Vis and Ramin

RAMIN'S AEROW IN VIS'S HANDS 169
now that thou art come, henceforth their adamant 1
sharp*
ness is turned to joy. I have, seen no healing arrow save
thee, nor have I heard a pleasanter message than thine."
When Ramin had shot the arrow, he fell 2 into thought:
" What has my arrow done ? Has it gone whither I wished?
Has it gone in the wrong direction, and has somebody else
picked it up? If Vis knew my plight
she would seek a
thousand means to take me up. Then she would say in her
heart :
(
heart, sacrifice life, fear none !' By the power
of God, the Creator of all, I will not turn hence until I die
or attain my heart's desire. Though the wall of this castle
were iron, molten like my heart, all poisoned round about,
men's eyes like asps 3 and serpents, their garrison like devs,
not even thus could they turn me away. By God's help
and trust in my (strong) arm | I will attempt to carry off 193
Vis and again be united to the ravisher of my heart. As
long as I live I have no other task but to seek Vis. However
great be the foes who fight me, and though their hearts
be towards me like the hearts of Moabad and Zard, even
then I shall not be driven away. But they are fires ; we
are of one family, and they can discern good and evil in a
man."
Here Ramin was fallen into thought in seeking means,
and there Vis was bound in the net of love. Her tongue
cried out for Ramin, and impatiently also her heart sought
Ramin. There he was in the cold, and her not being there
near him pierced her heart with a lance 4 and iron, 6 and she
sought some means of union.
The nurse said :
"
soul of thy mother, planet and fortune 7 all aid thee,
and this also is from thy luck, 7 for it is so cold that by
reason of the frost no man will be out of doors. All the
sentinels and guards of the castle have taken shelter inside
from the cold. Twice only the sentinels have made their
1 Alnuuoba, 188, 220. Chaidchra, 106, 179, 191.
Aipiti, 122. B., 1209.
.S 1*8,206. Ilafhi, 176.
1 Bedi.
4 Lakhvari, B., 4, 506, 666.