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4
707-756

  • At once, without delay, make this (gold) a bundle of firewood again, just as it was (before).’
  • Immediately those branches of gold turned into firewood: the intellect and the sight were intoxicated (amazed) at his (miraculous) work.
  • After that, he took up the firewood and went from me in hot haste towards the town.
  • I wished to follow that (spiritual) king and ask him about (some) difficulties and hear (his answer); 710
  • (But) the awe (which he inspired) made me (as though I were) bound: the vulgar have no way (admission) to the presence of the elect.”
  • And if the way become (open) to any one, let him offer his head (in utter devotion), for that (admission to their presence) comes from their mercy and their drawing (him towards them).
  • Therefore, when you gain companionship with the siddíq (true saint), deem that Divine favour (conferred on you) to be a precious opportunity.
  • (Do) not (be) like the fool who wins the favour of the King, and then lightly and easily falls away from the path (of favour).
  • When more of (the King's) favour is bestowed on him, then he says, “Surely this is the thigh of an ox.” 715
  • This does not consist of the thigh of an ox, O deviser of falsehood: to you it appears to be the thigh of an ox because you are an ass.
  • This is a royal gift devoid of any corruption: this is pure munificence (springing) from a (great) mercy,
  • [How Solomon, on whom be peace, urged the envoys to hasten the emigration of Bilqís (from her kingdom) for the Faith’s sake.]
  • Even as in (the spiritual) warfare King Solomon drew the cavalry and foot-soldiers of Bilqís (towards him),
  • Saying, “O honoured men, come quickly, quickly, for the waves have risen from the sea of bounty.
  • At every moment the surge of its waves is scattering shorewards a hundred pearls without danger (to those who seek them). 720
  • We cry (you) welcome, O people of righteousness, for now Rizwan hath opened the gate of Paradise.”
  • Then Solomon said, “O couriers, go to Bilqís and believe in this Religion.
  • Then bid her come hither with all speed, for verily God inviteth to the (abode of) peace.”
  • Hark, come speedily, O seeker of felicity, for now is (the time for) manifestations (of spiritual grace) and the opening of the door.
  • O thou who art not a seeker, come thou also, that thou mayst gain (the gift of) seeking (felicity) from this faithful Friend. 725
  • The cause of the emigration of (Ibráhím son of) Adham, may God sanctify his spirit, and his abandoning the kingdom of Khurásán.
  • Quickly dash to pieces the kingdom (of this world), like (Ibráhím son of) Adham, that like him thou mayst gain the kingdom of everlasting life.
  • At night that king was asleep on his throne, (while) on the roof (of the palace) the guards were exercising authority.
  • The king's purpose in (having) the guards was not that he might thereby keep off robbers and ne’er-do-wells.
  • He knew that the man who is just is free from (fear of) attack and secure in his heart.
  • Justice is the guardian of pleasures; not men who beat their rattles on the roofs at night. 730
  • But his object in (listening to) the sound of the rebeck was, like (that of) ardent lovers (of God), (to bring into his mind) the phantasy of that (Divine) allocution;
  • (For) the shrill noise of the clarion and the menace of the drum somewhat resemble that universal trumpet.
  • Hence philosophers have said that we received these harmonies from the revolution of the (celestial) sphere,
  • (And that) this (melody) which people sing with pandore and throat is the sound of the revolutions of the sphere;
  • (But) the true believers say that the influences of Paradise made every unpleasant sound to be beautiful. 735
  • We all have been parts of Adam, we have heard those melodies in Paradise.
  • Although the water and earth (of our bodies) have caused a doubt to fall upon us, something of those (melodies) comes (back) to our memory;
  • But since it is mingled with the earth of sorrow, how should this treble and bass give (us) the same delight?
  • When water is mingled with urine and stalings, its temperament is made bitter and acid by the commixture.
  • There is a small quantity of water in his (a man's) body: suppose it is urine, (yet) it will extinguish a fire. 740
  • If the water has been defiled, (still) this natural property of it remains, for by its nature it allays the fire of grief.
  • Therefore samá‘ (music) is the food of lovers (of God), since therein is the phantasy of composure (tranquillity of mind).
  • From (hearing) sounds and pipings the mental phantasies gather a (great) strength; nay, they become forms (in the imagination).
  • The fire of love is made keen (inflamed) by melodies, just as the fire (ardour) of the man who dropped walnuts (into the water).
  • Story of the thirsty man who dropped walnuts from the top of a walnut-tree into the water-brook that was in the hollow, without reaching the water (himself), in order that he might hear the sound made by the walnuts falling on the water, which thrilled him with joy as (though it were) sweet music.
  • The water was in a deep place: the thirsty man went up the tree and scattered the walnuts one by one. 745
  • The walnuts were falling from the walnut-tree into the water: the sound was coming (to his ears), and he was seeing the bubbles.
  • A sensible person said to him, “Leave off, O youth: truly the (loss of the) walnuts will bring thirst (regret) to you.
  • The more the fruit falls into the water—(since) the water is below at a (great) distance from you,
  • The river-water will have carried it (the fruit) far away before you with effort come down from the top (of the tree).”
  • He replied, “My purpose in this scattering is not (to obtain possession of) the walnuts: look more keenly, do not stop at this superficial (view). 750
  • My purpose is that the sound of the water should come (to my ears); also, that I should see these bubbles on the surface of the water.”
  • What, indeed, is the thirsty man's business in the world? To circle for ever round the base of the tank,
  • Round the channel and round the Water and the sound of the Water, like a pilgrim circumambulating the Ka‘ba of Truth.
  • Even so, in (composing) this Mathnawí thou, O Ziyá’u ’l-Haqq (Radiance of God) Husámu’ddín, art my object.
  • The whole Mathnawí in its branches and roots is thine: thou hast accepted (it). 755
  • Kings accept (both) good and bad: when they accept (anything), it is reprobate no more.