If I compare thee to brocade, ‘twill fray; If to a plane-tree, ‘twill be felled one day; All girls are likened to gazelles thou’lt say— How then shall I describe thee truly, love? The violet is wild, and low of birth; Rubies are stones, for all their priceless worth: The moon itself is made of rocks and earth— All flame, thou shinest like the sun, my love. Thy door I seek as pilgrims seek a shrine: Thine eyes are roses, new-blown eglantine; Thy tongue a pen, thy hands like paper fine, A flower fresh from the sea thou art, my love! Within my soul thy hand has placed love’s seed; Thy wiles and coyness make my heart to bleed: Thy Sayat Nova thou hast slain indeed, Thine evil fate he bears for thee, my love. CHRIST AND ABGARUS From the History of Armenia, by MOSES OF KHORENE Abgar the son of Arsham began to reign in the twentieth year of the reign of Arshavr King of Persia. This Abgar was called the Great Man because of his exceeding meekness and wisdom. In the third year of his reign the whole of Armenia fell under the jurisdiction of Rome.... Therefore the Romans sent commissioners unto the land of Armenia who brought the image of Cæsar and placed it in all the temples. At this time was born our Saviour Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And there was a dispute between Abgar and Herod. For Herod commanded that his image also should be placed in the temples of Armenia, with that of Cæsar; to which Abgar not acceding, the anger of Herod was kindled against him. And he sent his brother’s son with a great army against him. And Abgar met and fought him; and he was slain in the battle and his army fled. Soon after these things Augustus died, and Tiberius reigned over the Roman Empire; and Germanicus sent messengers from Rome unto Arshavr and Abgar concerning the battle in which Herod’s brother’s son was slain. Whereupon Abgar was displeased, and thought to prepare for revolt and war. Then did he build the city of Edessa wherein to keep the hosts of Armenia, and removed thither his court from Mdzpin, with all his idols: Nebog, Bel, Batnikol, and Tarata; also with the Royal Palace he removed the books of the schools belonging to the temples. But strife had arisen between his kinsmen of the reigning house of Persia, and Abgar collected his armies and went to reconcile and pacify them. And having settled their disputes he returned home; not sound in his body, but tormented with a painful disease. At that time Marinus was governor over Phœnicia, Palestine, Assyria, and Mesopotamia. And Abgarus sent two of his notables unto him to show him the treaty of peace between Arshavr and his brother (for the Romans suspected that he had been to Persia to collect armies against them). And Marinus received them with peace and great honour, sending word unto Abgarus, “Fear nothing, only hasten to raise all the taxes.”