Or if like me hast lost thy fondest friend, ✿ And severance long desire to memory brought?
O Allah, guard a faithful lover’s lot ✿ I will not leave her though my bones go rot!
Then, after ending his verses, he fainted again; and, presently reviving he went on to the second cage, wherein he found a ringdove. When it saw him, it sang out, “O Eternal, I thank thee!” and he groaned and recited these couplets:—
I heard a ringdove chanting plaintively, ✿ “I thank Thee, O Eternal for this misery!”
Haply, perchance, may Allah, of His grace, ✿ Send me by this long round my love to see.
Full oft[[60]] she comes with honeyed lips dark red, ✿ And heaps up lowe upon love’s ardency.
Quoth I (while longing fires flame high and fierce ✿ In heart, and wasting life’s vitality,
And tears like gouts of blood go railing down ✿ In torrents over cheeks now pale of blee),
“None e’er trod earth that was not born to woe, ✿ But I will patient dree mine agony,
So help me Allah! till that happy day ✿ When with my mistress I unite shall be: