Chapter 30

The soul to Sālih’s like; his camel is the flesh;The soul communes with God; the flesh pines in want’s mesh.Good Sālih’s soul was safe from effort of their whim;His camel felt the blow they dared not aim at him.No hurt could fall on Sālih’s soul,—that priceless gem,—Such holy emanation was not sport for them.The soul unto the flesh is joined, by God’s decree,That it may be afflicted,—trials made to see.275Who hurts a body hurts also its soul, no doubt;The life-blood in that vase from being’s fount was brought.God enters in relation with material form,That He may be asylum to each earthborn worm.No man can inlet find to injure soul of saint;An oyster-shell is crushed; its pearl escapes attaint.Then serve the camel; that is, list to saint in flesh;And with his righteous soul thou’lt serve one Lord afresh.When Sālih saw the evil deed they’d foully wrought,In three days’ time a judgment from his God he sought.280“Three days from hence,” said he, “affliction will befall;Of which, three signs precursors shall be. You’ll see, all.The colour of your faces shall be changed to view;Complexions various shall be seen in each of you.Upon the first day, saffron’s hue shall be their tinge;The second, scarlet red each countenance shall fringe;And on the third, as black as coal shall be each face;Upon which ensuing, God’s wrath shall then take place.If sign of me you ask for truth of what I say,Observe the path that camel’s foal shall take to-day;285Then strive to catch it. If you can, by chance, succeed;Good. If not, hope is gone;—from bow the arrow’s freed!”No one of them the camel’s foal could overtake.It fled among the hills,—was lost to sight. Heartache!E’en so the soul, when once its prison bars are burst,Unto the Lord of Grace its winged flight takes first.The prophet then: “The threatened judgment now must storm;All hope’s gone by;—dead as that camel’s lifeless form.Still, if, by coaxing, you her foal can win back here,In calm tranquillity, from whence it’s fled through fear,290With its return of confidence you may be saved;But otherwise, despair and gnash your teeth, depraved!”His threat they heard; dejected were at its import.Their looks sank downcast;—sad anxiety’s resort.The first day came; they saw each visage jaundiced o’er;And thence, in fell dismay, they laments uttered, sore.Their scarlet skins, the second day, told plainer still,Time for repentance was but short, and hope wasnil.The blackened faces, on the third day, clearly toldThe prophet’s threat was strictly true. Their blood ran cold.295Thus being brought to quit their menaces and scowls;Upon their knees, hams, breasts, they crouched like roosting fowls.This cringing posture has that abject, trembling crew,In holy writ, inspired, dubbed “crouching;”304and ’tis true.(Kneel, thou, at times when by instructors thou art taught,And when thou’rt warned that “crouching” ’s with abjection fraught.)In hopeless expectation God’s blow to ensue,The countryside entire within their homes withdrew.The prophet Sālih left his cell to view the town.Enveloped in a smoke and blaze he saw it drown!300Low, moaning noise he heard proceed from its remain;—Sighs, as it were, and sobs;—he sighers sought in vain!Those sighs were fitful cracklings of their burning bones;Those sobs, the hissings of their blood, in clots, on stones!On hearing these sad sounds the prophet burst in tears;Responsive to those moans, he groaned.—No listening ears!The dead he then addressed: “O people, chid in vain!How often ’gainst you to the Lord I’ve wept, with pain!The Lord me answered: ‘Patience have with their misdeeds;To them give counsel still; not long will last those needs!’305Remark I made: ‘With such misdeeds will counsel count?As milk, kind counsel flows from love’s unsullied fount!’The untold wrongs you’d heaped upon my patient headHad curdled milk of counsel in my bosom’s stead.The Lord replied: ‘A grace I’ll now on thee bestow;I’ll soothe the wounds inflicted by their rancour’s bow.’With that, God made my heart as tranquil as of yore;Swept clean away the cobwebs of your paltry score.”“Again I proffered counsel to you, sage and safe;In parables soft couched, with words that might not chafe.310Once more that milk flowed, mixed with honey, from my lips;The dulcet tones were tempting, not like stinging whips.Alas! Within your ears they all to venom turned;Because, like poisonous plants, your nature goodness spurned.Why do I weep? You’ve burnt the substance of all grief;Like bone in throat, ye obstinate, you’ve choked relief!Ought any to lament when grief is laid in bier?Man justly tears his hair, his head if broke by spear!”With that, reproachfully upon himself he turned,And cried: “Those fellows were not worth the tears they spurned.315Recite not wrongfully, O master of address,The text: ‘How will I grieve305o’er crew that none should bless!’”Still, in his eyes and heart more briny tears he found,A pity, really motiveless, in him ’d ta’en ground.As summer-rain he wept, through feeling ill at ease;A summer-rain, quite cloudless, from compassion’s seas.His conscience smote him sore: “Why weepest thou, man of sense?Are they of tears fit objects,—men of violence?What motive for thy tears? Say. Grievest thou for their acts?Mournest thou th’ extinction of their merciless, vile pacts?320Or is’t, perchance, their hearts, corrupt, gangrened, thou’dst weep?On their empoisoned tongues, so adderlike, thou’dst keep?Those tails and fangs is’t, are the objects of thy grief?Their scorpion claws and sting that thou regrettest in chief?Contentiousness, foul mockery, rude violence?Thank God, instead, who’s checked their boastful insolence!Their hands were evil; evil were their feet, their eyes;Their peace, their friendship, as their wrath, were all unwise.From rule of meek obedience, customs handed down,They’d swerved;—to follow mere devices of their own.325They wished not for a teacher, asses obstinate;Their own ideas alone they’d stoop to cultivate.God therefore sent His servants, smoke and fire to wit,From heaven, the miscreants to chase to dire hell-pit.”Behold the damned and blessed, thus, in one scene conjoined;Between them is “a great gulf fixed by none o’erclimbed.”306Those “sons of fire” and “light” together seemed immixed;But barrier impassable ’tween them was fixed.The mine’s rich golden ore in soil imbedded lies;But really separated, far as eagle flies.330Like pearls and jet beads in one row of necklace ranged;A motley company, like inn’s chance guests, oft changed.Or like an estuary, half soft, sweet to drink,Most palatable water, clear, bright as moon’s twink;The other half salsuginous, wormwood and gall,Foul, black as ink, and fetid, shocks the senses all.These dash together; now this, now that, uppermost;Their waves a turmoil make, as though by tempest tost.That show of fierce collision’s made by matter’s form;In truth, the spirits ’tis that compacts make, or storm.335When gentle waves, in friendship’s reign, roll gracefully,Contention quits each breast, all goes on merrily.With rough war’s hideous billows, (mark the altered scene!)All love is straight renounced; dire hate’s to supervene.Affection coaxes rancour to subside, appeased;Because its origin’s in reason fixed, soon pleased;While raging anger stirs up thoughts of bitter strife.For how can man be tranquil, when the stake’s his life?Our outward eye discerns not pure from tainted hearts;Futurity’s small lattice oped, the curtain parts.340The eye of true sagacity distinct can see;This other eye, ’tis, fails;—is ne’er from error free.How many seeming pleasures, fair, as sugar sweet,Have poison lurking in them, death to all they meet!Men of discernment know them surely by mere smell;And others find them out, though late, when tasted, fell.That taste’s enough; ejected are they; swallowed, not;Although the fiend may urge, with: “Eat, while hot!”Again some others find in throat they firmly stick;And others yet are vexed with intestinal prick.345Still others by sharp purgings find they’ve done amiss;Indulgence of the palate’s changed to pangs their bliss.Again there are some suffer after months or years;And others pay the penalty within the tomb, with tears.E’en should there chance a respite, granted in the grave,At resurrection’s trump, disclosure naught will save.Each plant, each honied morsel, in this lower sphere,A term has, fixed, him to affect who tastes the cheer.What ages of submission to sun’s influence,E’er ruby can acquire ripe tinge, bright effulgence!The salad cress is ready in a month or two;350The rose requires some years before it shows its hue.To this end has the Lord, whose name be ever blessed,In holy writ declared: “Appointed term.”307We’ve cessed.Hast thou this heard? Read, mark, and learn with diligence!Life’s water is it. Hast thou drunk? Health spring from thence!Thosewordsthou mayst consider life’s fount, if thou list;Theirsenseit is important thou shouldst not have missed.One other theme, my friend, fix firmly in thy mind.’Tis patent as thy soul; as subtle thou’lt it find.355At times as venomous as adder’s fatal fang;At times as healthful as the food from heaven that sprang.Now lethal; now again remedial, by God’s will.At one time blasphemy; then, holy rapture’s thrill.Thus will it, now, be fatal to a human soul;And then, again, a remedy for all that’s foul:“The juice of unripe grapes is sour, as is well known;But when the fruit has ripened, sweet and fragrant grown,In wine-jar when fermented, nauseous and unclean;When vinegar, again, most wholesome is it seen.”360If saint a poison swallow, wholesome it will prove;But if disciple taste it, death will him remove.“Lord, grant unto me,” was the prayer of Solomon,“The power and kingdom solely (not to Abaddon);This favour grant not unto other after me!”308Which reads like envy. Such, however, it can’t be.Put not, in heart, construction that must disagreeUpon those words so read: “to other after me.”He saw a thousand dangers in the sway conferred;Saw that earth’s empire is a snare to be abhorred;365A danger to one’s life, one’s faith, one’s inner self;Such trial has no equal on the whole world’s shelf.E’en Solomon sagacity did much require,To shield him from mistakes in all his vast empire.The wondrous power he wielded could alone suffice,To quell rebellion’s perils, rising in a trice.So when he rested from due ordering his wide realm,He felt that other kings misrule might overwhelm.Then interceded he: “This rule, this much-prized flower,Vouchsafe to none, save with the selfsame power.370To whom Thou mayest it grant upon these very terms,He’s Solomon, he is myself, my sway confirms.He’ll not come after me, he’ll reign with me indeed;With me and in me, free from rival’s dreaded meed.”This to expound appeared a duty paramount;Return we, and our tale of man and wife recount.A sequel to that incident ’tween man and wifeIs looked for by the mind of him who’s watched their life.The incident of man and wife recounted hereOf each man’s soul and flesh the parable is, clear.375The wife the flesh is; man’s the soul; he’s wisdom, too;They’re emblems also of all good and evil, true.The two, of need, existing in this earthly home,By day and night at war are;—always quarrelsome.The wife requires her various household garniture,Her bed and board, her comfort, and her furniture.The flesh, like woman, to be gratified still seeks;Submissive sometimes; oft would play ambitious freaks.The soul has no idea, itself, of such instinct;But seeks to muse upon its love for God, distinct.380Existence is the secret of their constant war;The form in which ’tis waged thou’rt now about to hear.Had psychic indication proved sufficient sign,Material creation ’d been a useless coin.Is love for God thy thought, aim, wish, design, intent?To forms of worship, fasting, thou wilt yield assent.The gifts and little presents interchanged by friends,Are not their love’s pure essence. Signs they are, not ends.Mere outward witnesses, that simply testifyTh’ affection’s feelings. These the heart, ’tis, sanctify.385For all men know that kindnesses bestowed by handAre proofs of sympathy. Mind can this comprehend.A witness may speak falsely; also, may speak truth;Is sometimes drunk, with wine; sometimes, is urged by ruth.When wine is drunk, intoxications supervene;Its vapours rise into the head, erst so serene.Behold yon hypocrite! He fasts; he worships, prays;That he a man of God may seem. He’s not. Mere ways!Results of outward actions are of outward kind,—The signs of what is inward, working on the mind.390Grant unto us, O Lord, discernment to perceiveWhat sign is true, which meant fond mortals to deceive!Suppose not that the senses with discernment plod;Discernment is the inner, gracious gift of God!Effect not being visible, we look to cause.We know that kindred moves to friendship, by fixed laws.But him, who judges by the light of God’s own truth,Effect and cause no longer hold a slave, forsooth.When love for God is lighted in the human heart,It fiercely burns; it suffers not effect’s dull smart.395No sign of love does it require to seek for, there;For love is love’s own sign, giv’n from the highest sphere.Details there are, far more, to make this theme complete.If wished for, each can find them. They’re not obsolete.Sense must be gathered from material, outward form;Some sense is patent; some is hard to find, difform.The indication’s feeble;—tree and water see;—How different, apparently, their natures be!Let’s leave now all these words,—cause, nature, sign;—And turn we to our Arab and his wife benign.400The husband said: “I’ve now abandoned all dispute.All rule is in thy hands; thy power is absolute.Whatever thou ordain, submissive thou’lt me find;Its good or bad results shall not weigh on my mind.I’m non-existent; save, that by thee I must move;A lover; therefore am I deaf and blind, through love.”His wife him answered: “Is this all in kindness meant?Or dost thou seek by craft my plans to circumvent?”He swore: “By God; who knows the secrets of each heart;Who hath created Adam free from treacherous art;405Who, in three cubits’ stature unto him dispensed,The mysteries of all decrees, all souls, condensed:Whatever is to be, to all eternity,To Adam taught, with every name of Deity,So that the very angels wearied under him,As he them taught, but ever gained by each maxim!”The revelations Adam made to them were vast;Had never been disclosed before, from first to last.The compass, spacious, of his all-inclosing mindFar wider was than heaven of heavens a grasp could find.410The Prophet hath declared God made him clearly know:“I’m not contained, not held; by aught above, below,On earth, in heaven, above the heavens, I am not held.This know, then, thou also, My friend, as though beheld.But, wonderful! Believer’s heart can Me contain!If Me thou’dst seek, there look for Me, with might and main!”309His words were: “Seek within My servants. There thou’lt meetThe paradise of My aspect. Thou most discreet!”310The heaven of heavens, with all its wondrous wide extent,At sight of Adam’s glory into tremors went.415The marvellous expanse of heaven’s a stretch extreme.But what is matter, all, when spirit is the theme!Each angel made remark: “Until this very hourI had a certain knowledge of the wide earth’s bower.Much duty I’ve performed upon its soil, down there.Surprise I’ve felt, not small, attachment so to bear.For what was my attachment to that ball of clay;—I, that am moulded from the glorious light of day?What was my strong affection? I’m light; darkness, earth!Can light and darkness mingle;—live in jocund mirth?420O Adam! Now it’s clear! My love was mere instinct;In that the earth material gave for thee, succinct!Thy earthly body here was wove out of its clay;Thy spirit, pure, created was beyond the realm of day!The honour which we, spirits, have received through thee,Before all worlds had sparkled, by divine decree!When we were on the earth, we inattentive were;And little recked the treasure trusted to its care!When orders were received to quit the earth, and mount,We felt regret to change; knew not on what account.425We thought of reasons for the shift, and question made:‘O Lord! Who then shall take our place when we’re thus bade?Wilt Thou exchange our praise and service here below,For mere lip-homage from a worm Thee will not know?’An answer from the Lord, benign, did we receive:‘What you allege is somewhat many might deceive.Each word upon your tongues is surely out of place,As lisping talk of son to sire, without preface.Your rash objections would deserve to be chastised,But that I have decreed that mercy’s higher prized.430Behold, O angels! Since you’ve made confusion strange,In you henceforth I’ve placed a sense of doubt and change!Since you demur, and I refrain from chastisement,None can gainsay my mercy; none may raise comment.A hundred mothers, fathers, meet not My decree!Each soul that’s born a zero is compared to Me!Their love is but the froth; My love, the sea of love!Froth comes and goes; the ocean none remove.More I may say. For, in this earthly oyster-shellThere’s naught but froth of froth, of froth of froth to tell!’“435The Lord thus spake;—the Lord, that sea of purity!—He spake not by conjecture;—truth’s own entity!What I here state is said in love’s humility.The Lord is He to whom I fly,—sole Deity!If thou wouldst put to test what I have here set forth,First prove thy test. Make truly sure it’s trouble’s worth.Cloak not thy secret thoughts. So may my thoughts be known.Propose whate’er thou list; within my power, ’tis shown.Thy heart conceal not. I’ll lay bare my heart of hearts;Accept all, of acceptance worthy, thy mind starts.440That I may do whatever lies within my power,Do thou observe my heart’s condition in its bower.The wife observed: “A very sun of good is risen;Through whom a gladsome world’s enlarged from want’s sad prison.Vicegerent of th’ All-Merciful, Caliph of God,Fair Bagdād’s city prides itself to kiss his rod.If unto him thou have recourse, a prince thou’lt be.Why, then, to misery cleave, such as we hourly see?Companionship with fortune’s minions brings good luck;Where’s an elixir like their power, my dearest duck?445Ahmed’s esteem raised Abū-Bekr such a height;For once confirming Ahmed’s word, ‘Faithful’ he’s hight!”The man demurred: “How can I gain access at court?Without an introduction, how find sure passport?Connection we must seek; or else invent excuse.No artizan can work without his tools. The deuce!Thus Mejnūn, when he’d heard by chance from passing wight,His Laylā was an invalid (which caused him fright),Exclaimed: ‘Alas! Without excuse I cannot go!And if I visit not the sick one, I’m all woe!450Would that I were physician, with his healing art;Then could I see my Laylā; none would dare me thwart!’And now he cries: ‘I have it! I’ve a right to go!No bashfulness shall keep me from her portico!’Had bats but eyes, with which to see and find their way,They’d fly about, disport themselves, jocund, by day.”The wife replied: “The Caliph’s public pageant isFor all who introduction lack; their griefs are his.To be, and have a grief, is introduction sure.Thus poverty and lowliness work their own cure.”455He still objected: “Shall I fall in love with want,That I may urge my need as matter for some grant?E’en then, a witness credible I should requireT’ attest my indigence, when almoners inquire.Point out for me a witness; not mere words and wiles;That so the sovereign’s favour may be won, and smiles.For, otherwise, a mere pretext, without a proof,In justice’ court would fail, and bring reproof.A witness credible is, then,sine quâ non.For suitor’s plea to stand, proof it must rest upon.”460His wife rejoined: “The witness thou requir’st to bring,Must, by some shrewd contrivance, from thy prospects spring.Rain-water’s all we have in store within our hut,Estate, possessions, wealth, lie in our water-butt.A little pot of water shalt thou bear with thee,As offering to the Caliph. This present from me;And say: ‘No other wealth on earth do I possess.To Arabs of the desert, water’s happiness!The Caliph’s treasury is full of gems and gold;A pot of water such as this, its coffers do not hold!465What is this pot? It is an emblem of our lives!The water in it, matchless virtue of our wives!Accept, then, gracious prince, this little pot from me;And out of all God’s gifts repay its value, free!’That pot’s five lips are emblems of our senses. Sure!Keep them all clean; so may thy honour, too, be pure!The pot will then relation keep with ocean’s wave;And I, perchance, advantage from that ocean have.If clean thou carry it before the sovereign’s eyes,He may be pleased therewith;—buy it from mere surprise.470The pot will, then, of water never lacking be;My little water-pot shall suffice thee and me.Close tight its lips, and bear it full from our supply.A holy text ’tis says: ‘From lust close every eye.’311His beard, his moustache, both, will swell with joy at this.For prince supreme like him, my offering’s not amiss.”Thou, woman, didst not know that there, in Bagdād’s midst,A Tigris flowed with water, sweet as honey.—Didst?A very ocean is it, rapid in its course;With boats and ships, with fishers’ hooks, both fine and coarse.475Go then, good man! The Caliph thee his state shall show!Thou’lt comprehend the text: “Beneath which rivers flow.”312Thus, likewise, are our intellects, our thoughts, our sense;A drop compared with God’s boundless omniscience!The husband now chimed in: “Yes! Plug the pot’s mouth tight.Thou’st hit the very offering;—useful, good, and right!Sew it up carefully in case of felt, threefold.Our Caliph’s breakfast-water313shall it be;—so cold!No other water’s like it in this world of ours;—It’s heaven’s pure ambrosia, ’still’d from vernal showers!480Poor cits know none but waters hard and bitter all;—Whence various maladies, with blindness, them befall!”The bird that lives where salt-marsh noisome airs exhales,Knows naught of joys pure water gives, and spicy gales!So thou, good man, who dwelledst ’midst the desert’s waste,Hadst never seen a Tigris, known Euphrates’ taste!As he, again, not yet from worldly cares set free,Is ignorant of ecstasy, of rapture’s glee;Or, having heard thereof as tales from men of old,Knows them as names alone, in storybooks oft told;485Child’s A, B, C; as taught to every lisping elf;But whose real meaning’s hidden from the teacher’s self.Our Arab man now takes that water-pot in charge.By day and night he travels;—load not over large!Anxiety fast holds him, lest the pot should break;Most watchfully he guards it from misfortune’s freak.His wife spends all her days in prayers on his behalf;Her worship o’er, she adds: “Lord! shield my better half!Secure our pot of water from all thievish hands!Send it may prove a pearl in sea of Bagdād’s lands!490My husband, true, is shrewd; and know’s what he’s about;But pearls have enemies, we trow, in every rout!What is a pearl? A drop from fount of life sent down;314A drop from non-existence,—whence all substance known!”Those prayers’ reward,—as guerdon of her sighs and tears;—His care’s requital, watchfulness, and constant fears;—Their pot reached Bagdād safe from robbers’ grip;Secure from shock of stone, from chance of fall or slip.A city, there, he sees, with every blessing filled;Where craving mortals ply each art, as they are skilled.495Each moment, here or there, some extra-lucky wight,His object gains, receives from court what glads his sight!To Muslims, Unbelievers, equal grace is doled,Like rain and sunshine. Not so paradise, we’re told!One set of men he sees arrayed in honour’s robes;Another set endure, through hope and fear, sharp probes.As gentle, or as simple, prince or worm, pismire,All are alive, as though last trump’s notes them inspire!The worldly, in apparel sumptuous to behold;The godly, all immersed in transports clearly told!500The hopeless have become as though their hopes were fair;The hopeful show enjoyment of fruition’s share!A voice proclaimed: “Come forward, all ye sons of want!”Beneficence seeks beggars, as for gifts they pant.Beneficence hunts up for beggars and for need,As beauty seeks her mirror, with a special greed.A pretty face is charming in its mirror seen;Beneficence gleams lovely through want’s chilly sheen.God hath enjoined in holy writ: “By forenoon’s glare!”315“Muhammed, chide not thou too much at beggar’s prayer!”316505A beggar is a mirror wherein bounty shines.Dull not that mirror, then, with breath of anger’s whines!The beggar ’tis shows forth what charity achieves;A charitable man for this those wants relieves.A beggar, then, ’s a mirror of th’ Almighty’s grace;And whoso’s with the Lord, therein sees his Lord’s face.He that hath love for other than the Lord of all,Is dead at heart,—not living;—shadow on a wall!Whoe’er adopts God’s poverty, without false show,Secures the prize of God’s rich pleasure here below!510Who puts on sham of poverty deserves no bread.(Bones are not given to effigies of dogs. They’re dead!)His want craves pelf; ’tis not the love of God he’d seek.Lay not thy bounty at the feet of one too sleek.A landshark is a mendicant for mere pelf’s sake.He’s fish in form; but will not to the water take.Domestic fowl is he; not eagle of free air.With Lot he sips of wine; God’s water’s his despair.He loves his God, if but his God will grant him wealth;But nothing cares for God’s mere grace;—for spirit’s health.515Should he conceive th’ idea of love for God alone,God’s essence he’d deny, God’s attributes disown.Man’s fancy is a creature;—born with mortal lot.God was not born. His scripture says: “Nor was begot.”317The man in love with self, and with his fancy’s freak,Can never be a lover who to God will seek.Were fancy’s lover true, and free from crafty guile,His fancy’s tropes had led him to the truth erewhile.Thatdictumwould require a commentary, full,But fear withholds me. Prejudice will have its pull!520Old prejudice, quite purblind to the truth, I see,A hundred phantoms conjures up to frighten me.Not every man has heard aright the still small voice;Not every bird’s a fig-pecker, that sweets rejoice;How then a bird that’s dead,—turned putrid long ago;—A man of prejudice, all sightless, eyeless, so!A painted fish cares not for water, or for land.Soap to a blackamoor is one, or tar, in hand.Shouldst thou depict a portrait overwhelmed with grief,Would grief or joy be felt, though shown in strong relief?525The picture would look sorrowful;—no sorrow feel;Or smiling happiness;—without gay laughter’s peal.The joy or grief depicted by a pencil’s art,Is naught but simulated;—knows nor thrill, nor smart.Lugubrious countenances are for our behoof;That we may be reminded not to court reproof.And beaming visages are not without their use,If they recall us from mere form to sense occluse.The various effigies we see in this bath-house,318Disguised in draperies, are dolls;—blind fools to chouse.530So long as thou’rt outside, naught else but clothes thou’lt see.Undress thyself. Come in; and see the nude, the free.There’s no admission granted to a bath, while dressed.But clothes, the body, this, the soul, leave all unguessed.Our Arab man, from far in desert’s sandy waste,Has reached at length the walls of Bagdād,—home of taste.The guards, the officers, on duty at the gate,Received him with politeness, kindness delicate.Without a question asked, his case they’d understood.Their charge was to show kindness first, ere asked for food.535So they addressed him thus: “Ho, thou, good Arab prince!Whence comest thou? How fares it? Straight thy wish evince!”He answered: “Prince I am, if you to me be kind;But if you me contemn, I’m naught in my own mind.Your aspects indicate you’re men of wealth and rank;Your speech and smiles betoken breeding, noble, frank.Mere sight of your kind features salve is to the eyes;Your looks alone enrich;—gold in your voices lies.Each one of you expression is of God’s own grace;In Caliph’s bosom nurtured, favoured with high place;540That you, in turn, dispense th’ elixir of support,And brighten longing eyes by words of kind import.I am a stranger, poor, come from the desert’s sands,In hopes some favour to obtain from sovereign hands.The rumour of his goodness fills the wilderness;Each atom in its wastes blooms thence in joyfulness.In search of wealth have I approached his capital;Now I’m arrived, I burn with pleasures optical.E’en as the lass in search of bread at baker’s shop,Struck with his ‘prentice’ beauty, swooned;—a lifeless drop!545Or like the saunterer for air in royal park,Who lost his heart to one he met, gay as a lark!Or like the desert merchant drawing from a wellWhat he thought water, was entranced by Joseph’s spell!Again, as Moses hasted for a coal of fire,And found the burning bush, that led him to empire!Or Jesus, who escaped his foes with one fleet bound,And found himself then landed where the sun goes round!319An ear of corn it was that baited Adam’s trap.320But thence himself became the source of mankind’s sap!550The falcon stoops to earth enticed by luring fate;He there meets man’s good teaching, soars to princely state.A child is sent to school to teach him learning’s prize,In hope of toys and treats he studies till he’s wise.On leaving school he sits in seat of law or power;He paid his schoolpence then;—he’s now lord of the hour!So Abbās321sallied forth to war, with fierce intent,To put Muhammed down,—Islām to circumvent.Defender of the Faith, till death, he then became;The Caliphate was destined, in his line, to fame!555So am I come, in hopes at this court to advance;Though at its gate as yet, I feel I’ve every chance.In quest of bread am I; as offering, water bring.The hope of bread sets wide heaven’s portals at one swing.’Twas bread that drove out Adam from his paradise;’Tis bread will gain me entrance where my hopes take rise.From bread, from water, both, as angels, far I stroll;And, following the spheres, around this centre roll!Without an object none will toil on earth, you see,Save true and godly lovers. They’re from motives free!”560

The soul to Sālih’s like; his camel is the flesh;

The soul communes with God; the flesh pines in want’s mesh.

Good Sālih’s soul was safe from effort of their whim;

His camel felt the blow they dared not aim at him.

No hurt could fall on Sālih’s soul,—that priceless gem,—

Such holy emanation was not sport for them.

The soul unto the flesh is joined, by God’s decree,

That it may be afflicted,—trials made to see.275

Who hurts a body hurts also its soul, no doubt;

The life-blood in that vase from being’s fount was brought.

God enters in relation with material form,

That He may be asylum to each earthborn worm.

No man can inlet find to injure soul of saint;

An oyster-shell is crushed; its pearl escapes attaint.

Then serve the camel; that is, list to saint in flesh;

And with his righteous soul thou’lt serve one Lord afresh.

When Sālih saw the evil deed they’d foully wrought,In three days’ time a judgment from his God he sought.280“Three days from hence,” said he, “affliction will befall;Of which, three signs precursors shall be. You’ll see, all.The colour of your faces shall be changed to view;Complexions various shall be seen in each of you.Upon the first day, saffron’s hue shall be their tinge;The second, scarlet red each countenance shall fringe;And on the third, as black as coal shall be each face;Upon which ensuing, God’s wrath shall then take place.If sign of me you ask for truth of what I say,Observe the path that camel’s foal shall take to-day;285Then strive to catch it. If you can, by chance, succeed;Good. If not, hope is gone;—from bow the arrow’s freed!”

When Sālih saw the evil deed they’d foully wrought,

In three days’ time a judgment from his God he sought.280

“Three days from hence,” said he, “affliction will befall;

Of which, three signs precursors shall be. You’ll see, all.

The colour of your faces shall be changed to view;

Complexions various shall be seen in each of you.

Upon the first day, saffron’s hue shall be their tinge;

The second, scarlet red each countenance shall fringe;

And on the third, as black as coal shall be each face;

Upon which ensuing, God’s wrath shall then take place.

If sign of me you ask for truth of what I say,

Observe the path that camel’s foal shall take to-day;285

Then strive to catch it. If you can, by chance, succeed;

Good. If not, hope is gone;—from bow the arrow’s freed!”

No one of them the camel’s foal could overtake.It fled among the hills,—was lost to sight. Heartache!E’en so the soul, when once its prison bars are burst,Unto the Lord of Grace its winged flight takes first.The prophet then: “The threatened judgment now must storm;All hope’s gone by;—dead as that camel’s lifeless form.Still, if, by coaxing, you her foal can win back here,In calm tranquillity, from whence it’s fled through fear,290With its return of confidence you may be saved;But otherwise, despair and gnash your teeth, depraved!”

No one of them the camel’s foal could overtake.

It fled among the hills,—was lost to sight. Heartache!

E’en so the soul, when once its prison bars are burst,

Unto the Lord of Grace its winged flight takes first.

The prophet then: “The threatened judgment now must storm;

All hope’s gone by;—dead as that camel’s lifeless form.

Still, if, by coaxing, you her foal can win back here,

In calm tranquillity, from whence it’s fled through fear,290

With its return of confidence you may be saved;

But otherwise, despair and gnash your teeth, depraved!”

His threat they heard; dejected were at its import.Their looks sank downcast;—sad anxiety’s resort.The first day came; they saw each visage jaundiced o’er;And thence, in fell dismay, they laments uttered, sore.Their scarlet skins, the second day, told plainer still,Time for repentance was but short, and hope wasnil.The blackened faces, on the third day, clearly toldThe prophet’s threat was strictly true. Their blood ran cold.295

His threat they heard; dejected were at its import.

Their looks sank downcast;—sad anxiety’s resort.

The first day came; they saw each visage jaundiced o’er;

And thence, in fell dismay, they laments uttered, sore.

Their scarlet skins, the second day, told plainer still,

Time for repentance was but short, and hope wasnil.

The blackened faces, on the third day, clearly told

The prophet’s threat was strictly true. Their blood ran cold.295

Thus being brought to quit their menaces and scowls;Upon their knees, hams, breasts, they crouched like roosting fowls.This cringing posture has that abject, trembling crew,In holy writ, inspired, dubbed “crouching;”304and ’tis true.(Kneel, thou, at times when by instructors thou art taught,And when thou’rt warned that “crouching” ’s with abjection fraught.)In hopeless expectation God’s blow to ensue,The countryside entire within their homes withdrew.

Thus being brought to quit their menaces and scowls;

Upon their knees, hams, breasts, they crouched like roosting fowls.

This cringing posture has that abject, trembling crew,

In holy writ, inspired, dubbed “crouching;”304and ’tis true.

(Kneel, thou, at times when by instructors thou art taught,

And when thou’rt warned that “crouching” ’s with abjection fraught.)

In hopeless expectation God’s blow to ensue,

The countryside entire within their homes withdrew.

The prophet Sālih left his cell to view the town.Enveloped in a smoke and blaze he saw it drown!300Low, moaning noise he heard proceed from its remain;—Sighs, as it were, and sobs;—he sighers sought in vain!Those sighs were fitful cracklings of their burning bones;Those sobs, the hissings of their blood, in clots, on stones!

The prophet Sālih left his cell to view the town.

Enveloped in a smoke and blaze he saw it drown!300

Low, moaning noise he heard proceed from its remain;—

Sighs, as it were, and sobs;—he sighers sought in vain!

Those sighs were fitful cracklings of their burning bones;

Those sobs, the hissings of their blood, in clots, on stones!

On hearing these sad sounds the prophet burst in tears;Responsive to those moans, he groaned.—No listening ears!The dead he then addressed: “O people, chid in vain!How often ’gainst you to the Lord I’ve wept, with pain!The Lord me answered: ‘Patience have with their misdeeds;To them give counsel still; not long will last those needs!’305Remark I made: ‘With such misdeeds will counsel count?As milk, kind counsel flows from love’s unsullied fount!’The untold wrongs you’d heaped upon my patient headHad curdled milk of counsel in my bosom’s stead.The Lord replied: ‘A grace I’ll now on thee bestow;I’ll soothe the wounds inflicted by their rancour’s bow.’With that, God made my heart as tranquil as of yore;Swept clean away the cobwebs of your paltry score.”

On hearing these sad sounds the prophet burst in tears;

Responsive to those moans, he groaned.—No listening ears!

The dead he then addressed: “O people, chid in vain!

How often ’gainst you to the Lord I’ve wept, with pain!

The Lord me answered: ‘Patience have with their misdeeds;

To them give counsel still; not long will last those needs!’305

Remark I made: ‘With such misdeeds will counsel count?

As milk, kind counsel flows from love’s unsullied fount!’

The untold wrongs you’d heaped upon my patient head

Had curdled milk of counsel in my bosom’s stead.

The Lord replied: ‘A grace I’ll now on thee bestow;

I’ll soothe the wounds inflicted by their rancour’s bow.’

With that, God made my heart as tranquil as of yore;

Swept clean away the cobwebs of your paltry score.”

“Again I proffered counsel to you, sage and safe;In parables soft couched, with words that might not chafe.310Once more that milk flowed, mixed with honey, from my lips;The dulcet tones were tempting, not like stinging whips.Alas! Within your ears they all to venom turned;Because, like poisonous plants, your nature goodness spurned.Why do I weep? You’ve burnt the substance of all grief;Like bone in throat, ye obstinate, you’ve choked relief!Ought any to lament when grief is laid in bier?Man justly tears his hair, his head if broke by spear!”

“Again I proffered counsel to you, sage and safe;

In parables soft couched, with words that might not chafe.310

Once more that milk flowed, mixed with honey, from my lips;

The dulcet tones were tempting, not like stinging whips.

Alas! Within your ears they all to venom turned;

Because, like poisonous plants, your nature goodness spurned.

Why do I weep? You’ve burnt the substance of all grief;

Like bone in throat, ye obstinate, you’ve choked relief!

Ought any to lament when grief is laid in bier?

Man justly tears his hair, his head if broke by spear!”

With that, reproachfully upon himself he turned,And cried: “Those fellows were not worth the tears they spurned.315Recite not wrongfully, O master of address,The text: ‘How will I grieve305o’er crew that none should bless!’”Still, in his eyes and heart more briny tears he found,A pity, really motiveless, in him ’d ta’en ground.As summer-rain he wept, through feeling ill at ease;A summer-rain, quite cloudless, from compassion’s seas.His conscience smote him sore: “Why weepest thou, man of sense?Are they of tears fit objects,—men of violence?What motive for thy tears? Say. Grievest thou for their acts?Mournest thou th’ extinction of their merciless, vile pacts?320Or is’t, perchance, their hearts, corrupt, gangrened, thou’dst weep?On their empoisoned tongues, so adderlike, thou’dst keep?Those tails and fangs is’t, are the objects of thy grief?Their scorpion claws and sting that thou regrettest in chief?Contentiousness, foul mockery, rude violence?Thank God, instead, who’s checked their boastful insolence!Their hands were evil; evil were their feet, their eyes;Their peace, their friendship, as their wrath, were all unwise.From rule of meek obedience, customs handed down,They’d swerved;—to follow mere devices of their own.325They wished not for a teacher, asses obstinate;Their own ideas alone they’d stoop to cultivate.God therefore sent His servants, smoke and fire to wit,From heaven, the miscreants to chase to dire hell-pit.”

With that, reproachfully upon himself he turned,

And cried: “Those fellows were not worth the tears they spurned.315

Recite not wrongfully, O master of address,

The text: ‘How will I grieve305o’er crew that none should bless!’”

Still, in his eyes and heart more briny tears he found,

A pity, really motiveless, in him ’d ta’en ground.

As summer-rain he wept, through feeling ill at ease;

A summer-rain, quite cloudless, from compassion’s seas.

His conscience smote him sore: “Why weepest thou, man of sense?

Are they of tears fit objects,—men of violence?

What motive for thy tears? Say. Grievest thou for their acts?

Mournest thou th’ extinction of their merciless, vile pacts?320

Or is’t, perchance, their hearts, corrupt, gangrened, thou’dst weep?

On their empoisoned tongues, so adderlike, thou’dst keep?

Those tails and fangs is’t, are the objects of thy grief?

Their scorpion claws and sting that thou regrettest in chief?

Contentiousness, foul mockery, rude violence?

Thank God, instead, who’s checked their boastful insolence!

Their hands were evil; evil were their feet, their eyes;

Their peace, their friendship, as their wrath, were all unwise.

From rule of meek obedience, customs handed down,

They’d swerved;—to follow mere devices of their own.325

They wished not for a teacher, asses obstinate;

Their own ideas alone they’d stoop to cultivate.

God therefore sent His servants, smoke and fire to wit,

From heaven, the miscreants to chase to dire hell-pit.”

Behold the damned and blessed, thus, in one scene conjoined;Between them is “a great gulf fixed by none o’erclimbed.”306Those “sons of fire” and “light” together seemed immixed;But barrier impassable ’tween them was fixed.The mine’s rich golden ore in soil imbedded lies;But really separated, far as eagle flies.330Like pearls and jet beads in one row of necklace ranged;A motley company, like inn’s chance guests, oft changed.Or like an estuary, half soft, sweet to drink,Most palatable water, clear, bright as moon’s twink;The other half salsuginous, wormwood and gall,Foul, black as ink, and fetid, shocks the senses all.These dash together; now this, now that, uppermost;Their waves a turmoil make, as though by tempest tost.That show of fierce collision’s made by matter’s form;In truth, the spirits ’tis that compacts make, or storm.335When gentle waves, in friendship’s reign, roll gracefully,Contention quits each breast, all goes on merrily.With rough war’s hideous billows, (mark the altered scene!)All love is straight renounced; dire hate’s to supervene.Affection coaxes rancour to subside, appeased;Because its origin’s in reason fixed, soon pleased;While raging anger stirs up thoughts of bitter strife.For how can man be tranquil, when the stake’s his life?

Behold the damned and blessed, thus, in one scene conjoined;

Between them is “a great gulf fixed by none o’erclimbed.”306

Those “sons of fire” and “light” together seemed immixed;

But barrier impassable ’tween them was fixed.

The mine’s rich golden ore in soil imbedded lies;

But really separated, far as eagle flies.330

Like pearls and jet beads in one row of necklace ranged;

A motley company, like inn’s chance guests, oft changed.

Or like an estuary, half soft, sweet to drink,

Most palatable water, clear, bright as moon’s twink;

The other half salsuginous, wormwood and gall,

Foul, black as ink, and fetid, shocks the senses all.

These dash together; now this, now that, uppermost;

Their waves a turmoil make, as though by tempest tost.

That show of fierce collision’s made by matter’s form;

In truth, the spirits ’tis that compacts make, or storm.335

When gentle waves, in friendship’s reign, roll gracefully,

Contention quits each breast, all goes on merrily.

With rough war’s hideous billows, (mark the altered scene!)

All love is straight renounced; dire hate’s to supervene.

Affection coaxes rancour to subside, appeased;

Because its origin’s in reason fixed, soon pleased;

While raging anger stirs up thoughts of bitter strife.

For how can man be tranquil, when the stake’s his life?

Our outward eye discerns not pure from tainted hearts;Futurity’s small lattice oped, the curtain parts.340The eye of true sagacity distinct can see;This other eye, ’tis, fails;—is ne’er from error free.How many seeming pleasures, fair, as sugar sweet,Have poison lurking in them, death to all they meet!Men of discernment know them surely by mere smell;And others find them out, though late, when tasted, fell.That taste’s enough; ejected are they; swallowed, not;Although the fiend may urge, with: “Eat, while hot!”Again some others find in throat they firmly stick;And others yet are vexed with intestinal prick.345Still others by sharp purgings find they’ve done amiss;Indulgence of the palate’s changed to pangs their bliss.Again there are some suffer after months or years;And others pay the penalty within the tomb, with tears.E’en should there chance a respite, granted in the grave,At resurrection’s trump, disclosure naught will save.

Our outward eye discerns not pure from tainted hearts;

Futurity’s small lattice oped, the curtain parts.340

The eye of true sagacity distinct can see;

This other eye, ’tis, fails;—is ne’er from error free.

How many seeming pleasures, fair, as sugar sweet,

Have poison lurking in them, death to all they meet!

Men of discernment know them surely by mere smell;

And others find them out, though late, when tasted, fell.

That taste’s enough; ejected are they; swallowed, not;

Although the fiend may urge, with: “Eat, while hot!”

Again some others find in throat they firmly stick;

And others yet are vexed with intestinal prick.345

Still others by sharp purgings find they’ve done amiss;

Indulgence of the palate’s changed to pangs their bliss.

Again there are some suffer after months or years;

And others pay the penalty within the tomb, with tears.

E’en should there chance a respite, granted in the grave,

At resurrection’s trump, disclosure naught will save.

Each plant, each honied morsel, in this lower sphere,A term has, fixed, him to affect who tastes the cheer.What ages of submission to sun’s influence,E’er ruby can acquire ripe tinge, bright effulgence!The salad cress is ready in a month or two;350The rose requires some years before it shows its hue.To this end has the Lord, whose name be ever blessed,In holy writ declared: “Appointed term.”307We’ve cessed.Hast thou this heard? Read, mark, and learn with diligence!Life’s water is it. Hast thou drunk? Health spring from thence!Thosewordsthou mayst consider life’s fount, if thou list;Theirsenseit is important thou shouldst not have missed.

Each plant, each honied morsel, in this lower sphere,

A term has, fixed, him to affect who tastes the cheer.

What ages of submission to sun’s influence,

E’er ruby can acquire ripe tinge, bright effulgence!

The salad cress is ready in a month or two;350

The rose requires some years before it shows its hue.

To this end has the Lord, whose name be ever blessed,

In holy writ declared: “Appointed term.”307We’ve cessed.

Hast thou this heard? Read, mark, and learn with diligence!

Life’s water is it. Hast thou drunk? Health spring from thence!

Thosewordsthou mayst consider life’s fount, if thou list;

Theirsenseit is important thou shouldst not have missed.

One other theme, my friend, fix firmly in thy mind.’Tis patent as thy soul; as subtle thou’lt it find.355At times as venomous as adder’s fatal fang;At times as healthful as the food from heaven that sprang.Now lethal; now again remedial, by God’s will.At one time blasphemy; then, holy rapture’s thrill.Thus will it, now, be fatal to a human soul;And then, again, a remedy for all that’s foul:“The juice of unripe grapes is sour, as is well known;But when the fruit has ripened, sweet and fragrant grown,In wine-jar when fermented, nauseous and unclean;When vinegar, again, most wholesome is it seen.”360

One other theme, my friend, fix firmly in thy mind.

’Tis patent as thy soul; as subtle thou’lt it find.355

At times as venomous as adder’s fatal fang;

At times as healthful as the food from heaven that sprang.

Now lethal; now again remedial, by God’s will.

At one time blasphemy; then, holy rapture’s thrill.

Thus will it, now, be fatal to a human soul;

And then, again, a remedy for all that’s foul:

“The juice of unripe grapes is sour, as is well known;

But when the fruit has ripened, sweet and fragrant grown,

In wine-jar when fermented, nauseous and unclean;

When vinegar, again, most wholesome is it seen.”360

If saint a poison swallow, wholesome it will prove;But if disciple taste it, death will him remove.“Lord, grant unto me,” was the prayer of Solomon,“The power and kingdom solely (not to Abaddon);This favour grant not unto other after me!”308Which reads like envy. Such, however, it can’t be.Put not, in heart, construction that must disagreeUpon those words so read: “to other after me.”He saw a thousand dangers in the sway conferred;Saw that earth’s empire is a snare to be abhorred;365A danger to one’s life, one’s faith, one’s inner self;Such trial has no equal on the whole world’s shelf.E’en Solomon sagacity did much require,To shield him from mistakes in all his vast empire.The wondrous power he wielded could alone suffice,To quell rebellion’s perils, rising in a trice.So when he rested from due ordering his wide realm,He felt that other kings misrule might overwhelm.Then interceded he: “This rule, this much-prized flower,Vouchsafe to none, save with the selfsame power.370To whom Thou mayest it grant upon these very terms,He’s Solomon, he is myself, my sway confirms.He’ll not come after me, he’ll reign with me indeed;With me and in me, free from rival’s dreaded meed.”

If saint a poison swallow, wholesome it will prove;

But if disciple taste it, death will him remove.

“Lord, grant unto me,” was the prayer of Solomon,

“The power and kingdom solely (not to Abaddon);

This favour grant not unto other after me!”308

Which reads like envy. Such, however, it can’t be.

Put not, in heart, construction that must disagree

Upon those words so read: “to other after me.”

He saw a thousand dangers in the sway conferred;

Saw that earth’s empire is a snare to be abhorred;365

A danger to one’s life, one’s faith, one’s inner self;

Such trial has no equal on the whole world’s shelf.

E’en Solomon sagacity did much require,

To shield him from mistakes in all his vast empire.

The wondrous power he wielded could alone suffice,

To quell rebellion’s perils, rising in a trice.

So when he rested from due ordering his wide realm,

He felt that other kings misrule might overwhelm.

Then interceded he: “This rule, this much-prized flower,

Vouchsafe to none, save with the selfsame power.370

To whom Thou mayest it grant upon these very terms,

He’s Solomon, he is myself, my sway confirms.

He’ll not come after me, he’ll reign with me indeed;

With me and in me, free from rival’s dreaded meed.”

This to expound appeared a duty paramount;Return we, and our tale of man and wife recount.

This to expound appeared a duty paramount;

Return we, and our tale of man and wife recount.

A sequel to that incident ’tween man and wifeIs looked for by the mind of him who’s watched their life.The incident of man and wife recounted hereOf each man’s soul and flesh the parable is, clear.375The wife the flesh is; man’s the soul; he’s wisdom, too;They’re emblems also of all good and evil, true.The two, of need, existing in this earthly home,By day and night at war are;—always quarrelsome.The wife requires her various household garniture,Her bed and board, her comfort, and her furniture.The flesh, like woman, to be gratified still seeks;Submissive sometimes; oft would play ambitious freaks.The soul has no idea, itself, of such instinct;But seeks to muse upon its love for God, distinct.380Existence is the secret of their constant war;The form in which ’tis waged thou’rt now about to hear.Had psychic indication proved sufficient sign,Material creation ’d been a useless coin.

A sequel to that incident ’tween man and wife

Is looked for by the mind of him who’s watched their life.

The incident of man and wife recounted here

Of each man’s soul and flesh the parable is, clear.375

The wife the flesh is; man’s the soul; he’s wisdom, too;

They’re emblems also of all good and evil, true.

The two, of need, existing in this earthly home,

By day and night at war are;—always quarrelsome.

The wife requires her various household garniture,

Her bed and board, her comfort, and her furniture.

The flesh, like woman, to be gratified still seeks;

Submissive sometimes; oft would play ambitious freaks.

The soul has no idea, itself, of such instinct;

But seeks to muse upon its love for God, distinct.380

Existence is the secret of their constant war;

The form in which ’tis waged thou’rt now about to hear.

Had psychic indication proved sufficient sign,

Material creation ’d been a useless coin.

Is love for God thy thought, aim, wish, design, intent?To forms of worship, fasting, thou wilt yield assent.The gifts and little presents interchanged by friends,Are not their love’s pure essence. Signs they are, not ends.Mere outward witnesses, that simply testifyTh’ affection’s feelings. These the heart, ’tis, sanctify.385For all men know that kindnesses bestowed by handAre proofs of sympathy. Mind can this comprehend.

Is love for God thy thought, aim, wish, design, intent?

To forms of worship, fasting, thou wilt yield assent.

The gifts and little presents interchanged by friends,

Are not their love’s pure essence. Signs they are, not ends.

Mere outward witnesses, that simply testify

Th’ affection’s feelings. These the heart, ’tis, sanctify.385

For all men know that kindnesses bestowed by hand

Are proofs of sympathy. Mind can this comprehend.

A witness may speak falsely; also, may speak truth;Is sometimes drunk, with wine; sometimes, is urged by ruth.When wine is drunk, intoxications supervene;Its vapours rise into the head, erst so serene.Behold yon hypocrite! He fasts; he worships, prays;That he a man of God may seem. He’s not. Mere ways!

A witness may speak falsely; also, may speak truth;

Is sometimes drunk, with wine; sometimes, is urged by ruth.

When wine is drunk, intoxications supervene;

Its vapours rise into the head, erst so serene.

Behold yon hypocrite! He fasts; he worships, prays;

That he a man of God may seem. He’s not. Mere ways!

Results of outward actions are of outward kind,—The signs of what is inward, working on the mind.390Grant unto us, O Lord, discernment to perceiveWhat sign is true, which meant fond mortals to deceive!Suppose not that the senses with discernment plod;Discernment is the inner, gracious gift of God!Effect not being visible, we look to cause.We know that kindred moves to friendship, by fixed laws.But him, who judges by the light of God’s own truth,Effect and cause no longer hold a slave, forsooth.When love for God is lighted in the human heart,It fiercely burns; it suffers not effect’s dull smart.395No sign of love does it require to seek for, there;For love is love’s own sign, giv’n from the highest sphere.

Results of outward actions are of outward kind,—

The signs of what is inward, working on the mind.390

Grant unto us, O Lord, discernment to perceive

What sign is true, which meant fond mortals to deceive!

Suppose not that the senses with discernment plod;

Discernment is the inner, gracious gift of God!

Effect not being visible, we look to cause.

We know that kindred moves to friendship, by fixed laws.

But him, who judges by the light of God’s own truth,

Effect and cause no longer hold a slave, forsooth.

When love for God is lighted in the human heart,

It fiercely burns; it suffers not effect’s dull smart.395

No sign of love does it require to seek for, there;

For love is love’s own sign, giv’n from the highest sphere.

Details there are, far more, to make this theme complete.If wished for, each can find them. They’re not obsolete.Sense must be gathered from material, outward form;Some sense is patent; some is hard to find, difform.The indication’s feeble;—tree and water see;—How different, apparently, their natures be!

Details there are, far more, to make this theme complete.

If wished for, each can find them. They’re not obsolete.

Sense must be gathered from material, outward form;

Some sense is patent; some is hard to find, difform.

The indication’s feeble;—tree and water see;—

How different, apparently, their natures be!

Let’s leave now all these words,—cause, nature, sign;—And turn we to our Arab and his wife benign.400

Let’s leave now all these words,—cause, nature, sign;—

And turn we to our Arab and his wife benign.400

The husband said: “I’ve now abandoned all dispute.All rule is in thy hands; thy power is absolute.Whatever thou ordain, submissive thou’lt me find;Its good or bad results shall not weigh on my mind.I’m non-existent; save, that by thee I must move;A lover; therefore am I deaf and blind, through love.”

The husband said: “I’ve now abandoned all dispute.

All rule is in thy hands; thy power is absolute.

Whatever thou ordain, submissive thou’lt me find;

Its good or bad results shall not weigh on my mind.

I’m non-existent; save, that by thee I must move;

A lover; therefore am I deaf and blind, through love.”

His wife him answered: “Is this all in kindness meant?Or dost thou seek by craft my plans to circumvent?”He swore: “By God; who knows the secrets of each heart;Who hath created Adam free from treacherous art;405Who, in three cubits’ stature unto him dispensed,The mysteries of all decrees, all souls, condensed:Whatever is to be, to all eternity,To Adam taught, with every name of Deity,So that the very angels wearied under him,As he them taught, but ever gained by each maxim!”

His wife him answered: “Is this all in kindness meant?

Or dost thou seek by craft my plans to circumvent?”

He swore: “By God; who knows the secrets of each heart;

Who hath created Adam free from treacherous art;405

Who, in three cubits’ stature unto him dispensed,

The mysteries of all decrees, all souls, condensed:

Whatever is to be, to all eternity,

To Adam taught, with every name of Deity,

So that the very angels wearied under him,

As he them taught, but ever gained by each maxim!”

The revelations Adam made to them were vast;Had never been disclosed before, from first to last.The compass, spacious, of his all-inclosing mindFar wider was than heaven of heavens a grasp could find.410

The revelations Adam made to them were vast;

Had never been disclosed before, from first to last.

The compass, spacious, of his all-inclosing mind

Far wider was than heaven of heavens a grasp could find.410

The Prophet hath declared God made him clearly know:“I’m not contained, not held; by aught above, below,On earth, in heaven, above the heavens, I am not held.This know, then, thou also, My friend, as though beheld.But, wonderful! Believer’s heart can Me contain!If Me thou’dst seek, there look for Me, with might and main!”309His words were: “Seek within My servants. There thou’lt meetThe paradise of My aspect. Thou most discreet!”310The heaven of heavens, with all its wondrous wide extent,At sight of Adam’s glory into tremors went.415The marvellous expanse of heaven’s a stretch extreme.But what is matter, all, when spirit is the theme!

The Prophet hath declared God made him clearly know:

“I’m not contained, not held; by aught above, below,

On earth, in heaven, above the heavens, I am not held.

This know, then, thou also, My friend, as though beheld.

But, wonderful! Believer’s heart can Me contain!

If Me thou’dst seek, there look for Me, with might and main!”309

His words were: “Seek within My servants. There thou’lt meet

The paradise of My aspect. Thou most discreet!”310

The heaven of heavens, with all its wondrous wide extent,

At sight of Adam’s glory into tremors went.415

The marvellous expanse of heaven’s a stretch extreme.

But what is matter, all, when spirit is the theme!

Each angel made remark: “Until this very hourI had a certain knowledge of the wide earth’s bower.Much duty I’ve performed upon its soil, down there.Surprise I’ve felt, not small, attachment so to bear.For what was my attachment to that ball of clay;—I, that am moulded from the glorious light of day?What was my strong affection? I’m light; darkness, earth!Can light and darkness mingle;—live in jocund mirth?420O Adam! Now it’s clear! My love was mere instinct;In that the earth material gave for thee, succinct!Thy earthly body here was wove out of its clay;Thy spirit, pure, created was beyond the realm of day!The honour which we, spirits, have received through thee,Before all worlds had sparkled, by divine decree!When we were on the earth, we inattentive were;And little recked the treasure trusted to its care!When orders were received to quit the earth, and mount,We felt regret to change; knew not on what account.425We thought of reasons for the shift, and question made:‘O Lord! Who then shall take our place when we’re thus bade?Wilt Thou exchange our praise and service here below,For mere lip-homage from a worm Thee will not know?’An answer from the Lord, benign, did we receive:‘What you allege is somewhat many might deceive.Each word upon your tongues is surely out of place,As lisping talk of son to sire, without preface.Your rash objections would deserve to be chastised,But that I have decreed that mercy’s higher prized.430Behold, O angels! Since you’ve made confusion strange,In you henceforth I’ve placed a sense of doubt and change!Since you demur, and I refrain from chastisement,None can gainsay my mercy; none may raise comment.A hundred mothers, fathers, meet not My decree!Each soul that’s born a zero is compared to Me!Their love is but the froth; My love, the sea of love!Froth comes and goes; the ocean none remove.More I may say. For, in this earthly oyster-shellThere’s naught but froth of froth, of froth of froth to tell!’“435

Each angel made remark: “Until this very hour

I had a certain knowledge of the wide earth’s bower.

Much duty I’ve performed upon its soil, down there.

Surprise I’ve felt, not small, attachment so to bear.

For what was my attachment to that ball of clay;—

I, that am moulded from the glorious light of day?

What was my strong affection? I’m light; darkness, earth!

Can light and darkness mingle;—live in jocund mirth?420

O Adam! Now it’s clear! My love was mere instinct;

In that the earth material gave for thee, succinct!

Thy earthly body here was wove out of its clay;

Thy spirit, pure, created was beyond the realm of day!

The honour which we, spirits, have received through thee,

Before all worlds had sparkled, by divine decree!

When we were on the earth, we inattentive were;

And little recked the treasure trusted to its care!

When orders were received to quit the earth, and mount,

We felt regret to change; knew not on what account.425

We thought of reasons for the shift, and question made:

‘O Lord! Who then shall take our place when we’re thus bade?

Wilt Thou exchange our praise and service here below,

For mere lip-homage from a worm Thee will not know?’

An answer from the Lord, benign, did we receive:

‘What you allege is somewhat many might deceive.

Each word upon your tongues is surely out of place,

As lisping talk of son to sire, without preface.

Your rash objections would deserve to be chastised,

But that I have decreed that mercy’s higher prized.430

Behold, O angels! Since you’ve made confusion strange,

In you henceforth I’ve placed a sense of doubt and change!

Since you demur, and I refrain from chastisement,

None can gainsay my mercy; none may raise comment.

A hundred mothers, fathers, meet not My decree!

Each soul that’s born a zero is compared to Me!

Their love is but the froth; My love, the sea of love!

Froth comes and goes; the ocean none remove.

More I may say. For, in this earthly oyster-shell

There’s naught but froth of froth, of froth of froth to tell!’“435

The Lord thus spake;—the Lord, that sea of purity!—He spake not by conjecture;—truth’s own entity!What I here state is said in love’s humility.The Lord is He to whom I fly,—sole Deity!If thou wouldst put to test what I have here set forth,First prove thy test. Make truly sure it’s trouble’s worth.Cloak not thy secret thoughts. So may my thoughts be known.Propose whate’er thou list; within my power, ’tis shown.Thy heart conceal not. I’ll lay bare my heart of hearts;Accept all, of acceptance worthy, thy mind starts.440That I may do whatever lies within my power,Do thou observe my heart’s condition in its bower.

The Lord thus spake;—the Lord, that sea of purity!—

He spake not by conjecture;—truth’s own entity!

What I here state is said in love’s humility.

The Lord is He to whom I fly,—sole Deity!

If thou wouldst put to test what I have here set forth,

First prove thy test. Make truly sure it’s trouble’s worth.

Cloak not thy secret thoughts. So may my thoughts be known.

Propose whate’er thou list; within my power, ’tis shown.

Thy heart conceal not. I’ll lay bare my heart of hearts;

Accept all, of acceptance worthy, thy mind starts.440

That I may do whatever lies within my power,

Do thou observe my heart’s condition in its bower.

The wife observed: “A very sun of good is risen;Through whom a gladsome world’s enlarged from want’s sad prison.Vicegerent of th’ All-Merciful, Caliph of God,Fair Bagdād’s city prides itself to kiss his rod.If unto him thou have recourse, a prince thou’lt be.Why, then, to misery cleave, such as we hourly see?Companionship with fortune’s minions brings good luck;Where’s an elixir like their power, my dearest duck?445Ahmed’s esteem raised Abū-Bekr such a height;For once confirming Ahmed’s word, ‘Faithful’ he’s hight!”

The wife observed: “A very sun of good is risen;

Through whom a gladsome world’s enlarged from want’s sad prison.

Vicegerent of th’ All-Merciful, Caliph of God,

Fair Bagdād’s city prides itself to kiss his rod.

If unto him thou have recourse, a prince thou’lt be.

Why, then, to misery cleave, such as we hourly see?

Companionship with fortune’s minions brings good luck;

Where’s an elixir like their power, my dearest duck?445

Ahmed’s esteem raised Abū-Bekr such a height;

For once confirming Ahmed’s word, ‘Faithful’ he’s hight!”

The man demurred: “How can I gain access at court?Without an introduction, how find sure passport?Connection we must seek; or else invent excuse.No artizan can work without his tools. The deuce!Thus Mejnūn, when he’d heard by chance from passing wight,His Laylā was an invalid (which caused him fright),Exclaimed: ‘Alas! Without excuse I cannot go!And if I visit not the sick one, I’m all woe!450Would that I were physician, with his healing art;Then could I see my Laylā; none would dare me thwart!’And now he cries: ‘I have it! I’ve a right to go!No bashfulness shall keep me from her portico!’Had bats but eyes, with which to see and find their way,They’d fly about, disport themselves, jocund, by day.”

The man demurred: “How can I gain access at court?

Without an introduction, how find sure passport?

Connection we must seek; or else invent excuse.

No artizan can work without his tools. The deuce!

Thus Mejnūn, when he’d heard by chance from passing wight,

His Laylā was an invalid (which caused him fright),

Exclaimed: ‘Alas! Without excuse I cannot go!

And if I visit not the sick one, I’m all woe!450

Would that I were physician, with his healing art;

Then could I see my Laylā; none would dare me thwart!’

And now he cries: ‘I have it! I’ve a right to go!

No bashfulness shall keep me from her portico!’

Had bats but eyes, with which to see and find their way,

They’d fly about, disport themselves, jocund, by day.”

The wife replied: “The Caliph’s public pageant isFor all who introduction lack; their griefs are his.To be, and have a grief, is introduction sure.Thus poverty and lowliness work their own cure.”455

The wife replied: “The Caliph’s public pageant is

For all who introduction lack; their griefs are his.

To be, and have a grief, is introduction sure.

Thus poverty and lowliness work their own cure.”455

He still objected: “Shall I fall in love with want,That I may urge my need as matter for some grant?E’en then, a witness credible I should requireT’ attest my indigence, when almoners inquire.Point out for me a witness; not mere words and wiles;That so the sovereign’s favour may be won, and smiles.For, otherwise, a mere pretext, without a proof,In justice’ court would fail, and bring reproof.A witness credible is, then,sine quâ non.For suitor’s plea to stand, proof it must rest upon.”460

He still objected: “Shall I fall in love with want,

That I may urge my need as matter for some grant?

E’en then, a witness credible I should require

T’ attest my indigence, when almoners inquire.

Point out for me a witness; not mere words and wiles;

That so the sovereign’s favour may be won, and smiles.

For, otherwise, a mere pretext, without a proof,

In justice’ court would fail, and bring reproof.

A witness credible is, then,sine quâ non.

For suitor’s plea to stand, proof it must rest upon.”460

His wife rejoined: “The witness thou requir’st to bring,Must, by some shrewd contrivance, from thy prospects spring.Rain-water’s all we have in store within our hut,Estate, possessions, wealth, lie in our water-butt.A little pot of water shalt thou bear with thee,As offering to the Caliph. This present from me;And say: ‘No other wealth on earth do I possess.To Arabs of the desert, water’s happiness!The Caliph’s treasury is full of gems and gold;A pot of water such as this, its coffers do not hold!465What is this pot? It is an emblem of our lives!The water in it, matchless virtue of our wives!Accept, then, gracious prince, this little pot from me;And out of all God’s gifts repay its value, free!’That pot’s five lips are emblems of our senses. Sure!Keep them all clean; so may thy honour, too, be pure!The pot will then relation keep with ocean’s wave;And I, perchance, advantage from that ocean have.If clean thou carry it before the sovereign’s eyes,He may be pleased therewith;—buy it from mere surprise.470The pot will, then, of water never lacking be;My little water-pot shall suffice thee and me.Close tight its lips, and bear it full from our supply.A holy text ’tis says: ‘From lust close every eye.’311His beard, his moustache, both, will swell with joy at this.For prince supreme like him, my offering’s not amiss.”

His wife rejoined: “The witness thou requir’st to bring,

Must, by some shrewd contrivance, from thy prospects spring.

Rain-water’s all we have in store within our hut,

Estate, possessions, wealth, lie in our water-butt.

A little pot of water shalt thou bear with thee,

As offering to the Caliph. This present from me;

And say: ‘No other wealth on earth do I possess.

To Arabs of the desert, water’s happiness!

The Caliph’s treasury is full of gems and gold;

A pot of water such as this, its coffers do not hold!465

What is this pot? It is an emblem of our lives!

The water in it, matchless virtue of our wives!

Accept, then, gracious prince, this little pot from me;

And out of all God’s gifts repay its value, free!’

That pot’s five lips are emblems of our senses. Sure!

Keep them all clean; so may thy honour, too, be pure!

The pot will then relation keep with ocean’s wave;

And I, perchance, advantage from that ocean have.

If clean thou carry it before the sovereign’s eyes,

He may be pleased therewith;—buy it from mere surprise.470

The pot will, then, of water never lacking be;

My little water-pot shall suffice thee and me.

Close tight its lips, and bear it full from our supply.

A holy text ’tis says: ‘From lust close every eye.’311

His beard, his moustache, both, will swell with joy at this.

For prince supreme like him, my offering’s not amiss.”

Thou, woman, didst not know that there, in Bagdād’s midst,A Tigris flowed with water, sweet as honey.—Didst?A very ocean is it, rapid in its course;With boats and ships, with fishers’ hooks, both fine and coarse.475Go then, good man! The Caliph thee his state shall show!Thou’lt comprehend the text: “Beneath which rivers flow.”312Thus, likewise, are our intellects, our thoughts, our sense;A drop compared with God’s boundless omniscience!

Thou, woman, didst not know that there, in Bagdād’s midst,

A Tigris flowed with water, sweet as honey.—Didst?

A very ocean is it, rapid in its course;

With boats and ships, with fishers’ hooks, both fine and coarse.475

Go then, good man! The Caliph thee his state shall show!

Thou’lt comprehend the text: “Beneath which rivers flow.”312

Thus, likewise, are our intellects, our thoughts, our sense;

A drop compared with God’s boundless omniscience!

The husband now chimed in: “Yes! Plug the pot’s mouth tight.Thou’st hit the very offering;—useful, good, and right!Sew it up carefully in case of felt, threefold.Our Caliph’s breakfast-water313shall it be;—so cold!No other water’s like it in this world of ours;—It’s heaven’s pure ambrosia, ’still’d from vernal showers!480Poor cits know none but waters hard and bitter all;—Whence various maladies, with blindness, them befall!”

The husband now chimed in: “Yes! Plug the pot’s mouth tight.

Thou’st hit the very offering;—useful, good, and right!

Sew it up carefully in case of felt, threefold.

Our Caliph’s breakfast-water313shall it be;—so cold!

No other water’s like it in this world of ours;—

It’s heaven’s pure ambrosia, ’still’d from vernal showers!480

Poor cits know none but waters hard and bitter all;—

Whence various maladies, with blindness, them befall!”

The bird that lives where salt-marsh noisome airs exhales,Knows naught of joys pure water gives, and spicy gales!So thou, good man, who dwelledst ’midst the desert’s waste,Hadst never seen a Tigris, known Euphrates’ taste!As he, again, not yet from worldly cares set free,Is ignorant of ecstasy, of rapture’s glee;Or, having heard thereof as tales from men of old,Knows them as names alone, in storybooks oft told;485Child’s A, B, C; as taught to every lisping elf;But whose real meaning’s hidden from the teacher’s self.

The bird that lives where salt-marsh noisome airs exhales,

Knows naught of joys pure water gives, and spicy gales!

So thou, good man, who dwelledst ’midst the desert’s waste,

Hadst never seen a Tigris, known Euphrates’ taste!

As he, again, not yet from worldly cares set free,

Is ignorant of ecstasy, of rapture’s glee;

Or, having heard thereof as tales from men of old,

Knows them as names alone, in storybooks oft told;485

Child’s A, B, C; as taught to every lisping elf;

But whose real meaning’s hidden from the teacher’s self.

Our Arab man now takes that water-pot in charge.By day and night he travels;—load not over large!Anxiety fast holds him, lest the pot should break;Most watchfully he guards it from misfortune’s freak.His wife spends all her days in prayers on his behalf;Her worship o’er, she adds: “Lord! shield my better half!Secure our pot of water from all thievish hands!Send it may prove a pearl in sea of Bagdād’s lands!490My husband, true, is shrewd; and know’s what he’s about;But pearls have enemies, we trow, in every rout!What is a pearl? A drop from fount of life sent down;314A drop from non-existence,—whence all substance known!”

Our Arab man now takes that water-pot in charge.

By day and night he travels;—load not over large!

Anxiety fast holds him, lest the pot should break;

Most watchfully he guards it from misfortune’s freak.

His wife spends all her days in prayers on his behalf;

Her worship o’er, she adds: “Lord! shield my better half!

Secure our pot of water from all thievish hands!

Send it may prove a pearl in sea of Bagdād’s lands!490

My husband, true, is shrewd; and know’s what he’s about;

But pearls have enemies, we trow, in every rout!

What is a pearl? A drop from fount of life sent down;314

A drop from non-existence,—whence all substance known!”

Those prayers’ reward,—as guerdon of her sighs and tears;—His care’s requital, watchfulness, and constant fears;—Their pot reached Bagdād safe from robbers’ grip;Secure from shock of stone, from chance of fall or slip.A city, there, he sees, with every blessing filled;Where craving mortals ply each art, as they are skilled.495Each moment, here or there, some extra-lucky wight,His object gains, receives from court what glads his sight!To Muslims, Unbelievers, equal grace is doled,Like rain and sunshine. Not so paradise, we’re told!One set of men he sees arrayed in honour’s robes;Another set endure, through hope and fear, sharp probes.As gentle, or as simple, prince or worm, pismire,All are alive, as though last trump’s notes them inspire!The worldly, in apparel sumptuous to behold;The godly, all immersed in transports clearly told!500The hopeless have become as though their hopes were fair;The hopeful show enjoyment of fruition’s share!

Those prayers’ reward,—as guerdon of her sighs and tears;—

His care’s requital, watchfulness, and constant fears;—

Their pot reached Bagdād safe from robbers’ grip;

Secure from shock of stone, from chance of fall or slip.

A city, there, he sees, with every blessing filled;

Where craving mortals ply each art, as they are skilled.495

Each moment, here or there, some extra-lucky wight,

His object gains, receives from court what glads his sight!

To Muslims, Unbelievers, equal grace is doled,

Like rain and sunshine. Not so paradise, we’re told!

One set of men he sees arrayed in honour’s robes;

Another set endure, through hope and fear, sharp probes.

As gentle, or as simple, prince or worm, pismire,

All are alive, as though last trump’s notes them inspire!

The worldly, in apparel sumptuous to behold;

The godly, all immersed in transports clearly told!500

The hopeless have become as though their hopes were fair;

The hopeful show enjoyment of fruition’s share!

A voice proclaimed: “Come forward, all ye sons of want!”Beneficence seeks beggars, as for gifts they pant.Beneficence hunts up for beggars and for need,As beauty seeks her mirror, with a special greed.A pretty face is charming in its mirror seen;Beneficence gleams lovely through want’s chilly sheen.God hath enjoined in holy writ: “By forenoon’s glare!”315“Muhammed, chide not thou too much at beggar’s prayer!”316505

A voice proclaimed: “Come forward, all ye sons of want!”

Beneficence seeks beggars, as for gifts they pant.

Beneficence hunts up for beggars and for need,

As beauty seeks her mirror, with a special greed.

A pretty face is charming in its mirror seen;

Beneficence gleams lovely through want’s chilly sheen.

God hath enjoined in holy writ: “By forenoon’s glare!”315

“Muhammed, chide not thou too much at beggar’s prayer!”316505

A beggar is a mirror wherein bounty shines.Dull not that mirror, then, with breath of anger’s whines!The beggar ’tis shows forth what charity achieves;A charitable man for this those wants relieves.A beggar, then, ’s a mirror of th’ Almighty’s grace;And whoso’s with the Lord, therein sees his Lord’s face.

A beggar is a mirror wherein bounty shines.

Dull not that mirror, then, with breath of anger’s whines!

The beggar ’tis shows forth what charity achieves;

A charitable man for this those wants relieves.

A beggar, then, ’s a mirror of th’ Almighty’s grace;

And whoso’s with the Lord, therein sees his Lord’s face.

He that hath love for other than the Lord of all,Is dead at heart,—not living;—shadow on a wall!Whoe’er adopts God’s poverty, without false show,Secures the prize of God’s rich pleasure here below!510Who puts on sham of poverty deserves no bread.(Bones are not given to effigies of dogs. They’re dead!)His want craves pelf; ’tis not the love of God he’d seek.Lay not thy bounty at the feet of one too sleek.

He that hath love for other than the Lord of all,

Is dead at heart,—not living;—shadow on a wall!

Whoe’er adopts God’s poverty, without false show,

Secures the prize of God’s rich pleasure here below!510

Who puts on sham of poverty deserves no bread.

(Bones are not given to effigies of dogs. They’re dead!)

His want craves pelf; ’tis not the love of God he’d seek.

Lay not thy bounty at the feet of one too sleek.

A landshark is a mendicant for mere pelf’s sake.He’s fish in form; but will not to the water take.Domestic fowl is he; not eagle of free air.With Lot he sips of wine; God’s water’s his despair.He loves his God, if but his God will grant him wealth;But nothing cares for God’s mere grace;—for spirit’s health.515Should he conceive th’ idea of love for God alone,God’s essence he’d deny, God’s attributes disown.Man’s fancy is a creature;—born with mortal lot.God was not born. His scripture says: “Nor was begot.”317The man in love with self, and with his fancy’s freak,Can never be a lover who to God will seek.Were fancy’s lover true, and free from crafty guile,His fancy’s tropes had led him to the truth erewhile.

A landshark is a mendicant for mere pelf’s sake.

He’s fish in form; but will not to the water take.

Domestic fowl is he; not eagle of free air.

With Lot he sips of wine; God’s water’s his despair.

He loves his God, if but his God will grant him wealth;

But nothing cares for God’s mere grace;—for spirit’s health.515

Should he conceive th’ idea of love for God alone,

God’s essence he’d deny, God’s attributes disown.

Man’s fancy is a creature;—born with mortal lot.

God was not born. His scripture says: “Nor was begot.”317

The man in love with self, and with his fancy’s freak,

Can never be a lover who to God will seek.

Were fancy’s lover true, and free from crafty guile,

His fancy’s tropes had led him to the truth erewhile.

Thatdictumwould require a commentary, full,But fear withholds me. Prejudice will have its pull!520Old prejudice, quite purblind to the truth, I see,A hundred phantoms conjures up to frighten me.Not every man has heard aright the still small voice;Not every bird’s a fig-pecker, that sweets rejoice;How then a bird that’s dead,—turned putrid long ago;—A man of prejudice, all sightless, eyeless, so!A painted fish cares not for water, or for land.Soap to a blackamoor is one, or tar, in hand.

Thatdictumwould require a commentary, full,

But fear withholds me. Prejudice will have its pull!520

Old prejudice, quite purblind to the truth, I see,

A hundred phantoms conjures up to frighten me.

Not every man has heard aright the still small voice;

Not every bird’s a fig-pecker, that sweets rejoice;

How then a bird that’s dead,—turned putrid long ago;—

A man of prejudice, all sightless, eyeless, so!

A painted fish cares not for water, or for land.

Soap to a blackamoor is one, or tar, in hand.

Shouldst thou depict a portrait overwhelmed with grief,Would grief or joy be felt, though shown in strong relief?525The picture would look sorrowful;—no sorrow feel;Or smiling happiness;—without gay laughter’s peal.The joy or grief depicted by a pencil’s art,Is naught but simulated;—knows nor thrill, nor smart.

Shouldst thou depict a portrait overwhelmed with grief,

Would grief or joy be felt, though shown in strong relief?525

The picture would look sorrowful;—no sorrow feel;

Or smiling happiness;—without gay laughter’s peal.

The joy or grief depicted by a pencil’s art,

Is naught but simulated;—knows nor thrill, nor smart.

Lugubrious countenances are for our behoof;That we may be reminded not to court reproof.And beaming visages are not without their use,If they recall us from mere form to sense occluse.The various effigies we see in this bath-house,318Disguised in draperies, are dolls;—blind fools to chouse.530So long as thou’rt outside, naught else but clothes thou’lt see.Undress thyself. Come in; and see the nude, the free.There’s no admission granted to a bath, while dressed.But clothes, the body, this, the soul, leave all unguessed.

Lugubrious countenances are for our behoof;

That we may be reminded not to court reproof.

And beaming visages are not without their use,

If they recall us from mere form to sense occluse.

The various effigies we see in this bath-house,318

Disguised in draperies, are dolls;—blind fools to chouse.530

So long as thou’rt outside, naught else but clothes thou’lt see.

Undress thyself. Come in; and see the nude, the free.

There’s no admission granted to a bath, while dressed.

But clothes, the body, this, the soul, leave all unguessed.

Our Arab man, from far in desert’s sandy waste,Has reached at length the walls of Bagdād,—home of taste.The guards, the officers, on duty at the gate,Received him with politeness, kindness delicate.Without a question asked, his case they’d understood.Their charge was to show kindness first, ere asked for food.535So they addressed him thus: “Ho, thou, good Arab prince!Whence comest thou? How fares it? Straight thy wish evince!”

Our Arab man, from far in desert’s sandy waste,

Has reached at length the walls of Bagdād,—home of taste.

The guards, the officers, on duty at the gate,

Received him with politeness, kindness delicate.

Without a question asked, his case they’d understood.

Their charge was to show kindness first, ere asked for food.535

So they addressed him thus: “Ho, thou, good Arab prince!

Whence comest thou? How fares it? Straight thy wish evince!”

He answered: “Prince I am, if you to me be kind;But if you me contemn, I’m naught in my own mind.Your aspects indicate you’re men of wealth and rank;Your speech and smiles betoken breeding, noble, frank.Mere sight of your kind features salve is to the eyes;Your looks alone enrich;—gold in your voices lies.Each one of you expression is of God’s own grace;In Caliph’s bosom nurtured, favoured with high place;540That you, in turn, dispense th’ elixir of support,And brighten longing eyes by words of kind import.I am a stranger, poor, come from the desert’s sands,In hopes some favour to obtain from sovereign hands.The rumour of his goodness fills the wilderness;Each atom in its wastes blooms thence in joyfulness.In search of wealth have I approached his capital;Now I’m arrived, I burn with pleasures optical.E’en as the lass in search of bread at baker’s shop,Struck with his ‘prentice’ beauty, swooned;—a lifeless drop!545Or like the saunterer for air in royal park,Who lost his heart to one he met, gay as a lark!Or like the desert merchant drawing from a wellWhat he thought water, was entranced by Joseph’s spell!Again, as Moses hasted for a coal of fire,And found the burning bush, that led him to empire!Or Jesus, who escaped his foes with one fleet bound,And found himself then landed where the sun goes round!319An ear of corn it was that baited Adam’s trap.320But thence himself became the source of mankind’s sap!550The falcon stoops to earth enticed by luring fate;He there meets man’s good teaching, soars to princely state.A child is sent to school to teach him learning’s prize,In hope of toys and treats he studies till he’s wise.On leaving school he sits in seat of law or power;He paid his schoolpence then;—he’s now lord of the hour!So Abbās321sallied forth to war, with fierce intent,To put Muhammed down,—Islām to circumvent.Defender of the Faith, till death, he then became;The Caliphate was destined, in his line, to fame!555So am I come, in hopes at this court to advance;Though at its gate as yet, I feel I’ve every chance.In quest of bread am I; as offering, water bring.The hope of bread sets wide heaven’s portals at one swing.’Twas bread that drove out Adam from his paradise;’Tis bread will gain me entrance where my hopes take rise.From bread, from water, both, as angels, far I stroll;And, following the spheres, around this centre roll!Without an object none will toil on earth, you see,Save true and godly lovers. They’re from motives free!”560

He answered: “Prince I am, if you to me be kind;

But if you me contemn, I’m naught in my own mind.

Your aspects indicate you’re men of wealth and rank;

Your speech and smiles betoken breeding, noble, frank.

Mere sight of your kind features salve is to the eyes;

Your looks alone enrich;—gold in your voices lies.

Each one of you expression is of God’s own grace;

In Caliph’s bosom nurtured, favoured with high place;540

That you, in turn, dispense th’ elixir of support,

And brighten longing eyes by words of kind import.

I am a stranger, poor, come from the desert’s sands,

In hopes some favour to obtain from sovereign hands.

The rumour of his goodness fills the wilderness;

Each atom in its wastes blooms thence in joyfulness.

In search of wealth have I approached his capital;

Now I’m arrived, I burn with pleasures optical.

E’en as the lass in search of bread at baker’s shop,

Struck with his ‘prentice’ beauty, swooned;—a lifeless drop!545

Or like the saunterer for air in royal park,

Who lost his heart to one he met, gay as a lark!

Or like the desert merchant drawing from a well

What he thought water, was entranced by Joseph’s spell!

Again, as Moses hasted for a coal of fire,

And found the burning bush, that led him to empire!

Or Jesus, who escaped his foes with one fleet bound,

And found himself then landed where the sun goes round!319

An ear of corn it was that baited Adam’s trap.320

But thence himself became the source of mankind’s sap!550

The falcon stoops to earth enticed by luring fate;

He there meets man’s good teaching, soars to princely state.

A child is sent to school to teach him learning’s prize,

In hope of toys and treats he studies till he’s wise.

On leaving school he sits in seat of law or power;

He paid his schoolpence then;—he’s now lord of the hour!

So Abbās321sallied forth to war, with fierce intent,

To put Muhammed down,—Islām to circumvent.

Defender of the Faith, till death, he then became;

The Caliphate was destined, in his line, to fame!555

So am I come, in hopes at this court to advance;

Though at its gate as yet, I feel I’ve every chance.

In quest of bread am I; as offering, water bring.

The hope of bread sets wide heaven’s portals at one swing.

’Twas bread that drove out Adam from his paradise;

’Tis bread will gain me entrance where my hopes take rise.

From bread, from water, both, as angels, far I stroll;

And, following the spheres, around this centre roll!

Without an object none will toil on earth, you see,

Save true and godly lovers. They’re from motives free!”560

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