Vis and Ramin

VIS'S SPEECH IN THE SNOW 345
behaving thus towards thy friend, why wert thou not
ashamed for thine oath | which thou didst swear, saying
*
As long as I live I shall not break mine oath.' If
it was seemly in thee to make an oath and break
it, why was it not becoming in me to reproach thee
with that time ? Why didst thou do such a deed that to
be reminded of it seems to thee a reproach ? Hast thou
not heard that the doing of evil will be more shameful
when blame is added ? The doing of evil is evil in this :
that people remind one of it eternally. Since thou canst
not bear reproach, why dost thou not choose peace ? Prove
all things, and do not to-day the things of to-morrow. If
thou attack anyone and strike him, of a surety thou wilt
get a blow from him in return ; if thou throwest a basin, 1 a
ladle 2 will be thrown at thee ; if thou sow evil, thou shalt
reap evil ; if thou speak evil, thou shalt hear evil ; whatsoever
thou sowest, thou shalt see a return ; and whatsoever
thou sayest, that shalt thou receive as an answer. Un-
requited, thou shalt not injure anybody.
"But this is not becoming that thou shouldst make me
pay for thy sin ! Be not angry ; thou art the lord of fault
and the oppressor. I know no sin, why should I seek for-
giveness ? Why dost thou not tell me : who gave
lordship over me ?
"Be thou the judge 8 and examine my guilt.
thee such
I demand
this : what is there shameful and not good in my head,
form, and face ! I am still the same that thou didst know :
the same face, the same eyes and brows, the same lips and
teeth, the same fair cypressMike form. My face is like a
fifteen-days-old moon in fulness, for it takes away the light
from the sun ; the rose becomes yellow near my cheeks ;
pearls are disgraced by my teeth ; my hair is not changed
improved) by scenting with musk 6 ; | and
: 398
if spring sees 394
my face, for shame it will fling down the leaves from the
tree- tops.
" What quarrel hast thou with me except my love and
1
/ Cutali (Greek, ovroXa).