Vis and Ramin

I CHAPTER
LI 295
THE FOURTH LETTER OP VIS TO RAMIN
"
TELL me, two weeks' moon, why thou hast forsaken
me, wherefore thou hast hastened to become my deadly
foe ? Though thine every wish befits thee, I, not only in
this world, but also in eternity, desire no joy save thee.
Thus they say to me : '0 Vis, sigh not ! Why art thou
thus spent l for one fickle lover ? A passion for a man is
not forgotten save by love for another, and there are better
that thou hast not tried.' Those who say this to me know
not that, however pure rosewater may be, to the thirsty
water is of more avail. To him who has been struck
spring
in the liver by a snake, treacle 2 is better suited than red
candy. 3 However sweet sugar may be, to him who is
poisoned with poison, an antidote is better. 4
Since I see
thee no more, in thine absence all who desire me look
eagerly on me. Why should I seek another consolation for
myself, or to whom should I give my heart instead of
thee, from whom I have kept no part of myself, so have I
belonged to thee? None shall be attached to me in thy
place, and I shall have no gain to my heart from another.
If I have no longer the power of my hand, however many
pearls and jewels I may put on, it is unprofitable to me.
Thou art the sun, and, sunless, my day has no light.
"
chief of |
hosts, when I was near thee I was the 296
oyster-shell, and thou wert the pearl. It (the pearl) was
taken out it (the shell) has no longer honour ; so no one
800. B., 750, 1125. * Theriaci. * Tabarazi.
4 The word for " poison " and " antidote " is the same (fcoma/t),
M
thus exhibiting the homeopathic idea.