The Scented Garden

68 The Shame of the Prodigal. XIV THE COMPARISONS O Habib, I have compared thy figure to the cy- press, and to a thousand other beautifully shapen things. Also I have said that thine eyes were like the sun for splendour ; and like the gazelle’s eyes for depth and softness ; many other things very well composed have I sung concerning thee.1 I have even compared the perfume of thy podex to that of the rose, and I take Allah to witness that this is not so, except by favour of Him in whom all is One.2 I was faithful and diligent in love, and worshipped thee above all save Him to whom alone worship is due. Thou didst cast me off for thy filthy lovers — Allah forget them ! — and now thou comest back thou thinkest still to play the master. No, by Allah ! thy podex doth not resemble the rose, or another flower ; it resembles nothing but a podex, the po- dex of a peevish and filthy sodomite. When thou didst veil thy buttocks with the spangled muslin of Egypt, we cried out that it was the face of Allah radiant through the stars of night — for we were excessively drunk, Habib ! — But yesterday we laughed even louder when my women veiled thee as to thy face with a black veil, and Laila cried : “ Allah be praised, the Concealer, that He hath permitted us to conceal the podex of this pig.” Thou didst not laugh, O spoiler of sport ! Nor did the rattans of the eunuchs move thee to mirth, falling like the first hard rain of summer upon thy back, and upon thy buttocks, and upon