Since I die of love, ‘twere better Beauty stabbed and set me free.

For I have no love beside thee—I would have thee know it well.

Thou for whom e’en death I’d suffer, list to what I have to tell.

See thou thwart not thy Creator,—all the past do not dispel:

Anger not thy Sayat Nova, for when in thy snare he fell

He was all bereft of reason by thy whims’ and humours’ spell.

THE FOX, THE WOLF, AND THE BEAR

FOLK SONG