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1
985-1009

  • Water in the boat is the ruin of the boat, (but) water underneath the boat is a support. 985
  • Since he cast out from his heart (the desire for) wealth and possessions, on that account Solomon did not call himself (by any name) but “poor.”
  • The stoppered jar, (though) in rough water, floated on the water because of its wind-filled (empty) heart.
  • When the wind of poverty is within (any one), he rests at peace on the surface of the water of the world;
  • Although the whole of this world is his kingdom, in the eye of his heart the kingdom is nothing.
  • Therefore stopper and seal the mouth of your heart, and fill it from the Divine ventilator. 990
  • Exertion is a reality, and medicine and disease are realities: the sceptic in his denial of exertion practised (and thereby affirmed) exertion.
  • How the superiority of exertion to trust in God was established.
  • The lion gave many proofs in this style, so that those necessitarians became tired of answering (him).
  • Fox and deer and hare and jackal abandoned (the doctrine of) necessity and (ceased from) disputation.
  • They made covenants with the furious lion, (ensuring) that he should incur no loss in this bargain,
  • (That) the daily ration should come to him without trouble, and that he should not need to make a further demand. 995
  • Day by day the one on whom the lot fell would run to the lion as (swiftly as) a cheetah.
  • When this cup (of death) came round to the hare, the hare cried out, “Why, how long (are we to endure this) injustice?”
  • How the beasts of chase blamed the hare for his delay in going to the lion.
  • The company (of beasts) said to him: “All this time we have sacrificed our lives in troth and loyalty.
  • Do not thou seek to give us a bad name, O rebellious one! Lest the lion be aggrieved, go, go! Quick! Quick!”
  • How the hare answered the beasts.
  • “O friends,” said he, “grant me a respite, that by my cunning ye may escape from calamity, 1000
  • That by my cunning your lives may be saved and this (safety) remain as a heritage to your children.”
  • After this manner every prophet in the world used to call the peoples to a place of deliverance,
  • For he had seen from Heaven the way of escape, (though) in (their) sight he was contracted (despicable) like the pupil of the eye.
  • Men regarded him as small like the pupil: none attained to (understanding of) the (real) greatness (worth) of the pupil.
  • How the beasts objected to the proposal of the hare.
  • The company (of beasts) said to him: “O donkey, listen (to us)! Keep thyself within the measure of a hare! 1005
  • Eh, what brag is this—(an idea) which thy betters never brought into their minds?
  • Thou art self-conceited, or Destiny is pursuing us; else, how is this speech suitable to one like thee?
  • How the hare again answered the beasts.
  • He said: “O friends, God gave me inspiration: to a weakling there came a strong judgement (wise counsel).”
  • That which God taught to the bees is not (belonging) to the lion and the wild ass.