XV. Zeyd’s Inspiration.
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Jalal al-Din Rumi, Maulana and Redhouse, James W. (James William), Sir
The world shall learn thy name, shall practise all thy rites;
Time and eternity remain thy perquisites.
But should a demon carry off thy seal, perchance,
Thy reign is o’er; thy fortune loses all advance.
Thenceforward vain regret shall canker in thy breast,
Until the day thou’rt called to thy account at last.
Unless thy heart renounce all selfish use of wit,
By mirror and by balance canst thou be held quit?”
Luqmān the sage, in presence of his noble lord,391
Among the slaves and servants was a mere byword.85
The lord one day commanded; straight some slaves were sent
To gather fruit from orchard for his throat’s content.
With them did Luqmān go, as parasite to feast,
Brimful of wisdom, black as night, a negro beast.
Their labour o’er, the slaves lay down to rest awhile;
The fruit they tasted, tasted still, consumed the pile.
Returning home, on Luqmān the whole blame they laid;
His lord was angered mightily at what they said.
Luqmān inquired the cause of this estrangement keen.
The lord gave vent in loud abuse to his roused spleen.90
Said Luqmān: “Lord, I swear by God’s most holy name,
Dishonest servant ne’er can hope for aught but blame.
Make proof of us. ’Tis easy. Lord thou art of all.
Command. We’ll drink our fill of water hot as gall.
Then make us run about within the meadow’s bound.
On horseback thou, on foot we, ’ll all trudge quickly round.
Thou soon shalt witness sights to show ‘the milk who spilt.’
Hearts’ secrets’ Great Revealer will disclose the guilt.”
Their lord so ordered. Scalding water soon was sought.
Each had to drink his fill, as hot as could be brought.95
Then all were made to run as fast as they could tear,
All up and down the meadow, as their legs could bear.
Now lo! What happens? Sickness on them, each, soon falls;
To vomit they’re constrained, with starting of eyeballs.
The stolen fruit contained within their stomach’s sack,
The water’s stimulus compelled them to give back.
When Luqmān’s turn was come to cast up his accounts,
Clear water was the only issue from his founts.
Luqmān’s philosophy this trial could evolve;
God’s wisdom far abstruser riddles will resolve.100