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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Gulistan of Sa'di Chapter V: On Love and Youth Story 1 Hasan Maimundi was asked that, as the Sultan Mahmud possesses so many beautiful slaves, each of whom is a marvel in the world, how it happens that he manifests towards none of them so much inclination and love as to Iyaz, although he is not more handsome than the others.
He replied: 'Whatever descends into the heart appears good to the eye.' He whose murid' the sultan is If he does everything bad, it will be good. But he whom the padshah throws away Will not be cared for by anyone in the household. If anyone looks with an unfavourable eye Even the figure of Joseph will indicate ugliness And if he looks with the eye of desire on a demon, He will appear an angel, a cherub in his sigh].
Story 2 It is said that a gentleman possessed a slave of exquisite beauty, whom he regarded with love and affection.
He nevertheless said to a friend: 'Would that this slave of mine, with all the beauty and good qualities he possesses, had not a long and uncivil tongue!' He replied: 'Brother, do not expect service, after professing friendship; because when relations between lover and beloved come in, the relations between master and servant are superseded': When a master with a fairy-faced slave Begins to play and to laugh What wonder if the latter coquets like the master And the gentleman bears it like a slave?
A slave is to draw water and make bricks. A pampered slave will strike with the fist. Story 3 I saw a religious man, who had fallen in love with a fellow to such a degree that he had neither strength to remain patient nor to bear the talk of the people but would not relinquish his attachment, despite of the reproaches he suffered and the grief he bore, saying: I shall not let go my hold of thy skirt Even if thou strike me with a sharp sword. After thee I have no refuge nor asylum.
To thee alone I shall flee if I flee. I once reproached him, asking him what had become of his exquisite intellect so that it had been overcome by his base proclivity. He meditated a while and then said: 'Wherever love has become sultan Piety's arm has no strength left.
How can a helpless fellow live purely Who has sunk up to his neck in impurity?' Story 4 One had lost his heart and bidden farewell to his life because the target which he aimed at was in a dangerous locality, portending destruction and no chance promising a morsel easily coming to the palate nor a bird falling into the trap.