The Moon (from the Fables of Mkhitar Gosh)


Alexander the Great, wearing a crown, with three of his men behind him, kneeling and with his hands lifted in prayer at the foot of two trees, featuring symbols of the sun and moon among their leaves. Between the two trees is another tree which has no leaves, but features a large bird (a Phoenix) with purple and gold colours in its branches. The trees are flanked by an old man in a grey robe, representing a high priest.

Լուսինն
յԱռակք Մխիթար Գոշի

Ի
լրման՝ լուսինլրում լուսին - full moon
կարծեաց զանձնէ թէ արեգակն իցէ, եւ
զտիւտիւ - day
լուսաւորէ. այլ ի պակասել լուսոյն՝ եւ ոչ զգիշեր լուսաւորէ։ Յանդիմանէ եղանակս զայնոսիկ՝ որ ի պատահել
միոյ իրիմի իր - one thing
պատուոյ՝
մեծամեծացմեծամեծ - a great, important person
կարծէ ժամանիլ. այլ եւ ոչ զոր ունի վայելէ
յանմտանալնանմտանալ - to lose one's mind
։

—

When the moon was full it thought it was the sun and illuminated the day. Yet as its light grew weaker, it did not even illuminate the night. This opposes those who, upon encountering one honored thing, believe that they themselves have become very grand, and grow crazed about what they do not have.


(Translated into English by Robert Bedrosian)


—

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