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5
2287-2336

  • After that soul-destroying fear, came the good news—“Here is the lost (jewel)!”
  • Suddenly rose a shout—“The danger is past: the single pearl that was missing has been found.
  • It is found, and we are penetrated with joy: give us the reward, for we have found the pearl.”
  • The bath-house was filled with clamour and screams and clapping of hands (because) sorrow had disappeared. 2290
  • Nasúh who had gone (out of himself) came to himself again: his eye saw in front (of him) the splendour of a hundred (shining) days.
  • Every one was begging him to exonerate them and giving his hand many a kiss.
  • (They said), “We had evil thoughts (of thee), and (we pray thee to) exonerate us. We were backbiting thee in our talk”;
  • For the suspicion of all (the women) against him had been increased by the fact that he was in higher favour (with the princess) than all (the rest of them).
  • Nasúh was her private shampooer and confidant; nay (they were) as two bodies with one soul. 2295
  • (Hence the women had said), “If (any one) has taken the pearl, only he can have taken it: none is more closely attached to the Lady than he.
  • At first she wished to search him forcibly, (but) from respect for his reputation she delayed,
  • In the hope that he might drop it (the pearl) somewhere and (thus) save himself during the respite.”
  • They were begging him to grant these absolutions and were rising up to excuse themselves.
  • He replied, “’Twas the grace of God, who deals justice; else I am worse than what has been said (of me). 2300
  • Why should absolution be begged of me? for I am the most sinful of (all) the people in the world.
  • The evil they spoke of me is (but) a hundredth part (of that which I have committed): this is clearly known to me, if any one has a doubt (concerning it).
  • What does any one know of me but a little—(what but) one of my thousand sins and evil deeds?
  • I know, and He who draws a veil (of concealment) over me (knows) my sins and the wickedness of my conduct.
  • At first an Iblís was my teacher; afterwards Iblís was (mere) wind in comparison with me. 2305
  • God saw all that (iniquity), (but) made as though He saw it not, lest I should be openly dishonoured by its exposure.
  • Moreover, (the Divine) Mercy exercised the furrier's craft on me and bestowed on me a repentance sweet as life.
  • Whatever (ill deeds) I had done, it took them as not having been done; and my undone (acts of) obedience it took as having been performed.
  • It made me free (pure and noble) as the cypress and the lily; it made me glad of heart as fortune and felicity.
  • It inscribed my name in the register of the righteous: I was one doomed to Hell; it gave me Paradise. 2310
  • (When) I cried ‘Alas,’ my ‘Alas’ became a rope, and the rope was let down into my well.
  • I clutched that rope and climbed out: I became glad and strong and stout and rosy.
  • (Formerly) I was lying in misery at the bottom of a well: now I am not contained in the whole world.
  • Praises be unto Thee, O God! Thou didst suddenly put me afar from sorrow.
  • If the tip of every hair of me should gain a tongue (power to speak), (yet) the thanks due to Thee are inexpressible. 2315
  • Amidst these gardens and fountains I am crying to the people, ‘Oh, would that my folk did but know!’”
  • How the princess again invited Nasúh to shampoo her, after his repentance had taken firm hold and was accepted (by God), and how he made an excuse and refused to comply.
  • Afterwards some one came (to Nasúh), saying, “The daughter of our sovereign graciously invites thee.
  • The King's daughter invites thee: come and wash her head now, O devout one.
  • Her heart desires no shampooer except thee to massage her or wash her with clay.”
  • He answered, “Begone, begone! My hand is not in practice, and thy (friend) Nasúh is now fallen sick. 2320
  • Go, look for some one else hastily and speedily, for by God my hand has gone out of business.”
  • (Then) he said to himself, “My sin passed beyond (all) bounds: how should that terror and anguish (ever) go from my mind?
  • I died (to self) once (and for all), and (then) I came back (to spiritual life): I tasted the bitterness of death and non-existence.
  • I have turned to God with real repentance: I will not break (that vow) till my soul shall be parted from my body.
  • After such a tribulation, whose foot should move towards danger a second time, unless it be (the foot of) an ass?” 2325
  • Story demonstrating that (when) a person repents and feels remorse and then forgets his feelings of remorse and tries again what he has tried (before), he falls into everlasting perdition. Unless his repentance be reinforced by a (great) firmness and strength and by a (great) sweetness and acceptance (experienced inwardly), it is like a rootless tree, more faded and withered every day. We take refuge with God (from that).
  • (Once) there was a washerman, who had an ass with a sore on its back and empty-bellied and lean.
  • (He kept it) in ground covered with stones, where no grass grew: from morning till night it went without food and shelter.
  • Except water, there was nothing for it to eat or drink: the ass was in that miserable state by day and by night.
  • In the neighbourhood was a reed-bed and a jungle, where a lion lived whose occupation was hunting.
  • A battle took place between the lion and a fierce elephant: the lion was wounded and disabled from going to hunt. 2330
  • On account of his weakness he was unable to hunt for some time, and the (smaller) wild animals were deprived of their morning-meal;
  • For they used to eat the lion's leavings: when the lion became ill they suffered distress.
  • The lion gave orders to a fox, saying, “Go and hunt an ass for me.
  • If you find an ass round about the meadow, go, charm him with specious talk, beguile him, and bring him (here).
  • As soon as I gain some strength from (eating) the flesh of the ass, then afterwards I will seize another victim. 2335
  • I will eat (only) a little, ye (shall have) the rest: I am the means (appointed) for you as regards (your supply of) food.