Muntakhab al-tawarikh 371: CLXI. VĀQĪ‘Ī OF HERĀT.

371

His name is Ibn ‘Alī, and he was in the emperor’s service. The following verses are by him:—
“Thy brow is not furrowed from coquetry. The ocean of thy beauty is rising in billows, and this is the reason of those furrows. Thou art still intoxicated with the wine of coquetry, As is evident, my dark beauty, from thy arrogance. Why, like the candle, should I bring the fire of my heart to my tongue? Since its fire is clearly to be seen in the fiery sighs which I heave. What need is there of the new moon on the night of ’Īd To thee, from the opening in whose sleeve the new moon is apparent?”
“Her two ruby lips have between them the water of life. True it is that whenever two who are friends to the death come together there is ever a life between them.”
“As no dust settles on the mirror so my heart is vexed by nobody. For I have ceased to hope for manhood from the people of this age.”
“Happy is that state of intoxication which leads me enraptured to thee, And is so deep that I cannot be removed from thy street.”
“All at once I have become the whirlwind of the valley of grief, On account of my evil passions I am become a vagabond in the world.”
“The tale of my grief and woe has passed all bounds, Love has come upon me and has made me his own from head to foot.”