the seashore where thou sawest that sun (Nestan)."

They passed through the city, they went on, they came to the seashore where P'hridon had formerly seen the sun (Nestan) seated (? landed)

there they shed a rivulet of blood from the lake of tears. P'hridon tells the story of that shining captive.

Wherever he sees travellers walking by the shore he addresses them, he asks tidings of that sun (Nestan). He roamed a hundred days. He went up a hill

camels loaded with stuff appeared

This kind of thought he thought in his heart. Then said he to himself: "Save thee I have no helper. For the sake of that for which I am a wanderer, since I wish to seek her (Nestan) I will do everything by which I can find her

what else should my heart heed!

Avt'handil, too, wept, he shed hot tears

they forgot each other, for her (Nestan's) sake they became as mad

the spring (of tears) flowing down from above melted the slight new-fallen snow (of the cheek).

"Thereupon in amazement I inquired: 'What maid do you want, which?' They said to me: 'Usen presented (one with) a face flashing with lightning.' There was nought to be done

the day of the taking away of my soul ( i.e. , Nestan) was fixed. I trembled, I could not rise, neither could I remain sitting.

has taken her. None can fix his eyes to gaze upon her,

as upon the sun. She (the queen) has betrothed her (Nestan) as wife to the little boy Rosan.

When Asmat'h saw the letter she knew (Nestan's) hand

she marvelled, fear seized her, she quakes like one possessed, from head to foot overwhelming wonder laid hold on her

They (Nestan and Tariel) embraced each other, they kissed and shed tears

they were like when Musht'har and Zual are united. When the sun surrounds the rose they become fair and reflect the rays. They that have hitherto seen griefs will henceforth rejoice.

The sun (Nestan) met them with lovely, laughing face, the proud one kissed her helpers with gentle mien, she humbly gave them thanks with dainty words

both together talked with fair discourse.

He presented to Nestan-Daredjan a mantle adorned with gems, red jacinths, rubies of Badakhshan and rubies

they both sat, the maid and the youth, with faces flashing lightning

They seated that sun (Nestan) in a palanquin

they wended their way along the coast. They sported like children

full of joy, whose wounds no longer appeared,

was riveted to Nestan-Daredjan so that axes could not unloose them.

Now she had ended all her faithful services.

Nestan-Daredjan embraces her, kisses her face with her mouth. She said:

"Mine own, woe is me, I have filled thee too with grief. Now God hath granted us grace,

the sound of sweet singing was heard. They made the wedding

the presentation of soft silk stuffs was multiplied by P'hridon, the good entertainer, not an abashed host. A smile, a tooth-glimpse, beautifies Nestan-Daredjan.

"This is my wish and my desire, that I may see thee powerful in India, enthroned upon the thrones, the heavenly light (Nestan), too, sitting by thy side, the face flashing lightning

that your foes be exterminated, that no adversary appear there.

When P'hridon reported to Tariel these words of the knight, he said: "That will I not do

for that it needs no wizard. As he found the cause of the existence of my life (Nestan), even so he too shall see the valour of a brother (used) in his favour.

The lion Avt'handil tarried there

a little tent was put up. Nestan-Daredjan also stayed there, the amazer of beholders

the zephyr of her eyelashes is wafted like a north-east wind. The King of the Indians departed, straight, not secretly.

That day Avt'handil sits as lord and is high king

tendernesses beautify Tariel who sits with him. Nestan-Djar, the amazer of onlookers, is with T'hinat'hin

it is as if heaven had bent down to earth, (and) two suns are united.

On the morrow the King of the Arabs again entertains

he is not listless. He said to Tariel: "Pleasant it is to gaze on thy sun (Nestan)! Thou art king of all kings, and she queen. It behoves us your footprints (dust of your feet), to pierce our ears for earrings (as slaves) (?).

Nestan-Daredjan said: "Would that I had never come to know thee! Separated from the sun I should not now be thus melted by parting. Thou shalt know tidings of me

let me have news of thee, speak to me in letters. As I am burned up for thy sake, thou shalt melt for mine."

The lady (Nestan) sent to the lady (T'hinat'hin) a little cloak and a veil

who save her was worthy of such garments! A jewel—he who carried it off could not say: "I have carried it in vain!"—at night it gives light like the sun