A Lovers' Dialogue

Maiden: By God, who openly and secretly Is worshipped by men and fairies, I swear that of all whom I see in the world No one is dearer to me than thou.

Youth:

O thou who sawest me, and residest in my heart, Soul and body, all now belong to thee. If my heart inclines to thee it is no wonder; It must be a stone, not a heart, which turns not to thee!

'The girl said that now her only wish in the world was that they should put their hands round each other's waists, and eat sugar from the lips of each other. The youth replied: "My desire is the same, but what can I do? As God the Most High says: 'The intimate friends on that day shall be enemies unto one another, except the pious,' which means that on the day of resurrection friendship of friends will become enmity, except the friendship of the abstemious, which will increase the attachment. I do not wish that on the morn of resurrection the edifice of our love be impaired, and our friendship be turned into enmity." After saying these words, he departed, reciting the following:

O heart, abandon this love of two days, Because a love of two days profits not; Choose a love wherewith on the day of reckoning Thou mayest abide in the eternal abode.