The Book of Jade

I am a little tired of all things mortal; I see through half-shut eyelids languorous The old monotonous Gold sun set slowly through the western portal, Where I recline upon my deep dîwân, In Ispahân.

I am a little weary of the Persian Girl that I lov’d; I am quite tir’d of love; And I am weary of The smoking censers, and the sweet diversion Of stroking Leila’s jasmine-scented hair, I thought so fair.

At last I think I am quite tired of beauty; Why do the stars shine always in the sky? I think if I might die, Something more sweet, less tiring than the duty Of kissing her, might be; I am tired of myrrh, And kissing her.

Khaled, come, come, and slowly move the scented Gold narghilé away; let the lyres cease. And now a little peace! For see, moon-faced Leila hath repented Of singing Hafiz’ songs melodiously, And languidly.

It is not that thy face is fair As dying sunsets are, Nor that thy lovely eyelids wear The splendour of a star; ’Tis the deep sadness of thine eyes Hath my heart captive led, And that within thy soul I prize The calmness of the dead.

O holy love, O fair white face, O sweet lost soul of thine! Thy bosom is an altar-place, Thy kisses holy wine; Sweet incense offer’d for my bliss Is thy corrupted breath, And on thy stained lips I kiss The holy lips of Death!

Wherefore because thy heart is all Fill’d full of mournfulness, And thy gold head as with a pall Hung o’er with sinfulness; Because thy soul is utterly Sinful unto the core⁠— Therefore my heart is bound to thee, Dear love, forevermore!

All the authors that there are bore Me; All the philosophies bore Me; All the statues and all the temples bore Me;

—All the authors that there are bore Thee; All the philosophies bore Thee; All the statues and all the temples bore Thee.

All the women of the earth weary Me; The fruit of the vine wearieth Me; All the symphonies weary Me.

—All the women of the earth weary Thee; The fruit of the vine wearieth Thee; All the symphonies weary Thee.

Victory and defeat fatigue Me; Gladness and sorrowing fatigue Me; Life and death fatigue Me.

—Victory and defeat fatigue Thee; Gladness and sorrowing fatigue Thee; Life and death fatigue Thee.

The earth and the heavens weary Me; The sun by day and the moon by night weary Me; All the great stars of heaven weary Me.