Vis and Ramin

100 I
CHAPTEK
XIX
THE NUBSE PAKTS FROM VIS AND SEES EAMIN FOR THE
THIRD TIME
WHEN the sun rose next morning the nurse went to the
place where Eamin awaited Vis's answer. The nurse was
exceeding sad, and spoke thus :
" Why dost thou trouble thyself in vain ? How long wilt
thou seek water in fire ? The wind cannot be enthralled l
nor the sea dried up with one hand, nor can Vis's stony
heart be softened so that one may lie at her side in bed.
From a hard rock 2 love makes water to flow, but not from
her. In love even a mountain is better. If one cries out to
a rock, it gives a man a reply ; but she, unfeeling, gives no
reply, says nothing. She is like a scorpion. I have delivered
thy message, she gave me no answer for thee. But she
insulted me greatly. And at this in her do I marvel still
more, that neither by witchcraft, nor incantation, nor
cunning, 3 can anything be done. My seductions have no
more effect 4 on her than physicking a drunken man. As
water is not wounded by a stone, so my efforts
tations touch her not."
and incan-
101
the disheartened Eamin heard these words, like
| When
a wounded partridge in the claws of a falcon, he became
helpless, the world was darkened and hope was cut off;
death was near, and mischance seemed like a cloud ; there
was dew in his eyes and lightning in his heart.* From
hopelessness his heart became shrunken, the point of a
1 Shepqroba. Cf. sheupqra, R., 277.
2 Tinisa cldisagan, 208. K., 404, 731.
3 Var., "sovereignty," "mastery."
90
*
Gwa, 103. R., 14, 118, etc.