* 



1916.] Quatrains of Abu SaHd bin Abi'l Khair. 215 



77. 



Alas for the long nights, without Thee! 



Alas for the pain of separation from Thee ! 



Thou art asleep in Thy disdain, and I am without Thee, 



I lie alone, fevered and in anguish. 



78. 



The melancholy of the destitute, 



The ruthlessness of this revolving earth, 



The anxious cares of the troubled in spirit, 



These are all naught — the pain of Love alone matters, 



79. 



heart, that art banished from the Friend, weep tears of 



blood . 

 eyes, do ye likewise let an Oxus flow from you. 

 O life, thou art not dearer to me than my Friend. 



Without 



leave me. 



80. 



Who am I ? One who hath set his heart a-fire, 

 Whose oraze is fixed on the harvest of love. 



Const 



as fire, 



Ever seeking the companionship of a perfect saint. 1 



81. 



The light of Thee is the source of light of men's eyes ; 



Without Thy light no man's eye hath power to see. 



All men's eyes are turned towards Thee; 



Because of Thy light there are fountains of light in men's eyes, 



Line 2. " Send out thy light .... for I am 

 idle earth and void till thou illumine me." (Imita- 

 tion of Christ III. xxvii. ) 



82. 





Thou 



No man hath possessions like unto this fair world of Thine ; 



All men are asleep ; Thou art awake. 



O Lord, open the door of Thy mercy to us. 



1 Line 4 &£>**$ literally means " one who is burnt," that is, in the 



fire of love ; or one whose passions are burnt out 



