V. The Lion and the Beasts.
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Jalal al-Din Rumi, Maulana and Redhouse, James W. (James William), Sir
The world’s renewed each moment, though we still remain
In ignorance that permanence can change sustain.
Life, like a river, ceaselessly, is still renewed;
And apes persistency, in forms by change subdued,
Through fleetness it puts on continuity’s shape;
Like squib when ’tis revolved in dark by boy with tape.
A flash of flame, through motion’s necessary speed,
Appears unto our eyes a fire of size, indeed.
Its length and its extension, through quickness of fact,
Appear to be effects of God’s creative act.265
A student of this mystery, a doctor of great skill,
Is our Husāmu-’d-Dīn,163 whose praises books would fill.
The lion, now enraged with hunger’s gnawing pain,
Perceived the hare was coming, bounding o’er the plain.
All carelessly, in confidence, he frisking came,
The lion all the while growled, gnashed his teeth from shame.
No consciousness of fault was visible, no fear;
But confidence, sure sign his conscience he felt clear.
When he’d reached hearing range, the lion him addressed
In tones of wrath: “Thou demon, insolent, possessed!270
Know I’m a lion; elephants my prey I make.
The tigers, spotted pards, by me are caused to quake.
A petty hare am not I, slighted thus to be,
Or see my just dominion spurned by likes of thee.
Cast off assumed prim innocence, awake to fact;
Thou hear’st the lion’s roar; forget not thus the pact.”
The hare replied: “Gramercy! Hear my poor excuse.
Let me explain. Your Majesty will ne’er refuse.”
The lion now: “Excuse? Thou basest of the base!
Is this the time to pay thy court? A pretty case!275
Unseasonably crowing cock art thou! Reprieved?
Excuse from simpleton can never be received.
A simpleton’s excuse is worse than was his fault.
Excuse of ignorance were science to assault.
Excuse from thee, thou hare, were quite devoid of sense.
Take thou me not for hare; with me strive not to fence.”
The hare to him: “O prince! Have pity on the weak!
Lend ear unto the tales of them who justice seek.
Thankoffering let it be for thy august estate.
Poor supplicant like me, thou’lt not drive from thy gate.280