And quoth another:
Two fair ones lying on the earth I did of late espy; Two that I
needs must love, although they lay upon mine eye.
Dehnesh and Maimouneh gazed on them awhile, and the former said,
'By Allah, O my lady, it is good! My mistress is assuredly the
fairer.' 'Not so,' answered she, 'my beloved is the fairer. Out
on thee, O Dehnesh! Thou art blind of eye and heart and
distinguishest not between good and bad.[FN#25] Wilt thou hide
the truth? Dost thou not see his beauty and grace and symmetry?
Out on thee, hear what I purpose to say in praise of my beloved,
and do thou the like for her thou lovest, an thou be a true
lover.' Then she kissed Kemerezzeman again and again between the
eyes and repeated the following ode:
Ah me, what ails the censurer that he at thee should flite? How
shall I be consoled for thee, and thou a sapling slight?
Thou of the black and languorous eye, that casteth far and wide
Charms, whose sheer witchery compels to passion's utmost
height,
Whose looks, with Turkish languor fraught, work havoc in the
breast, Leaving such wounds as ne'er were made of falchion
in the fight,
Thou layst on me a heavy load of passion and desire, On me that
am too weak to bear a shift upon me dight.
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