Quoth a man of the Benou Temim（cited by Casim ben Adi）I went out one day in search of a stray beast and coming to the waters of the Benou Taisaw two companies of peoplenear one anotherand those of each company were disputing among themselves. So I watched them and observedin one of the companiesa young manwasted with sicknessas he were a worn-out water-skin. As I looked on himhe repeated the following verses：
What ails the fair that she returneth not to me？ Is't grudgingness in her or inhumanity？
I sickenedand my folk to visit me came all. Why 'mongst the visitors wast thou then not to see？
Hadst thou been sickI would have hastened to thy side；Nor menaces nor threats had hindered me from thee.
I miss thee midst the restand desolate am I： Thy lossmy heart's abodeis grievous unto me.
A damsel in the other company heard his words and hastened towards him. Her people followed herbut she repelled them with blows. Then the youth caught sight of her and ran towards herwhilst his people ran after him and laid hold of him.
Howeverhe struggledtill he freed himself from themand she in like manner loosed herself；and they ran to each other and meeting between the two partiesembraced and fell down dead.
Thereupon there came out an old man from one of the tents and stood over themweeping sore and exclaiming'Verilywe are God's and to Him we return！'Then'May God the Most High have mercy on you both！'said he. 'By Allahthough you were not united in your livesI will at least unite you after death.'
And he bade lay them out. So they washed them and shrouded them in one shroud and buried them in one graveafter they had prayed over them；nor were there men nor women in the two parties but I saw weeping over them and buffeting their faces.
Then I questioned the old man of themand he said'She was my daughter and he my brother's son；and love brought them to this pass.'May God amend thee！'exclaimed I. 'But why didst thou not marry them to one another？'Quoth he'I feared reproach and dishonour；and now I am fallen upon both.'