The Arabic proverb, “If you commit fornication, commit it with a free woman, and if you steal, steal a pearl.”

2805 Hence (the saying), “Commit fornication with a free woman,” became proverbial; (and the words) “steal a pearl” were transferred (metaphorically) to this (meaning).

The slave (the loved one) went away to his master: he (the lover) was left in misery. The scent of the rose went (back) to the rose: he was left with the thorn.

He was left far from the object of his desire—his labour lost, his toil useless, his foot wounded,

Like the hunter who catches a shadow—how should the shadow become his property?

The man has grasped tightly the shadow of a bird, (while) the bird on the branch of the tree is fallen into amazement,

2810 (Thinking), “I wonder who this crack-brained fellow is laughing at? Here’s folly for you, here’s a rotten cause^[153.2]!”

And if you say that the part is connected with the whole, (then) eat thorns: the thorn is connected with the rose.

Except from one point of view, it (the part) is not connected with the whole: otherwise, indeed, the mission of the prophets would be vain,

Inasmuch as the prophets are (sent) in order to connect (the part with the whole): how, then, should they (the prophets) connect them when they are (already) one body?

This discourse hath no end. O lad, the day is late: conclude the tale.