Vis and Ramin

MOABAD FORGIVES VIS AND EAMIN 143
disgrace me before God and man, and I will tell thee where
they are, and whenever thou assurest me, immediately I
will declare it unto thee."
When Moabad heard this from his mother he became
joyful, and embraced her feet, he entreated her and kissed
her face and hands a thousand times. He said :
" I know
thou wouldst have me live, and, as bents me, I love thee,
and am at thy command. Now draw me forth from the
burning fire, aid me and restore me to life by thy goodness.
I shall not evade thy commands, and whatever thou wishest
in this matter I shall swear."
Then he swore to his mother by the power of God, the
Creator, and by every oath, that he would do no hurt to
Ramin, nor would he remember anything against him,
but would purge his heart of all enmity towards him, nor
would he oppress him, nor be lacking in anything that
befits a beloved brother, so would he hold him and be
gracious to him. He would also keep Vis in love, and she
should be Great Queen. He would forgive her all her
offences, and would no longer remember them ;
he would
not disgrace her, but she should be regarded as his
beloved.
When Shahinshah had sworn this and assured her that
he would do no harm to Vis and Ramin nor betray them,
straightway
his mother wrote a letter to Ramin and told
him fully 1 what Moabad had done, and of his oath con-
cerning
"
him. She wrote :
| soul of her that bore thee, thy heaven and hell is 168
my word. If thou hearkenest not to my word, nothing
save woe and torment will befall thee from God. When
thou readest this letter, set out speedily so that thou mayst
find me alive. For lack of thee mine eyes have become
blind with weeping, and my spirits 2 were near parting
3
from the body. The candle of my joy is put out, and the
rose of my soul is faded. Until thou comest I shall be
thus, and I entreat God for a sight of thee. Shahinshah
1
Tsnrilad in detail * Sulni.
Khhorttt'hagan (plural) " flesh."