Moreover, is the foregathering of lovers good but in the night? Let this quality and profit suffice thee. What protecteth lovers from spies and censors like the blackness of night’s darkness; and what causeth to them to fear discovery like the whiteness of the dawn’s brightness? So, how many claims to honour are there not in blackness and how excellent is the saying of the poet!—
I visit them, and night-black lendeth aid to me ✿ Seconding love, but dawn-white is mine enemy.
And that of another:—
How many a night I’ve passed with the beloved of me, ✿ While gloom with dusky tresses veilèd our desires:
But when the morn-light showed it caused me sad affright; ✿ And I to Morning said, “Who worship light are liars!”[[365]]
And saith a third:—
He came to see me, hiding neath the skirt of night, ✿ Hasting his steps as wended he in cautious plight.
I rose and spread my cheek upon his path like rug, ✿ Abject, and trailed my skirt to hide it from his sight;
But rose the crescent moon and strave its best to show ✿ The world our loves, like nail-slice raying radiant light:[[366]]
Then what befel befel: I need not aught describe; ✿ But think thy best, and ask me naught of wrong or right.