VIII. The Harper.
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Jalal al-Din Rumi, Maulana and Redhouse, James W. (James William), Sir
We were all dead, and unto earth had we returned.
The voice of God we’ve heard; our prisons we have spurned.”
The voice of God without, also within the vail,
Can give the gift to all, it gave to Mary: “Hail!”
O ye whose death was not that which attacks the flesh,
At sound of the Beloved’s voice ye’ve risen afresh.
That voice the Bridegroom’s voice most truly was, ’tis said,
Although ’twas from the lips of His servant, Ahmed.
God said to him: “Thy tongue, thy eye, thy ear, I am;
All thy contentment, anger, thoughts, ’tis I undam.25
Go on; ‘By Me he hears, by Me he sees;’ that’s thee;
Thou art the head; thou holdest the place of Head’s trustee.
In ecstasy, since thou art ‘He the Lord’s who is,’249
I will be thine; for see, ’tis said: ‘The Lord is his.’
Now will I say to thee: ‘Thou art;’ and now; ‘I am.’
What I may say’s as clear as is the sun in heaven.
Wherever I may shine an instant in a lamp,
A world of doubts I solve; on all My seal I stamp.
The darkness which the sun could never yet illume,
By magic of My breath grows bright as peacock’s plume.30
Wherever gloom may reign as undisturbed night,
When shone upon by Me, like noonday’s forthwith bright.”
’Twas He who taught to Adam ev’ry thing’s true name,
Through Adam to mankind imparted He the same.
Take thou enlightenment from Adam or the Lord.
Draw wine as thou mayest list from jar or from the gourd.250
The distance is not great between the gourd and jar.
The gourd is not, like thee, made drunk by grape’s nectar.
Draw water from the brook, or from a pitcher’s mouth;
The brook is still the source whence pitcher’s filled; forsooth.35
Seek light as listest; whether from the moon or sun.
The moon derives her sheen from daystar’s golden tun.
Imbibe what light thou canst from any twinkling star.
The Prophet said: “Stars are all my disciples.” Hear!251
He further said: “How happy they who see my face,252
And happy they who look on them in their own place.”
He said: “Good luck to all who have the happy chance253
To look on my disciples,—mirrors of my glance.”
If thou by taper’s aid proceed to light a lamp,
The eye that sees its light, perceives the taper’s stamp.40