The Elders (from the Fables of Mkhitar Gosh)

A bearded man wearing a white turban and orange cloak lined with blue holds his left hand to his head and a book in his right hand while he peers up at the sky.

Ծերքն
յԱռակք Մխիթար Գոշի

Ի մէջ ծերոց բանք հինք պատմէին. այր ոմն
բրուտբրուտ - potter
ծեր
իրսիր - thing
ինչ ասէր, որում ոչ կարէին հաւատալ, եւ հաստատէր՝ թէ յորժամ յաշակերտութեան էի Աստուծոյ, լուայ. եւ այլ ոմն՝ թէ այդպէս ոչ լուայ յԱստուծոյ, յորժամ աշակերտեցայ նմա շինողութեան. զի նախ է լինելութիւն երկնի եւ երկրի, քան զլինելութիւն մարդոյն։ Զբարս ծերոց ցուցանէ առակս, զի վասն հնութեան բազում ինչ
ստենստել - to tell a lie
։

—

Old people were discussing ancient matters. A certain aged potter said something which [the others] could not believe. But he [tried to] substantiate it, [saying]: "I heard that when I was a student of God." Another one said: "I did not hear it that way when God taught me creation, for first heaven and earth were created, and then mankind." This fable illustrates how old people lie about many things, to appear older.


(Translated into English by Robert Bedrosian)


—

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