Vis and Ramin

THE STORY OF RAMIN'S LOVE 67
companions it was as if I were fighting foes, and if I
securely wandered in the orchard I was as if I had lost my
couch it is as
way in the plain ; lying at night upon my
if I were drowning in the sea. When I am with my friends
I am like a headless idol 1 in senselessness ; when on horseback
I am successful with the polo-stick, 2 even at such a
merry time I am so gloomy that I am an object of pity even
to my foes. I continually weep like the nightingale 3 on the
rose at dawn, and like the cloud of morning in spring on
the hill. From her lovely eyes a hundred thousand arrows
have pierced my heart, and irremovable fetters have bound
my feet I am ; like a wounded wild-ass, when in the plain
the poisoned arrow of the slayer strikes it; I am like an
unhappy little orphan boy cut off from his nurse and his
parents. Now, I will ask an oath of thee, and I will seek
thy grace as my only resource. Lead me forth from the
burning fire, save me from the claw of the man-eating lion.
Now show upon me thy skill and excellence. Pity me, a
youth so bereft of heart. Thy pitiful heart has mercy on
strangers, and madmen are pitied by thee ;
consider me one
of them. I am such a madman, and in everything to be
pitied, for I am enthralled by a red dragon which drinks
men's blood.
increase the |
I know thou art good, so by thy advice
pity that befits me. Say from me to the 75
beautiful, the graceful cedar, the speaking idol, the living
moon, to the Kadj, 4 the sun of the earth, to the fluent, sweet
talker untiring 5 among men, to the lovely one without
blemish, to the musky-haired, the jacinth-lipped, the fruit
garden blooming with joy, say thus: '0 beginning of
beauties, for before thee the beauty of all beauties and
heavenly lights has become invisible, the two-week-old
moon is envious of thee, and it offers its radiance as a
of the sorcerers has fled from
sacrifice to thee ; the army
thy peerlessness, the Chinese beauties 7 are put to confusion
1 Buthi, 75.
' Quandchi, 70.
3 ladoni, 166. R., 789, 128% 1881. A'.i./y. 78, 111.
UUva. ? untiring. R., 62.
.68.
* Mnafhobt'ha, 9, 170.