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2
513-537

  • Hear this (following) story as a deterrent, in order that you may know the banefulness of blind imitation.
  • How the Súfís sold the traveller's beast (to pay) for the (expenses of the) mystic dance.
  • A Súfí, after journeying, arrived at a monastery (for Súfís); he took his mount and led it to the stable.
  • With his own hand he gave it a little water and some fodder: (he was) not such a Súfí as the one we told of before. 515
  • He took precaution for it against neglect and craziness, (but) when the (Divine) destiny comes to pass, of what avail is precaution?
  • The Súfís were destitute and poor: poverty almost comprises an infidelity that brings (the soul) to perdition.
  • O thou rich man who art full fed, beware of laughing at the unrighteousness of the suffering poor.
  • On account of their destitution that Súfí flock, all of them, adopted (the expedient of) selling the ass,
  • Saying, “(In case) of necessity a carcase is lawful (food); (there is) many a vicious act that necessity made a virtuous one.” 520
  • They instantly sold the little ass; they fetched dainty viands and lit candles.
  • Jubilation arose in the monastery: (they cried), “To-night there are dainties and music and dancing and voracity.
  • How much (more) of this (carrying the) wallet and this beggary? How much (more) of this patience and of this three-day fasting?
  • We also are of (God's) creatures, we have soul. Good luck (is ours) to-night: we have the guest (to entertain).”
  • Thereby they were sowing the seed of falsehood, for they deemed soul that which is not soul. 525
  • And the traveller, too, was tired by the long journey and (gladly) saw that favour and fondness (with which they regarded him).
  • The Súfís, one by one, caressed him: they were playing the game of (bestowing) pleasant attentions (on him).
  • When he saw their affection towards him, he said, “If I don't make merry to-night, when (shall I do so)?”
  • They ate the viands and began the samá‘ (musical dance); the monastery was filled with smoke and dust up to the roof—
  • The smoke of the kitchen, the dust of (raised by) beating the feet (dancing), the tumult (caused) by longing and ecstasy of spirit. 530
  • Now, waving their hands, they would beat (the ground with) their feet; now, in (religious) prostration, they would sweep the dais (with their foreheads).
  • (Only) after long (waiting) does the Súfí gain his desire (the satisfaction of his appetite) from Fortune: for that reason the Súfí is a great eater;
  • Except, to be sure, the Súfí who has eaten his fill of the Light of God: he is free from the shame of beggary;
  • (But) of these Súfís there are (only) a few among thousands; the rest are living in (under the protection of) his (the perfect Súfí's spiritual) empire.
  • When the samá‘ had come (run its course) from beginning to end, the minstrel struck up a heavy (deep-sounding) strain. 535
  • He commenced (to sing), "The ass is gone, and the ass is gone": he made the whole (company) sharers in this ditty.
  • From this enthusiasm (they continued) beating their feet (dancing) to this ditty till dawn, clapping their hands (and singing), "The ass is gone, the ass is gone!"