V. The Lion and the Beasts.
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Jalal al-Din Rumi, Maulana and Redhouse, James W. (James William), Sir
From off thy back, most potent lord and prince,
I’ll look down in the well. I’ll neither blink nor wince.”
The lion took him on his back without more fuss.
So, under this protection to the well went puss.
They both looked down; and in the water there
Reflection shadowed forth a lion and a hare.
The lion saw his own shape in the water shine:
“Another lion,” thought he, “with fat hare on chine.”
His foe he fancied, thus, that in the well he’d spied.
The hare he set down safely; in leapt he with pride.425
He thus fell in the pit he had for others dug.
Iniquity will visit those who drink out of her mug.
Iniquity’s a pit into which tyrants fall.
Such is the firm conviction of our wise men all.
The wickeder a man, the deeper does he sink.
So justice wills; and so, the wrong’d will doubtless think.
O thou who in thy might injustice dost commit,
For thy own self a pit thou diggest; our tale to wit.
Thou weavest round thyself a web, as does silkworm;
Thou’lt not escape unless to justice thou conform.430
Look not upon the weak as quite without a friend.
Reflect; ’tis said: “When God’s help comes.”175 Where’s then thy end?
If thou’rt an elephant in strength, the weak will flee
To his Protector. Then the Lord’s wrath shalt thou see.
Whenever wrong’s weak victim on his God doth call,
A clamour rises from the ranks in heaven’s hall.
If with his blood, in pride, thou stain thy teeth just now,
The toothache shall avenge him; dentist’s victim thou.
The lion saw himself reflected in the well.
Through blindest rage himself from foe he could not tell.435
He thought his own reflection was his hated foe,
And slew himself while seeking on him to work woe.
So tyrant, when thou seest injustice in the world,
Thyself behold. Those deeds thy banner have unfurled.
Thine are included with them in God’s just decree.
Thy rage, greed, lust’s reward most certainly thou’lt see.
They are thy very self; in them thou art condemned.
Thou judgest them; in selfsame manner thou’rt contemned.
In thy own acts thou seest not the sin thou work’st;
Or otherwise thy own self’s foe thou’dst be from first.440