BOOK OF GLEANINGS.
CHAPTER NINE: ASARUA.
(1) Ancheti had been left with the daughters of Formana who, having just reached maidenhood, were wilful and vexed him sorely, so that he sought places of solitude, being an unbearded youth unlearned in such matters. Beyond the place where they dwelt there was a river, and from the hillside, away from the forest, a small stream flowed down to join it. Upward of the stream was a valley in which lay a small lake fed by an unfailing stream of sweet water. Here, in a house of wattle, dwelt a maiden whose name was Asarua, and she lived with her
mother, Mamuah, who was a wise woman and blind.
(2) The young woman had barely reached maidenhood and neither hunted for food nor dug in the ground. She dwelt in a garden of trees, her implements of toil being pruning hook and knife. Her days were spent in joyful tasks and a song was ever on her lips. She worked happily among the trees, loosening the soil about their roots, cutting away the overgrowth and pulling up the weeds. She knew the art of fostering twigs so that fruits grew on trees strange to them. She grew vines, the fruits of which were not used for wine, and these she twined around bowers and over the branches of trees.
(3) The women dwelt under the protection of Asarua's father, but the mother of Asarua was not of his household, for he was a strange king though a mighty one. The place wherein they dwelt was fenced about and guarded by seven fierce hounds, tawny-coated and long of body. The maiden was supple and
firm-breasted, she was tall and graceful, red of cheek and light of skin. Her sole garment was plainly woven and unadorned, for she lacked all the things with which women bedeck themselves. Upon her head she wore a garland of leaves and her only ornaments were flowers. She was shy and restrained of glance; nevertheless, she was not unobserved, for the eyes of men had fallen upon her from outside the place wherein she dwelt. They did not enter the place, for to
them it was sacred ground upon which men feared to trespass.
(4) One day, a hunter passed by and became smitten by her beauty and modesty. He thought also of what she had to offer, fine fruits and green growing herbs, a garden of plenty where, in her embrace, he could find rest from the rigours of the hunt. He came to pay his court, garbed as for the chase with bow on back and spear in hand. He brought with him two wild geese and a young piglet to lay at her feet, but when his steps brought him within the fence the hounds were loosed upon him. The hunter, seeing that he was unwelcome, took counsel with himself and thought, "Perhaps if I am uncouth in her sight, my brother the shepherd, will seem better in her eyes." Therefore, the shepherd came and sat on the grass outside the fence, paying his court with music from the pipes, but she paid no heed to him. Still he remained, until wearying of his piping she called out, "Go, for what want I with one who sits blowing wind all day? Go learn music from the flowing waters."
(5) In the days that followed others came, among them a merchant, a rich man, a lord of grain fields and vineyards. Word of her beauty had been brought to him and he was challenged by her inaccessibility. So he thought, "If indeed it is as men say, then I will have this woman for my own. Have I not riches enough to provide all that gladdens the heart of a woman? So he came wearing a mantle of scarlet with brooches of bronze. He wore buckles of silver and ornaments of cornelian and gold. He was a man possessed of a smooth, well oiled tongue,
the owner of a storehouse of fine words. He came with attendants who drove off another who sat outside the fence. The merchant came boldly through the gate of the fence, but Asarua met him. When he paid court with bejewelled words she said, "What have you to offer but gold and treasure? Think you that such unfeeling things can capture my heart? Am I to be bought as a woman bound within her father's household? Am I to be another counted among the many women you have known? An occupant of a common place within your heart, O man of many lovers." Then he was wrath with her, but she took no heed and the hounds drove him off, even the lordly one, for the ground here was sacred.
(6) One day, not much later, the young Ancheti came that way and in passing he saw the maiden Asarua, but because of his unfamiliarity with women he hesitated to speak, though he, too, was smitten by her beauty and maidenly bearing.
(7) Passing that way again Ancheti stopped by the place and seeing an old woman seated beneath the tree he said to her, "Mother, may I have some water, for I am thirsty from journeying." The woman replied, "My son, there is water in plenty below on the other side of this place, which young ears should hear, but I am blind and cannot see. I, too, thirst and therefore I beg that you enter and bring me cool water from the pool below the waterfall." So Ancheti entered and drank, and he gave water to the woman. Though Asarua espied him from afar she did not come near, but neither were the hounds allowed near him.
(8) Hurmanetar had returned from his strange journey, but was puzzled when he saw Ancheti was silent and spoke little, that his thoughts were not inside him. So Hurmanetar questioned him, "Wherefore are you sick? What ails you? " Then, when Ancheti spoke to him of the maiden he had seen, Hurmanetar said, "This is a delicate matter and one not for the heavy tactics of men. Does not the fawn take flight at the sight of the hunting hound? While the moonflower that closes its petals at the touch of a man opens them at the touch of a woman. Your heart has
guided you rightly when counselling caution, for you are ill equipped to catch this rare bird of beauty when unaided by wisdom. For a woman's errand let us send a woman, the nightingale sings in the presence of the owl but hides in silence when the hawk roosts nearby."
(9) Then Hurmanetar spoke with the maidservant of she who had mothered the daughters of Formana, and the maidservant agreed to do the things he told her. Thus, on the morrow she went forth unaccompanied, and coming to the place where Asarua dwelt sat down outside the gate. When the eyes of the maiden eventually fell upon her Asarua saw the bent old woman, weary and travel-stained from the journey; and out of kindness, for she was gentle and compassionate by nature, brought the old woman in, that she might sit under the shade of a tree to rest herself and eat some fruit.
(10) After the maidservant had rested in the shade and refreshed herself, she spoke to Asarua and said, "How lovely is your garden, how well watered, how bright and refreshing its many fruits. I have heard much of this place but more of you and your beauty; but no words of men have done justice to what I see with my own eyes." Asarua said, "The words of men often differ from the thoughts of their hearts, while flattering words are bait above a well set trap. Let us not talk of men and their wiles but of more pleasant things. Come, let us walk around the garden."
(11) They walked and came to a place where grew a tamarisk tree, and about the tamarisk entwined a vine holding many bunches of grapes. The old maidservant said, "Behold this tree, of what value would it be were it not for
the vine? Would it have any value except as firewood? And what of the tree to which it clings, would it not straggle along the ground, laying in the dust to be crushed underfoot by any passer-by? It would be a helpless thing unable to raise itself up, a barren creeper bearing no fruit. So see what benefit comes from their union and learn wisdom. Is not the tree named as a man is named and the vine as a woman is named? We who are old see lessons in such things and in learning from them gain wisdom. The young are ever loath to even read to their benefit from the book which is always open before their eyes."
(12) Asarua listened but said little and as they walked the maidservant spoke of the young daughters of Formana whom she had nursed, and of the ways of man and woman. She spoke as such women speak, her tongue following a winding road. The speech of men comes out like an arrow, but the speech of women comes out like a puff of smoke. Men talk with the naked tongue, but words from the mouth of a woman are veiled and devious. The tongue of a woman is a sword sheathed in silk. Not for nought are women called the twin-tongued.
Perchance these words were added in the days of Thalos, for not all men think thus of women. The maidservant had an inexhaustible supply of words and Asarua was so taken aback to hear the things of which she spoke that she could find no words to answer. Thus speaking, they came to the small dwelling place
where the mother of Asarua was preparing a meal. She invited the maidservant to eat with them and to sleep there that night, and this the maidservant gladly accepted.
(13) After they had eaten, the maidservant spoke with Mamuah, the mother of Asarua, and the talk was of unfortunate women whose daughters were fair yet refused to be married, daughters who closed their ears even to good advice on marriage; whether such women were true women or unnatural women. The words which mattered were few while the words in which they were buried were many, but the former were not lost on Mamuah whose ears were not closed to such talk and they entered her heart. She gave attentive ears when the other spoke of Ancheti who, though but a youth, was wise. Though he had not yet drunk deeply from the waters of wisdom, nevertheless the well from which he drew them was a never failing one. "Be wise", said the maidservant, "choose this young man, for surely none better will come this way. He does not wander from his place of duty; he is not slothful in manner, nor does he spend his days in futile pleasures. He does not go from woman to woman, and while it is true that this could be because of his age, yet he speaks of women only with respect, which is not the way with budding fornicators. He is manly, he is of the blood of kings and above all he is wise, because he has a wise instructor. He is a youth of good promise and one who would not bestow his love lightly."
(14) The mother of Asarua heard the words of the maidservant with both ears and when the maidservant was departing said, "Come again when the moon is new, that we may speak more of these matters." Ancheti visited the place again and when the maidservant returned at the new moon Mamuah said, "It is well, my daughter will marry the youth Ancheti. But first he must bide in the place where he now serves for one year, then he must labour in this place for one year; after this he may marry Asarua with my blessing." This seemed good in the
eyes of Ancheti and so it was that he laboured two years in order to marry Asarua.
COMMENTARY.
This is a tale of wisdom for anyone who wants to receive it. Asarua lives with her mother and father. She lives just to work in the garden around their house. She can only, however, be the wife of someone if wisdom is shown. Into her life comes Ancheti who is left with the daughters of Formana while Hurmanetar has gone away on his quest along with Formana. The daughters were wilful and vexed him. Beyond their place was a river. From the hillside away from the forest a stream ran down to the river. Upward was a valley which bore a lake fed by a stream of sweet water. Here in a house of wattle lived Asarua with her mother, Mamuah. She was wise and blind.
She had barely reached maidenhood and neither hunted nor dug in the ground. In the garden of trees her tools were pruning hook and knife. She spent her days in joyful tasks. A song was always on her lips. She loosened the soil around roots. Cutting away undergrowth. Pulling up weeds. She could foster twigs so that fruit grew on trees strange to them. Vines were grown but not for wine. These she twined about bowers and over branches.
Asarua’s father protected them. Mamuah wasn’t of his household - a strange king but mighty. The place was fenced and guarded by seven fierce hounds. She was supple and firm-breasted. Tall and graceful. Red cheeked and light skinned. She had one garment which was plainly woven and unadorned lacking the things which women bedeck themselves. A garland of leaves was on her head. Her ornaments were flowers. She was shy and restrained. Nevertheless she was noticed by those outside. Men feared to enter because to them it was sacred ground.
One day a hunter came and was smitten. He thought of what he could gain in the way of fruit and herbs as well as rest from the hunt. Then he came back with bow and spear, two geese and a piglet. As soon as he touched down inside the fence the hounds were loosed on him. He thought maybe this was a bit uncouth so sent his brother a shepherd who played tunes outside. Eventually she wearied and called out, “what do I want with you blowing wind all day. Learn music from the flowing waters.”
A merchant came. By her inaccessibility he was challenged. He came wearing a mantle of scarlet. Brooches of bronze. Buckles of silver. Ornaments of gold. Also, a well oiled tongue. His attendants drove off another. He came boldly through the gate and she met him. "Is only gold and treasure what you have to offer? Such unfeeling things cannot capture my heart. Am I to be bought as a woman bound within her father's household? Another among the women you have known? An occupant within your heart, O man of many lovers." He was wroth with her. She took no heed. The hounds drove him off. The ground here was sacred.
Then, the young Ancheti came. He also was smitten but hesitated to talk due to his unfamiliarity with women.
Passing again he saw her mother the old woman asking her “do you have some water for I am thirsty from journeying.” She replied, “There’s plenty of water on the other side which young ears should hear but I am blind. I, too, thirst. Enter and bring water from the pool below the waterfall. So he entered and drank. He gave some to her too. Asarua expired from afar but didn’t come close but the hounds weren’t allowed close.
Hurmanetar had returned from his journey and wondered why Ancheti was quiet. , "Are you sick? What ails you?" Ancheti told him of the maiden. Hurmanetar: “This is a delicate matter not for the heavy tactics of men. The fawn takes flight at the hunting hound. The moonflower closes at a man’s touch but opens at a women’s. Your heart guided caution correctly. This rare bird of beauty is something you are ill equipped to catch without wisdom. For a woman we will send a woman. A nightingale will sing at the presence of an owl but silent when a hawk roasts nearby.
So Hurmanetar spoke with the maidservant who had brought up the daughters of Formana and she agreed to do as he told her. She went unaccompanied. When the eyes of Asarua fell on the old woman bent through age and wearied by the journey she allowed her in for by nature she was gentle and compassionate with kindness ruling her heart. So she sat down under a tree and ate some fruit.
After refreshing herself the maidservant spoke. “What a beautiful garden you have, well watered, its fruits bright. I have heard much of this place but more of you. However, words don’t convey what I see.” She said by reply: “Men’s words differ from their thoughts. Flattery is bait for a well set trap. Let’s not talk of them and their wiles but of pleasant things. Let’s walk round the garden.”
They came to a place where a tamarisk tree grew. “See this tree, what use would it be but for the vine? It would only be good for firewood. Wouldn’t also the vine creep along the ground without the tree to which it clings. It would lie in the dust crushed underfoot by a passerby. A helpless thing bearing no fruit. See what benefit comes and learn wisdom. Isn’t the tree named as a man and the vine as a woman? We the old see such messages and learn wisdom through them but the young are loath to learn from the book before their eyes.
Asarua listened but said little. The maidservant spoke of the daughters she had nursed as well as the ways of men and women. The speech of men comes out like an arrow but a woman’s is like a puff of smoke. Men talk with naked tongue but women are veiled and devious, a sword sheathed in silk. They are called twin-tongued. Were these words added in the days of Thalos for not all men think like this? Asarua was taken back and couldn’t find words to answer. They came to the small dwelling place where her mother was preparing a meal. She invited her to eat and sleep the night which she accepted gladly.
Afterwards the maidservant spoke with Mamuah. The talk was of women whose daughters didn’t marry, closed their ears to good advice and whether such were true or unnatural women. There were few words which mattered and many they were buried in. Mamuah heard with both ears the first ones. They entered her heart. When Ancheti was spoken of she listened attentively. Though a youth but is wise. Hasn’t yet drunk from the waters of wisdom deeply but the well he drinks from is a never failing one. Be wise and choose this young man for none better will come this way. He stays in his place of duty. Not slothful in manner. Doesn’t spend days in futile pleasures. Doesn’t go from woman to woman. Although that may be due to his age he speaks only of respect towards women not the way of budding fornicators. He is manly. From the blood of kings. Above all he is wise. Has a wise instructor. A youth of good promise. Wouldn’t bestow his love lightly.
The mother heard these words with both ears. When the maidservant was departing she said, “Come again at new moon and we will speak more. Ancheti visited also. When the maidservant returned the mother said, “It is well. My daughter will marry the young man. First, however, he must serve in his present place one year, then labour here also one year and after with my blessing he can marry Asarua. This seemed good to Ancheti so he laboured for two years. We’ve had other tales like this in the Kolbrin. Fanvar and Aruah were in the Garden. She was from Heaven but became flesh. This was a beautiful relationship. There’s nothing that suggests anything went wrong with this one. In the times of Dadam & Maeva things were more stressful. Lewid caused her to sin and access to the Garden was forbidden after that. Herthew was king of the people in Krowkasis otherwise known as Caucuses now and married Gwineva. He was almost fatally wounded but recovered and were the first of their people to go to their new home which was Egypt. Here now in this time the marrying of Ancheti & Asarua seems as close to ideal as any of the previous ones mentioned. I wonder how they survived. In this chapter, however, the main story is of the three women in it, Asarua, her mother Mamuah and the maidservant. These three weave a wonderful pattern of love. When we try to work things out through the heart wisdom comes from it. What more could I say about women but this will suffice for now.