Page:Tales from the Gulistan (1928).pdf/206

On Love and Youth

who had for a considerable time not seen his friend, asked him where he had been, and said he had been longing. He replied: "To be longing is better than to be satisfied."

When thou comest with friends to visit me, although thou comest in peace, thou art attacking! If my sweetheart associates one moment with strangers, it wants but little, and I die of jealousy. She said, smiling: "I am the lamp of the assembly, O Sa'di; what is it to me if a moth kills itself?"

how in former times I and another friend kept company with each other like two almond kernels in one skin. Suddenly a separation took place, but after a time, when my companion returned, he commenced to blame me for not having sent him a messenger during it. I replied: "I thought it would be a pity that the eyes of a messenger should be brightened by thy beauty, and I deprived thereof. Tell my old friend not to give me advice with the tongue, because even a sword will not compel me to repent. I am jealous that anyone should see thee to satiety; again I say that no one will be satiated!"