Vis and Ramin

254 YISRAMIANI
Thou didst set in my path a net l of impurity, and didst
bind me. Now I am fallen alone into a pit, 2 and thou art
gone away. Thou didst deceive me, thou didst seduce
me, and now thou hast forsaken me. . . . Perjured one !
Thine oath is like a passing breeze, thy vow is like running
water, and it is past. Thou sayest :
'
I will be united to
Vis no more!' Then didst thou not swear to me also that
as long as thou didst live thou wouldst never forsake me?
Now, which shall I believe ? Of thine oaths, which should
appear the most solemn to me? Thine oath is like a
snowstorm, 3 and (thy) union with me like (? the finding of)
a treasure. The fame of both is great in the land. Thou
art like the air, 4 thou turnest many ways. Thou art gold ;
both bad and good can get thee. If thou dost not stay
with a constant lover like me, beside whom else wilt thou
stay long ?
" See how many
ill deeds thou hast done. Thou hast
thou hast seduced
brought dishonour on me and thyself ;
me, the wife of a mighty monarch ; thou hast made thy
race and posterity a reproach ; thou hast sworn falsely ;
thou hast forsaken a faithful and troth-keeping lover;
thou hast gone away from me without regret or sorrow,
and thou hast heaped reproaches on such a lover as none
save thee possesses. ... I am that Vis whose face is the
287 sun, and whose hair |
is musk. I am she whose face in
fulness is like a fifteen days' moon, and whose lip is like
immortality. I am that gracious one whose love is long-
lived. I am the queen of beauties and sovereign of
enchantresses. I find many a monarch better than thee,
but thou canst never find one like me. Since thou hast
forsaken me and left me, thou shalt find me with difficulty
When
when thou returnest.
" Do not this thing, Eamin !
thou repentest,
thou canst find no balm save Vis. Do not this thing,
Ramin ! When thou art sated with Gul, thou shalt not be
able to get hold of Vis by bravery. Do not this thing,
i Bade, 261.
3 BuU, 355. K., 55, 712, 965.
2 Ormo, 275, 324.
* Haeri, 300.