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3774-3823

  • The shouts of sergeants with their maces, by the terror of which (men's) souls are enfeebled.
  • This is for the high and low in the street, to announce to them (the presence of) an emperor. 3775
  • This pomp is for the sake of the vulgar, that those people may not put on the tiara of arrogance;
  • That it may break their egoism and that the self-conceited carnal soul may not work mischief and evil.
  • The country is preserved from that by the king's having force and authority to inflict punishment.
  • Therefore those vain desires are extinguished in (men's) souls: awe of the king prevents that disaster.
  • Again, when he (the king) comes to the private banquet, how should awe or retaliation be (in place) there? 3780
  • There clemency on clemency is (shown) and mercies overflowing; you will hear no noise but that of the harp and flute.
  • In time of war there is the terrible drum and kettle-drum; in the hour of feasting with favourites there is (only) the sound of the harp.
  • The Board of Audit is for the vulgar, while the fair ones resembling peris are for the cup-companion.
  • The coat of mail and the helmet are for the battle, while this silken raiment and music are for the bower.
  • This topic hath no end, O generous one: conclude it, and God best knoweth the right course. 3785
  • The (corporeal) senses in Ahmad (Mohammed), which are mortal, are now laid asleep under the soil of Yathrib (Medina),
  • But that mighty-natured part of him, which is unconquerable, dwells, without having suffered corruption, within the abode of truth (in Paradise).
  • The bodily attributes are exposed to corruption; the everlasting spirit is a shining sun,
  • Incorruptible, for it is not of the east; unchangeable, for it is not of the west.
  • How was the sun (ever) dumbfounded by a mote? How was the candle (ever) made senseless by a moth? 3790
  • The body of Ahmad was liable to that (corruption): know that this corruption belongs (only) to the body,
  • Such as sickness and sleep and pain; the spirit is untouched by these affections and wholly detached (from them).
  • Indeed I cannot describe the spirit, and if I describe it, quaking would fall upon this (world of) phenomenal existence and spatiality.
  • If its fox (the body) was perturbed for a moment, belike the lion-spirit was then asleep.
  • That lion which is immune from sleep was (apparently) asleep: lo, a complaisant terrible lion! 3795
  • The lion feigns to be asleep so (well) that those curs think he is quite dead;
  • Else, who in the world would dare to rob a poor man (even) of a grain of turpeth mineral?
  • The foam (body) of Ahmad was torn (powerfully affected) by that sight (of Gabriel), (but) his sea (spirit) surged up (displayed itself in action) for love of the foam.
  • The moon (the spirit of Ahmad) is entirely a bounteous light-diffusing hand: if the moon have no hand (with which to bestow light), let it have none!
  • If Ahmad should display that glorious pinion (his spiritual nature), Gabriel would remain dumbfounded unto everlasting. 3800
  • When Ahmad passed beyond the Lote-tree (on the boundary of Paradise) and his (Gabriel's) place of watch and station and farthest limit,
  • He said to him (Gabriel), “Hark, fly after me.” He (Gabriel) said, “Go, go; I am not thy companion (any farther).”
  • He answered him, saying, “Come, O destroyer of veils: I have not yet advanced to my zenith.”
  • He replied, “O my illustrious friend, if I take one flight beyond this limit, my wings will be consumed.”
  • This tale of the elect losing their senses in (contemplation of) the most elect is (naught but) amazement on amazement. 3805
  • Here all (other) unconsciousnesses are (a mere) play. How long will you keep possession of your soul? for it is (a case of) abandoning your soul.
  • O “Gabriel,” though you are noble and revered, you are not the moth nor the candle either.
  • When the candle calls at the moment of illumination, the soul of the moth does not shrink from burning.
  • Bury this topsy-turvy discourse: make the lion contrariously the prey of the onager.
  • Stop up thy word-sweating water-skin, do not open the bag of thy reckless talk. 3810
  • He whose (intellectual and spiritual) parts have not passed beyond the earth— this is absurd and reckless talk in his view.
  • Do not resist them, O my beloved; deal gently with them, O stranger lodging in their home.
  • Give (them) what they wish and desire, and satisfy them, O emigrant dwelling in their land.
  • Till (the hour of) coming to the king and to sweet delight, O man of Rayy be on good terms with the man of Merv.
  • O “Moses,” in presence of the Pharaoh of the time you must speak softly with mild words. 3815
  • If you put water into boiling oil, you will destroy (both) the trivet and the kettle.
  • Speak softly, but do not speak aught except the truth: do not offer temptation in your mildness of address.
  • The time of afternoon is come: cut short the discourse, O thou whose expression (of the hidden truth) makes (the people of) the age acquainted (with reality).
  • Do thou tell the clay-eater that sugar is better: do not show injurious softness, do not give him clay.
  • Speech would be a spiritual garden to the soul, if it were independent of letters and sounds. 3820
  • Oh, there is many a one in whom this donkey's head amidst the sugar plantation has fixed a thorn!
  • He, (seeing it) from afar, supposed that it (the sugar-plantation) is just that (donkey's head), nothing more; (so) he was retiring, like a ram vanquished in fight.
  • Know for sure that the (literal) form (of speech) is (like) that donkey's head in the vineyard and highest Paradise of the spiritual reality.