Vis and Ramin

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CHAPTER
LXXVIII
Vis made reply, tearing her collar, and weeping so that a
torrent 1 of blood flowed from her eyes :
"
joy of my heart, useful and beloved as my life, thou
art the good fortune of my happiness !
2
If I have said
anything bad and oppressive to thee, thou hast done the
same to me. Take not away from me thy protection, forsake
me not, and embitter not my life ! . . . What wonder
was it if, so much afflicted by thy six months' absence and
on the brink of death, I said somewhat ? I spoke through
love of thee. Absence cannot be without pain, and love
cannot be without caprice. He whose heart is burned up
with passion, to him the self-will 3 of his friend is pleasing.
Since I have made thee so angry by my so little pettishness, 4
if anything were added thereto God would make this trouble
400 so grievous to me, | that I should be more and more
afflicted. Since thy heart is resolved to pay no more
attention to me, why shall I be pettish with thee, or why
do I try thy heart with inexorable words ?
" It has not befallen to me as I thought. I did not think
that I should appear to thee as a deadly enemy on account
of mine offence ; and if at that time I said that and grieved
thee, see now how I seek thee with entreaties ! I used vain
hastiness towards thee, and therefore I roam thus. If I
was near thee in the time of joy, now in the time of trouble
I will not stay away. I stand before thee buried in the
snow. Since I have seen so many griefs
because of thine
and I
absence, I will turn no more away nor leave thee ;
will not let go the end of thy reins, and I will thus pitifully
1
Nacadi, E., 1001.
2 Bedi bedierobisa.
3
Nebieroba. 4 Nazoba.
350