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4
43-67

  • Except (for) one meeting which happened to him by (Divine) destiny at the first and enravished his heart.
  • After that, however much effort he made, in sooth that cruel one would give him no opportunity.
  • Neither entreaty nor wealth availed him: that (fresh) sapling was fully satisfied and without desire. 45
  • (In the case of) the lover of any craft or object of pursuit, God has touched his lip (with honey or the like) at the beginning of the affair;
  • (But) when at that contact they have entered upon the quest, He lays a snare before their feet every day.
  • When He has plunged him (the lover) into search for the matter (which he has at heart), after that He shuts the door, saying, “Bring the dowry.”
  • Still they cling to that (sweet) scent (hope) and go (on their quest): at every moment they become hopeful and despairing.
  • Every one (of them) hath hope of (winning) the fruit whereto a door was opened to him on a certain day; 50
  • Then it was shut (upon them) again; (but) that devotee to the door, (continuing) in the same hope, has become fire-footed.
  • When the youth joyously entered that orchard, verily on a sudden his foot sank in (struck upon) the (buried) treasure.
  • God had made the night-patrol the means, so that in fear of him he (the lover) should run into the orchard by night
  • And should see the beloved one searching with a lantern for a ring in the rivulet of the orchard.
  • Therefore at that moment, from the delight (which he experienced), he conjoined praise of God with prayers for the night-patrol, 55
  • Saying, “I caused loss to the night-patrol by fleeing (from him): scatter o’er him twenty times as much silver and gold.
  • Set him free from policing: make him glad even as I am glad.
  • Keep him blest in this world and in that world, deliver him from policing and currishness—
  • Though it is the nature of that policeman, O God, that he always desires the people to be afflicted.”
  • If news come that the king has imposed a fine upon the Moslems, he (the policeman) waxes big and exultant; 60
  • And if news come that the king has shown mercy and has generously taken off that (penalty) from the Moslems,
  • A mournfulness falls upon his soul thereat: the policeman hath a hundred such depravities.
  • He (the lover) was bringing the policeman into the prayer (of benediction), because such solace had come to him from the policeman.
  • He (the policeman) was poison to all (others), but to him (he was) the antidote: the policeman was the means of uniting that longing lover (with the object of his desire).
  • Hence there is no absolute evil in the world: evil is relative. Know this (truth) also. 65
  • In (the realm of) Time there is no poison or sugar that is not a foot (support) to one and a fetter (injury) to another—
  • To one a foot, to another a fetter; to one a poison and to another (sweet and wholesome) like sugar.