The Man in the Panther's Skin
Sjota Roestaveli
Those who prepare for battle, better record their last will and testament.
De ridder in het pantervel
Als het lot, dat allen treft,
Ook mij zal treffen,
Zal ik sterven als vreemdeling in een vreemd land.
Mijn moeder zal niet om mij kunnen wenen,
en zij die ik grootgebracht heb zullen mij niet in mijn lijkwade kunnen wikkelen, en mijn vertrouweling ook niet.
Moge dan uw barmhartige, milde
hart mij genadig zijn.
Ik heb talloze bezittingen
Die niemand kan wegen;
Geef de kostbaarheden aan de armen;
Geef de slaven de vrijheid;
Maak iedere wees
Die niets heeft rijk;
Zij zullen mij dankbaar zijn, zij zullen zich mij herinneren,
zij zullen mij zegenen, ik zal voortleven in hun herinnering.
Vertaling: Carl Hinrich Menze
Listen to this poem in Georgian.
Voiced by: Dali de Graaf-Ubilava
The knight in the panter's skin is probably the most famous Georgian text. This medieval epic, full of contestation and bravery, illustrates contemporary contacts with both India and the arab world. This fragment also displays chivalrous ideals: the protagonist decides to help a friend, even if it might cost him his life. Before riding off, he dictates his last will to a slave.
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Sjota Roestaveli in Leiden
Photo Anoesjka Minnaard
ვეფხისტყაოსანი
თუ საწუთრომან დამამხოს, ყოველთა დამამხობელმან,
ღარიბი მოვკვდე ღარიბად, ვერ დამიტიროს მშობელმან,
ვეღარ შემსუდრონ დაზრდილთა და ვერცა მისანდობელმან, -
მუნ შემიწყალოს თქვენმანვე გულმან მოწყალე-მლმობელმან.
მაქვს საქონელი ურიცხვი, ვერვისგან ანაწონები,
მიეც გლახაკთა საჭურჭლე, ათავისუფლე მონები,
შენ დაამდიდრე ყოველი ობოლი, არას მქონები:
მიღვწიან, მომიგონებენ, დამლოცვენ, მოვეგონები.
შოთა რუსთაველი,
მე-12 საუკუნე, საქართველო
The Man in the Panther's Skin
If Fate, the destroyer of all,
destroy me,
an orphan I shall die travelling,
unmourned by parent,
nor will those who brought me up, nor the friend whom I trust, enshroud me;
then indeed will your merciful, tender heart have pity on me.8
I have countless possessions weighed by none:
Give the treasure to the poor,
free the slaves;
enrich every orphan without means; they will be grateful to me,
remember me,
bless me;
I shall be thought of.
Translation: Marjory Scott Wardrop (1912)
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This entry was written by Het Taalmuseum. The following publications were consulted: