Layla and Majnun by Nizami Read Free Book Online Page B

wind and began to follow them. Just when they were beginning to give up all hope of ever reaching their prey, one of the hunters saw the antelopes disappear into a cave some way abovethem. Nowfal told two of his servants to dismount and, armed with bows, arrows and daggers, the three of them set off over the rocks.
    Slowly and silently the men tiptoed towards the cave, certain that within minutes the trapped antelopes would be theirs for the taking. But when they reached the entrance to the cave, a strange sight stopped them in their tracks. The antelopes were indeed inside the cave; they were huddled together in the semi-darkness, their eyes wide with fear and their flanks trembling. But they were not alone. For there, crouching behind one of them, was a creature the likes of which Nowfal had never seen before.
    The creature was naked, his emaciated limbs cut to ribbons by thorns, his dirty, lank hair hanging to his shoulders. Was it an animal or a human being? Was it a demon from the realm below, come to haunt the world of men, or was it a jinn in human guise? Nowfal was about to reach for his dagger when, to his amazement, the creature started to weep. Turning to his companions, Nowfal whispered, ‘Do you have any idea who this wretched creature is?’
    ‘I have heard of him,’ said one of the servants. He stepped forward and continued, ‘He is a young man whom love has turned insane. He has left the world of men and now lives here in the desert. Day and night he composes sonnets and odes for his beloved. Whenever a cloud passes, he thinks it brings some message from her; whenever a breeze sweeps by, he imagines that it bears her scent. And so he sings his songs of love, hoping that the wind and the clouds will carry hiswords back to her.’
    ‘And he lives here all alone?’ asked an astonished Nowfal.
    ‘People visit him from time to time,’ replied the servant. ‘In fact, some travel great distances and suffer untold hardship in order to see him. They bring him food and drink; sometimes they even offer him wine. However, he eats and drinks little — barely enough to keep him alive. And if his visitors do persuade him to sip the wine, he does so only in the name of his beloved. Whatever he says or does is solely for her sake.’
    Nowfal listened attentively, his sympathy for Majnun increasing by the minute. All thoughts of hunting had disappeared. ‘This poor confused soul is in need of assistance,’ whispered Nowfal, ‘and I think it would be an act of charity and nobility if I were to help him attain his heart’s desire.’ And so saying, Nowfal had his servants support Majnun and lead him down to where his other men were waiting. There, he ordered a tent to be set and food to be brought from the nearest oasis. It was time for dinner and Majnun was to be his guest.
    Now, Prince Nowfal was a man of great generosity and hospitality, but on this occasion it seemed that even his efforts would be in vain. However much he urged his guest to eat and make merry, the wretched hermit would not even look at the food, let alone eat any of it. Nowfal laughed and joked, but the merrier he became, the less Majnun seemed to understand where he was and what he was doing there. Nowfal tried as hard ashe could to humour him, but Majnun did not respond; with each solicitous word from his host, he would retreat further and further into his own shell. Tired of eliciting no reaction from Majnun, Nowfal decided to let slip the word revealed to him earlier by one of his servants, the one word he knew would have an effect … the word ‘Layla’.
    When he heard his beloved’s name spoken, Majnun’s eyes widened and a smile lit up his face. ‘Layla!’ he murmured lovingly. ‘My dear, sweet Layla!’ And then, falteringly, he helped himself to a morsel of meat and took a sip of ruby wine.
    Nowfal had cracked the riddle: all he had to do now was speak of Layla, praise her beauty, extol her character, glorify her virtues, and