Vis and Ramin

142 VISRAMIANI
is thine and under thy command. Be not continually so
sad. Why dost thou not pity thy soul for this lack of joy?
Or why dost thou not have mercy at seeing me, thy aged
mother, thus?
" Shegonela : Every man improves in his old age when
he forsakes the folly of youth. Therefore age is as a
161 I teacher to him, white hair an instructor. An old man is
no longer bound up in evil-doing, and cannot seek youth
in old age.
" Thou, as thou becomest old, growest worse and worse.
My heart is wounded by such behaviour from thee. Swear
to me 1 that thou wilt consider me and thyself."
Shahinshah thus replied :
"
mother, thus is it with me, that my heart is warring
against me ; I cannot rest a moment for love of Vis. However
much I instruct it (my heart), it hearkens not to me,
neither does it rejoice. Six months I have roamed 2 in the
lands without finding trace of her, and God knows what
trouble I have seen. Now this moves and afflicts me :
that I live loverless. As long as this heart is in my body
I have no leisure to fight other foes. If I could but hear
from somewhere news of Vis, the grief of sorrowing would
be lessened. Thus have I vowed to God : that if I see Vis
I will yield up my whole kingdom into her hands, I will
give it to her, and I shall no more go forth save by her
word. In whatever she has sinned against me I will
pardon all. As long as I live I will not disgrace her, nor
will I do ill to Ramin. He is my brother, and let him be
here as my hope and support."
When his mother heard these words, fire burned her
heart for Ramin's sake. She wept so that she wet her
3
lap ; she stretched out her hand to Shahinshah and said :
"
Swear solemnly 4 to me that thou wilt do no hurt to
162 Ramin |
nor to Vis, and that thou wilt not be at enmity
with them, and that thou wilt fulfil when they come hither
all that thou now swearest ; that certainly thou wilt not
* Zenaar ? " I adjure thee," 79, 207. R, 384, 407, 688, 718, 1194.
2 Metro.
* Ubeni.
4
Mtcitzed, 116.