Gulistan of Saadi
On Love and Youth
Story 3
I saw a religious man, who had fallen in love with a fellow to such a degree that he had neither
strength to remain patient nor to bear the talk of the people but would not relinquish his attachment,
despite of the reproaches he suffered and the grief he bore, saying:
I shall not let go my hold of thy skirt
Even if thou strike me with a sharp sword.
After thee I have no refuge nor asylum.
To thee alone I shall flee if I flee.
I once reproached him, asking him what had become of his exquisite intellect so that it had been
overcome by his base proclivity. He meditated a while and then said:
‘Wherever love has become sultan
Piety’s arm has no strength left.
How can a helpless fellow live purely
Who has sunk up to his neck in impurity?’
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