Majnoun’s love for Leili

And then, beneath the skin, began to creep

On hands and knees as if he were a sheep.

“Now lead your flock,” he cried, past Leili’s tent;

It may be I shall catch her lovely scent

And hidden by this matted fleece receive

From untold misery one hour’s reprieve.”

And so Majnoun, disguised beneath the skin,

Drew near his love unnoticed by her kin –

Joy welled in him and in its wild excess

The frenzied lover lost all consciousness;

Love’s fire had dried the fluids of his brain –

He fainted and lay stretched out on the plain;

The shepherd bore him to a shaded place

And splashed cold water on his burning face.

Later, Majnoun was talking with some friends

When one said: “What a tattered fleece defends

Your body from the cold;

but trust in me I’ll bring you all you need immediately.”