ring of the dove

8/6/2019 Ring of the Dove

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By

IBN HAZAM

(994-1064)

A TREATISE ON THE ART AND PRACTICE OF ARAB

LOVE

Translated by

A.J. ARBERRY, LITT.D., F.B.A

LUZAC & COMPANY, LTD.

46 GREAT RUSSELL STREET, LONDON, W.C. 1


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CONTENTS

y Prefacey Author'sPrefacey Preliminary Excursus

1. The Signs OfLove2. On Falling In Love WhileAsleep3. On Falling In Love ThroughA Description4. On Falling In LoveAt First Sight5. On Falling In LoveAfterLongAssociation6. On Falling In Love WithA QualityAnd ThereafterNotApprovingAny OtherDifferent7. OfAllusion By Words8. OfHinting With The Eyes9. OfCorrespondence10.OfThe Messenger11.OfConcealing The Secret12.OfDivulging The Secret13.OfCompliance14.OfOpposition15.OfThe Reproacher16.OfThe Helpful Brother17.OfThe Spy18.OfThe Slanderer19.OfUnion20.OfBreaking Off21.OfFidelity22.OfBetrayal23.OfSeparation24.OfContentment25.OfWastingAway26.OfForgetting27.OfDeath28.OfThe Vileness OfSinning29.OfThe Virtue OfContinence


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AUTHOR'S PREFACE

In the Name of God the Merciful, the Compassionate

THUS spokeAbu Muhammad, Godforgivehim:

Nobetterbeginningcantherebeformybookthanthat I shouldpraiseAlmighty Godas Heisworthy,andprayforHisblessingsupon Mohammed Hisservantandmessengerinparticular,anduponall Hisprophetsingeneral.

Andnext-may Godpreserveusandyoufrombewilderment,andmay Henotburdenuswithmorethanwecanbear;may HeofHisgoodlyaiddecreeforusaguidetoleadusintoobedienceofHis Will,andbestowonusofHis

assistancesomemeansthatwilldrawusawayandturnusfromalloffencesagainst Hiscommandments! May Henothandusovertoourownweakresolvesandfeeblepowers,thefrailtyofourphysicalframeandtheconfusionof

ouropinions,ourevilchoice,ourlittlediscretion,thecorruptionofourpassions! YourlettercamedowntomefromthecityofAlmeriatomydwelling-placeinthe CourtofJativa,inwhichyougavemejoyousnewsofyour

well-being: I thanked Godforthis,andprayedto Himthatheshouldcontinueitso,andgrantyouincreaseofyour

prosperity. Thereafteralittlewhileand I beheldyouinperson,foryouyourselfsoughtmeoutdespitethefardistance,thevastsunderingofourabodestheonefromtheother,theremotenessoftheplaceofvisitation,thegreatlengthofthespacetobetraversed,andtheterrorofthejourney;andtherewerebesidesotherobstacleswhich

mightwellhavedivertedthemosteagerheart,anddistractedthemostresoluteremembrance,exceptaman,heldfirmlikeyoutothecordofloyalty,respectingthoseancientduesandstrongly-rootedaffections,therightsofchildishfondnessandthecomradeshipofyouth,atrueloverwithalforGod. Suchistheattachment,which Godhasestablishedbetweenus,andforthiswepraise Himandgive Himthanks.

Intheaforesaidletteryouexpressedideasexceedingwhat I wasaccustomedtofindinyourothercommunications. Thenonyourarrivalyourevealedyourintentionplainlytome,andinformedmeofyourviews

withthatfranknesswhichhasalwayscharacterizedourrelations,thathabitofsharingwithmeyourevery

sweetnessandbitterness,youreveryprivatethoughtandpublicprofession. Inthisyouwereledbytrueaffection,thewhich I doublyreciprocate,desiringnootherrecompensebuttoreceivealikereturn. Itwasuponthisthemethat I composedthefollowingversesinalongpoemaddressedto'UbaidAllah Ibn `Abdal-Rahman Ibnal-

Mughira,great-grandsonofthe Caliphal-Nasir (Godhavemercyuponhim!),whowasadearfriendofmine.

Thepassionsmostmenboastthemof

Arelikeadesert'snoontidehaze:I lovetheewithaconstantlove

Unwitheringthroughallmydays.

Thisfondness I professfortheeIspure,andinmyheart Ibear

Truelove'sinscriptionplaintosee,

Andallitstaleiswrittenthere.

Hadanypassion,thinebeside,

Atanytimemysoulpossessed,I wouldhavetornmyworthlesshideAndpluckedthatalienfrommybreast.

Thereisnootherprize I seek:Thyloveismydesiresincere:Onlyuponthistheme I speak

Tocapturethycomplacentear.

ThisifI win,theearth'sexpanse,


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Andallmankind,arebutasdust,

Yea,thewideworld'sinhabitantsArefliesthatcrawluponitscrust.

Youchargedme--may Godexaltyou!-tocomposeforyouanessaydescribing Love,wherein I shouldsetforth

itsvariousmeanings,itscausesandaccidents,andwhathappensinitandtoit,afterthewayoftruth,neitheraddinganythingnorembroideringanything,butonlysettingdownexactlywhat I havetotellaccordingtothemannerofitsoccurrence,andmentioningalltothefullextentofmyrecollectionandthelimitofmycapacity. I have

accordinglyhastenedtofulfillyourdesire;thoughbutforthewishtocomplywithyourcommission I wouldneverhaveundertakenitatall,beingtoopoverty-strickentoattemptsogreatatask. Indeeditbehovesusrather,

consideringthebriefdurationofourlives,nottoexpendthemsaveuponthoseenterpriseswhichwemayhopewill

secureforusaspaciousdestinationand.afairhomecominguponthemorrow. Yetitistruethat Cadi Humam IbnAhmadhasinformedmeontheauthorityofYahya Ibn Malik,whohaditfrom ` A'idhuponachainofauthoritymountingtoAbu'l-Darda',thatthelattersaid, "Recreateyoursoulswithalittlevanity,thatitmaythebetteraid

themtoholdfasttothetruth." Arighteousandwell-approvedfatherofthefaithdeclared, " Themanwhohasnever

knownhowtocomporthimselfasacavalierwillneverknowhowtobetrulygodfearing." TheProphetisreportedtohavesaid, " Restyoursoulsfromtimetotime:theyareapttorust,inthesamewaythatsteelrusts."

Inperformingthistaskwithwhichyouhavechargedme I mustperforcerelatesuchthingsas I 'havepersonallywitnessed,orwhat I havediscoveredbydiligentresearch,ormatterscommunicatedtomebyreliableinformantsofmyowntimes.PrayexcusemeifI sometimesdonomorethanhintatthenamesoftheheroes,ofmyanecdotes,

anddonotmentionthemmoreexplicitly;thisisdueeithertosomeshamewhich I donotholditpermissibletouncover,orinordertoprotectalovingfriendoranillustriousman. Itwillsufficemetonameonlythosethenamingofwhomdoesnoharm,andwhosementionbringsnoopprobriumeitheruponourselvesorthem;either

becausetheaffairissonotoriousthatconcealmentandtheavoidanceofclearspecificationwilldotheparty

concernednogood,orforthesimplereasonthatthepersonbeingreportedonisquitecontentthathisstoryshould

bemadepublic,andbynomeansdisapprovesofitsbeingbandiedabout.I shallbequotinginthisessayverseswhich I havecomposedmyselfuponmyownobservations. Donottakeit

amiss,myfriend,orwhoeverelsemayhappentoseethisvolume,that I amherefollowingthefashionofthosewhoalwaysquotethemselvesintheirstories;suchisthewayofmenwhoaffectthewritingofpoetry. Moreovermy

friendsmakemeshytowriteabouttheiradventuresaftertheirownprivatewaysandhabits;so I havebeensatisfiedtomentionhereonlywhathasoccurredtome,withinthetermsofreferenceyouhaveprescribed,ineverycase

attributingtheincidenttomyself. I havekeptinthisbooktotheboundssetbyyou,limitingmyselftothingswhich

Ih

av

eeith

erseenw

ith

myow

neyes,o

rI amco

nv

incedaretru

easderiv

ingfro

mtru

stwo

rth

yrepo

rters. Spareme

thosetalesofBedouins,andofloverslongago! Theirwayswerenotourways,andthestoriestoldofthemaretoonumerousinanycase. Itisnotmypracticetowearoutanybody'sriding-beastbutmyown; I amnotoneofthose

whodeckthemselvesupinborrowedplumes.Inallthis I askGod'sforgivenessandsuccour;thereisno Lordbeside Him.


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Beforetheironset,as I know,

ButthatthesoulsofallmankindInurgentlyunanimity,

O pearlinhumanheartsenshrined!

Strivetopossessthemselvesofthee.

Andso,where'rethoudostprecede,

Nonefollowinglagsfarbehind,Butwiththymountinglighttolead

Allseetheway,andtriumphfind.

ButwhentorearwardthoudoststandThewarriorsemulatethydeed,

And,answeringtheirhearts'command,

Wheelroundtojointheewithallspeed.

I haveanotherpoemonthesamesubject.

Say,artthouoftheangels'sphere,

Orsharestthouourhumankind?

Mydazzledjudgmentseesnotclear;Bewildermentdefeatsmymind.'

ThevisionofmyoutwardeyeAhumanshapedescriesinthee;

Wheninwardreason I apply,

I knowthyformisheavenly.

Thenblessedbe God, Whodiddesign

Hiscreaturessosymmetrical,Andfashionedtheealighttoshine

Innaturalbeautyoverall.

Thoutheprimeval Spiritart,

As I undoubtinglybelieve,Whichanaffinityofheart

Madeoursoulsworthytoreceive.

Nootherproofdowepossess

Toarguethymortality,

Butthatthyvisualloveliness

Impingeso

nou

reyes,to

see.

Didwenotviewthyessenceclear

Within-thisworldofspaceandtime,Wewoulddeclareinfaithsincere

Thouartpure Reason,true,sublime!

Oneofmyfriendshascalledanotherpoemofmine,fromwhichthenextextractcomes, " The ImaginativePerception ".


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Allopposites,asthoudostsee,

Inhimsubsistcombined;Thenhowshallsuchvariety

OfMeaningsbedefined?

O wondrousbodythatdostlieBeyonddimensions'range!

O accident,thatshaltnotdie,

Exemptfromchanceandchange!

Thoucuttestthroughthetangledthread

Ofscholars'argument,Andmakest,inthylightthusshed,

Thetruthself-evident.

PreciselythesamethingistobefoundinthecaseofHatred:youwillseetwopersonshatingoneanotherfornobasiccauseorreasonwhatsoever,butsimplybecausetheonehas.awhollyirrationalantipathyfortheother.

Love-may Godexaltyou!-isintruthabafflingailment,anditsremedyisinstrictaccordwiththedegreeto

whichitistreated;itisadelightfulmalady,amostdesirablesickness. Whoeverisfreeofitlikesnottobeimmune,

andwhoeverisstruckdownbyityearnsnottorecover. Loverepresentsasglamorousthatwhichamanformerlydisdained,andrenderseasyforhimthatwhichhehithertofoundhard;sothatiteventransformsestablishedtemperamentsandinborndispositions,asshallbesetforthbrieflyinitsownappropriatechapter, Godwilling.

Amongmyacquaintances I onceknewayouthwhowasboggeddowninloveandstuckfastinitstoilspassion

hadgrievouslyaffectedhim,sicknesshadworn 1-dmout. YethissoulfoundnocomfortinprayingtoAlmighty

Godtoremovehisafflictions;histonguewasnotloosedinanypetitionfordeliverance. Hisonlyprayerwastobe

unitedwithandtobepossessedoftheoneheloved,despitetheenormityofhissufferingsandthelongprotractionofhiscares. (Whatisonetothinkofthesickmanwhodesiresnottoberidofhissickness?). Oneday I wasseatedwithhim,andfeltsodistressedatthevisibleevidenceofhismiserablecondition,hisheadcastdown,hisstaring

eyes,that I saidtohim (amongotherthings), " MayAllahgrantyourelief! " I atonceobservedinhisfacethemarksofstrongdispleasurewithwhat I hadsaid. Itwaswithsuchasituationinmindthat I composedthefollow

verses,partofalongpoem.

O raredelight,thesepainsthatbreak

Myheart,dearhope,forthysweetsake!Throughallthedays,inallmywoe,

I willnoteverlettheego.

Ifanymanshoulddaretosay," Thoushaltforgethisloveoneday"

TheonlyanswerI willgive

Isaneternalnegative?

What I havedescribedisalltheexactoppositeofwhatAbu BakrMuhammad Ibn Qasim Ibn Muhammadal-

Qurashioncetoldmeinreferencetohisowncase. ( Heisthemanbetterknownasal-Shabanisi,adescendantofImam Hisham Ibn `Abdal-Rahman Ibn Mu'awiya.) Hedeclaredthathehadneverlovedanyone,nevergrievedto

beseparatedfromanyfriend,andneverinallhislifetransgressedthelimitsofassociationandcomradeshipto

penetratetheboundsofloveandpassionateaffection.


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THE SIGNS OF LOVE

LOVE hascertainsigns,whichtheintelligentmanquicklydetects,andtheshrewdmanreadilyrecognizes. Ofthesethefirstisthebroodinggaze:theeyeisthewidegatewayofthesoul,thescrutinizerofitssecrets,conveyingits

mostprivatethoughts,andgivingexpressiontoitsdeepest-hidfeelings. Youwillseethelovergazingatthe

belovedunblinkingly;hiseyesfollowthelovedone'severymovement,withdrawingashewithdraws,incliningasheinclines,justasthechameleon'sstareshiftswiththeshiftingofthesun. I havewrittenapoemonthistopic,from

whichth

efo

llow

ingmaybequot

ed.

Myeyenootherplaceofrest

Discovers,savewiththee;

MensaythelodestoneispossessedOfalikeproperty.

TorightorleftitdothpursueThymovementsupordown,

Asadjectivesingrammardo

Accordthemwiththeirnoun.

Theloverwilldirecthisconversationtothebeloved,evenwhenhepurportshoweverearnestlytoaddressanother:

theaffectationisapparenttoanyonewitheyestosee. Whenthelovedonespeaks,theloverlistenswithraptattentiontohiseveryword;hemarvelsateverythingthebelovedsays,howeverextraordinaryandabsurdhis

observationsmaybe;hebelieveshimimplicitlyevenwhenheisclearlylying,agreeswithhimthoughheis

obviouslyinthewrong,testifiesonhisbehalfforallthathemaybeunjust,followsafterhimhoweverhemayproceedandwhateverlineofargumenthemayadopt. Theloverhurriestothespotwherethebelovedisatthe

moment,endeavorstositasnearhimaspossiblesidlesupclosetohim,laysasidealloccupationsthatmightobligehimtoleavehiscompany,makeslightofanymatterhoweverweightythatwoulddemandhispartingfromhim,isveryslowtomovewhenhetakeshisleaveofhim. I haveputthissomewhereintoverse.

NocaptiveforthegallowsboundWithmorereluctancequitshiscellThan I thypresence,inprofound

Regrettosayfarewell.

Butwhen,mydarling,comesthetime

Thatwemaybetogether, IRunswiftlyasthemoondothclimb

Therampartsofthesky.

Atlast,alas! ThatsweetdelightMustendanew; I,lingeringyet,

Turnslowly,asfromheaven'sheightThefixedstarscreeptoset.

Othersignsoflovearethatsuddenconfusionandexcitementbetrayedbytheloverwhenheunexpectedlyseesthe

onehelovescominguponhimunawares,thatagitationwhichovermastershimonbeholdingsomeonewhoresembleshisbelovedor,onhearinghisnamesuddenlypronounced. This I haveputintoverse,asthefollowingextractindicates.


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Whene'ermyrangingeyesdescry

Apersoncladinred,

MyheartissplitwithagonyAndsorediscomforted.

Hisroguishglance,as I conclude,

HasshedsuchhumanbloodThatnowhisgarmentsareimbrued

Allsaffronfromtheflood.

Amaninlovewillgiveprodigallytothelimitofhiscapacity,inawaythatformerlyhewouldhaverefused;asif

heweretheonereceivingthedonation,hetheonewhosehappinessistheobjectinview;allthisinorderthathe

mayshowoffhisgoodpoints,andmakehimselfdesirable. Howoftenhasthemiseropenedhispursestrings,thescowlerrelaxedhisfrown,thecowardleaptheroicallyintothefray,theclodsuddenlybecomesharp-witted,the

boorturnedintotheperfectgentleman,thestinkertransformedhimselfintotheelegantdandy,theslouchersmartenedup,thedecrepitrecapturedhislostyouth,thegodlygonewild,theself-respectingkickedoverthetraces-andallbecauseoflove!

AllthesesignsaretobeobservedevenbeforethefireofLoveisproperlykindled,ereitsconflagrationtruly

burstsforth,itsblazewaxesfierce,itsflamesleapup. Butwhenthefirereallytakesaholdandisfirmlyestablished,thenyouwillseethesecretwhispering,theunconcealedturningawayfromallpresentbutthebeloved.I havesomeversesinwhich I havecontrivedtobringtogethermanyofthesesigns,andwillnowquotefromthese.

I lovetohearwhenmenconverseAndinthemidsthisnamerehearse;

TheairI breatheseemsredolent

Thatmomentwiththeamber'sscent,Butwhenhespeaketh, I giveear

Untonoothersittingnear,

ButleantocatchdelightedlyHisprettytalkandcoquetry,

Noryet,thoughmycompanionthereThePrinceofAllthe Faithfulwere,

PermitmymindtoberemovedOnhisaccountfrommybeloved.

Andif,throughdirecompulsion, I

Standupatlasttosaygood-bye,Stillglancingfondlyatmysweet

I stumble,asonwoundedfeet;

MyeyesuponhisfeaturesplayThewhilemybodydriftsaway,

Asonethebillowstumbleo'erYetgazes,drowning,ontheshore.

When I recallhowdistantheNowis, I chokeinsorrow'ssea,

Wearyasonewhosinks,toexpire

Insomedeepbog,orragingfire.Yet,ifthousayest, " CanstthoustillAspiretoheaven? " " That I will ",

I answerboldly, " and I know

Thestairsthattoitssummitgo! "


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Withdelugesoffloodingrain.

AndhasthenightbecauseoftheeNowcometosharemymisery,

Orwillitsuccourbring,perchance,

Tothismywearyvigilance?

Foriftheshadowsofthenight

Willne'erdisperse,andturntolight,Untilmyeyes,presseddownbywoes,

Atlastinwearyslumberclose;

I donotthinkthatanywayRemains,toleadmebacktoday,

Butstillaugmentingsleeplessness

Myeverymomentshalloppress.

Andnowdarkcloudso'erspreadtheAndhidethestarlightfrommyeyes,Concealingfrommyanxiousgaze

Thecomfortoftheirfitfulblaze.

Suchinwardtormentofthemind,Theeloving,dearestheart, I find,

Surmisealonecanfullyguess

Andadvertizemysoul'sdistress.

Anotherpoemofmine-I quoteanextract-dealswiththesamenotion.

I amtheshepherdoftheskies,Deputedtopreserve

Theplanetsastheysinkandrise,

Thestarsthatdonotswerve.

Those,astheyswingtheirlampsabove

Ourearth,bynightpossessed,Arelikethekindledfiresoflove

Withinmydarklingbreast.

OrI amnowthegardenerOfsomegreenmead,methinks,

Andthroughthegrasses,hereandthere,Awhitenarcissuswinks.

WerePtolemyaliveto-day,

Anddidheknowofme," Thouartthemaestro ",hewouldsay,

" Ofallastronomy! "

Athingissometimesmentionedonaccountofthatwhichcausesittooccur. Intheverses I havejustcited, I have

comparedtwopairsofthingswitheachotherinoneandthesamestanza,thesecondofthepoembeginning "Those,astheyswingtheirlampsabovethisisconsideredveryunusualinpoetry. However, I canalsoquoteaneven


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moreperfectexampleofvirtuosityfrommyownworks-thelikeningofthree,andevenfourpairsofthingsina

singlestanza;boththesefeatshavebeenaccomplishedinthepieceherefollowing.

Stillyearning,anddisquieted,Stillsleeplesstossingonhisbed,

WitsdrunkenanddisorderlyWiththecoarsewineofcalumny;

Heshowstotheeinonebriefhour

Marvelsdefeatingreason'spowerNowhostile,nowthefriendsincere,Nowrunningoff,nowpressingnear

Asifthispassion,thisreproof,Tobecomplacent,oraloof,

Werestarsconjoining,orinflight,Fortune'sbenevolence,orspite.

Aftersolongrefusal,he

Tookpityonmylove,andme,

And I,whoenviedothers'chance,Amtargetnowforenvy'sglance.

TogetherinagardengayWithbloomwepassedourhappyday,

ThewhilethebrightandwhisperingflowersGavethanksto Godformorning'sshowers

Asifthematinrains,indeed,

Theclouds,andthatsweet-scentedmead,

Weredroppingtears,andeyesbedewed,Andcheekswithrosesallimbued.

Letnonefindfaultwithmeorobjecttomyuseoftheterm "conjoining ",forthosewhohaveknowledgeofthe

starsspeakofthemeetingoftwostarsinasingledegreeasa " conjunction ".I havenotyetexhaustedmyrepertoire,butcanciteastillmoreperfectexample,thelikeningoffivepairsof

thingsinasinglestanza,asinmynextquotation.

Shesatthereprivilywithme,Andwinebesides,tomakeusthree,Whilenightprofoundo'ershadowing

Stretchedoutitslongandstealthywing.

Adamselfair-I wouldprefer

Todie,thannotliveclosewithher;AndisitsuchadreadfulcrimeTowishtolivethislittletime?

Itwasasifmyself,andshe,Thecup,thewine,theobscurity,

Wereearth,andraindrops,andpearlsset

Uponathread,andgold,andjet.


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Thatisapointbeyondwhichitisimpossibleforanyonetogo;neitherprosodynorthestructureofwordswill

toleratemorethanfivecomparisonsinthesamestanza.Trepidationovertakesloversintwosituations. Thefirstiswhentheloverhopestomeetthebeloved,andthen

someobstacleintervenestopreventit. I knowamanwhoselovedonehadpromisedtovisithi;thereafterI never

sawhimbutthathewascomingandgoingthewholetime,quiteunabletobestillortoremaininoneplace;nowhe

wouldadvance,anonhewouldretire;joyhadmadehimpositivelynimbleandspritely,thoughformerlyhewasexceedinglygraveandsedate. I havesomeversesonthesubjectofawaitingthevisitofthebeloved.

I waitedstill,untilnightcame

Uponme,hopingyetTomeetthee, O myquest,andaim

Onwhichmyheartisset!

Then I,whoneveranydayDespaired,thoughlongthenight,

Atlasttodarkdespairgaveway

Whendarko'ercamemylight.

MoreoverI aproofwillciteThatcannottellalie;

Thelikesuchproblemssolvearight

Asreasonelsedefy:

Towit,ifthoushouldsteverdeignOnenighttovisitme,

Nolongerdarknesswouldremain,

Butlighteternally.

Thesecondcauseoftrepidationiswhenaquarrelbreaksoutbetweenthelovingcouple,inthecourseofwhichreproachesflyabout,thetruegroundswhereofonlyadetailedexplanationcanmakeclear. Thenthelover's

agitationbecomesviolentindeed,andcontinuesuntilthemattercomescompletelyintotheopen;wheneithertheburdenunderwhichhehasbeenstrugglingislifted,ifhehascausetohopeforforgiveness,orhistrepidationconvertsintosorrowanddespair,ifheisfearfulthatthebelovedwillthenceforwardbanishhim. Thelovermayhoweversubmithumblytothelovedone'scruelty,asshallbeexpoundedhereafterinitspropercontext, God

willing.

AmongtheaccidentsofLovemaybementionedanextremeimpatienceunderaffliction,suchaparoxysmofemotionascompletelyoverwhelmstheloverandleaveshimspeechless,aswhenheseeshisbelovedturningfrom

himinundisguisedaversion. I havealineortworeferringtothis.

Fairfortitudeimprisonedlies,

Andtearsflowfreelyfromtheeyes.

AnothersignofLoveisthatyouwillseetheloverlovinghisbeloved'skithandkinandtheintimateonesofhishousehold,tosuchanextentthattheyareneareranddearertohimthanhisownfolk,himself,andallhisfamiliar

friends. Weepingisawell-knownsignofLove;exceptthatmendifferverygreatlyfromoneanotherinthis

particular. Somearereadyweepers;theirtear-ductsarealwaysoverflowing,andtheireyesrespondimmediatelytotheiremotions,thetearsrollingdownatamoment'snotice. Othersaredry-eyedandbarrenoftears;tothiscategoryI myselfbelong. Thisistheresultofmyhabitofeatingfrankincensetoabatethepalpitationfromwhich I have

sufferedsincechildhood. I willbeafflictedbysomeshockingblow,andatoncefeelmyhearttobesplittingand

breakingintofragments; I haveachokingsensationinmyheartmorebitterthancolocynth,thatpreventsmefromgettingmywordsoutproperly,andsometimeswellnighsuffocatesme. Myeyesthereforerespondtomyfeelings


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butrarely,andthenmytearsareexceedinglysparse.

Writingtheaboveparagraphhasputmeinmindofacertaindaywhen I,withmycompanionAbu BakrMuhammad Ibn Ishaq,wasbiddingfarewelltoourdearfriendAbu `Amin Muhammad Ibn'Amir(GodhavehiminHismercy!)priortohisdepartureforthe Eastonthatjourneyafterwhichwewerenevertoseehimagain.Abu

Bakr,ashesaidgood-bye,begantoweep,andcitedthefollowingversestoillustratehisgrief.

Whenthouon WasitfielddidstlieFelledtothedust,whateye

Grudgeditslasttearsontheetoshed,

Wasdryindeedanddead.

Thestanzaistakenfromanelegyon Yazid Ibn `UmarIbn Hubaira (Godhavemercyonhissoul!). Wewere

standingontheseashoreat Malaga,and I begantofeelmoreandmoredistressedandheartbroken,yetmyeyeswouldnotcometomyaid. Then I said,inresponsetotheversesquotedbyAbu Bakr:

Theheartthatshednot,stillthe Stoic,

Itsfortitudeheroic,Whenthouwastgone,anditalone

Thatheartwasmadeofstone!

I alsohaveanode,composedbeforereachingpuberty,inwhich I followtheusualconventionsobservedbythose

whotreatthistheme; I willquotetheopeninglines.

Thesignofsorrowisaflame

Thatstrikestheheart,andburnsthesame,Astoothetearsthatfreelygo

Adownthecheeksinceaselessflow.

Forwhenthemanby LovepossessedConcealsthesecretofhisbreast,Histearstheguardedtruthbetray

Andbareittothelightofday.

So,whenthetear-ductsoverfill

Theeyelids,andtheirtorrentspill,Besure,ifthouobservantart,

Love'spainfulsicknessrendsthatheart.

Itwillhappenin Lovethatthelovershaveevilthoughtsofoneanother;eachsuspectseverywordthepartnerutters,andmisconstruesitwillfully;whichistheoriginofthosereproacheswhichloversoftenleveleachagainsteach. Ihaveanacquaintancewhoisnormallythemostunsuspiciousmanintheworld,extremelybroad-minded,possessed

ofgreatpatienceanduntoldtolerance,indulgenttoafault;yetwhenheisinlove,hecannotenduretheslightest

thingbetweenhimandtheobjectofhisaffection;lettheleastdifferencearisebetweenthem,andhewillforthwithutterallkindsofreproachesandgivevoicetoeverymannerofmistrust. I haveputthissituationintoverse.


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I haveadark,suspiciousmind,

AndnothingnegligiblefindThoudoest;despicablethey,

Whododespise Love'sleastaffray-!

Theywillnotsee,untiltoolate,

Therootsofruptureandofhate,Forgetting,totheirowndespite,Asparkmaysetatownalight.

Youwillseethelover,whenunsureoftheconstancyofhislovedone'sfeelingsforhim,perpetuallyonhisguardinawaythathenevertroubledtobebefore;hepolisheshislanguage,herefineshisgesturesandhisglances,

particularlyifhehasthemisfortuneandmischancetobeinlovewithonegiventomakingunjustaccusations,orof

aquarrelsomedisposition.AnothersignofLoveisthewaytheloverpaysattentiontothebeloved;rememberingeverythingthatfallsfrom

hislips;searchingoutallthenewsabouthim,sothatnothingsmallorgreatthathappenstohimmayescapehis

knowledge;inshort,followingcloselyhiseverymovement. Uponmylife,sometimesyouwillseeacompletedolt

under

thesecirc

ums

tancesbec

omem

ostkeen,acarelessfell

owtu

rnexceedinglyqu

ick-w

itt

ed.I wasseatedonedayatAlmeria,withaknotofotherpeople,intheshopofIsmail Ibn Yunus,the Hebrew

physicianwhowasalsoashrewdandcleverphysiognomist. Mujahid Ibnal-Hasinal-Qaisisaidtohim,pointingtoacertainmannamed Hatim-hewasfamiliarlyknownasAbu'l-Baga'-whowaswithdrawnapartfromtherestofus," Whatdoyousayabouthisman? " Helookedathimforabriefmoment,andthensaid, "Heispassionatelyinlove

". Mujahidexclaimed, " Youareright;whatmadeyousaythis? " Ismailanswered, " Becauseofanextreme

confusionapparentinhisface. Simplythat;otherwisealltherestofhismovementsareunremarkable. I knewfromhisthatheisinlove,andnotsufferingfromanymentaldisorder."

OF FALLING IN LOVE WHILE ASLEEP

EVERY loveaffairmustnecessarilyhavesomeoriginalcause. I shallnowbeginwiththemostunlikelyofall

causesoflove,sothatthediscoursemayproceedindueorder,startingaseverwiththesimplestandeasiestexample. Loveindeedissometimescausedbythingssostrange,thatbutforhavingmyselfobservedthem I wouldnothavementionedthematall.

Nowhereisaninstancefrommyownexperience. Oneday I visitedourfriendAbu'1-Sari'Ammar Ibn Ziyad,

thefreedmanofal-Mu'aiyad,andfoundhimdeepinthoughtandmuchpreoccupied. I askedhimwhatwasamiss;forawhileherefusedtoexplain,butthenhesaid, "Anextraordinarythinghashappenedtome,thelikeofwhich Ihaveneverheard." "Whatisthat? I enquired. " Lastnight ",heanswered, " I sawinadreamayoungmaiden,and

onawaking I foundthat I hadcompletelylostmyhearttoher,andthat I wasmadlyinlovewithher. Now I aminthemostdifficultstraitspossible,withthispassion I haveconceivedforher." Hecontinuedcastdownandafflicted

formorethanamonth;nothingwouldcheerhimup,soprofoundwashisemotion.Atlast I scoldedhim,saying, "

Itisavastmistaketooccupyyoursoulwithsomethingunreal,andtoattachyourfantasytoanon-existentbeing.Doyouknowwhosheis? " " No,byAllah! " hereplied. " Really ", I wenton, " youhaveverylittlejudgment,--andyourdiscretionmustbeaffected,ifyouaxeactuallyinlovewithapersonwhomyouhaveneverseen,someone

moreoverwhowasnevercreatedanddoesnotexistintheworldatall. Ifyouhadfallenforoneofthosepictures

theypaintonthewallsofthepublicbaths, I wouldhavefounditeasiertoexcuseyou." So I continued,untilatlastbymakingagreateffortheforgothistrouble. Nowmyopinionisthathiscaseistobeexplainedasapurefantasy

ofthemind,anightmareillusion,andfallsintothecategoryofwishfulthinkingandmentalhallucination. I haveexpressedthissituationactuallyinverse.


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Ah,would I knewwhoshemightbe,

Andhowshewalkedbynight!Wasshethemoonthatshoneonme,

Thesun'suprisinglight?

AmereconjectureofthemindBycogitationwrought?

Animagethatthesouldesigned,

Revealedtomebythought?

Apicturethatmyspiritdrew,

Myhopestorealize,Andthatmysightimaginedto

Perceiveinfleshlyguise?

Orwasshenothingofallthese,Butjustanaccident

Contrivedformeby Fate'sdecreesWithmurderousintent?

OF FALLING IN LOVE THROUGH A DESCRIPTION

ONE ofthestrangestoriginsofpassioniswhenamanfallsinlovethroughmerelyhearingthedescriptionofthe

otherparty,withouteverhavingseteyesonthebeloved. Insuchacasehewillprogressthroughalltheaccustomedstagesoflove;therewillbethesendingtoandfroofmessengers;theexchangeofletters,theanxiety,thedeepemotion,thesleeplessness;andallthiswithoutactualsightoftheobjectofaffection. Stories,descriptionsof

beautifulqualities,andthereportingofnewsaboutthefaironehaveamanifesteffectonthesoul;tohearagirl's

voicesingingbehindawallmaywellmovethehearttolove,andpreoccupythemind.Allthishasoccurredtomorethanoneman. Inmyopinion,however,suchaloveisatumbledownbuilding

withoutanyfoundations. Ifaman'sthoughtsareabsorbedbypassionateregardforonewhomhehasneverseen,theinevitableresultisthatwheneverheisalonewithhisownreflections,hewillrepresenttohimselfapurely

imaginarypictureofthepersonwhoseidentityhekeepsconstantlybeforehismind;nootherbeingthanthistakesshapeinhisfantasy;heiscompletelycarriedawaybyhisimagination,andvisualizesanddreamsofheronly. Then,

ifsomedayheactuallyseestheobjectofhisfancifulpassion,eitherhisloveisconfirmed,oritiswhollynullified.Boththesealternativeshaveactuallyhappenedandbeenknown.

Thiskindofromanceusuallytakesplacebetweenveiledladiesofguardedpalacesandaristocratichouseholds

andtheirmalekinsfolk;theloveofwomenismorestableinthesecasesthanthatofmen,becausewomenareweak

creaturesandtheirnaturesswiftlyrespondtothissortofattraction,whicheasilymastersthemcompletely. I have

describedthistypeofloveinverse.

O thouwhochidestmeBecausemyhearthasbeen

EntrancedbypassionutterlyForone I havenotseen

Thoudostexaggerate

InallthatthoudostspeakUponmypassion,anddoststate

Myloveispoorandweak.

Forsay:whatdomenknowOfParadiseabove,


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Savetheyhaveheardthatitisso

Andwhattheyheartheylove?

I alsohavesomelinesonthethemeofadmiringthebeautyofasingingvoice,withouteverhavingseenthe

singer.

Love'ssoldieryassailedmineear

Andnowdooccupy

Myheart;theirtriumphdothappearInmysubmissiveeye.

Inthelineswhichfollow I describethesituationoftruthbelyingconjecture,whentheloveractuallyclapseyesonhisbeloved.

Theyspokeinglowingtermsofthee,Butwhenatlast I chancedtosee

Thattheydescribed,atonce I knewTheirwordswerenonsenseanduntrue.

Suchisthedrum:inorigin'Tisnothingbutanemptyskin,

Butwhenthedrummerbeatsitshide

Amanisscared,andterrified!

I havealsostatedtheconversecase.

So,too,thestoriesmenreciteTopicturethesupremedelightOfParadise,fallshortbyfar

Ofthoseitsactualpleasuresare.

Theseconditionsalsoobtainintherelationsbetweenfriendsandcomrades,as I shallshowinapersonalreminiscence. Therewasonceastrongbondofaffectionbetweenmyselfandamemberofanoblefamily;we

correspondedfrequently,buthadneverseteyesononeanother. ThenAllahgrantedmetheboonofmeetinghim;andbutafewdayselapsedwhenaviolentaversionandstrongantipathyarosebetweenus,thathascontinueduninterruptedlydowntotothepresentday. I haveputthisincidentintoverse,andwillquotealineortwo.

Thoudidstconvertmylovingdream

Toloathing,andtohateextreme

SocopyistshaveofttimesslippedAndquitetransformedamanuscript

TheoppositetranspiredinthecaseofmyrelationswithAbu `Amin IbnAbi `Amin (Godkeephimin Hismercy!). Once I trulydetestedhim,andhefullyreciprocatedmyfeelings;thiswasbefore I hadseen.him,andhe

me. Therootofthematterwasaslanderousreport,whichhadbeencarriedtoeachofusabouttheother,aggravated

byanaversionexistingbetweenourrespectivefathersthatsprungfromtheirmutualrivalryintheraceforprefermentat Courtandworldlypromotion. ThenAllahsoordainedthatweshouldcometogether;thereafterhe


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becamemydearestfriend,and I hislikewise,untilthedaythatdeathpartedus. Thefollowingverseswerewritten

bymetocommemoratethisfriendship.

Hewasabrother,whom I gained

Bymeeting,andtherebyobtainedAtrulynobletreasure;

Hisfriendshipwasnotwishedbyme,

And I supposedhiscompanyWouldyieldmelittlepleasure

Buthe,whowasmyerstwhilefoe,Becamemyfriend,he,whom I soAbhorred,myheart'ssweetrapture;

Andhavingeversoughttofly

Frommeetinghim,thereafterISoughteverhimtocapture.

AsforAbu Shakir'Abdal-Rahman Ibn Muhammadal-Qabri,hewasmyfriendforalongwhilebefore I eversawhim;thenwemet,andourlovewasconfirmed;andithascontinuedwithoutinterruptionrightdowntothepresenttime.

OF FALLING IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

OFTEN ithappensthat Lovefastensitselftotheheartastheresultofasingleglance. ThisvarietyofLoveis

dividedintotwoclasses.Thefirstclassisthecontraryofwhatwehavejustbeendescribing,inthatamanwillfallheadoverheelsin

lovewithamereform,withoutknowingwhothatpersonmaybe,whathername-is,orwhereshelives. Thishas

happenedtomorethanoneman.

OurfriendAbu BakrMuhammad IbnAhmad Ibn Ishaqinformedme,quotingatrustworthyauthoritywhosenamehasescapedme-though I thinkitwas Judge Ibnal-Hadhdha'thatthepoet YusufIbn Harun,betterknownas

al-Ramadi,wasonedaypassingthe GateofthePerfumersat Cordova,aplacewhereladieswerewonttocongregate,whenheespiedayounggirlwho,ashesaid, "entirelycapturedmyheart,sothatallmylimbswere

penetratedbytheloveofher". Hethereforeturnedasidefromgoingtothemosqueandsethimselfinsteadto

followingher,whilesheforherpartsetofftowardsthebridge,whichshethencrossedandcametotheplace

knownasal-Rabad. Whenshereachedthemausoleaofthe Banu Marwan (Godhavemercyontheirsouls!)thatareerectedovertheirgravesinthecemeteryofal-Rabad,beyond'theriver,sheobservedhimtohavegoneapartfrom

therestofthepeopleandtobepreoccupiedsolelywithher. Sheaccordinglywentuptohimandsaid, " Whyareyouwalkingbehindme?" Hetoldherhowsorelysmittenhewaswithher,andshereplied, "Havedonewiththat!

Donotseektoexposemetoshame;youhavenoprospectofachievingyourpurpose,andthereisnowaytoyou'regratifyingyourdesire.-" Hecountered, " I amsatisfiedmerelytolookatyou." " Thatispermittedtoyou ",she

replied. Thenheaskedher, " Mylady,areyouafreewoman,orareyouaslave? " " I amaslave ",sheanswered."Andwhatisyourname?" heenquired. " Khalwa ",shetoldhim. "Andtowhomdoyoubelong? " Heaskednext.Tothissheretorted, " ByAllah,youarelikeliertoknowwhatinhabitsthe Seventh Heaven,thantheanswertothat

question. Seeknottheimpossible! " " Mylady ",hebegged, " Wheremay I seeyouagain? " " Whereyousawme

to-day",shereplied, " atthesamehour,every Friday." Thensheadded, " Willyougooffnow,orshall I? " " Doyougooff,inAllah'sprotection! " hereplied. Soshewentoffinthedirectionofthebridge;andhecouldnotfollow

her,becauseshekeptlookingroundtoseeifhewasaccompanyingherornot. Whenshehadpassedthegateofthebridge,hecameafterherbutcouldfindnotraceofherwhatsoever. "'AndbyAllah ",saidAbu `Umar(thatisto

say, YusufIbn Harun),recountingthestoryofhisadventure, " I havefrequentedthePerfumers' Gateandal-Rabadthewholetimefromthentillnow,but I havenevercomeuponanyfurthernewsofher. I knownotwhetherthe

heavenshavedevouredher,orwhethertheearthhasswallowedherup;andthefeeling I haveinmyheartonheraccountishotterthanburningcoals." Thisisthe Khalwawhosenamehecelebratesinhislovelyrics. Thereafterhehadnewsofherafterhejourneyedto Saragossaforhersake,butthatisalongstory.

Thissortofthinghappensfrequentlyenough; I haveapoemonthesubject,fromwhich I herequote.


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Againstmyheartmineeyedesigned

Greatwrong,andanguishtomymind,

WhichsinmyspirittorequiteHathloosedthesetearsagainstmysight.

Howshallmineeyebeholdinfact

Thisjusticethatmytearsexact,Seeingthatintheirfloodprofound

Myweepingeyeiswhollydrowned?

Since I hadneverseenheryet

I couldnotknowher,whenwemet;

ThefinalthingofherI knewWaswhat I sawatthatfirstview.

ThesecondclassofthevarietyofLovenowunderdiscussionisthecontraryofwhatweshallbedescribinginthe

chapternextfollowing,ifAllahwills. Thisisforamaptoformanattachmentatfirstsightwithayoungladywhosename,placeofabodeandoriginareknowntohim. Thedifferencehereisthespeedortardinesswithwhichthe

affairpassesoff. Whenamanfallsinloveatfirstsight,andformsasuddenattachmentastheresultofafleetingglance,thatproveshimtobelittlesteadfast,andproclaimsthathewillassuddenlyforgethisromanticadventure;ittestifiestohisficklenessandinconstancy. So,itiswithallthings;thequickertheygrow,thequickertheydecay;

whileontheotherhandslowproducedisslowconsumed.

Ayoungfellow I know,thesonofaclerk,wasonedayobservedbyaladyofnoblebirth,highpositionand

strictseclusion;shesawhimpassingby,whilepeepingoutfromaplaceofvantageinherhome,andconceivedanattachmentforhimwhichhereciprocated. Theyexchangedepistlesforatime,bywaysmoredelicatethantheedgeofafine-groundsword;andwereitnotthat I purposenotinthisessaytouncoversuchrusesandmakementionof

suchsubterfuges, I couldhavesetdownheresuchthingsas I amcertainwouldhaveconfoundedtheshrewdestandastonishedthemostintelligentofmen. I praythat Godin Hisgreatbountywilldrawoverusandallgood Moslems

thecurtainofHismercy. Heisindeedsufficientforourneeds.

OF FALLING IN LOVE AFTER LONG ASSOCIATION

SOME mentherearewhoseloveonlybecomestrueafterlongconverse,muchcontemplation,andextendedfamiliarity. Suchaoneislikelytopersistandtobesteadfastinhisaffection,untouchedbythepassageoftimewhat

enterswithdifficultygoesnotouteasily. Thatismyownwayinthesematters,anditisconfirmedby Holy

Tradition. ForGod,asweareinformedbyourteachers,when Hecommandedthe SpirittoenterAdam'sbody,thatwaslikeanearthenvessel-andthe Spiritwasafraid,andsorelydistressed-saidtoit, "Enterinunwillingly,andcomeforthagainunwillingly! " I havemyselfseenamanofthisdescriptionwho,wheneverhesensedwithin

himselfthebeginningsofapassionateattachment,orconceivedapenchantforsomeformwhosebeautyheadmired,atonceemployedthedeviceofshunningthatpersonandgivingupallassociationwithhim,lesthis

feelingsbecomemoreintenseandtheaffairgetbeyondhiscontrol,andhefindhimselfcompletelystampeded. This

proveshowclosely Lovecleavestosuchpeople'shearts,andonceitlaysholdofthemneverloosesitsgrip. I haveapoemonthissubject,andwillquoteanextract.

I amresolvedtokeepafar

WhereverLove'sattractionsare;Themanofsense,as I detect,


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Isevershrewdandcircumspect.

I haveobservedthatlovebeginsWhensomepoorfellowforhissins,

Thinks,itisthrilling,everso,

Togazeoncheekswhererosesglow.

Butwhilehesportssojoyfully

Withnotacaretomarhisglee,Thelinksareforging,onebyone,

Andhe'senchained,beforehe'sdone.

Sothereheis,deludedfool;Steppingbenignlyinthepool

Heslips,anderehecanlookround

He'ssweptalongtheflood,anddrowned.

I indeedmarvelprofoundlyatallthosewhopretendtofallinloveatfirstsight; I cannoteasilyprevailuponmyselftobelievetheirclaim,andprefertoconsidersuchloveasmerelyakindoflust.Asforthinkingthatthatsortof

attachmentcanreallypossesstheinmostheart,andpenetratetheveilofthesoul'srecess,that I cannotunderany

circumstancescredit. Lovehasnevertrulygrippedmybowels,saveafteralonglapseoftime,andconstant

companionshipwiththepersonconcerned,sharingwithhimallthatwhilemyeveryoccupation,beitearnestorfrivolous. So I amalikeinconsolationandinpassion; I haveneverinmylifeforgottenanyromance,andmy

nostalgiaforeveryformerattachmentissuchthat I wellnighchokewhen I drink,andsuffocatewhen I eat. The

manwhoisnotsoconstitutedquicklyfindscompletereliefandisatrestagain; I haveneverweariedofanythingonce I haveknownit,andneitherhave I hastenedtofeelathomewithitonfirstacquaintance. Similarly I have

neverlongedforachangeforchange'ssake,inanyofthethingsthat I havepossessed; I amspeakingherenotonlyoffriendsandcomrades,but'alsoofalltheotherthingsamanuses-clothes,riding-beast,food,andsoon. Lifeholdsnojoyforme,and I donothingbuthangmyheadandfeelutterlycastdown,eversince I firsttastedthe

bitternessofbeing-separatedfromthose I love. Itisananguishthatconstantlyrevisitsme,anagonyofgriefthat

ceasesnotforamomenttoassailme. Myremembranceofpasthappinesshasabatedformeeveryjoythat I maylookforinthefuture. I amadeadman,thoughcountedamongtheliving,slainbysorrowandburiedbysadness,entombedwhileyetadwelleronthefaceofthismortalearth.Allahbepraised,whateverbethecircumstancesthat

befallus;thereisindeednootherGodbut He!I havemeditateduponthisthemeinverseasfollows.

TrueloveisnotaflowerThatspringethinanhour;

Itsflintwillnotstrikefire

Atcasualdesire.

Loveisaninfantrare

Begotten,slowtobear;

ItslimemustminglelongBeforeitsbaseisstrong.

AndthennotsoonwillitBeundermined,andsplit;

Firmwillitsstructurestand,

Itsfabricstillexpand.

Thistruthisreadily

Confirmed,becausewesee

ThatthingstooquicklygrownAreswiftlyoverthrown.


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MineisastubbornsoilToploughwitharduoustoil,

Intractibleindeed

Totillerandtoseed.

ButoncetherootsbeginTostrikeandthrivetherein,

Comebounteousrain,comedrought,Thelustystemwillsprout.

Nowletnomanthinkorimaginethatwhat I haveheresaidiscontrarytomystatement,inscribedintheexordiumofthistreatise,that Loveisaunionofsoulseffectedwithinthesubstanceoftheirsupernalworld. Onthe

contrary,mypresentremarksconfirmthatassertion. Forweknowthatinthislowerworldthesoulisshroudedin

manyveils,thatitisovertaken Bydiversaccidents,thatitisencompassedbyallthoseearthy,mundaneinstincts;inconsequencemanyoftrueattributesareobscured.Andalthoughalltheseobstaclesdonotprecludethesoulentirelyfromachievingunionwithitsfellow-soul,neverthelesstheyundoubtedlystandinthewayofthatunion,whichmay

thereforeonlybetrulyrealizedafterlongandcarefulpreparationandmakingready. Thesoulmustfirstbemade

awareofitspointsofresemblanceandconcordwithitsfellow-soul;itmustconfrontitsownhiddentemperamentswiththecorrespondingtemperamentsofthebeloved. Thenandthenonlywillveritableunionbeconsummated,and

thatwithoutfurtherletorhindrance.Asforwhattranspiresatfirstblushasaresultofcertainaccidentalcircumstances-physicaladmiration,and

visualenchantmentwhichdoesnotgobeyondmereexternalforms-andthisistheverysecretandmeaningofcarnal

desire;whencarnaldesiremoreoverbecomessooverflowingthatitsurpassesthesebounds,andwhensuchan

overflowcoincideswithaspiritualunion,inwhichthenaturalinstinctsshareequallywiththesoul;theresultingphenomenoniscalledpassionatelove. Hereinliestherootoftheerror,whichmisleadsamanintoassertingthathelovestwopersons,orispassionatelyenamoredoftwoentirelydifferentindividuals.Allthisistobeexplainedas

springingoutofcarnal'desire,aswehavejustdescribed;itiscalledloveonlymetaphorically,andnotinthetrue

meaningoftheterm.Asforthetruelover,hisyearningofthesoulissoexcessiveastodiverthimfromallhisreligiousandmundaneoccupations;howthenshouldhehaveroomtobusyhimselfwithasecondloveaffair?

I haveputthispointintoverse.

Helies,andperjuresallthat'strue;Whoswearsheisinlovewithtwo

Hesharesinfalsehoodequally

Withthatdamnedmiscreant, Manichee.

ThehearthasnotsufficientplaceToholdtwosweetsinoneembrace,

Normaythesecondloveaffair

Claimwiththefirstanequalshare.

Forasthe ReasonisuniqueItcannotknow,thoughitmayseek,

AnotherPowertocreate

BesidestheAll Compassionate.

Andsothe Heart,that'slikewiseone,Isconstitutedtolovenone

Exceptthatsingledarlingdear,

Beheafarorbehenear.


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Themanwhoclaimsaduallove

Isthus,astheseexamplesprove,AdoubtfulfollowerofLove'slaws,

Atraitorto Religion'scause.

AndbythatselfsamereasoningTrue Faithistooasinglething;Hewhoasecondservesaswell

Condemnshimselfaninfidel.

I knowacertainyoungmanwhoisrich,ofnoblebirth,andofthefinesteducation,andwhomadeapracticeofpurchasingslave-girls. Thegirlwouldbeobeginwithinnocentofanyregardforhim;stillworse,shewouldpositivelydislikehim,forindeedhiswayswerenotveryengaging,withthatperpetualscowlwhichneverlefthis

face,particularlywhenhewaswithwomen;yetwithinaveryshorttimehehadmasteredhertohiswill. Thereupon

her-aversionwouldbechangedintoexcessivelove,extremeaffection,andquiteshamelessinfatuation;whereasformerlyshewasirritatedtobeinhiscompany,nowshecouldnotenduretobepartedfromhim. Thesamethinghappenedwitharemarkablenumberofthegirls.Afriendofmineaskedhimoncehowheexplainedhissuccess;in

adetailedreplyheascribedittohisunusualdexterityinlovemaking.

Thisexample-and I couldquoteothers-provesthatwhenaspiritualconcordisonceestablished,loveisimmediatelyengendered.Physicalcontactcompletes-thecircuitandthusenablesthecurrentoflovetoflowfreely

intothesoul.

OF FALLING IN LOVE WITH A QUALITY AND

THEREAFTER NOT APPROVING ANY OTHER DIFFERENT

KNOW now-may Godexaltyou!-that Loveexercisesaneffectiveauthority,adecisivesovereigntyoverthesoul;

itscommandscannotbeopposed,itsordinancesmaynotbeflouted,itsruleisnottobetransgressed;itdemands

unwaveringobedience,andagainstitsdominionthereisnoappeal. Loveuntwiststhefirmestplaits,andloosesthetighteststrandsitdissolvesthatwhichismostsolid,undoesthatwhichismostfirm;itpenetratesthedeepestrecessesoftheheart,andmakeslawfulthingsmoststrictlyforbidden.

I haveknownmanymenwhosediscriminationwasbeyondsuspicion,mennottobefeareddeficientin

knowledge,orwantingintaste,orlackingdiscernment,andwhoneverthelessdescribedtheirlovedonesaspossessingcertainqualitiesnotbyanymeansadmiredbythegeneralrunofmankind,orapprovedaccordingtotheacceptedcanonsofbeauty. Yetthosequalitieshadbecomeanobsessionwiththem,thesoleobjectoftheirpassion,andtheverylastword (astheythought)inelegance. Thereaftertheirlovedonesvanished,eitherintooblivion,or

byseparation,orjilting,orthroughsomeotheraccidenttowhichloveisalwaysliable;butthosemenneverlost

theiradmirationforthecuriousqualitieswhichprovokedtheirapprovalofthem,neitherdidtheyeverafterwards

ceasetoprefertheseaboveotherattributesthatarein.-realitysuperiortothem. Theyhadnoinclinationwhatsoeverforanyqualitiesbesidesthese;indeed,theveryfeatureswhichtherestofmankinddeemmostexcellentwereshunnedanddespisedbythem. Sotheycontinueduntilthedayoftheirdeath;alltheirliveswerespentinsighing

regretfullyforthelovedonestheyhadlost,andtakingjoyousdelightintheirrememberedcompanionship. I donot

consider,thatthiswasanykindofaffectationontheirpart;onthecontrary,itwastheirtrueandnaturaldispositiontoadmiresucheccentricqualities;theychosethemunreservedly,theythoughtnoneotherworthyofregard,andin

theverydepthsoftheirsoulstheydidnotbelieveotherwise.I knowamanwhoselovedonewassomewhatshortofneck;thereafterheneveradmiredanyone,manorgirl,

whoseneckwaslongandslender. I alsoknowamanwhosefirstattachmentwaswithagirlinclinedtobepetite;he

neverfellinlovewithatallwomanafterthat.Athirdman I knowwasmadlyenamouredofagirlwhosemouth

wasatriflewide;liethoughtsmallmouthspositivelydisgusting,heabusedthemroundly,andclearlyfeltanauthenticaversioninregardtothem. Nowthemenofwhom I havebeenspeakingarebynomeansunder-endowedknowledgeandculture;onthecontrarytheyaremenofthekeenestperception,trulyworthytobedescribedas

intelligentandunderstanding.

Letmeaddapersonaltouch. Inmyyouth I lovedaslave-girlwhohappenedtobeablonde;fromthattime Ihaveneveradmiredbrunettes,notthoughtheirlarktressessetoffafaceasresplendentasthesun,ortheveryimage


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ofbeautyitself. I findthistastetohavebecomeapartofmywholemake-upandconstitutionsincethoseearly

days;mysoulwillnotsuffermetoacquireanyother,ortoloveanytypebutthat. Thisverysamethinghappenedtomyfatheralso Godbepleasedwithhim!),andheremainedfaithfulhisfirstpreferenceuntilthetermofhisearthlylifewasdone.

Allthe Caliphsofthe Banu Marwan (Godhavemercyontheirsouls!),andespeciallythesonsofal-Nasir,

werewithoutvariationorexceptiondisposedbynaturetopreferblondes. I havemyselfseenthem,andknownotherswhohadseentheirforebears,fromthedaysofal-Nasir'sreigndowntothepresentday;everyoneofthemhasbeenfair-haired,takingafter,theirmothers,sothatthishasbecomeahereditarytraitwiththem;allbut

Sulaimanal-Zafir (Godhavemercyonhim!),whom I remembertohavehadblackringletsandablackbeard.Asforal-Nasirandal-Hakamal-Mustansir(may Godbepleasedwiththem!), I havebeeninformedbymylatefather,

thevizier,aswellasbyothers,thatbothofthemwereblondandblue-eyed. ThesameistrueofHishamal-

Mu'aiyad, Muhammadal-Mahdi,and Àbdal-Rahmanal-Murtada (may Godbemercifultothemall!); I sawthemmyselfmanytimes,andhadthehonourofbeingreceivedbythem,and I remarkedthattheyallhadfairhairand

blueeyes. Theirsons,theirbrothers,andalltheirnearkinsmenpossessedtheselfsamecharacteristics. I knownot

whetherthiswasduetoapredilectioninnateinthemall,orwhetheritwasinconsequenceofafamilytradition

handeddownfromtheirancestors,andwhichtheyfollowedintheirturn. ThiscomesoutclearlyinthepoetryofÀbdal-MalikIbn Marwan Ibn Àbdal-Rahman Ibn Marwan,thedescendantofthe Caliphal-Nasir,betterknown

asal-Taliq;hewasthegreatestpoetofAndalusiainthosetimes,andinmostofhislovelyricsheserenadesblondes. I haveseenhimpersonally,andsatinhiscompany.

Itisnotsoremarkablethatamanwhohasoncefalleninlovewithanill-favoredwenchshouldnotcarrythat

foiblewithhimfortherestofhisamatorycareer;itisoneofthosethingsthatarealwaysliabletohappen. Neitherisitastonishingthatamanshouldprefertheinferiorarticle,whensuchaneccentricityispartofhisinbornnature.Whatistrulyamazing,isthatamanformerlyaccustomedtoseethingswiththeeyeoftruthshouldsuddenlybeovercomebyacasualpassion,afterhehasbeenoutaboutinsocietyalongtime,andthatthisaccidentofcaprice

shouldsocompletelytransformhimfromhisprevioushabitsastobecomeasecondnaturewithhim,entirely

displacinghisfirst. Insuchextraordinarycaseshewillknowwellenoughthesuperiorityofhisformerdisposition,butwhenhecomesbacktohissenseshefindsthathissoulnowrefusestohaveanythingtodowithanybutthe

basersortofgoods. Marvelousindeedisthemightydomination,thesplendidtyrannyofthehumanpassion. Suchamanisasincereanddevotedlover,andnothewhoapesthemannersoffolkwithwhomhehasnoconnexionwhatever,andpretendstoacharacterwhichbelongstohimnotatall. Thelattersortofmanassertsindeedthathe

choosesatwillwhomhewilllove;butiflovehadreallytakenpossessionofhispowersofdiscernment,iflovehad

extirpatedhisnativereasonandsweptawayhisnaturaldiscretion,thenlovewouldhavesodominatedhissoulthat

hewou

ldnolo

ngerbefreeto

pickandchoo

se,ash

esobo

aststo

do

.

I haveapoemortwoonthisthemealso.

I knowayouththatlovedalass

Whoseneckwasshortandsomewhatstout;Andnow,whenlong-neckedmaidenspass,

Hethinksthemjinn's,withoutadoubt.

Heiscontent,tojustifyHisclaimthathehaschosenwell,

UponalogictorelyThathassomesubstance,truthtotell.

Thushewouldargue: " Thewildcow

Isfamedinproverbandinsong,Andnomanlives,butwillallowBeautydothtothecowbelong.

"NowneverwasthewildcowbornWhoseneckwaslongandangular;


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Andarenotcamelsheldinnscorn

Becausetheirnecksstickoutsofar?"

I knowanotherladwholoved

Amostuncommonwide-moutheddame

Hesaid, " HerlovelinessisprovedBythegazelle,whosemouth'sthesame."

Andstillathirdyoungchap I knowWhosewell-belovedwasuncosmall;

" Tallwomen ",hewouldsay, " areso

Stuckup-they'redevils,oneandall."

Anotherpoemofmineisworthquotinghere.

Theyblamethegirlofwhom I'mfond

Becauseherlovelyhairisblond:"Butthat'sexactly", I reply,

"Whatmakesherpretty,tomyeye!"

Theycriticizethecolourbright

Ofglitteringgold,andshimmeringlight,Andtheyarecrazysotodo,

Andstupid,anderroneous,too.

Istherejustacausetocrab,thinkyou,

Thetender-sweetnarcissus'hue,

OristhetwinkleofastarSohatefultobeholdafar?

Ofall God'screatures, I declare

ThatmanofwisdomhasleastshareWhochooses,inhisdarkenedsoul,

Toloveabodyblackascoal.

Blackisthehue,the Scripturestell,

OftheinhabitantsofHell;

Blackistherobethemournerdons,Andmotherswhohavelosttheirsons.

Moreover,sincefrom Khorasan

TheblackAbbasidbannersran,

Thesoulsofmenknow,totheircost,Thecauseofrighteousnessislost.

OF ALLUSION BY WORDS

WHATEVERitmaybethatoneisseekingafter,onemustinevitablycontrivesomemeansofcomingintoit,someexpedientwherebyonemayachieveaccesstoandattainmentofit. Thereisbutonepersonuniquelyabletocreate

withoutintermediary;thePrime Omniscient Himself,be Heeverexaltedandextolled!

Thefirstdeviceemployedbythosewhoseekunion,beinglovers,inordertodisclosetheirfeelingstotheobjectoftheirpassion,isallusionbymeansofwords. Eithertheywillquoteaverseofpoetry,ordespatchan


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allegory,orrhymeariddle,orproposeanenigma,oruseheightenedlanguage. Menvaryintheirmethods

accordingtothedegreeoftheirperspicacity,ortheamountofaversionorsympathy,witordullness,whichtheyremarkintheirlovedones. I knowamanwhocommencedhisdeclarationoflovebyquotingtohisladysomeversesofmyowncomposition. Thisandthelikearetheshiftsresortedtointhefirststagesofthelove-quest. Ifthe

loverdetectssomesignofsympathyandencouragement,hethenproceedsfurther. Whenheobservesoneorother

ofthecharacteristicswehavedescribed,whileintheactualcourseofquotingsomesuchverses,orhintingobliquelyatthemeaninghewishestoconveyinthemannerwehavedefined,thenashewaitsforhisreply,whetheritistobegivenverbally,orbyagrimace,oragesture,hefindshimselfinatrulyfearfulsituation,torn

betweenhopeanddespair;andthoughtheintervalmaybebrief,enough,yetinthatinstanthebecomesawareifhisambitionisattainable,orifitmustbeabandoned.

Thereisanothervarietyofverbalallusion,whichisonlytobebroughtintoplaywhenanaccordhasbeen

reached,andtheloverknowsthathissentimentsarereciprocated. Thenitisthatthecomplaintsbegin,theassignations,thereproaches,theplightingofeternaltroths.Allthisisaccomplishedbymeansofverbalallusions,whichtotheuninitiatedhearerappeartoconveyameaningquiteothertothatintendedbythelovers;herepliesin

termsentirelydifferentfromthetruepurportoftheexchanges,followingtheimpressionwhichhisimagination

formsonthebasisofwhathisearshavepickedup. Meanwhileeachofthelovingpairhasunderstoodhispartner'smeaningperfectly,andansweredinamannernottobecomprehendedbyanybutthetwoofthem;unlessindeed

thelistenerisendowedwithapenetratingsensibility,assistedbyasharpwitandreinforcedbylongexperience.Especiallyisthisthecaseiftheintelligentbystanderhassomesenseofwhattheloversarehintingat;rarelyindeeddoesthisescapethedetectionofthetrainedobserver. Inthatevent,nosingledetailofwhattheloversareintending

remainshiddenfromhim.I knowofayouthandagirlwhowereverymuchinlovewitheachother. Inthecourseofoneofhisinterviews

withher,theyoungmanmadeaslightlyimpropersuggestion.Atthisthegirlexclaimed, " ByAllah! I shallmakeapubliccomplaintagainstyou,and I shallputyoutoshameprivately." Somedayslaterthegirlfoundherselfina

companyofgreatprincesandtheleadingstatesmenoftherealm;presentalsowereagreatnumberofwomenand

ofservants,againstwhomitwouldbewelltobeonone'sguard. Theyouthinquestionwasintheconcoursetoo,forhewasintheentourageofthemasterofceremonies. Othersinginggirlsbesidesherwereinattendance. Whenit

cametoherturntosing,shetunedherluteandbegantochantthewordsofanancientsong.

Sweetfawnadorable,

Fairasthemoonatfull,Orlikethesun,thatthrough

Darkcloudsshinesouttoview

Withthatsolanguidglance

Hedidmyheartentrance,Withthatlithestature,he

Asslenderasatree.

I yieldedtohiswhim,I humbledmetohim,

Aslovesicksuitorstill

Obeyshisdarling'swill.

Letmethyransombe!

EmbracemelawfullyI wouldnotgivemycharms

Intolicentiousarms.

I myselfhaveknownthissituation,andputitintoverse.


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havebeenspeaking. Itperceivesthosethings,andreachesthenasinasinglebound,needingnottotraversethe

interveningdistancebystages,ortoalightathalting-placesenroute. Theeyedoesnottravelthroughspacebylabouredmovements.

Thesepropertiesbelongtononeoftheothersenses. Thetasteandthetouch,forinstance,perceiveobjectsonly

whentheyarein,theirneighborhood,andthehearingandthesmellapprehendthemsolelyiftheyarecloseby.As

proofofthatimmediateperceptionofwhichwehavespoken,considerhowyouseeanobjectthatproducesasoundbeforeyouhearthesounditself,forallthatyoumaytrytoseeandhearthatthingsimultaneously. Ifocularandauralperceptionwereoneandthesame,theeyewouldnotoutstriptheear.

OF CORRESPONDENCE

NOW thattheloversarefairlyintermingledintheirrelations,theywillbegintocorrespondinwriting. Letters

assuredlytelltheirowntale. Somemen I haveseen,thatweregiventocorrespondence,whomadeallhastetoteartheirlettersup,todissolvetheminwater,andtoruboutalltraceofthem. Manyashamefulexposurehasbeenoccasionedbyaletter,as I haveremarkedinverse.

Itgrievesmemightily,totear

Thyletterupthisday,mydear;Butthereisnothing,that I swear,Caneverbreakmylovesincere.

ForI wouldratherseethisinkErased,andthatourloveendure;

Thebranchwillalwayssprout, I think,Ifbutthetrunkremainssecure.

Toooftalettersentinhaste

Hasbeenthedeathofhim,whopenned,Butguessednot,whilehisfingerstraced

Themissive,whatwouldbeitsend.

Thelettershouldbedesignedafterthemostelegantpattern,andshouldbeasprettyascanbecontrived. Forbymylife,theletterissometimesthelover'stongue,eitherbecauseheisfalteringinspeech,orbashful,orawe-struck.

Indeed,theverydeliveryofthelettertohislovedone,andtheknowledgethatitisatthatmomentinthebeloved's

hands,willprovokeintheloverawonderfuljoy,thatisaconsolingsubstituteforanactualsightoftheobjectofhisaffection;whilethereceivingofthereply,andgazingfondlyuponit,delighthimfullyasmuchasalovers'meeting. Itisonthisaccountthatyouwillseethepassionateswainlayingtheletteruponhiseyes,oragainsthis

heart,fondlingitandkissingit. I havemyselfknownaloverwhowascertainlynotignorantofwhatandhowheshouldspeak,amanoffineeloquence,wellabletoexpresshisthoughtsinthelanguageofthetongue,of

penetratinginsight,andminutecomprehensionofsubtletruths,-andwhoneverthelessdidnotabandonthedeviceofcorrespondence,forallthathelivedclosebyhisbelovedandcouldreadilycometoher,andbewithherasoftenashechose:hetoldmethathesavouredincorrespondencemanydifferentvarietiesofdelight. I havealsobeentoldofabaseandworthlessfellowwhoputhissweetheart'sletterstoaparticularlydisgustinguse,thatwasinfacta

horriblesortofsensuality,afoultypeoflechery.

Asforwateringtheinkofthelove-letterwithone'stears, I knowofamanwhodidthisregularly,andhisbelovedrepaidhimbywateringtheinkofhermissiveswithhersaliva. I havesomeverseswhichrefertothissort

ofpractice.


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I wrotealettertomylove

ShesentmeareplytheretoThatstilledtheagitationof

Myheart,thenstirreditupanew.

I wateredeveryword I pennedWithtearso'erflowingfrommyeyes,

Asloverswill,whodointend

Inlovenotreacheroussurprise.

Andstillthetearsfloweddownapace,

AndwashedthecarefullinesawayO wickedwaters,toefface

Thelovelythings I strovetosay!

Behold,wherefirst I setmypen

Thetearshavemademywritingplain,Butas I cametoclose,ah!then

Thescriptisvanishedintheirrain.

I oncesawa'letterwrittenbyalovertohisbelovedhehadcuthishandwithaknife,andasthebloodgushed

forthheuseditforink,andwrotetheentireletterwithit. I sawthesameletterafterthebloodhaddried,andwouldhaveswornthatitwaswrittenwithatinctureofresin.

OF THE MESSENGER

THE nextsceneinthelove-play,nowthatconfidenceprevailsandcompletesympathyhasbeenestablished,isthe

introductionofthe Messenger. Heneedstobesoughtandchosenwithgreatcare,sothatheshallbebothagood

andanenergeticman;heistheproofofthelover'sintelligence,forinhishands (underGod'sProvidence)restthelifeanddeathofthelover,hishonourandhisdisgrace.

The Messengershouldbepresentable,quick-witted,abletotakeahintandtoreadbetweenthelines,possessedofinitiativeandtheabilitytosupplyoutofhisownunderstandingthingswhichmayhavebeenoverlookedbyhis

principal;hemustalsoconveytohisemployerallthatheobserveswithcompleteaccuracy;heoughttobeabletokeepsecretsandpreservetrusts;hemustbeloyal,cheerfulandasincerewell-wisher. Shouldhebewantinginthese

qualities,theharmhewilldototheloverforwhomheisactingwillbeinstrictproportiontohisown

shortcomings. I haveputallthisinverse

Themessengerislikeablade

Inthyrighthand;picktothylike

Thysword,andwhenthychoiceismadePolishitwell,erethoudoststrike.

WhoeverventurestorelyOnabluntweapon,isafool;

Thepricehepaysisprettyhigh

Fortrustingsuchauselesstool.

Loversforthemostpartemployastheirmessengerstothebelovedeitherahumbleandinsignificantfellowtowhomnobodywillpaymuchattention,becauseofhisyouthfulnessorhisscruffylookoruntidyappearance;oraveryrespectablepersontowhomnosortofsuspicionwillattachonaccountofhisshowofpiety,orbecauseheis

ofadvancedyears. Womentooarefrequentlyused,especiallythosewhohobblealongonsticks,andcarryrosaries,

andarewrappedupinapairofredcloaks. I rememberhowat Cordovayoungwomenhadbeenputontheirguardagainstsuchtypes,wherevertheymighthappentoseethem. Womenplyingatradeorprofession,whichgivesthem


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readyaccesstopeople,arepopularwithlovers-theladydoctorforinstance,ortheblood-letter,thepeddler,the

broker,thecoiffeuse,theprofessionalmourner,thesinger,thesoothsayer,theschoolmistress,theerrandgirl,thespinner,theweaver,andthelike. Itisalsofoundconvenienttoemployapersonwhoiscloselyrelatedtothe

beloved,andwhowillthereforenotbegrudgedadmittance.

Howmanyaninaccessiblemaidenhasprovedapproachablebyusingmessengerslikethese! Howoftenhave

apparentlyinsurmountabledifficultiesbeeneasilyovercome,andtheonewhoseemedsofaroffprovedcloseathand,theonemostrefractorybeenreadilytamed! Howmanydisagreeablesurpriseshavebefallenwell-protectedveils,thickcurtains,closeguardedboudoirs,andstoutlyfashioneddoors,atthehandsofsuchlikepersons! Butfor

mydesiretocallattentiontothem, I wouldneverhavementionedthesetypesatall;but I feltboundtodoso,inorderthatothersmayhavetheireyesopen,andnotreadilytrustinanyoftheirsort. Happyisthemanwhotakes

warningbyanother'sexperience,evenifhebehisenemy! I praythatAllahmaycoverusandallgood Moslems

withtheveilofHisprotection,andneversuffertheshadowofHispreservationtopassawayfromanyoneofus.I knowofapairofloverswhosemessengerwasawell-traineddove;theletterwouldbefastenedtoitswing.

Onthistopic I havethefollowingverses.

Old Noahchoseadove,tobe

Hisfaithfulmessenger,andheWasnotconfoundedsotochoose:

Shebroughthimbackthebestofnews.

So I amtrustingtothisdove

Mymessagestothee,mylove,Andso I sendherforth,tobring

Myletterssafelyinherwing.

OF CONCEALING THE SECRET

ONE oftheattributesofLoveisholdingthetongue;theloverwilldenyeverythingifinterrogated,affectagreatshowoffortitude,andmakeitappearthatheisextremelycontinentandaconfirmedbachelor. Forallthatthesubtlesecretwillout. Theflamesofpassionraginginhisbreastwillbeglimpsedinhisgesturesandintheexpressionofhiseyes;theywillcreepslowlybutsurelyintotheopen,likefireamongcoalsorwaterthroughdry

clay. Itispossibleintheearlystagestodeludethoselackinginfinersensibility;once Lovehasfirmlyestablished

itself,however,thatisentirelyoutofthequestion.Sometimesthereasonforsuchreticenceisthelover'sdesiretoavoidbrandinghimselfwiththatmarkinthe

eyesofhisfellows;heprofessesthatphilanderingisasignoffrivolity,andtherefore (hesays)hefleesfromlove

andwillhavenaughtofit. Butthisisnotatalltherightlineofapproach;itissufficientforagood MoslemtoabstainfromthosethingswhichAllahhasforbidden,andwhich,ifhechoosetodo,hewillfindchargedtohis

accountonthe DayofResurrection. Buttoadmirebeauty,andtobemasteredbylovethatisanaturalthing,and

comesnotwithintherangeofDivinecommandmentandprohibition;allheartsarein God'shands,todisposethem

whatway Hewill,andallthatisrequiredofthemisthattheyshouldknowandconsiderthedifferencebetweenrightandwrong,andbelievefirmlywhatistrue. Loveitselfisaninborndisposition;mancanonlycontrolthose

motionsofhismembers,whichhehasacquiredbydeliberateeffort. I haveputthisallinverse

Menwhonothingknowoflove

ForthysakedomereproveLetthemscold,orsilentbe,


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Itisallthesametome.

"Shameonthee!" I hearthemsay," Toputallreserveaway,

Whilemengazeontheeinawe

Asazealotforthe Law."

"Whatyoucharge", I say, "tome

IsindeedhypocrisyPatent;and,ifI mayboast,

I hatehypocritesthemost.

"Andyet,whenwaslovingbanned?Did Mohammedsocommand,

Orismanforbiddenit

BythewordsofHoly Writ?

"O,since I havenothingwroughtSavewhat Faithdeclares I ought,

Nothing I shouldfacewithgloom

Onthedreadful DayofDoom;

"Naught I careforothers'blameWhodeclaremyloveashame;

Letthemwhisper,letthemshout,

I canfacetheirscandalout.

"Shallamanbejudged,thinkyou,Saveforwhathewilledtodo,

Orhavechargedagainsthishead

Wordsthathehasneversaid?"

I knowamanwhowastriedinaverysimilarway.Passionhadlodgeditselfinhisbreast,andhestrovetodenyit;butintheendthematterbecamesoobviouslyseriousthateveryonedivineditinhisbehaviour,whetherhe

happenedpreviouslytobeawareofitornot. Yetwheneveranyonealludedtohistrouble,heroundedonhimabusivelyanddrovehimaway;sothatifoneofhiscomradesdesiredtostandinwellwithhim,helethimimagine

thathebelievedhisdenials,andthoughtanyonealiarwhohadacontraryopinion. Thiswouldpleasehimmightily.

Now I recallthatoneday I happeneduponhimwhenhewasseatedwithsomeonewhokepthintingathisinwardfeelingsallthesesuggestionsmyfrienddeniedstrenuously. Justatthatmoment,theverypersonhewassuspectedofhavingacrushonchancedtopassby;nosoonerdidhiseyeslightonhisbeloved,thanhebecameallconfused;

hisformersangfroidentirelydesertedhim;hegrewpale,andhiswell-turnedphraseslapsedintoincoherency. Hisinterlocutorthereuponbrokeofftheargument,andheinvitedhimtoresumethepreviousdiscussion. Someone

remarked, "Actionsspeaklouderthanwords! " " Thinkwhatyouplease ",thepoorfellowretorted. " Excusemeorblamemeasyouwill,itisallthesame." Thisishow I haveversifiedthetopic.

HelivethbutbygraceofDeath,

CompassionatetoseeThefearfulpainshesuffereth

Inpassion'sagony.

I haveanotherpoemonthesamesubject.


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Thetearsofpassionflow

Andflowagain;Theveil,oflove, I know,

Isrentintwain.

Myheart,asshefloatspast,Isflutteringyet

Likeapoorpartridge,fast

Trappedinthenet.

O mycompanionstrue,

Come,counselmeSoallgoodcomradesdo

Adviceisfree.

Howlong,howlongmust IThissecrethide

Which I cannotdeny,Norlayaside?

Thishoweveronlyhappenswhentheinstinctforconcealmentandself-protectionconflictswithandovercomesthe

lover'snaturaldisposition;thevictim,caughtbetweentworagingfires,feelsutterlybewildered.Sometimesthereasonforconcealmentis-thattheloverwishestosparehisbeloved;thenitisaproofof

loyalty,amarkoftruenobilityofcharacter. I haveputthispointinverse.

Alltheythatknowme,knowintruthI amapoorandlovelornyouth,

Castdownandweary,fullofcare

Forwhom?Ah,nonecanthisdeclare.

Whentheybeholdmefacetoface,

Theyfeelquitecertainofmycase,

WhichwhentheywouldmoreclearlystateTheycannomorethanspeculate.

Myloveislikeawrittenscreed;Thecharactersseemplain,indeed,

Butwhenthereaderseekstoknow

Whattheyportend,thatdoesnotshow.

Orlikethecooingofadove

Withinthethicketismylove

HemodulateswithperfectartThesweetoutpouringsofhisheart.

WelistenspellboundandintentTohisdelightfulargument;

Butthoughthemelodyisclear,

Itsmeaningquiteescapestheear.

"ForAllah'ssake",theypleadwithme,

" Namethouhernametous,thatwe

Mayweapprisedwhatpassiondeep,Forwhom,hasrobbedtheeofthysleep."


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No,no;before I tamelyyieldThesecrettheywouldhaverevealed

I'dsoonerseemyreasongo,

Andplungeintothedepthsofwoe.

SotheyarebuffetedaboutBywildconjecture,wilderdoubt,

Notknowingwhetherwhattheyknow,Orwhattheythinktheythinkisso.

I haveanotherlittlepoemonconcealingthesecret.

Thereisaplacewherein I hide

Mysecret;'thereiflivingmanWillshelter, Fatemaybedefied,

Deathdared, "Comecatchme,ifyoucan!"

I slaymysecret:askyouwhy?Asecretthatwouldlivemustdie

Preciselyasthelove-sickboyFindsinhisgriefhisgreatestjoy.

Sometimes,again,thereasonfordiscretionisthattheloverwouldprotecthimselfagainsttheconsequencesofhis

secret'sdisclosure,onaccountoftheillustriousrankofhisbeloved.Acertainpoetin Cordovacomposedalove-poeminwhichhecelebrated'thecharmsofSubh,themotherofal-

Mu'aiyad (Godhavemercyonhissoul!).Aslave-E broughtbeforeal-MansurMuhammad IbnAbi `Aminwitha

viewtohispurchasingher,chosethisverysongtosingtohim:hepromptlyorderedhertobeexecuted. ItwasforthesamereasonthatAhmad Ibn Mughithwasputtodeath,the Mughithclanexterminated,andproclamationissuedthatnotoneoftheirnumbersshouldeverbetakenintotheroyalservice-adecreewhichresultedintheirutter

destruction,andtheentirewipingoutofthehouse,nonesurvivingbutawretchedhandfulofoutcastefugitives.

ThiswasallbecauseAhmad Ibn Mughithcomposedalovelyricinhonourofa Caliph'sdaughter. Suchinstancesarenumerous.

Itisrelatedofal-Hasan Ibn Hani'thathewasdeeplysmittenby Muhammad Ibn Harun,betterknownas IbnZubaida. Thelatterhadaninklingofthesituation,andupbraidedthepoetforgazingathimsointently. Itisreportedthatal-Hasanremarked,thathewouldneverhaveventuredtoconcentratehisgazeon Muhammadsolong,

ifithadnotbeenforthefactthatthelatterwasovercomebyhispotations.

Sometimesthereasonforconcealmentissothatthebelovedmaynottakefright,orbemadeoffwith. I knowofamanwhosebelovedwascompletelyfriendlyandateasewithhim;butifhehaddisclosedbytheleastgesturethathewasinlove,thebelovedwouldhavebecomeasremotefromhimasthePleiades,whosestarshangsohigh

inheaven. Itisasortofstatesmanshipthatisrequiredinsuchcases;thepartyconcernedwasenjoyingthepleasure

ofhislovedone'scompanyintenselyandtothelastdegree,butifhehadsomuchashintedathisinnerfeelingshewouldhaveattainedbutamiserablefractionofthebeloved'sfavour,andenduredintothebargainallthearrogance

andcapriceofwhichloveiscapable. Hewouldhavebeendeniedthatconfidenceoftheheart'smastery;allthejoywouldhavegoneoutofhisromance;hislittleidyllwouldhavegivenplacetoaffectationandunjustaccusation.Whereformerlyhewastreatedasabrotherandanequal,nowhewouldhavebeenregardedasaslaveanda

prisoner.Andhadhedivulgedhissentimentsfurther,tosuchapointthatthebeloved'scircleofintimatescameto

knowofit,hewouldneverhaveseentheobjectofhisaffectionagain,saveperchanceinadream;everythingwouldhavebeenoverbetweenthem;thefinalresultwouldhavebeenhisowngreatdiscomfiture.

Finally,sometimesthereasonforconcealmentisanoverpoweringshynessfromwhichsomemensuffer;or

becausetheloverobservesthathisbelovedisturningawayfromhisandshunninghisadvances,andbeingofa

proudspirithehideshisfeelingssothatnoenemymaygloatoverhim,andsoastoshowthem,andhisbeloved,howlightlyheregardsthewholebusiness.


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OF DIVULGING THE SECRET

SOMETIMES ithappensin Lovethatthesecretisdivulged. Thisisoneofthemostdeplorableaccidentsthatcan

befallaromance:itscausesarevarious. Itmaybethatamanresortstothisactionmerelybecauseheisambitiousto

dresshimselfupinthelover'sguise,andsobeenrolledintheirranks. Thisisacontemptibledeceit,adisgustingeffrontery,amostcounterfeitpretencetolove.

Disclosureissometimesduetolovesoverpoweringmastery;publicityprevailsovermodesty. Insuchacasea

manisquiteunabletocontrolhimselforregulatehisactions. Thisisoneofthefurthestextremeswhichpassionatelovecanreach;itthensostrictlydominatesthereason,thatthemindrepresentsbeautyintheshapeofugliness,and

uglinessintheformofbeautygoodisthoughttobeevil,andevilgood. Howmanyamanoftheseverestrespectability,veiledasitwereintheclosestveilandshroudedinthemostimpenetrablecurtains,hasseenhisrobeofmodestyrippedoffbylove,hisheart'sshrineviolated,hisholyofholiesdesecrated,sothathisrespectabilityhas

beenturnedintonotoriety,hisquietretirementchangedsothatheisapubliclaughing-stock! Tobeascandalis

thenhisfondestambition;hewillcommitactionswhich,iftheyhadbeensomuchaspicturedtohimhitherto,he

wouldhaveshiveredalloverattheirverymention,andprayedlongandearnestlytobedeliveredfromthem. Whatwasformerlyhardhasnowbecomesmooth,whatwasoncemostgravenowseemstohimofnoaccount,whatwasdifficultsuddenlyproveseasy.

I onceknewayouth,thescionofanoblehouseandoneofmymostaristocraticfriends,whowassmittenwithloveforacloisteredgirl. Hebecamequitecrazyforher,andhisloveofhercuthimofffrommanyofhismost

virtuouspursuits;thesignsofhisinfatuationwereevidenttoallhavingeyestosee. Intheendshefeltconstrainedtochidehimforthemanifestfolliesintowhichpassionwasleadinghim.

Musa Ibn'Asim Ibn `Amrtoldmethefollowingstory. " I wasoncewithmyfatherAbu'l-Path (Godhave

mercyuponhim!),writingaletterforhimathisbehest. Suddenlymyeyescaughtaglimpseofaslavegirlwith

whom I wasinfatuated;unabletomastermyself, I threwtheletterawayandstartedafterher. Myfatherwas

dumbstruck,andthoughtthatsomethingserioushadhappenedtome. Thenmyreasonreturnedtome;wipingmyface, I camebackandbeggedpardon,sayingthat I hadbeenovercomebyahaemorrhageofthenose! "

Youshouldknowthatthiskindofbehaviourisenoughtoscarethebelovedaway;itisapoorwayofmanaging

things,andbetraysincompetentstatesmanship. Ineveryenterprisethereisaproperwaytobegin,andanappropriatecoursetofollowafter;theventurerwhotransgressesthenormorstraysfromtherightpathbringsallhis

laboursbackonhisownhead;histoilistonopurpose,hiswearinessisinvain,hissearching'saresuperfluous. The

moreheswervesfromthestraightcourse,thefutherhedeviatesfromitandperseveresalongthewrongturning,the

mo

reremot

ew

illh

ebeco

mefro

mth

eobjec

to

fh

isqu

est. I

hav

eapieceo

fpo

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onth

is,fro

mwh

ich

Iw

illv

entu

retoquote.

Whendifficultieschallengethee

Confrontthemnottoojestingly,

Nor,whenuponaneasyquest,Letallthyeffortbeexpressed.

Timehasawidevariety

Ofknavishtricks,and DestinyAthousandoscillatingmoods

Andinfinitevicissitudes.

HoweverFatemayplayhisgame,

Adjustthystyletosuitthesame;

Againstalittlelittlestrive,Matchmuchwithmuch,tokeepalive

Hastthounotseen,andlearnedbyit,

How,whena:lampisfreshlylit,Theflameburnsfeebly,andonepuff


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Shall I begranted,friend,

Tocomeoncemoretothee,

OrwilltherebeanendOfchangefuldestiny?

Thesword (O strangetotell!)

Isnowthebaton'spage,Thecaptive,tamegazelle

Alionfullofrage

Theseversestellthesamestory.

Thoughthouscoldestme,yet IAmthecheapestmantodie,

Slippingswiftlylikefalsegold

Throughthetester'sfingersrolled.

Yetwhatjoyitisforme

Tobeslainforlovingthee!Marvel,then,atonewhodies

Smilingpleasurefromhiseyes.

I havestillanothertrifleonthistopic.

WerethyfeaturesshiningfairViewedbycriticsPersian,

LittlewouldtheyreckoftheirMobedhandtheirHormosan!

Sometimesthebelovedisunsympathetictothemanifestingofcomplaints,andistooimpatienttolistentotalesofsuffering. Inthosecircumstancesyouwillseetheloverconcealinghisgrief,suppressinghisdespair,andhidinghis

sickness. Thebelovedheapsunjustaccusationsonhishead;andheisfullofapologiesforeveryfaultheis

supposedtohavecommitted,andconfessescrimesofwhichheiswhollyinnocent,simplytosubmittowhathislovedonesaysandtoavoidresistingthecharges. I knowamanwhowasafflictedinjustthisway;hisbelovedwascontinuallylevelingaccusationsagainsthim,thoughhewasentirelyblameless;hewasevermorebeingreproached

andscolded,yethewasaspureasdrivensnow. Letmequoteheresomeverseswhich I addressed-oncetooneof

mycomrades;thoughtheydonotexactlyfitthiscontext,stilltheycomeveryneartothetopicunder'discussion.

Oncethouwouldstgreetmewithasmile,Delightedatmynearapproach,AndifI turnedfromtheeawhile

Thyfeaturesregisteredreproach.

MynatureisnotsoaverseTolistentoalittleblame

Whitehairsareugly,butnoworse,

Yettheyarealwayscalledashame.


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Aman,whenlookingintheglass,

Maythinkhimselfuncommonplain;Butmolesandspotsforbeautypass,Anddonotneedtogivesuchpain.

Theyareanornament,whenfew,Andonlycountforugliness

Whentheyexceedameasuredue

Andwhohaseverpraisedexcess?

Alittlelaterinthesamepoem I havethefollowingverse.

O comethoutohissuccour,then;

BysogreatcareshissoulisgrippedThatlo,hemovestotearsthepen,

Theink,thepaper,andthescript!

Letnomansaythatthepatiencedisplayedbytheloverwhenthebelovedhumiliateshimisasignof

pusillanimity:thatwouldbeagraveerror. Weknowthatthebelovedisnottoberegardedasamatchoranequaltothelover,thattheinjuryinflictedbyhimonthelovershouldberepaidinkind. Thebeloved's'insultsandaffronts

arenotsuchasamanneedregardasdishonoringhim;thememoryofthemisnotpreserveddowntheages;neitherdotheyoccurinthe CourtsofCaliphsandthesalonsofthegreat,whereenduranceofaninsultwouldimply

humiliation,andsubmissionwouldleadtouttercontempt.

Sometimesyouwillseeamaninfatuatedwithhisslave-girl,hisownlegalproperty,andthereisnothingtopreventhimfromhavinghiswaywithherifhesodesires;whatpointwouldtherebetheninhisrevenginghimselfonher? No;therealgroundsforbeingangeredbyinsultsareentirelydifferent;angerisfullyjustifiedwhenthe

insultsareofferedasbetweenmenofhighrank,whoseeverybreathisstudied,whoseeverywordisexamined

closelyforitsmeaning,andgivenamostprofoundsignificance. Forsuchmendonotutterwordsatrandom,orletfallremarksnegligently;butasforthebeloved,sheisatonetimeanunbendinglance,atanotheraplianttwig,nowcruel,nowcomplaisant,justasthemoodtakesherandfornovalidreason. Onthistheme I canquoteanapposite

poemofmine.

ItisnotjusttodisapproveAmeekservilityinlove

ForLovetheproudestmenabase

Themselves,andfeelitnodisgrace.

Thendonotmarvelsoatme

Andmyprofoundhumility;

Ere I wasoverthrown,thisstateProud Caliphsdidhumiliate.

Nopeeristhebelovedone,Noparfitknight,nochampion,

Thatitshouldshametotheeprocure,

Herhatefulinsultstoendure:

Anapplefallingfromthetree

Struckandatrifleinjuredthee

WoulditbetriumphworththypainTocuttheappleintotwain?


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Swiftlyasthelightningsdart.

Ah,themanythingsthat IMight;havedone,butletslipby,

Andtheinterveningyears

Broughtmenaughtbutbittertears.

Whatsoevertreasurethou

Findest,pounceuponitnowWaitnoinstant:swooptoday

Likeafalcononthyprey.

ThisverysamethinghappenedtoAbu'l-Muzaffar`Abdal-Rahman IbnAhmad Ibn Mahmud,ourgoodfriend:

I quotedtohimsomeversesofminewhichheleaptuponwiththegreatestjoyandcarriedoffwithhim,tobehisguidingstareverafter.

When I waslivingintheoldcityat Cordova I onedaymetAbu `AbdAllah Muhammad Ibn Kulaibof

Kairouan,amanwithanexceedinglylongtongue,wellsharpenedtoenquireoneverymannerofsubject. Thetopic

ofLoveanditsvariousaspectswasunderdiscussion,andheputthefollowingquestiontome " Ifapersonwithwhom I aminloveisaversetomeetingme,andavoidsmewheneverI trytomakeanapproach,whatshould I do? "

I replied, " Myopinionisthatyoushouldendeavortobringrelieftoyourownsoulbymeetingthebeloved,evenifthebelovedisaversetomeetingyou." Heretorted, " I donotagree; I preferthatthebelovedshouldhavehiswillanddesire,ratherthan I mine. I wouldendureandendure,evenifitmeantdeathforme." " I wouldonlyhavefallen

inlove ", I countered, " formypersonalsatisfactionandaestheticpleasure. I shouldthereforefollowmyown

analogy,guidemyselfbymypersonalprinciples,andpursuemyhabitualpath,seekingquitedeliberatelymyownenjoyment." " Thatisacruellogic ",heexclaimed. " Farworsethandeathisthatforthesakeofwhichyoudesiredeath,andfardearerthanlifeisthatforthesakeofwhichyouwouldgladlylaydownyourlife." " But ", I said, "

youwouldbelayingdownyourlifenotbychoicebutundercompulsion. Ifitwerepossibleforyounottolaydown

yourlife,youwouldnothavedoneso. Togiveupmeetingthebelovedvoluntarilywouldcertainlybemostreprehensible,sinceyouwouldtherebydoviolencetoyourselfandbringyourownsoultoitsdoom." Thereuponhe

criedout, "Youareaborndialectician,anddialecticshavenoparticularrelevanceto Love. "Inthatcase", I said, "theloverwillcertainlybeunfortunate." "Andwhatmisfortuneisthereheended, " thatisgreaterthan Love?"

OF OPPOSITION

SOMETIMES theloverfollowshisownlust,andletshimselfgocompletely. Heiscuredofhissicknessatthehandsofthebeloved,andisresolvedtohavehispleasureoftheotheratallcosts,whetherthebelovedbeangryor

consent. Iftheloverisassistedinthisbycircumstance,ifhisheartremainssteadfastandthefatesfavourhim,he

willdrainthecupofhisjoytothelastdrop;hissorrowswilldepart,hiscareswillbeatanend:hewillseethefulfillmentofhishopes,andattainall *hisdesire. I havemyselfseenloverswhocomportedthemselvesafterthisfashion:thefollowingversesofminedescribethesituation.

When I havehadmywillAndslakedmysoul'sdesire

Ofsomesweetfawn,whostill

Consumedmyheartwithfire;

I reeknotifshebe

Reluctanttoconsent,

NorcareifsheagreeButallmalevolent.


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Where'erthewatermayBefound, I'llseizethesameAndsprinklewithitsspray

Mytamariskaflame.

OR THE REPROACHER

LOVE hasitsvariousmisfortunes:ofthesethefirsisthe Reproacher.

Ofreproacherstherearediverskinds. Theoriginalsortisafriend,betweenwhomandyourselftheburdenof

cautiousnesshasbeenletdrop:hisreproachisbetterthanmanyabettings. Itconsistsofincitementsandprohibitions;thereinandtherebythesouliswonderfullystimulatedandremarkablystrengthened;itspropertiesareatoncepurposefulandefficacious,andhealingtothosesorewoundedbypassionatedesire. Especiallyisthisthecaseifthefriendisgentleinhisspeech,andskilledatmatchinghiswordstohisintentions;ifheisawareofthe

timeswhenthenegativeshouldbeemphasized,andtheoccasionsonwhichitisbettertoconcentrateonpositiveinjunctions;andifheisapprisedofthehourswhereinbothapproachesoughttobecombined;allaccordingtothe

degreeoftractabilityorobdurateness,responseorrebellionwhichheobservesinthelover.Thesecondtypeofreproacheristhethoroughgoingscolder,whoneverletsupreprimandingthelover. Thatis

atoughbusiness,andaheavyburdentobear.I myselfoncehadalikeexperience,verysimilartowhatweareherediscussingthoughnotstrictlyinthesame

typeofsituation. OurmutualfriendAbu'1-Sari'AmmarIbn Ziyadreproachedmefrequentlyaboutacertaincourse

I waspursuing,andsecondedtheeffortsofotherswhohadreprimandedmeontheselfsamescore;yet I hadalwaysthoughtthathewouldtakemysidewhateverI did,whetherI wasactingrightlyorwrongly,becauseofthefirmfriendshipandtruebrotherhoodunitingus.

I haveseenaloversoviolentinhisemotions,andsooverwhelminglyinfatuated,thathelovedtobereproachedmorethananythingintheworld,inorderthathemightshowhisreproacherhowstubbornlyhecould

rebelagainsthisscoldings. Hetookapositivedelightinopposinghim,inprovokinghimtoresistanceanddoubledreproof,andthenintriumphingoverhim;hisjoywaslikethatofakingwhoputshisenemiestoflight,oraskilleddebaterwhotriumphsoverhisopponent. Sometimesthismotiveinspiresalovertoprovokethereproacherto

reprimandhim;hewilldothings,whichobligethecensortobeginhisfaultfinding. I havesomeversesonthis

topic.

Tohearmyselfreproachedandblamed

Ofallthingsthis I lovemostfair,

ForthenperchancehernameisnamedWhosementionbidsmenotdespair.

I quaffreproach,asthoughacupI drainwithpurestwinereplete,

Andafter,havingdrunkitup,

Devourmymistress'nameforsweet.

OF THE HELPFUL BROTHER

ONE ofthethingsdevoutlytobedesiredin LoveisthatAlmighty Godshallbestowuponamanasincerefriend,onemoreoverwhoisagreeableinspeech,ofamplyabundantmeans,adroitinlayingholdofanaffairandshrewd

incomingthroughit,masterlyinsettingforthanargument,sharpoftongue,ofsplendidmagnanimity,widely

learned,littleapttocontradict,mightyinsuccour,strongtoendure,patientinthefaceofimpudence,broadlycomplaisant,agrandconfederate,evenlymatched,ofpraiseworthycharacter,innocentofallinjustice,determined


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thebiographiesofthekingsofthenegroes,thatthosemonarchsassigntheirwomenfolktothecareofatrusty

henchman,whoallotstoeachhertaskofwoolspinning,sothattheirwholetimeisfullyemployed. Fortheysaythatwhenawomanremainswithoutanyoccupation,shehankersaftermenandyearnsforthemarriagebed.

I havemyselfobservedwomen,andgottoknowtheirsecretstoanextentalmostunparalleled;forI wasreared

intheirbosoms,andbroughtupamongthem,notknowinganyothersociety. I neversatwithmenuntil I was

alreadyayouth,andmybeardhadbeguntosprout. Womentaughtmethe Koran,theyrecitedtomemuchpoetry,theytrainedmeincalligraphy;myonlycareandmentalexercise,sincefirst I begantounderstandanything,evenfromthedaysofearliestchildhood,hasbeentostudytheaffairsoffemales,toinvestigatetheirhistories,andto

acquirealltheknowledge I couldaboutthem. I forgetnothingofwhat I haveseenthemdo. Thisallspringsfromaprofoundjealousyinnateinme,andadeepinstinctivesuspicionofwomen'sways. I havethusdiscoverednota

littleoftheirhabitsandmotives.Allthisshallbesetforthatlengthintheappropriatechapters, Godwilling.

OF THE SPY

ANOTHERofthemisfortunesofLoveisthe Spy:heistrulyaninwardfever,apersistentdelirium,ahaunting

obsession. Spiesareofvariouskinds.Thefirsttypeofspyistheborewhosquatshimselfdownwithoutmaliceprepenseinaspotwhereamanisapt

tomeetwithhisbeloved,andwherethetwointendtodisclosesomethingoftheirsecretandtorevealtheirpassion,

amiablyconversingalone. Suchakindofspywilloccasionthelovermoredisquietthanamoreserioustype:eventhoughhemaytakehimselfoffquicklyenough,allthesameheisanobstaclepreventingtherealizationofdesire,

andfrustratingthemostamplehopes.Oneday I sawapairofloversinaplacewheretheysupposedthemselvestobealone;theyaddressed

themselvestotheirtenderpro0tests,andmadereadytoexploittheirsweetsolitude. Butthespotwhichtheyhadchosenfortheirinterviewwasnotaprivatesanctuary,anditwasnotlongbeforethetiresomeintruderappearedon

thescene. Observingme,heatonceturnedasideandsatdownnexttome,remainingwithmealongtime. Ifyou

couldonlyhaveseentheyounglover,andthemixtureofevidentdespairandangeronhisface,youwouldhavewitnessedatrulywonderfulspectacle. I havecommemoratedthesceneinsomeverses,ofwhichthefollowingisanextract.

Hesits,thewhilethehoursgoby,

Aboringpresenceatthebest,Anddroolsonmatterswherein I

Havenottheslightestinterest.

Ridwa,and Yadhbul,and Shamam,

Samman,andmighty Lebanon,

ThemountofHazn,andofLukamHefaroutweighsthem,everyone.

Thenthereisthespywhohasdiscoveredaninklingofwhatthelovingpairareabout,andhas

somesuspicionofwhatisgoingon;hedesirestoferretoutthewholetruthofthecase,andthereforehangsaboutandsquatsforhoursonend,watchingtheirmovements,eyeingtheir

expressions,countingtheirverybreaths. Suchamanismorepestilentialthanthemange. I knowofayoungfellowwhohadeveryintentionofmanhandlingaspyofthissort. Theseversesofmineillustratethetype.

Hecomes,noteveryotherwhile

Butconstantly,withpurposevileWhatgreaterheadachecantherebe


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Thansuchunwelcomecompany?

HeperseverestosuchexcessInleisabsurdattentiveness,

Thatweareknownthroughoutthetown

As MessrsAdjectiveand Noun!

Nextthereisthespywhowatchesoverthebeloved. Thereisnootherwayofdealingwithhim,buttoconciliate

him;ifhecanbewonover,thenthatistheveryacmeofdelight. Thisisthespycommonlymentionedbythepoetsintheirverses.

I haveobservedamanwhowassoadroitinhiseffortstoconciliateaspy,thatintheendthespyspiedonhisbehalf;hefeignedinattentionwheninattentionwascalledfor,hedefendedhimfromalldanger,andineveryway

exertedhimselfinhi

ring of the dove

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