V. The Lion and the Beasts.
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Jalal al-Din Rumi, Maulana and Redhouse, James W. (James William), Sir
He locks his door when treason’s lurking in his house.
So Pharaoh deemed he’d danger shun ere it should rouse.
How many thousand infants did he doom to death;
While Moses, whom he feared, his own roof was beneath.
Our eyes afflicted are with various kinds of ills.
Then go and make them blind, by seeing God ’tis wills.
God’s sight of providence is keener than men’s eyes.
By seeing with His sight, thou’lt find all thou wilt prize.
An infant, that can neither grasp nor walk as yet,
Takes seat upon his father’s neck, and runs. Sweet pet.25
Some seasons past, he scarcely gains some strength of limb;
When sorrow fastens on him;—sharp, and ghastly grim.
The hearts of men, before they gain or power or wealth,
Decline away from duty, pleasures seek by stealth.
And since by God’s decree from paradise they’re rent,
They prisoners become to rage, lust, discontent.
We are the household of that Householder, whose word
Thus spake: ‘Creation’s all as children of the Lord.’141
He that doth send the fattening rain upon the earth,
In mercy, too, can feed His creatures from their birth.”30
The lion thus replied: “’Tis true. But still, the Lord
A ladder sets before our feet to be explor’d.
Step after step we have to mount unto the roof.
Th’ idea of compulsion’s quite devoid of proof.
Two feet thou hast. Then why thyself hold to be lame?
Two hands also. Why maimed account thyself in name?
Whene’er a master puts a spade in hand of slave,
He has no need to speak; the act expression gave.
Our hands just so are given; spades they are to us.
Think out this problem well; it needs not any fuss.35
When thou hast laid this unction to thy soul amain,
In duty’s path to lay down life thou’lt count as gain.
Those symbols indices are, whence are secrets known.
Responsibility’s from thee withdrawn; work shown.
Thou’rt surely burdened. Borne also most truly art.
Recipient; hence accepted;—fully on His part.
Recipient be of God’s command; content thou’lt be.
Seek unto Him; and to Him joined thyself thou’lt see.
To strive to give thanks power provides this to perform.
Allege compulsion. Gratitude’s ground thou’lt deform.40