was amazed to find the leper seated in the prayer leper seated in the prayer- niche.  So I said to myself, niche.  “Glory be to God,” “Glory be to Allah! said I in myself.  “How how hath this fellow preceded hath this fellow foregone me hither.”  But me hither?” But he he raised his head to me raised his eyes to me and said with a smile, “O and said, smiling, “O, Abu al-Hasan, He doth Aboulhusn, He doth for for the weak that which the weak that which the surpriseth the strong!” strong wonder at.”  I I passed that night confounded passed that night in at what I had perplexity, confounded at seen; and, as soon as what I had seen, and in morning dawned, set out the morning set out again again by myself; but by myself; but when I when I came to Arafat came to Arafat and entered and entered the mosque, the mosque, behold, behold! there was the leper there was the leper seated seated in the niche.  So I in the niche!  So I threw threw myself upon him myself upon him and kissing and kissing his feet said, his feet, said, “O my “O my lord, I crave thy lord, I crave thy company.” company.”  But he answered, But he said, “This may in no “This may nowise be.” way be.”  Then I began Whereupon I fell a-weeping weeping and wailing at and lamenting, and the loss of his company he said:  “Peace:  weeping when he said, “Spare thy will avail thee nothing,” tears, which will avail thee And he recited the naught!” and he recited following verses:  these couplets: 

For my estrangement dost thou Why dost thou weep when I
  weep,—­whereas it came depart and thou didst parting
  from thee,—­And restoration claim; and cravest union
  dost implore, when none, when we ne’er shall re-unite
  alas! may be? the same?

Thou sawst my weakness and Thou lookedest on nothing save
  disease, as it appeared, and my weakness and disease;
  saidst, “He goes, nor comes, and saidst, “Nor goes, nor
  or night, or day, for this his comes, or night, or day, this
  malady.” sickly frame.”

Seest not that God (exalted be Seest not how Allah (glorified
  His glory) to His slave His glory ever be!) deigneth
  vouchsafeth all he can conceive to grant His slave’s petition
  of favour fair and free! wherewithal he came.

If I, to outward vision, be as If I, to eyes of men be that and
  it appears and eke in body, for only that they see, and this
  despite of fate, e’en that my body show itself so full
  which thou dost see. of grief and grame.

And eke no victual though I And I have nought of food that
  have, unto the holy place shall supply me to the place
  where crowds unto my Lord where crowds unto my Lord
  resort, indeed, to carry me. resort impelled by single aim.