Vis and Ramin

172 VISEAMIANI
Upon these words Vis rose, and to her lover's name filled
a glass, held it in her hand, and said :
"
I drink this to the name of my Eamin, seeker of love,
who forsakes not his friend : my hope, brighter than the
light of mine eyes ! I am so hopeful and joyous in him
that since Adam none has had such hope of his friend.
Till the day of death I shall be the handmaiden of his
constancy ; it will eternally befit me for my heart to make
jubilation 1 at the mention of his name."
Immediately she drank out the glass and kissed Kamin.
Vis's discourse charmed Eamin, drinking in seclusion 2 and
holding
in his hand the musk-like scented hair of his
3
beloved. He gazed on the jasper, ruby, and pomegranate
flower. 4 He forgot the bitter acacia 5 in the joy of the
sweet hyacinth. 6
Every night until dawn he had a rosy
couch and a sunny pillow. When they woke in the morn-
ing they sat drinking, rejoicing, and singing. When Vis
held the glass in her hand Eamin sang as follows :
"The ruddy 7 wine wipes rust from the heart; in the
presence of the beloved wine is its messenger. Euddy wine
changes me from yellow to ruddy ; it is the balm of love's
197 sickness. Love is an enemy, and wine |
is the disperser of
the rain of my grief and the increaser of my joy. To-day
happiness is mine. God and ray good fortune have helped
me, for the ravisher of my heart is before me. Sometimes
I lie on violets and roses, sometimes on 8
lilies ; my lip
hunts between the amber 9 and musk 10 from the ruddy
11
musk, and hunts the ruby sweeter than sugar. In my
garden a red rose blooms. I make very 12 merry in by
coming
the road of desire. I am that falcon 13 who, flying
high, hunts none save the sun of heaven. 14
My merriment
i Zari, 199. E., 303, 313, etc.
2
Khalvat'had, 165.
3
4
laspi.
"
Var., eagle, musk-crystal, and pomegranate."
6
lagundi, 192, 212.
7 Pheroani.
8 Sosani, 224. E., 72.
9 Ambwri, 212.
5 Acaci.
10
Mushci, 49. u ? some words omitted in the text.
" 13
Dia, 85, 207.
Shavardeni, 194.
" Nishati, 91, 198. E., 323, 666, 707.