The Fig (from the Fables of Mkhitar Gosh)




Թզենին
յԱռակք Մխիթար Գոշի

Հարցաւհարցնել - to ask
ընդ թզենի, թէ զիա՞րդ է զի բազում
ոստսոստ - branch
առ երկրաւ
տարածանեստարածանել - to spread
։ Եւ նա ասէ. Քանզի բազում են թշնամիք իմ. եւ ես խոնարհիմ, զի մի՛
ոստակոտորոստակոտոր - broken-branched
եղէց. եւ նախ քան զելանելն յիս՝
յագեցուցանեմ յագեցնել - to sate
, եւ մոռանան զչարութիւն։ Խրատի զմեզ առակս, խոնարհութեամբ եւ
սեղանաւքսեղան - table
եւ քաղցրութեամբ ընդ առաջ ելանել թշնամեաց, յորժամ
ստնանել ստնանել - to prevail
ոչ կարեմք. զի
շիջանիցինշիջանիլ - to be extinguished
ի դառնութենէ բարուց, եւ մոռասցին զչարիս։

—

The fig tree was asked: "Why do you spread forth so many branches on the ground"? And it replied: "Because my enemies are numerous. I bend down so that my branches will not be broken. And before coming up to me, I satisfy them and they forget the evil." This fable teaches us to go before the enemy with humility, [laden] tables, and sweetness when we are unable to receive [what we want]. For thus are they turned from bitter behavior and forget evil.


(Translated into English by Robert Bedrosian)


—

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