VII. The Merchant and the Parrot.
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Jalal al-Din Rumi, Maulana and Redhouse, James W. (James William), Sir
Since, then, we must listen, before we can speak,
Lend ear to thy teachers, to guide thee who seek.
A room should be entered, as rule, through its door.
Effects ever seek where thou seest their cause’ spoor.
The speech that has need to be heard by no ear,
The voice is of God; it’s to us ever near.
Inventor is He. From no one has He learnt.
Of all, He’s the stay; not a prop does He want.
All others require, as in speech, so in deed,
From others, instruction; they all patterns need.85
If thou art not negligent,—hear’st what’s been said,
Adopt dervish frock; go and weep in homestead.
Himself Adam saved from all blame by his tears.
So tears run wherever repentance appears.
To weep, Adam came down to this nether world;
To sigh, moan, and groan; far from sweet Eden hurled,
From paradise shut out, from heaven driven down,
Like schoolboy in fool’s-cap, his great sin to drown.
If thou’rt seed of Adam;—if from his loins sprung;
Like him, do thou seek for God’s pardon, whilst young.90
With burnings of heart, and with moisture of eyes,
As sun and as rain, do thou sorrow’s fruit raise.
Of all the rich solace, what knowest thou of tears?
Thou beggest still for bread, like a blind man, with leers.
Thy stomach make void of foul greed’s lust for bread.
Thy heart thou’lt find filled with deep love for Godhead.
Thy infant soul wean from the gross milk of greed,
Then teach it to join, next, in angel’s pure creed.
So long thou remainest in darkness and thrall,
A bantling of Satan thou art, out at call.95
The morsel that brings a pure light to the soul
Is earned by endeavour; not begged with a bowl.
Should oil, upon trimming, extinguish a lamp,
Not oil may we name it; ’tis water; ’tis damp.
The honestly-earned morsel, wisdom imparts;
Gives softness to souls, and a warmness to hearts.
If thou be aware that from thy morsel spring
Heartburnings and hate, know it’s not a blest thing.
Hast wheat ever sown, and reaped barley instead?
Hast known colt of ass from a mare in birth bred?100