36. Majnun and the Shepherd


Majnun followed his beloved Layla's caravan into the desert, but her parents wouldn't let him near her.
Mad with love, he persuaded a shepherd to loan him a sheepskin. "Disguised as a sheep, I will join your flock and when you lead your flock past Layla's tent, I might catch the scent of her perfume."
But when they reached Layla's tent and Majnun smelled Layla's perfume, he fainted.
The shepherd had to carry the unconscious Majnun back out into the desert.
The shepherd then threw water on Majnun's face, reviving him, but the water could not cool his burning love.



Inspired by: The Conference of the Birds by Farid Ud-Din Attar, translated by S. C. Nott
Notes: This is in section 39: A Story of Majnun. You can read more about Layla and Majnun at Wikipedia.



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