The beautiful wife of a man died but her mother, a decrepit old hag, remained in the house on account of the dowry. The man saw no means of escaping from contact with her until a company of friends paid him a visit of condolence and one of them asked him how he bore the loss of his beloved. He replied: ‘It is not as painful not to see my wife as to see the mother of my wife.’ <br /> <br /> The rose has been destroyed and the thorn remained. <br /> The treasure has been taken and the serpent left. <br /> It is better that one’s eye be fixed on a spear-head <br /> Than that it should behold the face of an enemy. <br /> It is incumbent to sever connection with a thousand friends <br /> Rather than to behold a single foe.<br /><br />Saadi Shirazi<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/ch-05-on-love-and-youth-story-15/
