Sa di

Ch 05 On Love And Youth Story 09

knew a learned man who had fallen in love with someone but his secret having fallen from the veil of concealment into publicity, he endured abundant persecution and displayed boundless patience. I said once to him by way of consolation: ‘I know thou entertainest no worldly motive nor inclination for baseness. It is nevertheless unbecoming the dignity of a scholar to expose himself to suspicions and to bear the persecutions of mannerless persons. ’ He replied: ‘O friend, take off the hand of reproach from my skirt because I have often meditated on the opinion which thou entertainest but have found it easier to bear persecution for his sake than not to see him; and philosophers have said that it is easier to accustom the heart to strife, than to turn away the eye from seeing the beloved. Who has his heart with a heart-ravisher Has his beard in another’s hand. A gazelle with a halter on the neck Is not able to walk of its own accord. If he, without whom one cannot abide, Becomes insolent it must be endured. I one day told him to beware of his friend But I often asked pardon for that day. A friend does not abandon a friend. I submit my heart to what he wills. Whether he kindly calls me to himself Or drives me away in anger he knows best. THE GULISTAN OF SA'DI Translated by Richard Francis Burton (1821-1890)