Vis and Ramin

48 VISRAMIANI
neither heard the cries, nor did the smoke of perfumes
nor the sprinkling of rose-water avail him. Then God had
mercy, and he somewhat recovered consciousness ; he had
no power to use his tongue, and tears flowed forth. Then
he wiped them away with his hand, and began to moan in
a manner shameful for a man. All those standing near
thought that Ramin doubtless had an enemy, and now the
enemy had struck him. When Ramin again mounted his
horse, by too much thought the bright day was darkened.
He went along the road like a madman ; his heart was
possessed of a devil, and his eyes remained fixed on Yis's
1
litter, like a thief who always would guard the best
"
he said :
! happy
treasure. Sighing, weeping,
should I
be if once again I might see her face, or if it might be my
lot to be her litter-bearer on this road ! that she might
but once hear my sigh, and that she might turn her eyes a
moment and look upon me! that some helper there
might be, a seeker of favour, who might fully inform Vis
of my plight, and convey my greeting to her ! might I
but show her in a vision my breast dyed by my blood, would
not her hard heart soften 2 towards me, and the fire of my
love warm 3 her ? that she also, like me, were enamoured,
52 as I am for love of her, so that she |
as much for me !
might be even one half
If she could but perceive the taste 4 of
love, she would not be mercilessly haughty."
Sometimes Ramin would reason in this manner, and
sometimes he would, with composed 6 soul, gloomily, with
downcast head, counsel himself to be patient, saying thus :
" Woe ! my heart ! What has come upon thee that thou
art enchained and increasest thy punishment by vain
wishes ? What dost thou expect, or how art thou smitten
with love of this moon, who will not think on thee
at all? How canst thou expect union with Vis? What
mortal has been united from then till now 6 with the sun ?
1
Mziri, K., 416. 2 Morelba.
3
Morctp'ha.
*
Dchashnigi.
5 Daghebuli. Ch., Diet., s.v., daglieba. '? daglii, 133. R., 220,
795, 875, 1352.
(i
Var., " from the beginning till now."