Vis and Ramin

256 |
CHAPTEE
XLII
RAMIN FALLS IN LOVE WITH GUL
RAMIN began to travel in all directions in his lands, to
inquire into affairs of State, to hunt, and to tilt. He went
to Amian, and at Gorab the local notables and the peers of
monarchs, Shahp'hur and Eap'hed, came to meet him. In
that land they were grandees, and noteworthy for their
birth. They entertained him in a manner befitting him.
In the morning they went to hunt, and in the evening they
sat carousing and making merry. As in the chase he had
always his sword in his hand for the lions and panthers,
and bow and arrow for game, so when he was indoors he
had a glass in his hand. Thus pleasantly they rejoiced ;
but he could not in this way put away the thought of Vis
from his heart, either in the field or in the house.
One day he was going to the chase when he saw a maid
like the sun. Her name was Gul. In form and beauty
she was without blemish. She was a flower of spring,
gladdening the heart, scattering grief ; a doer of righteousness,
a ravisher of the heart in a moment; sovereign of
beauties, skilfully attracting youths ; a healer of the sick,
a consoler of the afflicted. Her face was like a rose-
257 garden, and her hair black and curly, |
as
thick as sugar-
canes. The form 1 of her hair, which fell to her ankles, was
a rope 2 to bind lovers, and (ill) Fate had not yet smelt her
out. On her tiny lips there was a taste of candy, 3 and in
that jacinth appeared a setting of pearl. Her eyelashes
1
Qalbi, var., qalibi, 244.
3
Qcvndi, B., 3.
2
Toilo, 260, 279 leg-rope for horses.
226