While all their friends were toiling at their books
These two were trying other ways of learning.
Reading love’s grammar in each other’s looks,
Glances to them were marks which they were earning.
Their minds were freed from spelling by love’s spell,
They practised, writing notes full of caress;
The others learned to count – while they could tell
That nothing ever counts but tenderness.

By Nizami, translated by Rudolph Gelpke
Written in 1188.

Layla means night; Majnun means madman.