Vis and Ramin

I CHAPTER
LXXXV 438
RAMIN'S SOLILOQUY
HER trusty and faithful slave went, according
to her
desire, swift as a bird, and presented Vis's letter to
Ramin.
When he saw it, his heart began to beat, and he trembled
like one ague-stricken. When he who was longing for her
saw the letter written by her and read it, wholly like a
madman, his road was no longer open to him. Many times
he laid the letter to his mouth, set it upon his eyes and
breast, kissed it; through impatience he could not keep
back the tears from his eyes, and the smoke of his heart
ascended to heaven. He uttered many fine words, such as
are not often heard :
"
heart, how long wilt thou endure such a condition,
for thy month is continual woe and thy year mischance ?
... heart, thus should it not be with one who seeks
his desire. unworthy, do something so that thou mayst
be understood and mayst not be affrighted like me, heartless,
by a sharp sword, an enraged elephant, 1 a hungry lion. 2
Thou art neither affrighted by cold nor by beat, | thou art 434
afraid neither of the blast nor of the waves of the sea. Since
thou art a lover, and the most pitiful of all past and future
lovers and most afflicted, why dost thou pity thyself ? Why
this cowardice of thine ? Why dost thou not seek means
of aid ? How long wilt thou inquire of thy planet ? how
long wilt thou complain and weep ? How canst thou help
another if thou canst not help thyself ? Why should anyone
be afflicted for thee, since even love is a coward ? Even
1
Pi/o, 832, 407. * Lomi, 412.
877