V. The Lion and the Beasts.
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Jalal al-Din Rumi, Maulana and Redhouse, James W. (James William), Sir
Compared with him it was a truly boundless pool.
When people see with their own eyes, call them not fool.
His universe was measured by his power of sight.
To such an eye such pool a sea was. He was right.
A false interpreter of scripture is such fly.
His fancy is the urine pool on which straws ply.
If flies in fancy thus explain the things they see,
By fortune’s freaks, in turn, a phœnix each may be.
He’s less than fly, of whom this tale example lends;
His soul unworthy is ev’n of the frame it tends.205
Just like the hare who’d lion undertake to fight,
How should his soul remain in his poor carcase, slight?
The lion growled in tones of anger and of rage:
“My ear it was bewrayed me; war my foes did wage.
Compulsionists’ false wiles placed bandage on my eyes.
Their wooden swords it was that stung my skin, like flies.
Henceforward I’ll not list to such cajoleries,—
Of elves and demons, in the wilderness, mere cries.
Tear, rend them; O my heart, pay no regard to them.
Strip off their skins; there’s naught beneath; mere stratagem.”210
When words deceitful are employed as wraps for guile,
They’re bubbles on the water, only last a while.
Such words are merely shell; th’ intent their kernel is;—
Or coloured portraiture of man; no life is his.
A shell may often cover kernel of foul smell.
A kernel sound can well afford to lose its shell.
If mind be pen; if page be water, in thy hands;
Be not surpris’d when all that’s written quick disbands.
On water ’tis to write, t’ expect good faith from bail.
Regret must follow. Shrug your shoulders. What avail!215
Man with desires is oft puffed up, and wishes vain.
Put out desire; you’ll find Jehovah’s endless reign.
His messages are peace, and sweet to pious soul;
For He alone’s eternal, free from change, and whole.
Men’s prayers for kings and princes change full oft in tone.
The prayers of saints and prophets call on God alone.
Th’ existence of earth’s sovereign’s empty pomp and pride,
The glories of a prophet in his God abide.
The names of kings on coins are used a little while;
The name of Ahmed there is ever seen to smile.159220