Imcomparable splendour
Having said thus he set out on a journey, and 1 experienced much disquietude at the separation. The opportunity of intercourse was lost. No one knows the value of pleasure until he has suffered adversity. Return thou and put me to death, for to die in your presence is better than to live in your absence. However, by the blessing of God, after a time he returned.
But he had lost the melodious voice of David; and his beauty, that had resembled Joseph, was faded, his chin being covered with dust like the quince, so that the imcomparable splendour of his beauty was obscured. He expected that I should have caught him in my arms; when, stepping aside, I said, “At the time that you flourished in the flower of youth, you drove away those who wished to behold you; but now you return in peace, with the line of manhood in your countenance. The verdant foliage of spring is become yellow. Put not the kettle on the hearth, for our fire is cooled. How long will your pride and vanity last? Reflect that the season of your power is elapsed.
Go to him who wants you, sport yourself with those who are willing to buy you. It has been said that verdure is delightful in the garden, and he who says thus knoweth it; or, in other words, the down on the chin of youth is what: we admired; your garden is a bed of leeks, which the more they are plucked out, grow the stronger. You departed last year beautiful as a deer, but are returned spotted like a leopard. Sady admires the down of youth, and not hairs like a packing-needle. Whether you allow your beard to remain or pull it out, still tl»e season of youth will pass away. If I had such power over my life as you have over your beard, it should never depart until the Day of Resurrection.” I asked him, “What is become of the beauty of your face, that ants are sprung up round the moon? ” He smiled, and replied, “I know not what has befallen my face, excepting that I am in mourning for my departed beauty.”















