Vis and Ramin

887 |
CHAPTEK
LXXVI
Vis said :
" Let it be as thou sayest ! God grant thee peace ; may
sleeping and walking both please thee, may He give thee
happy days and a merry heart; and to me, Vis, what is
fitting. I am a prudent and desirable friend, and thou
hast not seen nor heard of my like. By the same cheeks I am the illuminating
light of these
sun of man, and in
fair loveliness I am the king of Ethiopia. 1 When roses
are near my cheeks they lose honour, just as dry
do near roses. Since thou didst see me there has been no
falling off in me, but rather increase. My former brilliance
is not darkened, nor is my musky 3 -coloured hair cam-
thistles 2
phored, 4 nor is the glitter of the pearliness of my teeth
diminished, nor the uprightness of my body become bent.
If I was then a new moon, I am now a sun. In beauty I
am the monarch of monarchs. The cunningest of thieves 6
cannot rob the sleeper of gold as (easily) as I can ravish
The lion 8 cannot seize the deer, 7
388 the heart of the waking. |
nor the panther 8 the goat, 9 as I can the hearts of those
that love me.
" Though to thee I am without honour, base, and despic-
able, others think not so. Now, both he (? Moabad) and I
shall bethink ourselves. Thou wouldst have both the rose 10
and the violet. 11 Such a day has fallen to my lot from
such counsel. Soon will that city be laid waste where two
emirs 12 dwell. Where hast thou seen two swords put into
1
Zanget'hi, 843. 2 Nari (Carduus crispus).
3
Mushci, 284. 4
Eap'huri. Tarali (trali).
6
9
Lomi, 379.
Tkkha, 317, 412.
7
Iremi.
10
Vardi.
8
Avaza, 335.
u la. 12 Amirani.
340