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1
193-242

  • O (fool), who with a hundred consents thyself with thine own foot didst enter on the journey to the fated ill!
  • In his fancy (were dreams of) riches, power, and lordship. Said ‘Azrá‘íl (the Angel of Death), “Go (thy way). Yes, thou wilt get (them)!”
  • When the stranger arrived (and turned) from the road, the physician brought him into the presence of the king. 195
  • Proudly and delicately they conducted him to the king of kings, that he might burn (like a moth) on that candle of Tiráz.
  • The king beheld him, showed great regard (for him), and entrusted to him the treasure house (full) of gold.
  • Then the physician said to him: “O mighty Sultan, give the handmaiden to this lord,
  • In order that the handmaiden may be happy in union with him, and that the water of union with him may put out the fire (of passion).”
  • The king bestowed on him that moon-faced one and wedded those twain (who were) craving (each other's) company. 200
  • During the space of six months they were satisfying their desire, till the girl was wholly restored to health.
  • Thereafter he prepared for him a potion, so that when he drank it he began to dwindle away before her.
  • When because of sickness his beauty remained not, the soul of the girl remained not in his pestilence (deadly toils).
  • Since he became ugly and ill-favoured and sallow-cheeked, little by little he became cold (irksome and unpleasing) in her heart.
  • Those loves which are for the sake of a colour (outward beauty) are not love: in the end they are a disgrace. 205
  • Would that he too had been disgrace (deformity) altogether, so that that evil judgement might not have come to pass upon him!
  • Blood ran from his eye (that flowed with tears) like a river; his (handsome) face became the enemy of his life.
  • The peacock's plumage is its enemy: O many the king who hath been slain by his magnificence!
  • He said, “I am the muskdeer on account of whose gland this hunter shed my pure (innocent) blood.
  • Oh, I am the fox of the field whose head they (the hunters springing forth) from the covert cut off for the sake of the fur. 210
  • Oh, I am the elephant whose blood was shed by the blow of the mahout for the sake of the bone (ivory).
  • He who hath slain me for that which is other than I, does not he know that my blood sleepeth not (will not rest unavenged)?
  • To-day it lies on me and to-morrow it lies on him: when does the blood of one such as I am go to waste like this?
  • Although the wall casts a long shadow, (yet at last) the shadow turns back again towards it.
  • This world is the mountain, and our action the shout: the echo of the shouts comes (back) to us.” 215
  • He said this and at the (same) moment went under the earth (gave up the ghost). The handmaiden was purged of love and pain,
  • Because love of the dead is not enduring, because the dead one is never coming (back) to us;
  • (But) love of the living is every moment fresher than a bud in the spirit and in the sight.
  • Choose the love of that Living One who is everlasting, who gives thee to drink of the wine that increases life.
  • Choose the love of Him from whose love all the prophets gained power and glory. 220
  • Do not say, “We have no admission to that King.” Dealings with the generous are not difficult.
  • Setting forth how the slaying and poisoning of the goldsmith was (prompted) by Divine suggestion, not by sensual desire and wicked meditation.
  • The slaying of that man by the hand of the physician was not (done) on account of hope or fear.
  • He did not slay him to humour the king, (he did not slay him) until the Divine command and inspiration came.
  • As for the boy whose throat was cut by Khadir, the vulgar do not comprehend the mystery thereof.
  • He that receives from God inspiration and answer (to his prayer), whatsoever he may command is the essence of right. 225
  • If one who bestows (spiritual) life should slay, it is allowable: he is the (Divine) vicegerent, and his hand is the hand of God.
  • Like Ismá‘íl (Ishmael), lay your head before him; gladly and laughingly give up your soul before his dagger,
  • In order that your soul may remain laughing unto eternity, like the pure soul of Ahmad (Mohammed) with the One (God).
  • Lovers drain the cup of (spiritual) life at the moment when the fair ones slay them with their own hand.
  • The king did not commit that bloodshed because of lust: cease from thinking evil and disputing. 230
  • You thought that he committed a foul crime, (but) in (the state of) purity how should the sublimation leave (any) alloy (behind)?
  • The purpose of this (severe) discipline and this rough treatment is that the furnace may extract the dross from the silver.
  • The testing of good and bad is in order that the gold may boil and bring the scum to the top.
  • If his act were not the inspiration of God, he would have been a dog that rends (its prey), not a king.
  • He was unstained by lust and covetousness and passion: (what) he did (was) good, but good that wore the aspect of evil. 235
  • If Khadir stove the boat in the sea, (yet) in Khadir's staving there are a hundred rightnesses.
  • The imagination of Moses, notwithstanding his (spiritual) illumination and excellence, was screened from (the comprehension of) that (act of Khadir). Do not thou fly without wings!
  • That (deed of the king) is a red rose (worthy of praise); do not call it blood (murder). He is intoxicated with Reason; do not call him a madman.
  • Had it been his desire to shed the blood of a Moslem, I am an infidel if I would have mentioned his name (with praise).
  • The highest heaven trembles at praise of the wicked, and by praise of him the devout man is moved to think evil. 240
  • He was a king and a very heedful king; he was elect and the elect (favourite) of God.
  • One who is slain by a king like this, he (the king) leads him to fortune and to the best (most honourable) estate.