Vis and Ramin

VIS SPURNS MOABAD'S SUIT 35
to thee, decrepit and crippled by old age? 1 Even I in this
my youth fear God because of eternity. How canst tbou in
thine old age forget God? ... I have many robes, precious
stones, pearls, cities and lands ; God has given me all these
without stint. I desire not thine, and as long as I remember
the death of my father Qaran I shall not take in
my hand precious stone, pearl, and ornament, neither shall
I use them. Then how can queenship become me if thy
brocade, jewels, and pearls seduce me? Or what seems
this to me, for I too possess such, and what is there for me
to admire? Am not I high born? 2 Now have no hope of
me, for thy hope will bear no fruit from me. If thou art a
seeker in hope of what belongs to another, from despair a
great dishonour will come upon thee. Haste not to see me,
for thou shalt seize me too late. And if Fate play me false,
and, against my will, give me to thee, thou shalt have no
fruit, nor for a moment shalt thou sit down joyful at my
side. My chosen brother and husband has not yet found
his heart's desire in me ; how shalt thou seek thy desire ?
Even if thou be the sun itself, | my pure 3 body I have not 3$
given to my brother, though he and I are born of one
mother. How then shall I give it to thee, thou old, bent
house has been laid waste?
When I think upon thy name I shudder. How canst thou
I am
man, by whose hands my
seek thy desire from me with such love ! Although
royal and powerful beyond desire, I cannot make a friend
of an enemy. 4
Ar- m a bitter tree comes bitter
fruit. Hvcn if we sprinkle (each other) with sugar- water, it
would not unite one with the other in friendship, because
one of us is glass and one iron. 6
I will become obedient to
love when falcons and partridges become obedient to each
other. To seek love from this heart is like eating gall.
Ch. ouiiu from " How can I with " to " old age."
Child of my race.
Utado intact, immaculate. R., 1468.
h. omita from "Or what " to u an enen
Ch., " If thou waterest it (the tree) with sugar-water, how could it
us one with the other in friendship ? Because one of us is glas
ron m