Vis and Ramin

CHAPTER XXIII
MOABAD LEARNS OF THE LOVE OF RAMIN AND VIS
N- tarried a month with Moabad, and they made merry
together in drinking and hunting. Then they proposed to
go to Mughan, * on the seashore, to hunt. On the night
of that day when Shah Moabad removed, he lay at Vis's
side. Moabad so loved her that he could not sleep 2 with
her at his side. This grieved him that she, fair as the sun,
lay at his side, and he could not | rejoice
because he was bewitched.
The nurse came secretly ; she thought Moabad slept, and
even once in her, 120
gaid to Vis :
" How canst thou sleep at such a time when thou
thinkest on the departure of thy lover Ramin ? He pro-
poses to go to-morrow towards Armenia to hunt ; there it
may happen that there will be war with the enemy and
fighting, and it may deprive thee of thy heart and joy.
Now the drum 3 has assembled all his army, his tent stands
outside, and early to-morrow he will remove (his camp). Now
even they beat (the drum) for departure, and the soldiers
begin to stream out. If thou desirest to see his face, fairer
than the sun, go early up the tower 4 and look forth.
Sleep cannot be if thou think on his absence. He is going
away to hunt, but with hawks and greyhounds 6 thy heart
holds him captive. When he goes away early, and
takes with him thy heart and my patience, look on him."
1 The steppe of Mughan, on the Caspian.
* For *u, 126. R. f 1021, 1091, 1217, 1219.
Nobat'hi, 118. ?-no