crying is one of the signs of the lover but they differ in it. some of them are profuse in tears and neglect their affairs and their eyes respond to them and their tears attend to them whenever they wish. some of them have dull eyes and are devoid of tears and i am one of them. the origin of that was my addiction to eating frankincense because of the palpitations of the heart and it happened to me in my youth. when i was afflicted with a terrible calamity i would find my heart breaking and torn and i would feel in my heart a bitter pang of wormwood that would stand between me and giving my words their due right exits and it would almost make me choke.
والبكاء من علامات المحب ولكن يتفاضلون فيه، فمنهم غزير الدمع هامل الشؤون تجيبه عينه وتحضره عبرته إذا شاء، ومنهم جمود العين عديم الدمع، وأنا منهم. وكان الأصل في ذلك إدماني أكل الكندر لخفقان القلب، وكان عرض لي في الصبا، فإني لأصاب بالمصيبة الفادحة فأجد قلبي يتفطر ويتقطع، وأحس في قلبي غصة أمر من العلقم تحول بيني وبين توفية الكلام حق مخارجه، وتكاد تشرقني