Vis and Ramin

263 |
CHAPTER
XLIII
THE WEDDING OF EAMIN AND GUL-VARDI 1
A SPACE of forty stages 2 was prepared, and spectators stood
on the roofs. The holding in their hands of ruddy wine
was like as if their hands had been figures of poppies. 3 At
night the earth was like a starry sky by reason of the
multitude of candles. Instead of verdure, brocade 4 was
spread everywhere. The ear heard no sound save the voice
of rejoicing and of minstrels. The birds minstrelled, 6 the
flame and smoke from the censing of perfumes rose in the
air. For a month women and men spent their time in
merriment and drinking.
There remained no joy in which
they did not partake. They rejoiced without stint in merrymaking
on foot and on horseback. There was no grief in
their heart. The earth cannot be without grief; but in
that land grief was no longer found.
The affectionate and youthful husband and wife were
united ; day and night they rested not from joy. They
began to give gifts to the monarchs and the nobles and all
the people. Singers and minstrels were paid highly for
celebrating Kamin's fame, and poets for reciting laudatory
and congratulatory verses. Kamin's story was become
famous and his name was magnified. He had come from
he had caught a sun-faced, peer-
" Now the rose and flower of
264 Khuarasan to hunt, and |
less quarry. Thus they said :
1
Farc&=rose, and is thus a synonym of the Persian gul.
2
Edji, 254, 267, 303. E., 462, 930. The dictionary meanings are
evidently inapplicable. ? stadium.
3
Qaqacho, 270.
4
Stavra, 194, 285. E,, 672, 1414.
6 Mutriboba.
232