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it in the desert.” So I went up to it and said, “Peace be upon you, O people of the tent, and the mercy of God and His blessings!” Whereupon there came forth to me a young man, nineteen years old, who was as the shining full moon, with valour written between his eyes, and answered, saying, “And on thee be peace, O brother of the Arabs, and God’s mercy and blessing! Methinks thou hast lost thy way?” “Even so,” replied I. “Direct me aright, God have mercy on thee!” “O brother of the Arabs,” rejoined he, “of a truth this our land is infested with lions and the night is exceeding dark and cold and dreary, and I fear lest the wild beasts tear thee in pieces; wherefore do thou alight and abide with me this night in ease and comfort, and to-morrow I will put thee in the right way.”
Accordingly, I alighted and hobbled my camel with the end of her halter; then I put off my heavy upper clothes and sat down. Presently the young man took a sheep and slaughtered it and kindled a brisk fire; after which he went into the tent and bringing out fine salt and powdered spices, fell to cutting off pieces of the flesh of the sheep and roasting them over the fire and feeding me therewith, weeping one while and sighing another. Then he groaned heavily and wept sore and recited the following verses:
Nothing is left him but a fluttering spright, Ay, and an eye bereavéd of its light;
Nor in his members is a single joint But sickness there is constant day and night.
His tears flow ever and his heart burns aye; Yet for all this still silent is the wight.
His foes weep, pitying him; alas for those Who pity in th’ exultant foe excite!
By this I knew that the youth was a distracted lover,—for none knoweth passion save he who hath tasted the savour thereof,—and said to myself, “Shall I ask him?”
