IX. The Poor Scenite Arab and his Wife.
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Jalal al-Din Rumi, Maulana and Redhouse, James W. (James William), Sir
Existence is the secret of their constant war;
The form in which ’tis waged thou’rt now about to hear.
Had psychic indication proved sufficient sign,
Material creation ’d been a useless coin.
Is love for God thy thought, aim, wish, design, intent?
To forms of worship, fasting, thou wilt yield assent.
The gifts and little presents interchanged by friends,
Are not their love’s pure essence. Signs they are, not ends.
Mere outward witnesses, that simply testify
Th’ affection’s feelings. These the heart, ’tis, sanctify.385
For all men know that kindnesses bestowed by hand
Are proofs of sympathy. Mind can this comprehend.
A witness may speak falsely; also, may speak truth;
Is sometimes drunk, with wine; sometimes, is urged by ruth.
When wine is drunk, intoxications supervene;
Its vapours rise into the head, erst so serene.
Behold yon hypocrite! He fasts; he worships, prays;
That he a man of God may seem. He’s not. Mere ways!
Results of outward actions are of outward kind,—
The signs of what is inward, working on the mind.390
Grant unto us, O Lord, discernment to perceive
What sign is true, which meant fond mortals to deceive!
Suppose not that the senses with discernment plod;
Discernment is the inner, gracious gift of God!
Effect not being visible, we look to cause.
We know that kindred moves to friendship, by fixed laws.
But him, who judges by the light of God’s own truth,
Effect and cause no longer hold a slave, forsooth.
When love for God is lighted in the human heart,
It fiercely burns; it suffers not effect’s dull smart.395
No sign of love does it require to seek for, there;
For love is love’s own sign, giv’n from the highest sphere.
Details there are, far more, to make this theme complete.
If wished for, each can find them. They’re not obsolete.
Sense must be gathered from material, outward form;
Some sense is patent; some is hard to find, difform.
The indication’s feeble;—tree and water see;—
How different, apparently, their natures be!
Let’s leave now all these words,—cause, nature, sign;—
And turn we to our Arab and his wife benign.400