Creatures (from the Fables of Mkhitar Gosh)

Fragment of Wall Hanging with confronted cocks and running dogs, Wool and linen, Coptic

Արարածք
յԱռակք Մխիթար Գոշի

Աստուած
յառնելնառնել - to make
երբեմն
զարարածսարարած - creature
`
երկեաւերկնչիլ - to fear
հակառակիլ. եւ խառնեաց զծանրն ընդ թեթեւին, զտկարն ընդ հզաւրին. զի թէ հակառակ դարձցին առ միմեանս, եւ ոչ ընդ արարչին։ Խրատէ առակս զթագաւորս՝ կարգել զմեծամեծս եւ զնուաստս ընդդէմ միմեանց. զի մի՛ ընդ թագաւորս, այլ ընդ միմեանս պատերազմեսցին։

—

When God was creating living beings He was afraid of resistance. So He mixed up the heavy with the light, and the weak with the strong such that should they turn contrary, it would be against each other and not against the Creator. This fable advises the king to counter the grandees with the lesser [folk] so that they war against each other and not against the king.


(Translated into English by Robert Bedrosian)


—

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