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2
301-350

  • Union was made manifest out of the essence of affliction: that sweetness (of union) was expressed by (the words) He hath not hated (thee).
  • In fact, every expression is the symbol of a state: the state is as a hand, while the expression is a tool.
  • The goldsmith's tool in the hand of a shoemaker is like a seed sown in sand;
  • And the cobbler's tool (put) before the husbandman is (as) straw before a dog (or) bones before an ass.
  • “I am God” on the lips of Mansúr was the light (of truth); “I am Allah” on the lips of Pharaoh was a lie. 305
  • In the hand of Moses the rod became a witness (to the truth); in the hand of the magician the rod became (worthless as) motes in the air.
  • On this account Jesus did not teach his fellow-traveller that Name of the Lord,
  • For he would not know (its proper use) and would attribute imperfection to the tool (which he misused). Strike stone on clay, and how should fire leap forth?
  • Hand and tool are as stone and iron; there must be a pair: (the existence of) a pair is the condition (necessary) for bringing to birth.
  • The One is He who hath no consort and no tool; in number there is doubt, and that One is beyond doubt. 310
  • Those who say “two” or “three” or more than these (numbers) are certainly agreed in (affirming the existence of) One.
  • When squinting has been put aside (so that they see correctly), they become alike: the assertors of two or three become assertors of Unity.
  • If you are a ball in His polo-field, keep spinning round from (the blows of) His polo-stick.
  • The ball becomes right and flawless (only) at the time when it is made to dance by the stroke of the King's hand.
  • Give ear heedfully to these (sayings), O squinting one: apply the eye-salve by way of the ear. 315
  • Holy words, then, do not abide in blind hearts, (but) go to the Light whence they came,
  • While the (guileful) spell of the Devil goes into crooked (perverse) hearts as a crooked shoe on to a crooked foot.
  • 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.
  • He whom Thou makest drunken and pot-valiant—if from drunkenness he walk crookedly, do Thou accept his excuse.
  • Though my talons are gone, when thou art mine I tear off the forelock of the sun;
  • And though my wings are gone, when Thou art kind to me the heavenly sphere loses its play (ceases to revolve). 345
  • If Thou bestow a belt on me, I will uproot the mountain; if Thou give me a pen, I will break the banners.
  • After all, my body is not inferior to (that of) a gnat: with my wings I confound the kingdom of Nimrod.
  • Suppose me to be (as) the flocks of (small) birds in weakness, suppose every one of my enemies to be as the elephant,
  • (Yet if) I cast a baked (clay) pellet the size of a hazelnut, my pellet in its effect is like (equal to) a hundred mangonels (ballistas).”
  • Moses came to battle with his one rod and made an onset against Pharaoh and (all) his swords. 350