XI. The Lion’s Hunt, in Company.
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Jalal al-Din Rumi, Maulana and Redhouse, James W. (James William), Sir
A lion, wolf, and fox together went to hunt;
Among the hills, in quest of game, they turned their brunt.
By mutual help and aid, they hoped to make the field
Too hot for other animals not under union’s shield.
Co-operating with each other, they surmised,
A heavy bag they each would make of what each prized.
’Tis true, the noble lion felt of this ashamed.
Still, he politely showed towards them his spirit tamed.
A king feels inconvenienced by throngs of troops;
But out of kindness makes them share his warlike swoops.5
The sun would feel ashamed, did stars with him appear;
’Tis generous in the sun to grace the starry sphere.
’Twas God’s command to Ahmed still: “With them consult.”332
True, they gave no advice; no counsel did result.
Upon the balance barley’s weighed, as well as gold;
But barley, thence, has not acquired gold’s value told.
The spirit with the flesh is fellow-traveller now;
A dog has sometimes charge of palace-yard below.
The company, then, set out for the woods amain,
As followers of the lion’s majesty, and train.10
A mountain-ox, an ibex, next a hare, they took;
Since fortune smiled on them in each succeeding nook.
A lion’s followers on the plain of strife and war,
Of food, by day or night, shall know no want, no bar.
Their prey they carried from the hills into the plain;
Or dead, or sorely wounded;—bleeding, or clean slain.
The wolf and fox were moved to pitch of keen desire,
To see the prey shared out with justice by their sire.15
The shade of their cupidity caught Leo’s eye,
He understood their confidence, their longing’s dye.
Whoe’er has insight to the hearts and minds of men,
Knows at a glance what’s passing under his sharp ken.
Beware, O heart, thou ever-fond one, in his sight,
Thy secret to betray,—thy wish to bring to light!
He knows it all, though ignorance he may pretend;—
His smile is but a veil thy aim to comprehend.
The lion, having measured all their secret thought,
Made no remark; he knew how they could both be bought;20
Within his breast revolved their fitting punishment:
“I’ll show you, my fine fellows, what’s by lion meant.