The Scented Garden

God’s constant affection. 89 XXI THE LOVE POTION Whoso hath fair Habib to sing and play1 May scoff at all the jinseng of Cathay.2 That naked podex knows a sacred spell To exorcise the Jinn that bring decay. One glance, one touch, and acorn springs to oak— God sees the daystar, and invokes the day. If Suleiman3 with all his concubines From dusk to dawn consecutively lay, Yet at thy buttock’s velvet, O Habib, That man would rise erect from mudded clay. Bid thou the Qazi to thine house ; I ween That he would sprout a member on the way. Or didst thou call upon him in the tomb Isa4 would rise, as silly Christians say. Thy podex being his, thine El Qahar Is always gold, and never rose and grey.5 1. The word used here is [Persian text] ‘ hearing ’ and also “ the Song and Dance of the Mevliviyeh dervishes.” Thus far Palmer ; and I can learn no more. But probably the word is used to emphasize the purely religious nature of the passion.