The Pomegranate and The Fig (from the Fables of Mkhitar Gosh)

The Unicorn Rests in a Garden (from the Unicorn Tapestries), Wool warp with wool, silk, silver, and gilt wefts, French (cartoon)/South Netherlandish (woven)

Նռնենին եւ թզենին
յԱռակք Մխիթար Գոշի

Նռնենինուռ - pomegranate
եւ
թզենիթուզ - fig
առ միմեանս սէր ունել կամեցան, եւ քաղցրութեամբն հաւասարեցան. բայց ընդ թթուութեան նռնենւոյն
տաղտկացաւտաղտ - annoyance, disgust
թզենի, եւ
լուծաւլուծանել - to dissolve
դաշինքն։ Իմաստս տայ այս առակ, նախ փորձել սիրելեաց զմիմեանց բար, զի ամենայնիւ նման միմեանց իցեն. ապա թէ ոչ՝ դիւրաւ լուծանելի իցէն սէր։

—

The pomegranate and the fig wanted to make love, and they were equal in sweetness. But the fig grew sick of the pomegranate's acidity and the compact was broken. This fable instructs lovers to test each other's behavior so that they be similar in all things. Otherwise, that love is easily dissolved . . .


(Translated into English by Robert Bedrosian)


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