Vis and Ramin

RAMIN thus gently said to Vis :
' '
I CHAPTER
LXIX 372
Thy wrath this night has hastened my
death ! . . .
There are two nights for me : one the darkness of the air,
and one thy wrath. What great grief the heart of man
endures ! If it were not so, how could I, poor creature,
remain alive seeing thee look upon me thus ? Through the
painfulness of this night my spirits have come to my mouth.
How has my poor bay steed 1 sinned against thee ? Though
I am indeed blameworthy, and thou grudgest a resting-
place and a couch to me, at least do not grudge it a little
straw 2 and barley, 3 as if thou didst not know me at all, and
I were but a guest. Every man should be hospitable to
guests and perforce invite them indoors. Rejoice my soul
with love for this horse. Even if I die in the snow, it seems
to me a glory to die because of thee, and I desire neither
death nor life without thee ! Death here is better for me,
and I prefer it to bearing the care of this world and hearing
thine anger. Lo ! treat me as if thou hadst never | heard 373
my name, as if I had never asked forgiveness for anything ;
do not prolong my affair, do not beat about the bush. 4 Now
every man calls thee brave ;
but if thou sayest to me :
'
Get
hence, hopeless one!' whoever hears will accuse thee of
meanness, not of anger.
"
Between us there is neither blood nor inveterate enmity,
this is pettishness, and not any kind of enmity of the
heart. It is not fitting to sport with death. Now, why
dost thou sport with the life of thy slave ? I am not one to
>tihti t 886, 486. * Bte. Krfhili.
4 Nu, mi*c*ob, 424 do not quibble.
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