Vis and Ramin

RAMIN' S EARLY YOUTH 9
name of the bright one 1 Vis. She was straightway entrusted
to a nurse of good birth, to be reared.
The monarch Moabad had a brother called Ramin, who
was born at the same time as Vis. King Moabad loved
him as a son, and looked upon him as his successor. He
sent him to be brought up in Khuzistan, because of the
goodness of that climate and country. Vis and he were
nurtured in one land : as in one garden two flowers
asphodel and eglantine. 2
Who knew how far their deeds would reach ? What is
this, or what does time lay aside for them? Whoever
hearkens to this story will learn the shame, inconstancy,
and treachery of this world, 3 which for no one perfects either
grief or joy.
Its sorrow and gladness alike are momentary.
It is like a little child ; he laughs at something and he
gives us something ;
our hands he asks of us again.
he cries, and what he gave even into
Vis and Ramin should not
be blamed, because, by the decree of God, they
controlled by wisdom. 4
So Ramin grew up,
estate they said of him :
are not
and when he had reached man's
" There is none on the face of the
earth like unto Ramin." I shall tell you his praise 5 |
that I, cunning in mind and eloquent in tongue, without
fault may make evident a little. His form was peerlessly
beautiful and harmonious in every part. In his face he
was like the sun ; he was dark-eyed and ;
dark-eyebrowed
had rich and curly hair, a black beard like a swallow's
tail ; in form well-proportioned, never has painter limned
one like him ;
in strength and courage like a lion, in fierce-
ness fiercer than the panther ; a horseman, huntsman,
skirmisher, a lively chess-player ;
he was peerlessly skilled
1 MnaVhobir heavenly light, lustrous, 9, 75.
* Adraguni da nasrani. Graf translates the Persian "anemone
and narcissus."
* Ch. ; or, " Who hat heard of what time had in store ? Know this
story and the fickleness, shames, and treachery of the world.*'
4 *
The text is obscure. Perhaps it should read : . . . because the
decree of Qod cannot he controlled (hound ?) by wisdom "
(?).
* "
Ch., Listen to his praise."
so 10