Vis and Ramin

VIS RECEIVES RAMIN'S LETTEE 241
cannot rejoice in this world. I will go, I will wash myself
from all sin, I will entreat God, I will bestow wealth on the
poor. Surely God will have mercy on me, and by these
my prayers Eamin will be made to hate his wife, he will
begin to repent him of this deed. At midnight he will come
from Gorab to Marav, soaked with rain and frozen with
cold, and will sue to Vis and the nurse; then he will
see from me as much contempt as I now see from
him."
She prayed with tears to God, and said: "0 Creator
God, make him impatient and sad like me, and let Eamin
suffer instead of me."
The nurse said :
" Do not grieve so much, it is not fitting. Now wipe the
rust from thy heart with calmness and patience. Do not
weary the royal, happy, and clear-cut form so much, do
not pain by weeping in vain thy reposeful heart, |
do
not 273
injustice to thy soul and thy youth. Death is indeed more
pleasant than such a life."
When she laid her hand on her rosy cheek, the nurse
seized her hand, and said :
" \Vhen thou tearest thy musky hair and scratchest thy
face, fairer than God's grace, thou becomest like an old d< -r
in hideousness. Though a man possessed the whole earth,
he would desire more and more ;
but everything he desires
for himself. When thou art no longer alive, there will be
neither Moabad, nor Eamin, nor thy nurse (for thee).
When I die of thirst, after I am gone, let them not find
anywhere watersprings. When the earth is left without
me, after me enemy and friend are all one. Every man is
bold enough in wedding a wife, but, like Eamin, he is soon
sated, and his tongue, sharper than a sword, becomes like
wax. If Eamin finds a thousand stars and the moon too,
they have not, all united, the beauty of one sun. Vardi
(Eose) of Gorab, although she be sun-faced, one of thy
hands is fairer than she. Since Eamin has gone away and
left thee, I do not blame him at all for wedding a wife. He
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