IX. The Poor Scenite Arab and his Wife.
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Jalal al-Din Rumi, Maulana and Redhouse, James W. (James William), Sir
Th’ Infinite’s lovers finite’s worshippers are not.
Who seek the finite lose th’ Infinite, as we wot.
When finite with the finite falls in love, perforce,
His loved one soon returns to her infinite source.
A beard that puts itself into another’s grasp,
In lather’s smothered; emblem of a weak mind’s gasp.
He’s not his own lord; cannot guide his own affairs;
He does but what he’s told; where’er he’s bid, repairs.
Would’st sin with woman? Choose, at least, one that is free.
Would’st rob and steal? Let pearls and jewels be thy fee.565
A slave obeys a master; has himself no will;
The scent is all the rose’s; thorns show no such skill.
A slave may not attain to wish that he may form;
His toil is vain, his trouble profitless;—poor worm!
Shall hunter snare a shadow? Where were then his food?
A shadow’s not a substance;—can do no one good.
A foolish hunter seized the shadow of a bird!
The fowl, on tree securely perched, not one foot stirred;
But, wondering, thought: “What is the stupid fool about?
Demented, sure; his little wit he’s let ooze out!”570
But if thou thinkest finite’s of th’ Infinite born;
And sayest: “For love of rose, do honour to the thorn;”
Consider: finite unto Infinite’s not joined.
Or what need of the prophets? They’ve not scripture coined.
The prophets have been sent to link the two in one.
If they’re not two, but one, what have the prophets done?
But let that be. Th’ inquiry has no useful end.
The day is waning; let us to our tale attend.
The Arab now his little pot of water showed.
As seed to earth, he it on Caliph’s court bestowed;575
And said: “Present my offering at the sovereign’s feet,
If beggar save his king from want, it’s surely meet.
The water’s fresh; the little jar green-glazed and new;
Filled from a pool replenished by the rain and dew.”
On hearing this the guards were laughing in their sleeves;
But still, as precious, took the jar;—polite court-reeves!
The Caliph’s kindly nature, active, well-informed,
To kindness had each member of his court reformed.
For as the sovereign is, so will his subjects be.
The azure vault of heaven makes green the earth;—you see.580