Vis and Ramin

KAMIN'S LETTEK ABANDONING VIS 237
My state, by the power of God, is very pleasant, and lack-
ing in nothing, nor do I lack consolation. Know this, Vis,
that God has had mercy on me, and has delivered me
from thee. I have found all my heart's desire in thine
absence.
1
I have washed my life with coral water. I have
wedded a peerless wife, such as I desired. I have sown in
my heart a rose-coloured love, and have chased away the
rust of grief. I am in a state like Paradise. I am always
near my Gul. I have always an unfaded rose. My couch
2
and pillow are full of the rose, whom I prefer to mine eyes
and life. As long as I have her I
8
shall not seek a lily ;
as long as the moon illumines me, I shall not seek nor
esteem a star. As woes and bitterness have come upon me
from thee, I have seen from her a thousand gratifications
and fulfilments of desire. If I had for one moment seen
such gratification from thee, with joy I could have flown to
the sky. When I remember the days of the past, I pity
mine own self. How could I endure in following thee so
many woes and bitterness? Like a strayed dog, I knew not
mine own road. Hitherto I have been asleep, and now I
am awake. I have been drunk, and am sober. Now I
have broken the chains of misfortune, | now I have come 269
forth from the dungeon of misery. Now, in my right mind,
I have sworn to Gul by God the Creator, by the sun, moon,
by the faith, fire, wisdom and hope, that as long as I live
I shall not part from the Hose (Vardi), and shall not leave
her for a moment. Know this henceforth. Be calm, for
Marav is thine, and Mah is mine ; Moabad is thine,
and Gul is mine. Thou belongest to him. I prefer one
moment here, merry in the company of Gul, to a thousand
years in thy presence, for my youth seemed to me a
dungeon. Count no longer the months and days till my
coming. Wait not for me, nor gaze along the road for
me, for it will be long ere thou see me. When such a
thing befalls one, patience is better than a load 4 of gold."
1 Beading dzottita for modzita, which is unintelligible.
* Sasthauli, 82, 280. B., satthunali, 514, 1126. Soiani.
4 Sapalne, 828.