Vis and Ramin

102 VISEAMIANI
and thirty-two strung pearls shimmered in her mouth.
Whoever perceived Vis's fragrance, the corpse became quick,
the wounded whole. In the garden bloomed roses like her
face, and the scent of musk was wafted forth, and the smoke
of the sweet savour of Vis's conversation rested like a cloud
in the air; so to speak, she censed amber 1 and aloe. 2
The sun-like wives and daughters of the grandees sat
before her, but in her presence they were not perceived ; and
they sprinkled down rose-water. Her court-room was like
Paradise. The nurse sometimes adorned Vis like Paradise,
sometimes the room. When the assembly separated, and
they sat alone, 3 the nurse led Eamin by the upper way 4 to
Moabad's bedchamber. As if he did not see that room nor
perceive Vis, the ravisher of his heart, nor had fulfilled his
long-standing desire, so he became senseless from joy, and
could not assure his heart that this had happened to him.
At his union the water of immortality rained on him. When
Eamin sat at the side of that sun, the illuminer of the
earth, forthwith from his heart fire and smoke were
extinguished. The cheeks of both bloomed with joy, and
thus he spoke :
"0 source 6 of all joy, thou art gifted by God with every
115 perfection, thou art above all queens in birth, and |
the
instructress of all enchantresses in the affairs of love. Thou
art a rose, thou smellest of camphor and musk, amberhaired,
moon-faced, and cypress-formed. Thou art the sun
of beauties, and blessed is he on whom thou shinest.
" PARABLE (Araci) : In radiance thou art a shining moon,
but a destroyer 6 of the lover's heart. Fate has given
thee such light that thou wilt wipe the rust from unhappy
Fate."
When Vis heard this discourse, from bashfulness, gently
7 and delicately she gave a tender reply, and spoke thus :
i
Ambari, 49, 140, 197.
2
Alva, 78, 148.
3 Ehalvat'had (137) privily.
4 "
Graf, Uber das Dach."
K., 661, 990, 1200.
6 Dasabamo.
6 DamanelebeU from daneleba, to destroy, ruin.
7 Lamazad (?) coquettishly. Cf. lamazoba, 111, 149.