Âşık ile Mâşûk Kitabı: Başlangıç

The Book of the Lover and the Beloved begins. Blanquerna was in prayer and contemplating God, and he saw truly how a man should be who had contemplated God. Soon there came to his mind new reasons by which to create the way and the manner to compose the book of the Lover and the Beloved, and that this way should be fruitful. Blanquerna began the book, which he divided into as many days as there are in a year. And each day is enough for all the days to contemplate God. The Lover asked his Beloved if there remained in him any other thing to love. And the Beloved responded that he had that for which the Lover's love could increase and be for loving. Sing, little bird, of love, for my soul is burdened by those who feel pleasure in my love. The Beloved asked the Lover if he would prefer joy or pain for his love. The Lover responded that joy and pain were joined together so that they were one in loving, and he did not know which one was which, for the fire of love is that which burns and makes one live.