XV. Zeyd’s Inspiration.
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Jalal al-Din Rumi, Maulana and Redhouse, James W. (James William), Sir
If he it be, why here, in secret and alone?
If not, whence come those features, fit to grace a throne?”
So he remained in doubt, ’twixt two opinions tossed,
Till Solomon recovered all the power he’d lost.
The foul usurping demon fled the royal state;
The king’s avenging sword pursued and sealed his fate.
The signet-ring of power once more on royal hand,
The demons and the fairies flocked to his command.
Mankind came crowding to his court, by levee swelled;
Among them came the youth who’d that opinion held.125
He saw the signet-ring. This sufficed. Doubt was past.
No room was left for surmise. All was clear at last.
Opinion may be formed of what’s behind a veil.
Conjecture lends its aid where knowledge ’gins to fail.
Conjecture’s potent when the subject’s hid from view.
Let it be visible; no surmise can we brew.
Although the sky of light is not without its rain,
The earth of darkness, too, produces plants and grain.
I love that text: “They who believe what is not seen.”393
Thence have I closed my eyes, the body’s windows keen.130
But should I cleave the firmament with my swift glance,
Could I exclaim: “Perceivest thou a flaw, perchance?”394
To scrutinise what’s hid behind the darkness’ screen,
Each man his method chooses; guesses what’s between.
A certain space of time confusion reigns supreme.
The robbers hang the magistrates by their own scheme,
Until at length a chief, blessed with a genius rare,
Springs up to serve his servants; all their troubles share.395
To render secret service is a thing beloved.
To hide a service rendered adds to what’s approved.135
What’s he, commends his king with lies before his face,
And in his absence needs lament his lack of grace?
The warden of a castle on the marches laid,
Far from his sovereign, distant from much-needed aid,
Defends his post with valour from beleaguering foe,
Disdains to be bought over, scorns the tempter’s moe.
His station’s on a frontier, no eye sees him act;
To duty true, he honestly fulfils his pact.
Then in his monarch’s presence honours due he gains,
Above the brave men fighting in the royal trains.140