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6
2377-2426

  • As it happened, a Jew and a true believer and a Christian travelled together on a journey.
  • A true believer travelled along with two miscreants, like reason (associated) with a carnal soul and Devil.
  • In travel the man of Merv and the man of Rayy meet one another as companions on the road and at table.
  • Crow and owl and falcon come (as captives) into the (same) cage: the holy and the irreligious become mates in prison. 2380
  • At night Easterners and Westerners and Transoxanians make their abode in the same caravanseray.
  • Small and great (folk) remain together for days in the caravanseray because of frost and snow.
  • As soon as the road is opened and the obstacle removed, they separate and every one goes in a (different) direction.
  • When sovereign Reason breaks the cage, all the birds fly away, each one to a (different) quarter.
  • Before this (deliverance) each one, full of longing and lament, spreads its wings towards its destination, in desire for its mate. 2385
  • At every moment it spreads its wings with tears and sighs, but it has no room or way to fly.
  • (As soon as) way is made, each one flies like the wind towards that in remembrance of which it spread its wings.
  • Its way, when it gains the opportunity, is towards the region whither its tears and sighs were (directed).
  • Consider your own body: from what places were these corporeal parts (elements and faculties) collected in the body—
  • Watery and earthen and airy and fiery, celestial and terrestrial, (some) of Rúm and (some) of Kash. 2390
  • In this (bodily) caravanseray one and all, from fear of the snow, have closed their eyes to the hope of returning (to their final destination).
  • The various snows are (symbolise) the congelation of every inanimate thing in the winter of farness from that Sun of justice.
  • (But) when the heat of the angry Sun flames (forth), the mountain becomes now (like) sand and now (like) wool.
  • The gross inanimate things dissolve, like the dissolution of the body at the hour of the spirit's departure.
  • When these three fellow-travellers arrived at a certain hostelry, a man of fortune brought them (some) halwá (sweetmeat) as a gift. 2395
  • A benefactor brought to the three strangers (some) halwá from the kitchen of Lo, I am near.
  • One who had expectation of (earning) the (Divine) reward brought (to them) warm bread and a dish of halwá made with honey.
  • Intelligence and culture are characteristic of townsmen; hospitality and entertainment (of guests) are characteristic of tent-dwellers.
  • The Merciful (God) has implanted hospitality to strangers and entertainment (of guests) in the villagers (countryfolk).
  • Every day in the villages (countryside) there is a new guest who has none to help him except God. 2400
  • Every night in the villages (countryside) are new-comers who have no refuge there save God.
  • The two aliens (the Jew and the Christian) were surfeited with food and suffering from indigestion; the true believer, as it happened, was fasting (all) day.
  • At the (time of) the evening prayer, when the halwá arrived, the true believer was reduced to extreme hunger.
  • The two (others) said, “We have eaten our fill: let us put it away to-night and eat it to-morrow.
  • To-night let us practise self-denial and refrain from food; let us hide (reserve) the dainty for to-morrow.” 2405
  • The true believer said, “Let this (sweetmeat) be eaten to-night; let us put away self-denial till to-morrow.”
  • Then they said to him, “Your purpose in this wisdom-mongering is that you may eat it (all) by yourself.”
  • “O my friends,” said he, “are not we three persons? Since disagreement has occurred, let us share.
  • Let him who wishes take his own share to his heart (enjoy it); let him who wishes put his share in hiding.”
  • The two (others) said to him, “Abandon (the thought of) sharing: give ear to (the words) ‘The sharer is in Hell-fire’ from the Traditions (of the Prophet).” 2410
  • He replied, “The sharer (referred to) is he that has shared himself between sensuality and God.”
  • Thou art God's property and His share entirely: (if) thou givest the share (of God) to another, thou art a dualist.
  • This lion would have prevailed over the curs, if it had not been the turn of those evil-natured ones (to prevail).
  • ’Twas their intention that the Moslem should suffer pain and pass the night in want of food.
  • He was overpowered: he said, with resignation and acquiescence, “My friends, I hear and obey.” 2415
  • So they slept (all) that night, and in the morning they rose and dressed themselves,
  • And washed their faces and mouths; and each one had a (different) method and practice in his devotions.
  • For a while each one applied himself to his devotions, seeking favour from God.
  • True believer and Christian, Jew and Guebre and Magian— the faces of them all are (turned) towards that mighty Sultan.
  • Nay, stone and earth and mountain and water have their invisible recourse to God. 2420
  • This topic is infinite. At that time the three companions looked on one another friendlily,
  • And one (of them) said, “Let each (of us) relate what he dreamed last night.
  • Let him who had the best dream eat this (sweetmeat): let the most excellent carry off the share of every one that is excelled (by him).”
  • He who mounts highest in (the scale of) reason—his eating is (equivalent to) the eating of all (his inferiors).
  • His luminous spirit is supreme: ’tis enough for the rest of them to tend (cherish) him. 2425
  • Since those endowed with (perfect) reason endure for ever, in reality this world is enduring for ever.