V. The Lion and the Beasts.
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Jalal al-Din Rumi, Maulana and Redhouse, James W. (James William), Sir
They came to where the well was. Here the lion saw
The hare his pace had slackened, backward ’gan to draw.
At this he remonstrated: “What art thou about!
Come forward still. The enemy we must find out.”
The hare replied: “I have no power to move a foot.
From fear I faint. I tremble; courage has ebbed out.
Thou seest how pale my face; like ashes I’ve become;
An indication sure of fear, most troublesome.
God hath the countenance the mind’s true index named.
The adept keeps his eye on countenance enchained.385
A face’s colour tell-tale is, like tinkling bell.
A horse’s neigh of other steeds’ approach will tell.
A sound from anything attention brings to pass;
’Tis thus we know the creak of door from bray of ass.
The Prophet said, no point of character t’ asperse:
‘Enigma is a man until he’s heard converse.’
The colour in man’s face makes known how stands the heart.
Compassion take on me; thy sympathy impart.
Enjoyments sensual give man a rosy face;
The fame of pale-faced men reports good sense and grace.390
I feel within me what makes all my joints seem weak;
It’s borne away my colour, strength, and power to speak.
It casts down whomsoe’er it chances to attack;
As tempest uproots trees it meets upon its track.
I’m subjected to that by which both men and beasts
Are turned to stocks and stones;—to say the very least.
They are but parts; that thing a universal is.
It makes men’s faces pale; gives ashiness where ’tis;
As long as nature mournful is, or full of glee;—
As long as fields now verdant, naked then we see.395
The sun each morning rises, joying in his course;
At eve sinks down again, and goes from bad to worse.
The planets circulating, each within its sphere,
Are subject to immersion when the sun they near.
The moon in splendour far excels each tiny star.
But near its change it dwindles almost to a hair.
The very earth, that in firm steadfastness doth sit,
When subject to an earthquake, shakes as in a fit.
How many regions in the world, encroaching sands
Have changed from gardens into bare and sterile lands.400