A virtuous and beauteous youth <br />Was pledged to a chaste maiden. <br />I read that in the great sea <br />They fell into a vortex together. <br />When a sailor came to take his hand, <br />Lest he might die in that condition, <br />He said in anguish from the waves: <br />‘Leave me. Take the hand of my love.’ <br />Whilst saying this, he despaired of life. <br />In his agony he was heard to exclaim: <br />‘Learn not the tale of love from the wretch <br />Who forgets his beloved in distress.’ <br />Thus the lives of the lovers terminated. <br />Learn from what has occurred that thou mayest know <br />Because Sa’di is of the ways and means of love affairs <br />Well aware in the Arabian city of Baghdad. <br />Tie thy heart to the heart-charmer thou possessest <br />And shut thy eye to all the rest of the world. <br />If Mejnun and Laila were to come to life again <br />They might indite a tale of love on this occurrence. <br /><br /><br />Saadi Shirazi<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/ch-05-on-love-and-youth-story-21/
