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6
1932-1981

  • But if you serve God and do not read a single book, you will learn rare sciences from your (own) bosom.
  • The hand of Moses was spreading from his bosom a radiance that surpassed the moon in the sky,
  • Saying (implicitly), “That which thou wert seeking from the terrible celestial sphere hath uprisen, O Moses, from thy own bosom,
  • In order that thou mayst know that the lofty heavens are the reflexion of the perceptive (rational) faculties of Man.” 1935
  • Is it not (the case) that the hand of the Glorious God created Reason first (of all), before (the creation of) the two worlds?
  • This discourse is clear (to some) and exceedingly recondite (to others), for the fly is not intimate with the ‘Anqá.
  • O son, return once more to the tale: bring the tale of the treasure and the fakir  to an end.
  • Conclusion of the Story of the fakir and (a description of) the signs indicating the position of the treasure.
  • This is what was written in the scroll—“Know that outside of the town a treasure is buried.
  • (Go to) such-and-such a domed building in which there is a martyr's shrine, with its back to the town and its gate towards the desert. 1940
  • Turn your back to it and face the qibla (Mecca) and then let loose an arrow from your bow.
  • When you have shot the arrow from your bow, O fortunate one, dig up the place where your arrow fell.”
  • Thereupon the youth fetched a strongbow and let fly an arrow into the expanse of (aerial) space,
  • And quickly and with great joy brought a pick-axe and mattock and dug up the spot where his arrow had fallen;
  • (But) both he and the mattock and pick-axe were worn out (in vain efforts), and he found not even a trace of the hidden treasure. 1945
  • Every day in like fashion he was shooting arrows, but never getting to know the situation of the treasure.
  • Since he made this his continual practice, a whispered rumour arose in the city and (among) the people.
  • How the news of this treasure became known and reached the ears of the king.
  • Then the party (of informers) who lay in ambush gave information of this to the king,
  • And submitted the matter (to him) secretly, saying that such-and-such an one had found a treasure-scroll.
  • When this person (the fakir) heard that it had come to (the knowledge of) the king, he saw no remedy but resignation and acquiescence; 1950
  • (So), ere he should suffer (torture on) the rack by order of the Emperor, that person laid the note (of the treasure) before him,
  • Saying, “(Ever) since I found this scroll, I have seen no treasure but (only) infinite trouble.
  • Not even a single mite of treasure has been discovered, but I have writhed very much, like a snake.
  • During a (whole) month I have been in bitter distress like this, for loss or gain (accruing) from this (treasure-scroll) is forbidden to me.
  • Maybe thy fortune will disclose (to thee) this mine (of riches), O king (who art) victorious in war and the conqueror of fortresses.” 1955
  • For six long months and more the king shot arrows and dug pits (where the arrows fell).
  • Wherever an energetic drawer of the strongbow was (to be found), he (the king) gave (him) arrows to shoot and searched for the treasure in every direction.
  • (The result was) nothing but vexation and grief and futilities: as (in the case of) the ‘Anqá, the name (of the treasure) was known to all, but the essence (reality) was non-existent.
  • How the king despaired of finding the treasure and became weary of searching for it.
  • When he met with obstacles (to success) in (all) the breadth and length (of his enterprise), the king became sick at heart and weary.
  • (After) the king (had) dug pits in the deserts, yard by yard, he threw the scroll wrathfully before him (the fakir). 1960
  • “Take this scroll,” said he, “which has no (good) effects; you are the fittest (owner) for it, since you have no work.
  • It is no use for one who has work (to do) that he should burn the rose and go about (busy himself with) the thorn.
  • ’Tis singular (how) the victims of this melancholy madness expect grass to grow from iron.
  • This specialty needs a man of stout heart like you: do you, who have a stout heart, search for this (treasure).
  • If you cannot find it, you will never weary (of seeking); and if you find it, I grant you the right of possession.” 1965
  • How should Reason wend the way of despair? ’Tis Love that runs on its head in that direction.
  • Love is reckless, not Reason: Reason seeks that from which it may get some profit.
  • (The lover is) fierce in onset and body-consuming and unabashed: in tribulation, like the nether millstone;
  • A hard-faced one that has no back: he has killed in himself the seeking of self-interest.
  • He gambles (everything) clean away, he seeks no reward, even as he receives (everything) clean (as a free gift) from Him (God). 1970
  • God gives him his existence without any cause: the devoted (lover) yields it up again without cause;
  • For devotion consists in giving without cause: gambling (one's self) clean away (pure self-sacrifice) is outside of (transcends) every religion.
  • Forasmuch as religion seeks (Divine) grace or salvation, those who gamble (everything) clean away are (God's) chosen favourites.
  • Neither do they put God to any test, nor do they knock at the door of any profit or loss.
  • How the king gave back the treasure-scroll to the fakir, saying, “Take it: we are quit of it.”
  • When the king handed over to that grief-stricken man the treasure-scroll (which was) fraught with commotion, 1975
  • He (the fakir) became secure from rivals and annoyance, (so) he went and wrapped himself in his melancholy madness.
  • He made sad-thoughted Love his friend: a dog licks his own sore himself.
  • Love hath none to help him in his torment: there is not in the village one inhabitant familiar with him.
  • None is more mad than the lover, (yet) Reason is blind and deaf to his melancholia,
  • Because this is no common madness: in these cases Medicine cannot give right guidance. 1980
  • If frenzy of this kind overtake a physician, he will wash out (obliterate) the book of Medicine with (tears of) blood.