THE STORY OF RAMIN'S LOVE 69 fragrance from thy hair; from thy form is my pure1 crystal, and from thy conversation is the beauty of my Paradise, and therein is my dwelling when I shall see thy face which gives me life. Might and success will indeed be then mine when it falls to my lot to gaze upon thy face; I pray to God for this day and night, that He may consider me worthy of one sight of thee. If I show pity to so hard a heart and it meets with my compassion, let her not begin to coquet and be haughty. If it (? my heart) make a foe of me, seek separation and forsake me, certainly my blood will be shed. But it is not fitting; by thy sun, it is not fitting to shed the blood of such a young man and slay him who all his days never did thee harm. So love him with a true heart | for he prefers thee a thousand times to life; he 77 sacrifices his soul for thy sake, and sells his eyes for the dust of thy feet, because thou so shrivellest up my heart that I have no part of it left to me. Be merciful to me; I sacrifice my body to thee and thou art master of it; if not, I shall sacrifice both my body and soul.'" Araci: When the old nurse heard this discourse, it was as if a poisoned arrow had struck her heart. She pitied Ramin greatly in her heart, but she showed it not, and spoke thus: в 8 "Ramin. . . . Thou surely canst not in thy heart have hope of her! That sun will never shine on thee. This thy seductiveness and bravery 5 are of no avail with her, for she is like a wild creature, and looks on no man. Think not even that by force or artifice thou canst unite thyself to Shahro's daughter. Know this, that it is better for thee to drive out this thing from thy heart, for but vain will be thy desire. At such a time as this a man should use all his powers, his knowledge, and his lordship of shame; he will choose out the ugly from the pretty, the bad from the good, and in his heart he will choose the thing that is fitting. If thou fold up the sky and dry tho 1 Utalo uzado. = 2 Davla, R., 777. 3 Tsaghmarti (future), 134 4 The text is evidently corrupt here, and a phrase has been omitted 5 Bidchoba, 85. 7 Ghonit ha. 79. Ert'h-sakhe, 87, ksu. 8 Itzode, 64. sea by thy prowess, make the Mtcuari1 to flow in the meadows, bring forth fruit from stone, raise a new world and place earth upon her hair by such sorcery and power -yet this will not avail thee in the matter of Vis. She will love thee and thou shalt find her heart then only when on the branch of a fir-tree 2 dates3 grow. Who would venture to convey such a message to her, or who would tell 78 her such things? Thou knowest not the wondrousness of her humour, from which she herself always suffers. If I had even the courage of a thousand lions, I would not tell her this. At whatever time she learns this, and I tell her, she would be angry at me and deprive me of her favour. Thou thyself wilt not venture to do it, nor would it be fitting to thee that I should remain insulted in my old age. My pupil in her haughtiness raises her head to heaven, and will not in her pride vouchsafe a word to the sons of men. She will not be affrighted either by a great thing nor will she be seduced by great wealth. Now she herself is very melancholy, by her loneliness and by the fact that in a strange land she is isolated and removed far from her country; at every human joy she is affrighted and timid. Sometimes she pours tears from her eyes and blood from her cheeks, sometimes she cries out against her constellation and Fate. When she thinks on (var., was separated from) her brother and parents, like an aloe on a fire, she is burnt. She curses the day of her beginning and birth, saying: Why have I been born so unhappy?' Shahro entreated her fervently from God, and with a thousand luxuries brought her up. Now she sighs unceasingly, and weeps for her exile and all that has happened therein. Before her who dares to mention thee and this thy miserable message? Though I had more tongues than the rain, I would not sacrifice one of them for this embassy,. and command me not on such an errand; for, as they say, the head knoweth not how to walk like the feet." 1 Kura, river on which Tiflis is built, 56, 171. 2 Ph'idchui. 4 Piris tsqali, 95=Persian abru 3 Khurma, 153. water of the face. 5 Alva, 114. Var., alava (? hay). THE STORY OF RAMIN'S LOVE 71 | When Ramin, the bereft of heart, heard this discourse, 79 he made the ground muddy with his tears, the fire of love spread over him, even from his feet unto his brain; he tore open his collar, his coral hue was changed to saffron ; he trembled like a bird with its head cut off, he had no power to make his tongue obey, nor could he speak. Thus deserving of pity is the melancholy1 lover. When he had been thus for a long time cast down, his heart again became calm. Then he began anew to speak to the nurse, he entreated and prayed with the impatience of great suffering. The nurse was just as unmerciful to him. However much he pitied himself and entreated, so much did the nurse deny him hope. Then finally Ramin embraced her, soiled 2 the nurse with his bloody tears, and spoke pitifully. Thus did he speak : "Ah, nurse! I adjure thee,3 I adjure thee-cut not off all hope from my soul, cut me not off from a life of youth, give me not up to the gall of Fate. What harm would it do thee to pity me, to loose me from the claw of misfortune, to open to me the door of mercy, and show me as a favour the face of Vis? If I remain hopeless from thee, I shall die here before thee a certain death. Now I am become as thy slave, serve me and seek means for my deliverance from this woe. Thou art my balm. Upon the earth I know no one who can make me rejoice. Declare my passion to her, carry my message to that lovely creature. Do not reason any more. When by cunning it is impossible to build mills upon the wind, to bring down the bird from the air, to bring out the snake from its den, 80 they are made to submit by incantation. Thou knowest how to make incantation. To think out means for every man is always thy trade. In the time of conversation no one is like thee in tongue, and none equals thee in deeds in the time for deeds. Now unite discourse and cunning 1 Daghonebuli. ? helpless. 3 Zenaar, 55, 161, 5 Ghonitha, artifice, 77, 156. 7 Khheli-craft. 2 Dasvara. 4 Gulisa pasukhi-heart's answer. 6 Khvreli, R., 1220, 1396. together, and by both make Vis submissive. If I had not been lucky, I could not have found thee in such an unexpected1 place." Thus he spoke, he wept and embraced her; he began to kiss her, at that moment. 2 It was done as a sort of balm for love, thus did he love the nurse. 3 “Araci: When once thou art attacked by the desire of woman, thou art like one who has put a halter over his face." When he had freed himself from the nurse and Ramin stood up, the heart of the nurse immediately turned towards Ramin, she rent the curtain of shame, she softened her surly speech, and spoke thus: "O seducer, who surpassest all men in the excellence of thy tongue! Hitherto even I have loved thee, but from to-day forward all disagreement between us is at an end, for thou hast made matters easy for me. Now, whatever thou wishest command me, and I shall not neglect to heed thy words. I shall fulfil thy desire regarding Vis, and I shall carry just what message thou wilt." 5 When the heart-wounded Ramin heard this, he spoke thus: 6 "O choice of mine eyes! See how I shall serve from this day henceforth till my soul rises. Thou thyself knowest my plight. From twilight to dawn I think not to live, and from dawn to twilight I think not to survive. I am like a man alone in the sea who sees a great wind and 81 waves, and from moment to moment expects to drown. I am thus through grief for Vis; I cannot discern day and night from each other. Now, thou art my hope and power, help me in this sorrow and show thy skill in deeds too; otherwise, to speak and not to do is bad. Tell her this: When wilt thou show me again thy happy face? Until thou comest to see me I shall count the moments and keep 1 Uazrosa-unlikely. 2 Words omitted in printed text. 3 Aigheb, 88-thou art raised, roused. 4 Moitzala-had leisure from, had finished with. 7 Suiani, 85. R., 32. 7 6 Amosvlamdin. THE NURSE PROMISES HER AID 73 my eyes on thy road. Until I with joy see thee again, until then I shall be burned on a fire." The sorceress-nurse thus spoke, with a smile: "Thou art a model of eloquence; with so great entreaty and pleasant discourse thou wouldst draw an enemy over to thy side. My heart is wounded by so many requests; by thine oaths and promises1 the fetters are loosed from thy feet and cast on mine. Now, grieve no more, the time is come for thy deliverance from woes. Thou thyself shalt see thy desire, as I will fulfil it and change thy sadness to gladness. I will put Vis's reins into thy hands, so that whatever thou wishest she may be under thy command.2 Come hither every day at this time, wait here for me. I myself will tell thee whatever I do." When the two had made a compact they swore to each other, took each other's hands, kissed each other, and parted. 1 Anderdzobitha; anderdzi, 220. |