Laila’s parents would never allow Majnûn to enter their tribe; but Majnûn, drunk with love, one day borrowed a sheepskin from a shepherd who was in the desert where Laila’s tribe had pitched its tents. He bowed his head, covered it with this skin, and assumed the appearance of a sheep. Then he said to the shepherd: “I beseech thee, in the name of God! let me remain among thy sheep. Drive thy flock towards Laila, that, from the midst of the flock where I shall be, I may hope to see her whom I love, and that, thus hidden from my beloved beneath this skin, I may enjoy her in some measure.”
If thou couldst feel for one instant such love, thou wouldst be worthy to belong to humankind, down to the root of every hair upon thy body. Alas! thou dost not feel the loving pain of spiritual men; thou knowest not the good fortune of those who frequent the spiritual hippodrome.
If thou couldst feel for one instant such love, thou wouldst be worthy to belong to humankind, down to the root of every hair upon thy body. Alas! thou dost not feel the loving pain of spiritual men; thou knowest not the good fortune of those who frequent the spiritual hippodrome.
Majnün went thus beneath this skin along the path of his beloved, hidden among the sheep. At first he was overcome with joy at the sight of Laïla; then at last he fell into a swoon. When love had produced this effect upon him, and the water (honour) had left his face, the shepherd took him and led him into the plain; he sprinkled water upon the face of this young man, so deeply drunk with love, to calm that fire somewhat with water.
Then, one day, when Majnün, drunk with love, was sitting with some people in the desert, one of those gathered there said to him: “O thou of noble birth! how canst thou remain without clothes? If thou wishest it, I will bring thee at once whatever robe thou wouldst choose.” — “No garment,” replied Majnün, “is worthy of my beloved; thus none is more fitting for me than a sheepskin; it serves me as a sipand to ward off the evil eye. Majnün would gladly wear brocade and cloth of gold; but he loves this skin, by means of which he can please Laïla. I was able to catch sight of my beloved beneath this sheepskin; how could I wish to have any other garment than this? Beneath this skin my heart received tidings of love; and, since I cannot attain to the essence of the thing, this skin enables me to form some idea of it.”
Then, one day, when Majnün, drunk with love, was sitting with some people in the desert, one of those gathered there said to him: “O thou of noble birth! how canst thou remain without clothes? If thou wishest it, I will bring thee at once whatever robe thou wouldst choose.” — “No garment,” replied Majnün, “is worthy of my beloved; thus none is more fitting for me than a sheepskin; it serves me as a sipand to ward off the evil eye. Majnün would gladly wear brocade and cloth of gold; but he loves this skin, by means of which he can please Laïla. I was able to catch sight of my beloved beneath this sheepskin; how could I wish to have any other garment than this? Beneath this skin my heart received tidings of love; and, since I cannot attain to the essence of the thing, this skin enables me to form some idea of it.”
Love must tear you away from wisdom; it must change your inclinations. The least that the annihilation of these inclinations requires is that you give your life and renounce vulgar pleasures. Enter upon this path, if you possess the noble sentiments of which I speak, for to stake one’s life thus is no game.