Vis and Ramin

CHAPTER V
IN WHICH THEY BRING VIS FROM KHUZISTAN INTO THE CITY
OF HAMIAN
WHEN they brought her in, and Shahro saw her, she
delighted even more in the beloved face and form of her
daughter than in any son. With upraised hand she gave
thanks to God, and in His name blessed her, and breathed
upon her face so that the evil eye might
not harm her.
Then she gave to the poor untold gold and possessions
and set her before her on a throne. Shahro gazed; between
her (Vis) and the sun there was a strife as to which
was which, and, as is the wont of an affectionate parent,
she began to adorn her thus : She anointed her with musk
and amber and many kinds of scents, and clad her in gold
brocaded robes, she perfumed her with the smoke of aloes
and musk, and dressed her up like a Manechineli form; 1
so unblemished, perfect, and pretty she was that whoever
looked at her was delighted, and when they began to adorn
her with gold and pearls they said how beautiful she was,
and Vis's colour reflected in the gold gave it a ruddier
hue.
| When the mother saw her daughter thus superabun- 14
dantly beautiful, she said :
"
beautifier of all the world, thy sovereign Khuasrov*
sovereign father), and thy sovereign queen mother
are noble, thou art equally peerless, and I know not
upon the earth a husband fit for thee ; and since upon the
1
Sakhe, 207 ; wancchintli. Cf. chinuri, 26, 62, 75. ? " A Cbintw
doll," or " porcelain doll."
* ? Qaran.
18