Vis and Ramin

VIS KECEIVES EAMIN'S LETTER 245
When she had thus spoken, the nurse went quickly away.
When she came to the land of Gorab, she met Earn in
coming from the chase. He had slain so much game that
mountain and plain could not find room for them ; a needle l
even could not fall on the earth because of the hunting
panthers 2 and dogs ; the air was full of hawks, kites, and
falcons. 3 When Eamin saw the nurse he was as perturbed
and angry as if those arrows soiled by the game had struck
his heart. He did not salute the woman, nor did he ask news
of Vis, nor of Moabad, nor even of his country. He said
wrathfully :
"
impure demon, 4 evil-doer and evil speaker, I have
been deceived by thine arts a thousand times and more,
and thou hast robbed me of my wits. Now again thou art
come and desirest to seduce me. Never may thy wind see
my dust nor may thy hand seize my bridle.6 Hence thou
shalt turn and speedily depart. In vain for you has been
*
this your journey. Go and say to Vis : What dost thou
want from me, and what more dost thou desire of me?
Why wilt thou not set me free, and why art thou not sated
with so much sin ? Thou hast committed a great fault in
following after thy heart's desire, and by thine evil fame
thee. Now it is time that
grievous mischance has come upon
thou make a vow to God, to repent and begin to do good and
follow after honour. We have both wasted our youth in
vain, and have flung away our good fame for heart's desire.
We both are lost in this world, and in eternity we shall be
punished. Now, |
if thou
wilt not make a vow to God and 278
exercise patience, I certainly shall not follow thee on this
road. If we do this deed for a thousand years, nothing will
remain in our hands save sin and wind. I have made a
vow and I have hearkened to the counsel of the prudent ;
I have sworn to sin no more against God, and that I will
henceforth nevermore be united to Vis. But when God
I
Brings it to pass, then I shall be united with the things
1 Nemti, 55. Avata, 80, 56, 291. R., 461, 1187.
3 fort, 275; gavati, It., 211 ; sliavardeni, 271.
4
Eshma, 229, 278.
8 Sadavc, 824, 882.