Story 14 I had a companion with whom I had travelled for years and eaten salt. Boundless intimacy subsisted between us till at last he suffered my mind to be grieved for the sake of some paltry gain and our friendship closed. Despite of an this, however, mutual attachment of heart still subsisted between us because I heard him one day reciting in an assembly the following two distichs of my composition: When my sweetheart enters sweetly smiling She adds more salt to my bleeding wound. How would it be if the tip of her curls fell into my hand Like the sleeve of the bountiful into the hands of dervishes? Some friends bore witness not so much to the gracefulness of these verses as to the beauty of my conduct which they approved; and among the rest, the said friend likewise added his share of praise, regretting the loss of our former companionship and confessing his fault so that his affection became known. Accordingly I sent the following distichs and made peace: Was not there a covenant of friendship between us? Thou hast been cruel and not loving. I once tied my heart to thee, disregarding the world. Not knowing thou wouldst turn back so soon. If thou yet desirest conciliation, return Because thou wilt be more beloved than before.
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