II. The Oilman and the Parrot.
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Jalal al-Din Rumi, Maulana and Redhouse, James W. (James William), Sir
The hypocrite71 worships72 as aping the saint,
For form’s sake, or worse. His religion’s mere feint.
In pilgrimage, worship, and fasting, and alms,73
Believers and hypocrites vie, as in psalms.
Believers shall win in the last judgment day;
The hypocrites then shall receive their due pay.
The two are contending one great game of deeds,
As factions of Mervites and Rāzites74 with creeds.
They each shall go there, where their party shall stand;
And each shall be classed as their actions demand.7545
Just style these “Believers” their hearts fill with glee;
But dub them all “Hypocrites,” rage then thou’lt see.
The first one’s ashamed of the last one’s true self;
This last-named’s a plague to the first, like an elf.
No virtue in mere words or letters is found;
“Believer”’s a word in itself but a sound.
If “Hypocrite!” cast in their teeth be at last,
As scorpion’s sting to their souls it clings fast.
If “Hypocrite”’s name be not product of hell,
So bitter at all times why does its sound tell?50
This name’s great repulsion is not in its form;
The bitter it smacks of is not from a corm.
The word’s but a vase; ’tis its sense is the wine;
The sense of a book in the title may shine.
Sweet lakes and salt seas do we find here on earth;
The barrier between them: “Thus far; go not forth!”
They both, in their origin, flow from one source;
Look not at their severance; it’s matter of course.
The touchstone’s the test by the which thou must try
If gold be quite pure, or debased with alloy.55
The touchstone of conscience, where planted by God,
What’s certain, what’s doubtful, makes plain without nod.
A fishbone that sticks in the throat of a man
No ease ever gives till it’s coughed out again.
In ten thousand mouthfuls should one bone be found,
As soon as perceived, it’s spit out on the ground.
Perception of things mundane guides here below;
Religion’s keen sense leads where God’s glories glow.
The health of his senses man asks of the leech;
Religion’s sound sense from the Lord we beseech.7660