Vis and Ramin

THE NURSE REBUKES VIS 193
" 0, in God's name, remember my bringing-up by thee
and | thy love for me. Once again help me, succour me, 220
take the seal from my heart and from the door, and show
me Ramin's face like a moon in this dark night. He is
going a far road, and I think hope of my life is leaving me
with him. This night is dark like my fate, and I imagine
my heart's ravisher in the dark for my sake. Being so
near, powerless, seeing these so firmly sealed doors, I would
that he were a hundred days' journey from me if I am
thus unable to see him. Come, nurse, have pity on me.
How luckless and thwarted in desire have I been created
by God from the beginning; the door of the joy of my
heart is locked
Him enough
with a thousand keys. I have had from
of this melancholy and plague of love. Why
should there be so many locked doors to my joy and state ?
When the door was closed on me, my wounded body and
soul were again made sore ; immediately I became hope-
1
lover curled
less of life. When my my hair, from that
time its
2
scented ropes bound my heart tight. But since
his beautiful form 8 has been away from me, in my eyes I
have had a diamond 4
-pointed 5 arrow, and I have no power
even to live. Pity my youth, for I remain joyless, and
open the door one moment that I may see Ramin."
The nurse replied :
" I cannot always do wickedness 8 and perjury. 7 The
sovereign Shahinshah went hence yesterday evening, and
entreated me so much on oath, as if it had been his last
will. 8
| How can I break my oath to him to-night ? How can 221
1 open the door sealed by him, or how could I stand before
his wrath? If I had a hundred thousand men arrayed,
how could I be fortified against him ? He himself sought
from me faithfulness to him, and now how can I leave his
service or break mine oath to him ? Think no more that I
shall abandon Shahinshah. He is still staying at the city
1
Damigruzna. Toilo hobble, rope for horses* feet
Sakhe, 207. Almati, 192. Pin, 228.
9 Avcatzoba. CJ. catzoba, 208.
7
Utenaroba, 217.
8 Anderdzij anderdzobitha, 81.
18