Vis and Ramin

I CHAPTER
XLIX 289
THE SECOND LETTER OF VIS TO RAMIN
"!F I had the seven heavens 1 for paper, if I had all the
stars as scribes, if the air of night were ink, if the letters
(of the alphabet) were as numerous as leaves, sands, and
fishes if till the end I had hope and longing to see my
lover by thy sun, not even then could I write half I
desire.
" I can fear nought save separation from thee ; nought
afflicts me save thine absence. Remaining
afar from thee
I have no rest. Sleep comes not to me ; and if I slumber,
thy face is before mine eyes. Without thee I am so
wretched that I am pitiable even to my foes. When I do
that which seems comforting to me, I shed streams of tears
from mine eyes. This seems to me as if I extinguished
fire with fire, and healed woe with woe. By reason of
thine absence I sit mourning, and thou makest merry and
rejoicest by the side of my foe. Mine eye must weep when
it sees my lover's bridle in the hands of a foe. It is
as if thine absence were a fire which burns (everything)
save suffering. None can sleep in the heat, and how can I
repose being in a fire ?
" I am that old cedar 2 which thy separation |
has
( over- ~'