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2
318-342

  • Though you may learn Wisdom by rote, it becomes quit of you when you are unworthy (to receive it);
  • And though you write it and note it (down), and though you brag (about it) and expound it,
  • It withdraws its face from you, O disputatious one: it snaps its bonds and (takes) flight from you. 320
  • (But) if you read not and it sees your ardour (of love), Knowledge will be a bird docile (and obedient) to your hand.
  • It does not abide with every unskilled tiro: (it is) like a peacock (which does not stay) in the house of a peasant.
  • How the King found his falcon in the house of a decrepit old woman.
  • Religion is not (like) the falcon that fled from the King to the old crone who was sifting flour
  • That she might cook tutmáj for her children. (When) she saw the beautiful well-born falcon,
  • She tied its little foot and clipped its wings; she cut its talons and fed it with straw. 325
  • “Unworthy folk,” said she, “have not kept thee in (good) trim: thy wings are overgrown and thy talons have become long.
  • Every unworthy one's hand makes thee ill: come to thy mother that she may take care of thee.”
  • Know, O friend, that such is the affection of the fool: the fool ever walks crookedly on the way.
  • The King's day became late (far-spent) in searching (for the falcon): he went (at last) to the old woman and the tent (where she lived).
  • Suddenly he espied the falcon amidst smoke and dust: the King wept sorely over it and made lament. 330
  • He said, “Albeit this is the retribution for thy deed, in that thou art not firm in keeping faith with me,
  • (Yet) how shouldst thou take flight from Paradise to Hell, heedless of (the text) the people of the Fire (and those of Paradise) are not equal?
  • This is the fitting reward for one that unconscionably flees from the King who knows (him) well to the house of an old hag.”
  • (Meanwhile) the falcon was rubbing its wings against the King's hand: without tongue it was saying, “I have sinned.”
  • Where then should the vile (sinner) plead piteously, where should he moan, if Thou wilt accept naught but good, O bountiful (King)? 335
  • The King's grace makes the soul sin-seeking, because the King makes every foul thing fair.
  • Go, do not commit foulness, for (even) our fair deeds appear foul in the sight of our beauteous (Loved One).
  • You deemed your service worthy: thereby you raised the banner of sin.
  • Forasmuch as praise and prayer were vouchsafed to you, through making that prayer your heart became vainglorious.
  • You regarded yourself as speaking (confidentially) with God. Oh, (there is) many a one that becomes separated (from God) by this opinion. 340
  • Although the King sit with you on the ground, know yourself and sit better (with more decorum and reverence).
  • The falcon said, “O King, I am penitent, I am converted, I am embracing Islam anew.