The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 1 · Richard Francis Burton translation

Note 428
TALE OF NUR AL-DIN AND HIS SON.

Anonymous

In Arab. the "he" is a "she;" and Habíb ("friend") is the Attic {Greek Letters}, a euphemism for lover. This will occur throughout The Nights. So the Arabs use a phrase corresponding with the Stoic {Greek Letters}, i.e. is wont, is fain.

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…n, * With pillowed forearms cast in finest mould: And when heart speaks to heart with tongue of love, * Folk who would part them hammer steel ice-cold: If a fair friend[FN#428] thou find who cleaves to thee, * Live for that friend, that friend in heart enfold. O ye who blame for love us lover kind * Say, can ye minister to diseasèd mind?

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Note 428TALE OF NUR AL-DIN AND HIS SON.

Note 428
TALE OF NUR AL-DIN AND HIS SON.