The Peace, the Jealousy, and the Ecstasy of God. 
81 
 
 
 
XVIII 
 
THE TRYST 
 
 
There are no degrees in Allah, O boy with ears1 
like new moons !  and there is no degree in the ex-
cellence of thy podex ;  nor is the joy of thy lover, 
when he delights therein, from day to day dimi-
nished or increased. 
This is the sigillum of perfection in any work.  
The perfect lover is calm and equable ;  storms of 
thunder, quakings of the earth, losses of goods, 
punishment from great men, none of these things 
cause him to rise from his divan, or to remove the 
silken tube of the rose-perfumed huqqa from his 
mouth. 
I can even take pleasure with Laila, O no longer 
jealous one !  When thou wast away from me, I was 
unable to regard her or her companions (the 
thunder-smitten bitches2 !) without excessive sick-
ness. 
It was for thy sake, o mischievous one !  that I 
caused the eunuchs3 to fornicate with Zuleikah in 
a painful manner, while I beat her with whips of 
hide. 
So that she became unconscious ;  and her repu-
tation was of chastity and prudence.4 
Therefore, as to-night is full moon, I will ac-
quaint thee with a certain cherry-tree that hangs 
over a cool reach of Ruknabad.  Under its blossom 
we will sit in our boat and listen to the water.  Go 
therefore and anoint thee with rose ;  and besmear 
thy podex with jasmine mixed with ambergris in 
oil5 ;  for not until the dawn breaks will El Qahar 
withdraw his member.6