Ch 05 On Love And Youth Story 07

One 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.’

       Thou hast come late, O intoxicated idol,  
       We shall not soon let go thy skirt from the hand.  
       He who sees his sweetheart at long intervals  
       Is after all better off than if he sees too much of her.  
       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?’