his trusty, good men-at-arms1 and khodjas.2 At the same time he placed her in the litter3 and sent them off so quickly that the wind could not overtake them. Round about the litter were the court khodjas. They played trumpets and copper drums and set out for Khuarasan, for the city of Marav, the residence of Shah Moabad. Moabad was as merry as a hungry lion which is set to guard a herd of wild asses, or as a poor man who finds a treasure and is rightly rejoiced. Since his prey upon the earth was fairer than the sun in heaven, it behoved him to guard her with great care, for suddenly he had found a vessel of beauty, and in it a smiling jacinth.8 1 Meabdjret'ha, abdjari, 214. R., 200. 3 Cubo, 45, 164. 4 Ch., "overtake the litter. khodjas held the litter." 5 Kosi, 28, 30. 7 Motzinare. 2 Khodchat'ha, 12. They set out; the courtiers and 6 Ch. omits" upon the earth." 8 Iagundi, 192. CHAPTER XI | VIRO LEARNS OF THE ABDUCTION OF HIS WIFE AND HIS MOURNING THEREAT WHEN Viro learnt of the deed of Moabad and the carrying away of his wife from him, he tore his neck-band, struck his hands on his head, and became unconscious. When he came back to his senses in that same moment he returned from P'heram.1 When he came home the Shahinshah had departed and taken his wife away with him by force; he had left behind a hundred thousand precious stones, and in their place he had taken away the jewel of untold price. Shahro had broken her oath, and had no sympathy with Viro's plight. A raging fire was kindled in Viro's heart, and though he dared say nothing to his mother, he was wrathful and murmured against his sister. Hope of fruit from his tree had passed away, from his bed the sun of the earth had departed. He saw the gate of the castle locked and the beautifier of the castle gone forth to travel. Though the shell was empty of its pearl, yet from his eyes a thousand grivis2 (measures) of pearls gushed forth; sometimes blood flowed down from his eyes, and sometimes his heart was burnt with grief. He became so yellow and his colour faded so much that he looked lifeless. He cursed Fate and its treachery, that he could not rejoice in his youth even for a moment. 48 Though Fate weighed heavily on him, it made Shah Moabad very joyful. It took away the heart-ravisher from 49 the one, and gave her to the other, and he (Viro) can never 1 "Ancient city and kingdom in Asia Minor," according to the lexicon appended to the text (?). 2 Grivi 55 litras. forgive the other to whom she was given, and who was rejoiced thereby. The palace of the one was adorned with gladness, and the garden of the other was faded for lack of the rose; one took up a stone and struck his breast, and the other took up a goblet and drank at will. When Moabad's eyes were brightened by the carrying off of Vis, and he was leading away the sun to Khuarasan,1 faring along the road Moabad made merry, and he forgot all the trouble he had ever seen. They went on, and when a zephyr blew from the litter of Vis, the earth smelt sweet. You might say the litter of Vis was a tower2 of gold filled with musk and amber,4 and inside was seated the sun covered with gold-woven brocade. Sometimes from Vis's face roses fell, sometimes musk3 and amber. 3 Her litter seemed like Paradise, and to all men was just as desirable. The judgment of God, which was to exhaust joy and gladness and increase grief, was approaching Ramin. 1 1, 45, 85. 3 Mushci, 197. 2 Coshci, kiosk, 15, 120. R., 502 CHAPTER XII | RAMIN BECOMES ENAMOURED OF VIS MOABAD and his brothers and soldiers went on, and khodjas followed, accompanying Vis's litter. Suddenly, by the providence of God, there arose a great wind, and it tore the covering curtain of the litter. The face of Vis appeared; it was as if lightning shone forth from a cloud, or suddenly the sun arose; and at her appearing the heart of Ramin was taken captive. It was as if a sorcerer had poisoned Ramin, for at one look his soul was reft from him. When Ramin saw Vis's face, it was as if an arrow of the length of a stadium1 had struck his heart; from his horse he dropped, light as a leaf, the fire of love enflamed his heart, burned his brain, and carried away his mind. In the twinkling of an eye passion took hold of him, love deprived him of heart and soul. From his love such a tree came forth, whose fruit was roaming in the field and madness.2 When he fell from his horse he fainted, and for a long time lay unconscious. His roselike face changed into saffron, and his red jacinth lips became blue as the sky; his life seemed to have fled without hope of return. Whatever magnates and knights 3 were there, footmen and horsemen, surrounded Ramin, looked upon him, and none could tell what had happened that he was thus deprived of sense. Everyone wept at his thus passing away; and by reason of his trouble all were grieved. When he had lain thus unconscious a long time, he 1 Utevani, R., 430. ? connected with verb teva, teveba. 50 51 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 Vis's litter, like a thief who always would guard1 the best treasure. Sighing, weeping, he said: "O! happy 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! O that she might but once hear my sigh, and that she might turn her eyes a moment and look upon me! O that some helper there might be, a seeker of favour, who might fully inform Vis of my plight, and convey my greeting to her! O 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 her? O that she also, like me, were enamoured, 52 as I am for love of her, so that she | might be even one half as much for me! If she could but perceive the taste of love, she would not be mercilessly haughty." 5 Sometimes Ramin would reason in this manner, and sometimes he would, with composed soul, gloomily, with downcast head, counsel himself to be patient, saying thus: "Woe ! O 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, R., 416. 3 Moretp❜ha. 2 Morelba. 5 Daghebuli. Ch., Dict., s.v., dagheba. ? daghi, 133. R., 220, 795, 875, 1352. 6 Var., "from the beginning till now.' |