Vis and Ramin

RAMIN'S REPLY 319
" Scold me no more, reproach me no more. If I have
become indifferent to thy love and have sinned, surely thou
knowest that I did not willingly enter into sin against thee.
If I have done aught against thee, there is no medicine save
forgiveness. What thou hast done is enough for me.
" How long shall I stand in the snow and rain, and thou
wrangle
with me from moment to moment? Thou art
merciless, tearless, and godless ;
thou cuttest me with thy
*
I have
tongue as with a sharp sword, and sayest to me :
never seen thee, and I know thee not 1 ; and if I have seen
thee I have not gone away hopeless, and I am mad with
love for thee.' Seek not separation from me, and go not
about to slay me. The sin of yesterday has passed with
yesterday, henceforth see how I will cherish thee, and how
I will serve thee to-morrow. If I have broken that vow, I
now crave forgiveness. If it is well and fitting to entreat
Know
pardon, it is a greater glory for masters 2 to forgive.
3
in truth that a good deed will not pass. I have broken my
promise foully it is enough. I stand in the snow and blast,
and thou closest thine eyes of humanity. Whatever thou
desirest in thy merciless heart, thou hast power over all ; do
anything, | save drive me away. But I cannot eat this 361
gall with my heart, and I cannot bear this burden with my
soul. If my heart were even stone,
it could not endure
separation from thee. I fear absence from thee, and no
other grief. May God not demand thy blood for this."
1 ? inverted commas should end here.
2 As there is no gender in Georgian, read "mistresses" (patronfli-
agan).
3 Cargisa Jtna ar tzakhhdebis. B., 417, cargi sakme . . . ar tzarkh-
debis. Cf. 450.