[FN#152]
When he heard this, he turned towards us and repeated these
lines:
God indeed knows that I am sore afflicted: I suffer so, I
cannot tell the whole.
I have two souls; one in this place is dwelling; Another
country holds my second soul.
Meseems the absent one is like the present And wearies under
the same weight of dole.
Quoth he, "Have I said well or ill?" "Thou hast said well and
excellent well," replied we. Then he put out his hand and took
a stone, that was by him; whereupon we fled from him, thinking
he would throw it at us; but he fell to beating his breast
therewith violently and said to us, "Fear not, but draw near
and hear somewhat from me and receive it from me." So we came
back, and he repeated the following verses:
When they made their beasts of burden kneel as day drew nigh
and nigher, Then they mounted and the camels bore away my
heart's desire,--
When my eyes perceived my loved one through the crannied
prison-wall, Then I cried, with streaming eyelids and a
heart for love a-fire,
"Turn thou leader of the camels, let me bid my love farewell!"
For her absence and estrangement, life and hope in me
expire.
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