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5
2330-2379

  • 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.
  • Procure for me either an ass or an ox: address (to them) some of the charming words that you know (how to use).
  • Deprive him of his wits by flatteries and fair words and bring him here.”
  • Parable of the Qutb (Pole), who is the gnostic united with God, in respect of his dispensing to the people their rations of forgiveness and mercy in the order and degree which God inspires him to observe; and a comparison of him with the lion, for the (smaller) wild animals partake of the lion's rations and eat his leavings in proportion to their nearness to him—not nearness in space but nearness in quality. The details of this (subject) are many, and God is the (best) Guide.
  • The Qutb is (like) the lion, and it is his business to hunt: (all) the rest, (namely), these people (of the world), eat his leavings.
  • So far as you can, endeavour to satisfy the Qutb, so that he may gain strength and hunt the wild beasts. 2340
  • When he is ailing, the people remain unfed, for all food provided for the gullet comes from the hand of reason,
  • Since the ecstasies (spiritual experiences) of the people are (only) his leavings. Keep this (in mind), if your heart desires the (spiritual) prey.
  • He is like the reason, and the people are like the members of the body: the management of the body depends on the reason.
  • The weakness of the Qutb is bodily, not spiritual: the weakness lies in the Ship (Ark), not in Noah.
  • The Qutb is he who turns round himself, (while) round him is the revolution of the celestial spheres. 2345
  • Lend some assistance in repairing his (bodily) ship, if you have become his favourite slave and devoted servant.
  • Your assistance is (really) advantageous to you, not to him: God hath said, “If ye help God, ye will be helped.”
  • Hunt like the fox and sacrifice your prey to him (the Qutb), that you may gain in return a thousand preys and more.
  • The prey caught by the (obedient) disciple is (presented alive) after the manner of the fox, (but) the froward hyena catches prey (that is already) dead.
  • If you present the dead (prey) to him (the Qutb), it will become living: filth (when placed) in the orchard will produce (fruit). 2350
  • The fox said to the lion, “I will serve thee (obediently): I will contrive expedients and rob him (the ass) of his wits.
  • Cunning and enchantment is my business: it is my business to beguile and lead astray.”
  • Hastening from the mountain-top towards the river, he found that miserable emaciated ass.
  • Then he saluted him cordially and advanced: he advanced to meet that poor simpleton,
  • And said (to him), “How are you in this arid desert (where you live) amidst stones and on sterile ground?” 2355
  • The ass replied, “Whether I am in pain or in Iram, God has made it my portion, and I am grateful for it.
  • I give thanks to the Friend (God) in good and evil estate, because in (the Divine) destiny there is worse than (the present) ill.
  • Since He is the Dispenser of portions, complaint is (an act of) infidelity. Patience is needful: patience is the key to the gift (bounteous reward).
  • All except God are enemies: He (alone) is the Friend: how is it good (seemly) to complain of a friend to an enemy?
  • So long as He gives me buttermilk I will not desire honey, for every pleasure has a pain joined with it.” 2360
  • Story of an ass belonging to a seller of firewood, which saw some well-fed Arab horses in the royal stable and wished for the same fortune. (This story is intended) to convey the lesson that one ought not to wish for anything but (God's) forgiveness and favour; for though you are in a hundred kinds of pain, they all become sweet (to you) when you feel the delight of being forgiven; and for the rest, every fortune that you wish for before you have experienced it is accompanied by a pain which you do not perceive (at the moment); as (for example) in every trap the bait is visible while the snare is concealed. You (who) have been caught in this one trap are (still) wishing (and saying to yourself), “Would that I had gone after those (other) baits!” You fancy that those baits are without a trap.
  • There was a water-carrier who owned an ass that had been bent double like a
  • hoop by affliction. Its back was galled by the heavy load in a hundred places: it was passionately desiring the day of its death.
  • What of barley? It never got its fill (even) of dry straw: at its heels a (cruel) blow and an iron goad.
  • The Master of the (royal) stable saw it and took pity—for the man was acquainted with the owner of the ass—
  • So he saluted him and asked him what had happened, saying, “What is the cause of this ass being bent double like a dál?” 2365
  • He replied, “On account of my poverty and destitution this dumb animal is not getting even straw.”
  • “Hand him over to me,” said the other, “for a few days, that in the King's stable he may grow strong.”
  • He handed the ass over to him, and that merciful man tethered him in the Sultan's stable.
  • The ass saw on every side (of him) Arab horses, well-fed and fat and handsome and glossy;
  • (He saw the ground) swept (clean) under their feet and sprinkled with water; the straw coming at the (proper) time, and the barley at the hour (when it was expected). 2370
  • He saw the horses curry-combed and rubbed down. (Then) he lifted up his muzzle, crying, “O glorious Lord,
  • Am not I Thy creature? I grant that I am an ass, (but) wherefore am I wretched, with sores on my back, and lean?
  • At night, because of the pain in my back and the (pangs of) hunger in my belly, I am always wishing to die.
  • These horses are so happy and prosperous: why am I singled out for torment and tribulation?”
  • Suddenly came the rumour of war: ’twas the time for the Arab horses to be saddled and brought into action. 2375
  • They were wounded with arrows by the foe: the barbs entered them on every side.
  • (When) those Arab horses returned from the campaign, they all fell down and lay on their backs in the stable.
  • Their legs were tightly bandaged with (strips of) canvas: the farriers were standing in file,
  • Piercing their bodies with the scalpel in order to extract the barbs from their wounds.