Vis and Ramin

282 |
CHAPTEK
XLYII
VIS'S CONVERSATION WITH MISHKIN
THEN she called Mishkin, 1 her secretary, 2 who had long
known their secret, and from whom she had not hidden
her heart. Again she told him, and bewailed her plight.
She said :
" Whom hast thou seen, or when hast thou heard of any
more fickle lover than Eamin ? If I could even believe
that hair could grow on the nails, yet I should never have
expected this from him. I did not think that water could
flow from fire, or the gall of a snake could be in the
immortality of the soul. Didst thou not know me formerly
how devout, honourable in conduct, decorous, and
royal I was ? Now I am separated from all that is respectable.
I am equally hateful to enemies and friends. Now
I am naught. It befits me to behave royally, honourably,
and decorously ; and, leaving all this, day and night I have
no leisure from thinking of Kamin and following after his
affairs. For his sake I have sacrificed soul, self, wealth,
house, and soldiers. Sometimes I am in haste to see him,
and sometimes I weep because of our separation. If I had
a thousand souls, I could not spare one from thinking of
him. Many a time I have been disturbed by Eamin's
stupidity, and I have suffered all for his sake. Now
at times a
283 my help is completely cut off. | Formerly,
branch was lopped from my tree, but now it has been
plucked up by
the root. He burned me and reft me of
patience by leaving me. Now Eamin has done such a
thing to me that it is impossible
1
Cf. Miakin, 427.
250
for me to bear it. The
2 Mtsignobari.