XV. Zeyd’s Inspiration.
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Jalal al-Din Rumi, Maulana and Redhouse, James W. (James William), Sir
The moon declares to man, as do the clouds, the shade,
“I, too, ’d been human, but for revelation made.399
Like you, I had been darksome, as within, without.
But revelation gave me sunlight, shade to rout.
Compared with the sun, I’m darksome as a cloud;
Compared with men’s dark bosoms, I may well be proud.
I shed a feeble light, that men may bear my beams,
He cannot look upon the sun’s too ardent streams.
I’ve mixed with honey vinegar; made oxymel;
A remedy to bring to man’s diseases fell.”165
Art rid of thy disease, my friend? Then set aside
The vinegar. Rejoice thy soul with honey’s tide.
When freed from lusts, the heart of man in full health shines.
God said: “The Merciful on heaven’s high throne reclines.”400
God rules the heart direct, free from all means to aid,
So soon as it is purged from dross that low it laid.
We’ll now go back to Zeyd, and proffer him advice;
We’ll warn him not to risk dishonour, paltering’s price.
Thou shalt not Zeyd now find; he’s surely run away,
He’s clean absconded by the door; had naught to say.170
Had’st thou been Zeyd, like him thou’dst lost been in a maze;
As stars die out when sunlight sets the skies ablaze.
E’en as no track points out where was galaxy’s place;
Thou’lt find no signs of Zeyd, no footstep, sign, or trace.
Our senses falter, all our reasoning is lost,
In splendour of the wisdom of th’ All-Ruling Ghost.
Men’s senses, and their reasons, must be shut within,
“In waves when all before us to appear begin.”401
When night returns, the sky again a court appears,
The hidden stars shine forth, and mark the rolling years.175
The senseless dead unto, will God their wits restore;
In circles, like attendants, Him they’ll stand before.
They’ll foot the dance, they’ll spread their hands, they’ll shout His praise;
They’ll sing their song: “Thou, Lord, us from the dead didst raise.”
Their mortal skins and bones they’ll shake off in the earth;
On angel-wings they’ll ride, and whirlwind-dust call forth.
Their course they’ll take from nullity to entity,
In judgment day, ungrateful, grateful laity.
Why turn away thy head, pretend not to have seen?
Hast thou not, first, in nullity, a truant been?180