In order not to melt that soul-like body, For thy soul's sake seek counsel of these inspired ones. Ah! rob not their words of their technical meanings! Zulaikha applied to Yusuf the names of all things, She veiled his name under all other names, When she said, "The wax is melted by the fire," She meant, "My lover is wroth with me." So when she said, "See, the moon is risen!" Or, "Lo! the willow-bough is putting forth leaves;" Or if she said, "The leaves quiver in the wind,"

As regards the erotic poetry which is recited in Sufi gatherings, and to which people sometimes make objection, we must remember that, when in such...