Vis and Ramin

212 VISKAMIANI
thou not find another queen like Vis ? Seek in the land
until thou find one even fairer than she. Let thy days
flow by in joy and security. How long, how long wilt thou
distress thyself ? Behold, now is come the time that thou
shalt be ashamed, that thou shalt seek honour from thy
brother and lack of reproach from the hosts. Behold the
good time, for thou shalt rejoice in thy youth ; thou shalt
make thy friends to rejoice ; thou shalt oppress thy foes ;
thou shalt seek a name in bravery. It is a time when thou
shouldst weigh evil and good. Other monarchs, thy peers,
and thou art always seeking
Vis and the nurse. Thou hast reft thyself of honour. 1
How long will thine evil conduct last ? The time of sing-
241 seek royalty and majesty, |
ing and sporting 2 is gone from thee. How long will thy
steed run in the lists of pleasure ? 2 What is this devil
that has made thee such a coward, 3 that thou art become
shameful, and hast forsaken God's service for hers? I
fear for thee in the end, lest thou make thy foes to rejoice
over thee. If thou wilt hearken to me, thy servant, 4 thou
shalt
6
be delivered from so much insult and disgrace. Thy
grief will be turned to God.
joy, and mischance to the favour of
And if thou art not satiated with the state thou art
in, let it be as if I had not spoken, and thou hadst not
hearkened. When that comes upon thee, thou shalt be
caught 6 in the midst, and we shall remain on the brink. 7
No trouble comes upon the onlooker save the sight thereof.
I earnestly beg to be allowed to say this. I, according to
such wisdom as I have, have spoken. Do thou even as
thou wishest."
When Ramin heard this discourse and counsel 8 from
Bego, in his lack of courage 9 he became like a loaded 10 ass
buried in the mire, and was powerless. Sometimes he
became yellow like saffron, 11 sometimes he was melancholy.
Thus he spoke to Bego :
1 Piris tsqali water of the face ; Persian, ab ru.
2 Laghoba, 234.
5 Bedit'hoba.
3 Vzdbuni, 267.
c
Daepqrobi.
Shegoneba.
7
Napiri bank of river. 8
10 MocarVhuli ? cart'hi, calf of the leg.
11
Zap'hrani, 280. Cf. zap'hra, 280.
* Nona.
d Uguloba.