The King of the Arabs Sees the Knight in the Panther Skin

## Chapter Chronology

**The King of the Arabs Sees the Knight in the Panther Skin** (Georgian: **ნახვა არაბთა მეფისაგან მის ყმისა ვეფხისტყაოსნისა**) is the third chapter of *The Knight in the Panther's Skin*. In the chapter, King Rostevan and Avtandil come across a mysterious knight who's crying by the river. All the attempts of communicating with him fail.

## Plot

King Rostevan and Avtandil suddenly noticed a strange knight who was crying by the river. He was holding his black horse by the reins. The knight appeared to be a strong and wealthy warrior. His armor, as well as the saddle and bridle of his horse, were decorated with pearls. His outfit and hat appeared to be made from a luxurious panther's skin. He also had a hand-made whip that was thicker than an arm.

Rostevan wanted to learn who the strange knight was, so he sent a servant to summon him. The servant approached the knight, who was still weeping, but for some time he couldn't mutter a word. When the servant finally told him about the king's orders, the knight, whose mind was somewhere else, didn't seem to hear him. The servant repeated himself, but it was still no use, the knight didn't even open his eyes and just kept crying.

The servant returned and told the king that the knight had ignored him. Rostevan was astounded and enraged, and ordered twelve of his soldiers to bring the knight to him using force. The strange knight heard the sound of the soldiers' armor. He looked around and realized what was happening when he was submerged in his thoughts. He only said "woe is me!", hopped on his horse and headed to the opposite direction, away from the king and his soldiers. The twelve soldiers tried to detain him, but he killed them by beating one against another and smiting the rest with his whip.

The king became furious. He sent more soldiers to attack the knight, but he killed them as well. Rostevan and Avtandil hopped on their horses and headed towards the knight themselves. Once he saw that the king was after him, he struck his horse and vanished in a blink of an eye. They searched for him everywhere, but couldn't even find a trace.

The surviving soldiers were mourning their dead and bandaging the wounded. Rostevan was deeply saddened; he believed that god loathed his happiness and decided to bring wrath down on him. The devastated King returned to the castle and went into his bedchamber. Only Avtandil, like Rostevan's own son, followed him. All the happiness and joy ceased.

Tinatin heard about her father's unhappiness. She headed towards his bedchamber and asked the chamberlain if he was awake. The chamberlain replied that the king was sitting, and he was feeling deeply sorrowful; Avtandil was sitting in front of him in a low chair. Tinatin was also told the story of the strange knight. She decided against checking on Rostevan and went back.

Time passed. King Rostevan asked about Tinatin and the chamberlain told him that she had come here to see him, but changed her mind after learning about his sorrow. The King called for her. Tinatin came right away. He seated her next to him, kissed her and asked her why she hadn't visited him earlier, to which she replied that she'd not dare approach him when he's sad and frowning. Rostevan told her that seeing her and being near to her would always bring him relief, and when she'd hear the reason for his sorrow, she'd understand everything.

Rostevan tells Tinatin about the mysterious knight who killed his soldiers and vanished with his horse. Everything happened so fast that he still couldn't tell if it was a dream or reality. Rostevan also said that he considers this to be the wrath of god.

Tinatin told him that he shouldn't be railing against god or fate. She suggested that he should send out men everywhere to learn something about the knight. That way he'd know if the knight was mortal or not. The King loved Tinatin's idea, he hugged and kissed her, and said that he'd follow her words.

Rostevan sent servants. They asked around and sought the knight out everywhere for one full year, yet they didn't find anything, not a single soul had ever seen the mysterious knight. The servants returned empty-handed. The King said that Tinatin was right, and the knight had to have been a foe sent by the devil. He was finally relieved, and held a celebration. He once again showed his generosity and gave away a lot of riches.

## Characters

* Rostevan
* Avtandil
* The strange knight
* Servants/soldiers
* Tinatin
* The chamberlain

## Memorable Quotes

>
> A man, I think, should seek to solve problems, not sit alone and cry.
>
>
>
> — Tinatin, in Stanza 110: d

>
> And why would He who created good, create evil by its side?
>
>
>
> — Tinatin, in Stanza 116: d

>
> All is as God wills it: my savior out of earth has made me rise.
>
>
>
> — Rostevan, in Stanza 118: d

## Gallery

Zichy (1881)Zichy (1881)Kobuladze (1935-1937)Toidze (1937)Machavariani (2019)

"Prologue"

1. "The Story of King Rostevan, The King of Arabs"
2. "King Rostevan and Avtandil Go Hunting"
3. "**The King of the Arabs Sees the Knight in the Panther Skin**"
4. "Tinatin Sends Avtandil to Look for the Knight"
5. "Avtandil's Letter to His Vassals"
6. "Avtandil Sets Forth in Quest of the Knight"
7. "Avtandil Tells His Story to Asmat"
8. "The Meeting of Tariel and Avtandil"
9. "Tariel Tells His Story to Avtandil"
10. "The Story of Tariel's Falling in Love"
11. "First Letter Written by Nestan-Darejan to Her Beloved"
12. "First Letter Written by Tariel to His Beloved"
13. "Tariel Writes a Letter and Sends a Man to the Khatavians"
14. "Nestan-Darejan Summons Tariel"
15. "The Letter by the King of the Khatavians to Tariel"
16. "Tariel's Tryst with Nestan-Darejan"
17. "Tariel's Departure for Khataeti and Great War"
18. "Tariel's Letter to the Indian King and His Triumphant Return"
19. "The Letter of Nestan-Darejan Written to Her Beloved"
20. "Tariel Laments and then Faints"
21. "Tariel's Letter in Answer to His Beloved"
22. "The Council Concerning Nestan-Darejan's Marriage"
23. "Tariel and Nestan-Darejan Discuss Her Marriage"
24. "The Arrival of the Bridegroom and His Slaying by Tariel"
25. "Tariel Hears Tidings of the Disappearance of Nestan-Darejan"
26. "Nuradin-Phridon's Story"
27. "Tariel's Aid to Phridon"
28. "Phridon Tells Tariel Tidings of Nestan-Darejan"
29. "The Story of Avtandil's Return to Arabia"
30. "Avtandil's Request to the King and the Vizier's Entreaty"
31. "Avtandil's Discourse with Shermadin"
32. "The Testament of Avtandil for King Rostevan Before He Secretly Left"
33. "Avtandil's Prayer"
34. "King Rostevan Hears of Avtandil's Secret Flight"
35. "Avtandil's Second Departure to Meet Tariel"
36. "Avtandil Finds Tariel"
37. "Tariel Tells How He Killed a Panther and a Lion"
38. "Tariel and Avtandil Return to the Cave and See Asmat"
39. "Avtandil Goes to See Phridon"
40. "Avtandil Comes to Phridon's After He Parted from Tariel"
41. "Avtandil Goes to Seek Nestan-Darejan and Meets a Caravan"
42. "The Story of Avtandil's Arrival in Gulansharo"
43. "Patman Becomes Enamoured of Avtandil"
44. "Patman's Letter of Love to Avtandil"
45. "Avtandil's Letter in Response to Patman"
46. "Patman Tells Avtandil the Story of Nestan-Darejan"
47. "The Story of the Capture of Nestan-Darejan by the Kajis"
48. "The Letter Written by Patman to Nestan-Darejan"
49. "The Letter Written by Nestan-Darejan to Patman"
50. "The Letter Written by Nestan-Darejan to Her Beloved"
51. "Avtandil's Letter to Phridon"
52. "Avtandil's Departure from Gulansharo and Meeting with Tariel"
53. "Tariel and Avtandil Go to Phridon"
54. "Phridon's Counsel"
55. "Avtandil's Counsel"
56. "Tariel's Counsel"
57. "Tariel's Visit to the King of the Seas"
58. "The Wedding of Tariel and Nestan-Darejan Held by Phridon"
59. "The Three Knights Go to the Cave and Then to Arabia"
60. "The Wedding of Avtandil and Tinatin by the King of the Arabs"
61. "Tariel Learns of the Death of the King of India"
62. "Tariel's Arrival in India and the Defeat of the Khatavians"
63. "The Wedding of Tariel and Nestan-Darejan"

"Epilogue"