Vis and Ramin

MOABAD TRUSTS THE NURSE 191
Moabad went to Gurgan to tarry a few days.
Thence he
returned merry to the palace 1 at Marav; he rejoiced in
Vis's merriment. Then he fortified his court thus : wher-
ever there was a window 2 or a way in, he caused them all
to be riveted up with Indian steel, 3 so that not even a
zephyr 4 could in any wise enter; he locked it up with
a Greek key, 5 sealed it with his seal. He entrusted the
key of it all to the nurse, and said :
"
der cunning in sorcery, I have seen much impiety 6
from thee ; but now I entrust this to thee on oath. 7 Guard
the door and every entrance, so that Ramin by no means
can enter. I am going to Zaul 8 to hunt and attend to
affairs of state. | I shall tarry there one month. Guard 218
my palace, these gates which I have sealed, until I open
them. Again I tell thee, on oath I entrust it to thee ;
thou thyself knowest that untrustworthiness on the part of
one who is trusted is unfitting. Thou hast proved that it
is better to be faithful to me, and if not, if I find thee not
treacherous to me, I will fulfil thy heart's desire. I know
this, that I shall increase my woe when again I try the
tried ; but now I have chosen thee to be for this duty,
for I have heard the wise say : Let a man entrust his
possessions to a thief, he will guard them better."
He counselled the nurse much, trusted her, and gave to
her the keys. He himself went out merry on a good 9 day.
He stayed near the gate of the city and rested there a day,
thinking about Vis. He was grieved at the separation and
sad for his royalty. He had invited Ramin also to go and
hunt with him, and he was with him. In the evening
Ramin went to the city, and the same evening Moabad
sought Ramin to drink with him. It was reported to him :
" He is gone to Marav." He knew for what reason he had
gone away. When Ramin saw the door of the palace thus
fastened, he went down into Moabad's garden, which was
1 S/ a Sarcmeli, 198, 221.
Indaurit'lui (212) batrit'ha rcinit'ha. Niavi, 228.
Bird 12) clit i ( U* enaroba, 218, 220.
7
Zcnaroba, 207.
8 Zaul (?). Cargta lucky, 141.