Vis and Ramin

VIS'S FURTHER DISCOURSE 317
tion ? Now cut off all hope of me, as I am cut off from
thy heart. I have sat afflicted by this. I was (like) one
who floated about in the sea preserving hope. Now I
am saved from the waves of the sea, my heart is cleansed
from useless attachment to hope. Now, since thou hast no
luck with thine old love, go and keep thy new love. An
old drahcam 1 and gem 2 are good, but a new one is more
thou hast cut off the head of my affection
precious ! When
by desertion, then who can put the cut-off head anew on
the neck ? When the grass grows upon my tomb, 3 even it
will be oppressed and wearied by thee : first from the pains
of love, and then by the wrath of desertion, and on every
blade will be written a hundred thousand *
Hey, heys !'
However well-advised I was, I did not know that affection
of the heart grows old. Now seek no longer love from me.
The aged never grow young again.
"
Dost thou not remember when thou wrotest me a
letter, and didst write a thousand insults and abuses, thou
didst also send a message of reproach, and not one insult
was left unspoken by thee ? I have had no madness save
love for thee. If love was declared to me, I did not 858
my |
give it back to anyone equal to my love for thee. My heart
has known none save thee, and has found its desire in none
but thee. I have preferred none before thee. In nought
have I deceived thee, and I have sought no other lover save
thee, and by Fate thus has it befallen thee. Thou art like
that unhappy mother who had but one daughter, and she
was blind. My heart is bent like a bow, my words are
straight as an arrow. Since thy heart is the target, 4 thou
canst not endure reproach. Take away thy target, that the
arrow may not strike it. Go, that thou mayst
not hear
words which cause the heart to faint, gall in bitterness, and
trenchant as a sword."
1 Drahcam coin, 67, 108, 884, 442. Thvalit eye.
3 Samn 4 Sagani.