Vis and Ramin

VIS'S LAMENT FOE RAMIN'S ABSENCE 165
glass, 1 the heat of the son burns thee, and this discomfort
annoys thy tenderness. 2 Thou makest thy foes' blood to flow
like thy lover's. Why should I become a foe to myself by
thine absence, so that I hearken not to desire and counsel
and follow thee ? that the dust of thy horse might strike
me ! But though my body is here, my heart is not cut off
from thee ; drowned in blood, it suffers the toils of travel at
thy side. Toil not too much, for it is grievous to thee. It
is impossible to endure without thee. It is not pleasant for
the lover to lack the lover. Do not that to me which is not
like thyself. Eemember me and think oT my state. But
when did the rich ever think of the poor ? Thou hast only
seen the fire of my love, now the smoke also appears. The
present pain of long separation has made me forget my
former woes.
3
My head is like the cloud of Noah's deluge;
for
4 the tears flow from mine eyes richly as the Djeon. My
heart is full of woe, I have no means to contain it, and it
appears outwardly, and I toss in a sea of blood."
Vis lamented, and by reason of the pain at her heart
could not stay still in one place. The nurse for her sake
was burning as fiercely as she, and taught her all patience.
\Shegoneba: Thus she spoke: "Be patient; a man 188
should not give up courage even if God never give him his
heart's desire. Every grief is drunk to the dregs by man ;
the tree of patience always bears the fruit of joy, although
to the downhearted the eating (of the fruit of joy) more
alleviates (suffering) than talk about patience.
" Now hearken to what I say and be patient ;
it is not
likely thou shalt suddenly attain thy heart's desire. Save
God, none can help thee, none other can deliver thee from
this thraldom. Be calm and submit, pray to God and
comfort thy companions. Surely God will weary of this
great grief of thine and will extinguish the fire of your
heart! I cannot bequeath thee more than this, that I
counsel thee to be always patient."
Vis replied thus :
1 Dchika, 175. * Nazukobanicene**, softnett.
Noah, l
Oihon,
148, 218. H., 781 ; Euphrates, 218.