divine femme

Around lake Sevan, Armenia.

I thought for ages he really was against his work being translated, but maybe that was just for English lmao (Did I make this up? I thought I read that he was against, e.g. the translation for Notre Dame de Paris into English.)

When the famous [Armenian] translator, Grigor (Krikor) Chilinkirian wrote a letter to Victor Hugo, requesting permission to translate his novel, the author replied: "I do not speak your ancient language, but I like it. It speaks of the Orient to me, evokes the centuries gone by, and I can see the mysterious gleam of the light of the past. It is an honour for me to be translated into Armenian."

Gevorg Dabaghyan - Miniatures: Masterworks for Armenian Duduk (2002, Traditional Crossroads)

Եթե իմանայիր, որքան եմ լաց եղել ես Քո գնալուց հետո, որքան եմ քեզ փնտրել: Եթե հավաքեին իմ բոլոր արցունքները Ու սարքեին մի լիճ, որ լողային աստղերը, Եթե այնտեղ գային բոլոր սիրահարները Ու նրանց պատմեին սիրո մասին աստղերը, Նրանք կիմանային, որ սերը մի գիշեր է ━ Երբ կորչում են աստղերը, կորչում է նաև սերը: If only you knew how much I cried After you left, how long I've been searching for you. If they gathered all my tears And built a lake for the stars to swim in, If all the lovers gathered there And the stars told them tales of love, They would understand that love is but a fleeting night ━ When the stars fade away, so does love. (translated by metamorphesque)