Vis and Ramin

104 VISRAMIANI
the glory and fame of Moabad that in his harem 1 he had
one like thee ! As grace from God, this joy will suffice me
as long as I live. I am glorified in union with a sun like
thee ; and since with these eyes I have seen thy face, and
with these ears I have heard thy speech, henceforth, except
this glory, I shall hearken to nothing good ; henceforth I
shall see nothing save my desire and joy."
Then Bamin 2 swore with a binding oath, by the power and
glory of the all-creating God, by the brightness of the sun
and moon, by all that is above the sky, by the heaven and
the earth, by the law 3 of God, and by all oaths that as
long as he lived, as long as the wind should blow upon the
mountains, and water and fish should be found in the seas,
had blackness, or a star was found
117 as long as dark night |
in the heavens, and man's soul in his body should love
Ramin would not repent of his love for Vis, nor break his
oath, nor take delight in any other face save hers, nor
desire any save her, nor look on any with eyes of love, nor
do anything against Vis's will.
When Ramin had thus sworn and assured her, then Vis,
too, swore equally strongly 2 that in her life she would not
be false to Ramin, and she would not be lacking in love.
She gave a bunch of violets into Ramin's hands and spoke
thus:
" Receive this from me as a token : wherever thou seest
a fresh violet, think on this day and oath. Thou wilt be
thus blue, and wilt thus hang thy head if thou breakest
thine oath to me. I will take a rose as a token. Whenever
in the garden I shall see a rose, I shall remember this day
and oath. May I be short-lived as a rose when I break this
mine oath and deny God."
When they had thus sworn each to the other, they
appointed the Creator as their witness.
Then they lay down together, they spoke to each other of
grief past and of joy. In the pleasures of love Vis lay on
her side like the chief among all sovereigns, and Ramin,
1
Sadedo, 58, IS'2, 216.
2
Mtcitzi, 161. B. f 757, 1148.
3
SdjulWha, B., 1148.