members1 could no longer obey her orders through weakness. She begged God that she might not outlive Ramin, that Ramin might remain untroubled. After this the waned moon died. Ramin's heart became the abode of 454 grief through her death, | and unceasingly his eyes shed tears. He wept and chanted:

"O beloved friend, more to be desired than life! Thou art gone, thou hast forsaken me completely, and hast left me heart-branded, consumed, weary of the world. . . . None ever had a friend like thee! Now, why art thou become weary of me? Hast thou not oft sworn fidelity to me? Now, because of what sin art thou become merciless? Why hast thou broken thine oath to me? For so long we have been united in soul, affectionate, why hast thou made me to lament? But as I know thy heart, certainly thou didst not deceive me. It is evidently Fate that has betrayed me, and from it this is no marvel. To whom has it fulfilled good from then till now? The earth is emptied of joy by thy departure, thou hast taken everything good with thee. How can I endure the plague of old age2 and feebleness, as well as the sadness of being bereft of thee? Or how can I live and endure the thought of this? Grief is added to grief! I lying on a throne and thou in the earth-I cannot think of it!

"Verily, didst thou not say: 'I will lay down my life for thee?' Certainly thou hast fulfilled thy word, but without thee my life seems to me worthless. Would that it had been that thou wert weeping at my tomb and grieving for me! I, unhappy one, how can I imagine thy pure body under the earth? How can I place my foot upon the earth -that earth which covers the light of thy face and the beauty of thy body? Sovereignty pleased me for thy sake, through thee I was merry; for thee I desired myself great, it was not for the multitude of treasure and hosts. 455"Now, without thee I desire not glory, nor rule, nor treasures, nor hosts. Far from me be joy! Now, as long

1 Aso.

2

R., 36, 1522.

3 Haram-forbidden.

THE DEATH OF VIS AND RAMIN

395

as I live I will heap earth on my head, and sit with torn collar. At this present I do not slay myself wholly, because however long I may exist, I shall be more sorely tried than by death. Nor should an ill deed be done to flee from old age.1 My heart is full of woes and mine eyes (are full) of blood. . . . Patience is the glory of an old man. In a time of such excessive grief that glory of patience befits him. . . . All griefs are mended by patience, though I no longer expect joy. Sadness for thee oppresses me tightly with a collar, and I cannot bear love. I cannot escape from the thought of thee, and I cannot restrain my hands from thy service; nor by mine eyes without thee do I expect to find joy. As long as I live I shall burn in thoughts of thee. How can I speak thy true praise since I no longer have wit, and my tongue is bound? Not even now can I endure thine absence!"

He lamented2 piteously, and wept unceasingly for Vis. He reared a fine sepulchre seemly to her with gold and lapis lazuli, and for himself too. Then he spoke thus as to his following her: "I who am also a corpse mourn this day." Near her, too, he built a fire-worshipping temple,5 and its head reached to the clouds, and it was strong-not to be destroyed till eternity. Day and night in there he censed sweet oil and perfumes.

| He called his eldest son, Khorshed, the grandees, and 456 the troops. And he set Khorshed on the royal throne, placed the crown on his head, girt a sword about his loins, blessed him as king, and called his name Khuasrov. Thus he spoke:

"Eighty and three years have I been a happy monarch. Now have I given thee my belongings and the throne, that ruling may beseem and befit thee too. God make thee happy. Thou art a young man, and thy fate is young too. Bring not shame upon Vis, thy mother, nor upon me. what thou hast seen me do, that I may not judge thee when

1 Suicide. Cf. R., 728, etc. 3 Samarkhavi.

2 Most'hkmida, 390, 441.

Do

4 Lazhvardi, R., 934, 1255, 1321.

5 Satzetzkhle sakhli salotzavad-fire-house for prayer • Khuasrov, 451.

God asks me in that other world. Have a care of divine things, be anxious for justice."

He confided to him his crown, throne, kingdom, troops, and treasures. He came not forth from Vis's sepulchre till the time of his death, nor opened the door, and none saw him.

INDEX

All the references are to the pages of the Georgian text, of which
the numbering is given in the margin of the English translation.