The Reed (from the Fables of Mkhitar Gosh)

 The Rebuke of Adam and Eve, Charles Joseph Natoire (French, Nîmes 1700–1777 Castel Gandolfo), Oil on copper

Եղեգան ծաղիկն
յԱռակք Մխիթար Գոշի

ՆախատեցաւՆախատել - to reproach
եղեգան ծաղիկ եւ նմանք նորա, պաշտաւնեայ լինել արեգական. եւ նորա
ձգեալ զձեռնձգեալ զձեռն - stretching its hand
յարեւն՝
Երդուաւերդնուլ - to swear
արեգական թէ ոչ եմ։

Բասրէբասրել - to blame
առակս զայնոսիկ՝ որ ի չարիս յայտնիս յանդիմանին, եւ
հնարին թագուցանելհնարին թագուցանել - contrive to cover it up
. որով յանդիմանին յաւէտ քան թէ ծաղկին։

—

The reed and those like it were accused of being officials of the sun. [The reed] stretched forth its hand to the sun and swore: "Not I!"

The fable censures those clearly reproached for evil doing who manage to conceal it. It is much better that they be rebuked than [allowed] to flourish.


(Translated into English by Robert Bedrosian)


—

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