Rumi's Masnavi - From the dark iron (of thy nature) He, by His power, was showing forth the visions that should come to pass in the end,

From the dark iron (of thy nature) He, by His power, was showing forth the visions that should come to pass in the end,

In order that thou might’st lessen (refrain from) that injustice and wickedness: thou wert seeing those (visions) and becoming more wicked.

He was showing unto thee hideous forms in dream: thou wert shrinking back from them, and (in reality) they were thy (own) form;

Like the Ethiopian (negro) who saw in the mirror that his face was ugly, et in speculum cacavit, [Like the Ethiopian (negro) who saw in the mirror that his face was ugly, and defecated upon the mirror,] 2490

Saying, ‘How ugly thou art! Thou art deserving only of this.’ (The mirror replies), ‘My ugliness belongs to thee, O vile blind one.

Thou art putting this filth on thy ugly face: it is not on me, for I have splendour.’

At one time thou wert seeing (in vision) thy raiment burnt; at another time thy mouth and eyes stitched up;

Now a (rapacious) animal seeking thy blood; now thy head in the teeth of a wild beast;

Now (in thy dream thou wert) upside down in the midst of a latrine; now sunk in a fierce blood-dyed torrent; 2495

Now from this pure heaven came to thee a voice crying, ‘Thou art damned, thou art damned, damned’;

Now from the mountains came to thee a voice, (saying) plainly, ‘Begone! Thou art one of the people of the left hand’;

Now from every inanimate thing was coming to thee a voice (which cried), ‘Pharaoh is fallen into Hell for evermore’;

(And thou sawest) worse things than these, which from shame I will not tell, lest thy perverted nature become hot (with anger).

I have told thee a little, O thou who wilt not accept (my warning): from a little thou mayst know that I am acquainted (with the whole). 2500

Thou wert making thyself blind and dead, that thou might’st not bethink thee of the dreams and visions.

How long wilt thou flee? Lo, it is come to thee in despite of thy guile-meditating perception.

Explaining that the door of repentance is open.

Hark, do not act (so) henceforth, (but) take precaution, for through (God's) bounty the door of repentance is open.

From the quarter of the West a door of repentance is open to mankind till the Resurrection.

Till the sun lifts up its head (rises) from the West, that door is open: do not avert thy face from it. 2505

By the mercy (of God) Paradise hath eight doors: one of those eight is the door of repentance, O son.

All the others are sometimes open, sometimes shut; and never is the door of repentance but open.

Come, seize the opportunity: the door is open: carry thy baggage thither at once in despite of the envious (Devil).

How Moses, on whom be peace, said to Pharaoh, "Accept one counsel from me and take four excellent qualities as recompense."

Come, accept from me one thing and bring (it into practice), and then take from me four as recompense for that.”

He replied, “O Moses, what is that one thing? Explain to me a little about that one thing.” 2510

“That one thing,” said he, “is that thou shouldst say publicly that there is no god but the Maker,