of yesterday remain, nor is there expectation of to-morrow's. If thou art merry a thousand years even, like one day, it passes; and if thou art afflicted for a moment, it is to thee 233 as a hundred years. Whether thou rejoicest or | sorrowest, it remains with thee.1 Be merry, that in thy day thou mayst take thy share in joy. 1 (The sorrow) remains with thee (?). 2 Aigho-pick up. CHAPTER XXXVIII MOABAD INVITES SHAHRO AND VIRO AND MAKES A BANQUET It was the springtime: the day was pleasant; fields, meads, and gardens were like Paradise; the fruitful trees, the flowing streams, and the birds above all sang; the narcissi were like cupbearers, and the violets like drunkards with their bowed heads; the branches with their fruit were like the crown of Noshrevan1 in beauty; the meads in verdure were emeralds,2 and the mountains topaz.3 All the land was filled with flowers, beauty, and fragrance. The world was tender1 as a young bride. 6 Shahinshah sat in his garden, and by his side sat the sun-faced Vis; on the right sat Viro, on the left Shahro, opposite sat Ramin, and in front were seated the court 5 singing girls. They sang, they drank, and made merry. There was an assembly of the magnates. A minstrels sang a song on the love of Vis and Ramin; whoever understood well perceived the force of what was uttered. It pleased Shahinshah. He said: "Pleasantly thou hast sung this song. Now sing another song about the love of Vis and Ramin, and reveal 234 their story." 6 When Vis heard this, she gave gifts to the minstrel, and said: "Since Shahinshah desires that my story should be revealed, tell what I hide from everybody." 1 ? 531 A.D. 3 Bezhmedi. 5 Khasi, R., 44, 163, 174, 326, 456, 1183, 1414. 7 Djalaboba, R., 713, 990. • Mutribi. 8 Mgosani, 5 4 The minstrel sang this song: "I saw a great tree, its head reaching to heaven; under its shade lay a land which shone like the sun. Beneath flowed a fair stream, and around1 bloomed violets and roses, hyacinths2 and lilies.3 Near it was a fat bullock, sometimes it browsed on the grass. May that spring ever be an inexhaustible stream, the grass ever be green, the bullock be fat and browsing, the tree fruitful!" She called Shahinshah a tree, Vis a spring, and the bold bullock was Ramin. When Moabad thoroughly understood the interpretation of this song, he leaped up from his throne and seized Ramin by the hair, unsheathed his knife," and said: "Swear to me at once that thou wilt no longer possess Vis's love and wilt never touch her again, otherwise I shall at once strike off thy head from thy body, since my body because of thy shame wanders headless." Ramin thus swore solemnly by their oaths,—first by God, then by fire, sun, and moon, that: "As long as I live I will neither cease nor repose from seeking her. All my days I will succour her, I will not abandon her thus. To thee the sun of heaven seems an object of adoration,10 to me Vis's face. She is my soul, and it cannot be that a man of 235 his own will should sacrifice his life. If thou desirest, slay me,11 and if thou desirest, leave me (alive). I cannot forsake her love." When Shahinshah heard this, he was exceedingly angry, and began to insult him. He put him down, prepared to cut off his head, and in that part where such sore love afflicts him to cut him with a knife. When Ramin saw he had resolved to slay him, he seized Moabad with both hands, snatched the knife from his hand, and went away. Moabad was drunk, and after this went away from the MOABAD'S CHARACTER 207 wassail and fell asleep. In the morning Moabad no longer remembered what had happened, knowledge of all, save love and drunkenness, had fled. In drunkenness it can be perceived what character1 a man has. If Moabad had not had these two vices,1 evil would not have befallen him. 1 Zne-? this twofold character. 236 237 | CHAPTER XXXIX BEGO'S GOOD COUNSEL TO RAMIN NEXT day all his friends came to see Ramin and pay their court. They saw him so melancholy that they asked him what ailed him, and he told them the reason. There was then in Khuarasan a man wise above all men, a master1 of eloquence and of good understanding, and his name was Bego. There was none there like unto him for prudence. In season and out of season he went to Ramin and watered Ramin's heart with the waters of advice. He said: "This kingdom will be thine-all Khuarasan, Eraq, and whatever thy soul wishes. All thy desire will be fulfilled, and thou shalt be sovereign of all the land." 3 On that day on which Moabad was angered, in the morning he (Bego) said: "Thou art lord of all Aran2 and T'hurket'h, and a young man, royal also in race; and what desirest thou better than these two that thou hast ? Thy body cries out before God that thou afflictest it so much. In this fleeting world why dost thou pursue anything save joy? Since the decree of God may not be averted, we cannot hide ourselves from grief. Thus we want not useless melancholy and grieving." Ramin said: "Thou speakest as befits thy wisdom. But when the planet does so much that is not desired, how can the heart of man endure? Since it is neither iron nor a boulder,5 how much can one body bear, and how long can one heart suffer? 1 Sapatrono, 242, 354. 2 Aran, 240. 3 T'hurket'h, 257 5 Sipi kua-? boulder. |