I. The Prince and the Handmaid.
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Jalal al-Din Rumi, Maulana and Redhouse, James W. (James William), Sir
Thus may thy soul, in future blessed abode,
Muhammed-like, in peace be with thy God.
His lovers joyful are, most, when they slay
Their worldly joys with their own hands, as play.
Our prince took not the goldsmith’s life through lust.
Chase such suspicion from thy mind thou must.
Imagine not he’d stoop to mortal sin.
Can holy saint have tainted heart within?
The trial of the fire, and of the flame,
Is but to cleanse pure gold from every blame.205
So too, temptation on us all is sent,
To part the good from those of bad intent.
Had he not acted thus by God’s command,
No prince, a wolf he’d been, rav’ning the land.
From lust, greed, foul caprice, his soul was free;
So did God will, whate’er the cause may be.
Elias sank his ship in full design;69
That wreck to future blessings was the sign.
Moses was shock’d thereat, with all his skill
And inspiration. Thou must needs judge ill.210
A blood-red rose call not by murder’s name;
Just retribution see thou do not blame.
Had righteous blood been shed by him as naught,
Blasphemer were I to extol him aught.
Praise of the wicked God with horror views;
The good contemn all flatterers of sin’s crews.
Our prince was kind and virtuous, wise and just,
A man God-fearing, and in God’s full trust.
A victim put to death by such a friend,
Is slain in error, or for some wise end.215
Did not our God mean mercy in His wrath,
How could the Lord of Mercies thunder forth?
A child may tremble at the lancet’s smart;
His mother knows there’s healing in the dart.
It may half kill him, but restores sound life;
So God’s great mercies far surpass our strife.
Men judge of what they see by what they think.
From judging justice, men of sense will shrink.219