1. Nothing but love can heal a smitten heart,
Though it may intensify the pain and smart.

2. The love-smitten heart will ever thirst,
Like one who drinks of thirst’s abysmal well,

3. And ne’er can slake the thirst he knows so well.
Life’s tide flows on, turbid at dead of night

4. With strange events that leave one dazed with fright.
So it were meet that hearts by love made one

5. Should meet and slake their thirst before life’s done,
As fellow-travelers on a lonely way

6. Beguile their loneliness as best they may.
What love-sick wight can still his pain with love

7. Though rapture’s wine he quaff while dreaming thereof,
Like travelers who tread on rugged height,

8. While heavenly stars entrance their dazzled sight?
With pain their feet the flinty passes bleed,

9. While high above the stars their beauty spread.
And if his love-suit sped, he would decree,

10. By love enjoined, to die, and so be free.
God grant forgiveness to that noble youth

11. Who sacrificed himself to love and truth,
Seeking love's balsam for his every ill,

12. While death alone could stay his longing still.
A courteous youth, of fame and wisdom's store,

13. Whose generous heart all creatures did adore;
But fate apportions every mortal lot,

14. For some are born to joy, and some to pain.
His heart, since first he reached youth's sweetest bloom,

15. Had loved and longed for her of radiant doom;
So grew his love and longing day by day,

16. Till all his heart to her was captive prey.
She was a houri, generously built,

17. Showing the sunrise blushing through the dark,
Her meanings in his heart reflected lay,

18. And his love chained him there for aye.
Her hair was night that brightened into day

19. With morning beams athwart its shadows play.
Eyes like twin planets in the dark's embrace,

20. Which made earth's heaven, which made its hell's abyss.
Lids like the bow athwart the lids that rest,

21. Fringed exquisitely on the cheeks so blest.
Between them smiles that purity display,

22. As lovers' kisses thereon trembling play.
A waist the hands of love to span might tire,

23. So fragile made, its dress alone takes fire.
If she but turn, her heavy tresses sway

24. And bend her neck just like the willow-spray.
He captured her in youthful wantonness,

25. His wings were folded, and his heart aflame.
Still shadow-like, he kept her company,

26. Though long the night of absence yet might be.
And every day he found her sweeter still,

27. While for her sake his longing stronger grew,
And blindly thus he lived in loving her,

28. Hiding despair 'neath hope's thin gossamer.
Her eyes' bright beams his deepest feelings stirred,

29. He laughed in glee or wept if she appeared,
Even as children, if the mother goes,

30. Will laugh in glee, or if she comes, repose.
Her nearness had not soothed his bosom's smart,

31. Nor distance weaned his heart ere youth departed.
So he implored her in his messages

32. To heal his love, and yet she spurned his prayer.
At last, despairing that his wish could fade,

33. He saw his hopes were fruitless and decayed;
Then wandered sadly in the garden ways,

34. Till in him rage was fain hell's fire to raise.
Now buoyed with hope, now sinking in alarm,

35. He weeps in sorrow, groans in grief's distress.
While viewing there the garden's pleasant boon,

36. His eyes could scarce restrain the rising tear,
As though its limpid waters he could hear.

37. Alas, the harvest which the tree's first sown,
That it may bitterer be when fully grown!

38. "Would I were clad in this coarse ragged dress
When I was poor in wealth and food's duress!

39. Would I all day drove on the camels slow,
And envied those who soundly sleep below!

40. Would I were bent with eld, my memory frail
To mourn dear friends now buried 'neath the sod!

41. Then had my bitter cup been sweet to drain,
Though bitter, I had gulped it down with pain."

42. Thus sadly cries he, "what avails me now
My wisdom and my knowledge and renown?

43. Availed they aught before to set me free?
Nay, I am straitened sorely here,” says he.

44. “My death is sure, though men may call me weak,
‘Tis prudence to avoid wrong's wanton freak.

45. What blame to kettle if o'erstrained it burst?
Or pack-man if he slip and strew his load?

46. The turbid torrent of my wrath now nears
The abyss, and my heart's flood no limit fears.

47. So when the stream in anger swelled apace,
Who marvels if it burst its hollow case!”

48. When the hot life blood stained his breast, he fell,
E'en as a towering building in earthquake's swell

49. That falls before the lightning's blinding flash.
It seemed as though that form the blood that gushed

50. Had neither sense nor sight, nor power to speak,
Though life so royally informed its clay.

51. As though no wit nor learning had been there,
Nor gentle breeding gained, nor knowledge rare.

52. As though no love had dwelt therein, whose dart
Could penetrate the loved one's inmost heart.

53. So died that innocent, though based on gain
His grandsire's riches bled the poor amain.

54. For though to lowest men this house he gave,
With money mulcted from the poor slave,

55. Those lamps illume foul deeds in murkiest night,
Which fear of conscience forces him to light;

56. Though food in plenty waits the banquet there,
None dare partake but those who rightly share;

57. Though men and blooming boys together throng,
Like women dressed, women unsexed in wrong,

58. Reeling in dance, they shout in revelry,
While song and music banish memory.

59. You hermit safe ensconced in home's sweet rest!
Why envy those whom avarice has oppressed?

60. What joy to him whose open hand distributes
His honor for vile gain, and wealth computes?

61. Whoso for riches in this wise intrigues,
Let him be scorned and stoned, whichever league's!

62. How blessed true poverty and honor bright!
Be what God wills, in hunger's throe or blight!

63. Wait thou to see God's vengeance strike anon,
And turn their feast of joy to feast of groan!

64. Eat, drink, make merry, seize your heart’s delight!
Let sparkling wine your care-dulled mood excite!

65. Dance, sing, and list not conscience' threatening voice,
For life is short, so let your hearts rejoice!

66. Whoe’er the chance of pleasure may embrace,
Seizing the moment ere it flees apace!

67. Lead men astray, cast honor to the wind,
And prostitute your beauty to their kind!

68. Though numerous those whose love on you is set,
God's sternest wrath will be the suitor's fate.

69. So fondly loving you his life's sole aim,
Is't strange that he is ruined and defamed?

70. Use your alluring charm, spare not his heart,
Though he should perish victim of your art!”

71. At this she only smiled in wanton glee,
Ensnaring men by grace of form and mien.

72. When every hope he saw had failed and died,
And all his sky in gloom was unified,

73. He wandered sadly in the garden ways,
While in his heart hell's fury fumed always.

74. "Would I were poor again," he sighing cried,
"Owned not a garment, nor had aught beside!

75. Would I all day drove on the camel slow,
And envied those who soundly sleep below!

76. Would I were old and leaning on a staff,
Thus mourning her, my mistress now no more!"

77. Then had my bitter thoughts been sweetened thus,
Though naught the draught but bitter aloes was!"

78. Of what avails my knowledge, wisdom, fame,
Which naught availed before to shield my name!"

79. But death's sole means my honor will proclaim,
And prove retreat before dishonor's shame.