Vis and Ramin

RAMIN ENTREATS PARDON 311
ever blind and sad like me. Instead of a fresh 1
poplar 2 a
willow 3 tree has sprung up, and instead of musk 4 sand;
instead of a precious gem I have been content, thanks to
the turning of the planets and heaven, 6 with a piece of
broken potsherd. 6 Now I entreat forgiveness ; soften thy
heart towards me. I have done ill and have sinned; do
thou well and forgive me. I have sinned and repented.
As long as I live thou art the master and monarch, thou
canst pay me back; thou art my oppressor
beginning, and at the end do not make me pay
from the
for all. If
thou forgivest me not, I will become a porter at the door,
and I will endure service
sinned against thee once.
until I | slay myself. I have 850
I am not the only one who has
erred on the earth. Now in return for this I ask a thousand
I will entreat and demand thee for it until wrath
pardons,
disappears from thy heart. As long as I live I shall
consider myself to have sinned, and shall blame myself. I
'
will not rest from saying, I have sinned, and I repent my
deed.' While I am alive pardon the sinner. Thou hast
sovereignty over the repentant, and thou art mistress. In
what way thou wishest pay me out ;
but where are mercy,
mastery, and forgiveness (found together) ? . . . When I
shall think upon my sin I shall be hopeless of pardon, and
my heart will be poured out. If thou wilt not listen to my
I shall
entreaty and demand, I shall die here at thy door ;
weep piteously until my spirits fail. I can go nowhere else.
Since thou art merciless to me, whom else can I seek ? Do
not so to me, moon add not ; grief to grief. The aged in
their age and philosophers in their wisdom are not infallible,
the swift steed stumbles, the keen blade is blunted, and I,
too, have once had a mischance. Now I entreat pardon,
put not on me the fetters of separation. I am thy slave,
thou canst repay me with every punishment. I will be
patient under all pains, except that I cannot bear thee to
become weary of me. Neither can I bear thee to look at
1 Ncdli moist, verdant. * Aha. 8 Tirip'hi, 28, 92, 811.
4 Mushci, 284, 868. rhilaka-1 p'hilakni, 441.