Vis and Ramin

THE UNION OF RAMIN AND VIS 105
like the sun and moon, embraced her neck. If angels had
seen, surely they would not have perceived which was fairer,
nor whether one or two lay there ! Their couch was filled
with roses and jewels. In the lists 1 of pleasure the ball 2
was thrown down, and so tightly grasped were they inter-
twined that if even a heavy rain had fallen on them |
would not have bedewed their breasts, and mouth was set
upon mouth. Ramin's heart had long been wounded ;
much hurt had Ramin seen from love ; he benefited greatly
in the joy of Vis, for every arrow of love which had struck
Ramin he kissed her more than a thousand times for each.
When they had entered the lists of joy, and fulfilled their
desire, and freely 3 had bored the precious jewel, and honour
had forsaken the honourable he knew that just as she had
been born of her mother, he had had her with that same
seal. Then he loved her all the more because she had not
been possessed by her husband. When both had fulfilled
their heart's desire, they became still more mad for each
other, and love increased. Thus were they together for two
months. Every day they were together ; at night forsooth
they made merry together.
Then Shah Moabad heard that his brother Ramin had
regained his health. He rejoiced, and forthwith wrote a
letter to Ramin, saying: "Without thee I cannot be
merry, nor pleasant in heart, nor do tourneys and drinking
please me. Now come soon, we will hunt and rejoice a
long-time together. The earth is verdant, flowers of many
a thousand hues have arisen from the earth, the moun-
tains have sewn themselves coats* of Greek cloth of gold 5
and have doffed the ermine 6
caps from their heads; so
many streams have sprung forth by reason of the water
7 that a greyhound cannot catch a goat without a boat.
When thou readest this letter come quickly, and bring also
1 Moedani. Bur'thi, 198, 200. R., 90, 68.
Madjnad, 60. ? grata ; ? had by boring rendered the jewel of no
Mount.
Caba, 70, 187. Ofcnno, 12. R., 800, 1860.
Qarqumi, 171. R., 128. ' Avata, 75, 120. R., 469, 1187.
it 118