V. The Lion and the Beasts.
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Jalal al-Din Rumi, Maulana and Redhouse, James W. (James William), Sir
Its stalk and leaf break forth from prison underground.
It rears itself apace, makes friends with th’ air around.
The leaves burst from the stem, and spread themselves abroad;
Until by growth a tree, whose grace all men applaud.
It now expands in thanks for favours of the Lord;
Each leaf, flower, fruit intones a hymn of praise, like bard.
“Thou, Giver of all good things, nourishedst my root.
And madest me become a strongly growing shoot.”
Our souls, shut up in prison in our frames of clay,
So break forth into raptures when they’re called away.465
They dance for very joy, from love of God Allwise,
When, like full moon perfected, they in glory rise.
Material beings, thus, their dance perform, and souls.
Ask not of them the subject of their hyperboles.
The hare had lodged the lion in a dungeon safe.
More shame for lion was it, hare should make him chafe.
Just so a shame it is, and subject for surprise,
The state in which he’s left, who Fakhru-’d-Dīn would rise.176
O, he’s a lion, sure, at bottom of a well.
His pride of flesh the hare that cast him down to hell.470
His pride, the hare, at large, disporting as it will;
Himself down in the pit. O, what a bitter pill!
The lion-slaying hare now scampered to his friends,
Exclaiming: “Good news bring I; let joy know no ends!
Good news! Good news! Festivities bring into play!
The hell-cat’s gone to hell, from which he came our way.
Good news! Good news! That foe to all our lives, and peace.
Has had his teeth extracted, through our Maker’s grace.
He who so many crushed with paw of tyranny,
Like rubbish has been swept by death’s broom clean away.”475
A convocation now was held by all the beasts,
Hilarity and joy enlivened all their breasts.
About the hare, as candle, they, moths-like, all flocked.
All their respects presented; none were found who mocked.
They all declared: “Thou art an angel by heaven sent
(Angel of death, however, he to lion went).
Whatever thou may’st be, our souls thy sacrifice!
Thou’st triumphed. For such prowess praise will not suffice.
Our God it was endowed thee with such wondrous skill.
May God be praised! Deliverance is by His will.480