Israfil of the resurrection-day of Love! Love, Love, and heart's desire of Love! Let thy first boon to me be this: To lend thine ear to my orisons, Though thou knowest my condition clearly, O protector of slaves, listen to my speech. A thousand times, O prince incomparable, Has my reason taken flight in desire to see thee, And to hear thee and to listen to thy words, And to behold thy life-giving smiles. Thy inclining thine ear to my supplications Is as a caress to my misguided soul. DESTROY NOT EARTHLY BEAUTY: IT BEAUTIFIES THE SOUL Tear not thy plumage off, it cannot be replaced; Disfigure not thy face in wantonness, O fair one! That face which is bright as the forenoon sun-- To disfigure it were a grievous sin. 'Twere paganism to mar such a face as thine The moon itself would weep to lose sight of it! Knowest thou not the beauty of thine own face? Quit this temper that leads thee to war with thyself! It is the claws of thine own foolish thoughts That in spite wound the face of thy quiet soul. Know such thoughts to be claws fraught with poison. Which score deep wounds on the face of thy soul. THE DEVIL MAKES USE OF THE BEAUTY OF WOMEN Thus spake cursed Iblis to the Almighty, "I want a mighty trap to catch human game withal!" God gave him gold and silver and troops and horses, Saying, "You can catch my creatures with these." Iblis said, "Bravo!" but at the same time hung his lip, And frowned sourly like a bitter orange. Then God offered gold and jewels from precious mines To that laggard in the faith, Saying, "Take these other traps, O cursed one." But Iblis said, "Give me more, O blessed Defender." God gave him succulent and sweet and costly wines, And also store of silken garments. But Iblis said, "O Lord, I want more aids than these, In order to bind men in my twisted rope So firmly that Thy adorers, who are valiant men, May not, man-like, break my bonds asunder." * * * * * * * *¨* * * * * * * When at last God showed him the beauty of women, Which bereaves men of reason and self-control, Then Iblis clapped his hands and began to dance, Saying, "Give me these; I shall quickly prevail with these!"[7] "LOVERS AND BELOVED HAVE BOTH PERISHED" Lovers and beloved have both perished; And not themselves only, but their love as well. 'Tis God alone who agitates these nonentities, Making one nonentity fall in love with another. In the heart that is no heart envy comes to a head, Thus Being troubles nonentity.[8] "O ANGELS, BRING HIM BACK TO ME" "O angels, bring him back to me. Since the eyes of his heart were set on Hope, Without care for consequence I set him free, And draw the pen through the record of his sins!" SELF-AGGRANDISEMENT AND VAINGLORY NO PART OF LOVE