V. The Lion and the Beasts.
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Jalal al-Din Rumi, Maulana and Redhouse, James W. (James William), Sir
Lest it should suck the milk religion’s teachings give,—
Lest it should soar on high around heaven’s towers, and live,—
The learning of external sense a muzzle lies,—
The milk of truth sublime’s denied to all its cries.
But God hath planted in man’s heart a precious pearl.
Nor seas, nor skies, such gem enclose within their whirl!
How long of form thy talk—form-worshipper—vain man?
Cannot thy senseless soul cast off form’s deadening ban?
Did human form alone suffice a man to make,
Ahmed and Abū-Jahl were one in grade, in stake.125
A painting on a wall may show the human form.
But look and see what lacks, the figure to inform.
’Tis life it wants, and soul;—the pretty-looking thing!
Ask for its life. No! No! Though portrait of a king.
The heads of all earth’s lions bowed down meek and low,
When God the Seven Sleepers’152 dog applauded. How!
To call it dog, to charge it with defect of race,
No harm can do it; God in heaven hath given it place.
’Twas not the pen prescrib’d the qualities of form;
Th’ Omniscient, the Just, ’twas, made it multiform.130
Th’ Omniscient, the Just, a Spirit is, All-Blest;
Him no place holds; He’s not before, behind, east, west.
He influences matter from His high abode;
But heaven of heavens cannot contain the Spirit’s mode.”
That theme is endless. Let us then just turn away.
Let’s ask about the hare; hear what he has to say.
Sell off thy ass’ ears; with the price a fresh pair buy.
An ass’s ears will never understand this cry.153
Go to. Examine well the hare’s most foxy wile,—
The subtle stratagem that did the lion foil.135
Wisdom’s the seal by which great Solomon did rule.
The whole world’s but a frame, and wisdom is its soul.
Hence ’tis, by wisdom’s spell, as clay on potter’s wheel,
The seas, the hills, the plains, are made man’s power to feel.
The lion, tiger, leopard, dread him as does mouse;
The shark, the crocodile, he follows to their house.
The demon and the fairy, both constrained to flight,
Have hid themselves from him,—are only seen by night.
The human being has his foes hid every side.
A prudent man by caution may in safety bide.140