V. The Lion and the Beasts.
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Jalal al-Din Rumi, Maulana and Redhouse, James W. (James William), Sir
The birds with Solomon all left their twit-twit-twee,
And spake a tongue articulate; as one might see.
Synglottism is a link, a very potent spell;167
Among mere strangers, man’s a captive in a cell.
How many Turks and Hindūs synglottise with us;
How many pairs of each are strange as incubus!
A synglottist is then a man’s another self;
But syncardism, than synglottism’s much closer, elf.
Besides our words, our signs, our written characters,
From hearts, there rise by hundreds mute interpreters.325
The birds about their secrets one by one communed;
About their knowledge, sciences, and voices tuned.
To pay their court to Solomon their notes they raised;
Revealed their capabilities; skill of each praised.
Not out of pride and vanity; excess ’twould seem;
But solely to please Solomon, gain his esteem.
So slaves that seek for favour at a master’s hand
Exert themselves to name the talents they command.
But if they feel ashamed of one would them purchase,
Straightway they’re sick, halt, deaf, or something still more base.330
The turn then came for hoopoe’s setting forth his skill,
To say what he could do, what office he could fill.
Said he: “O King, one little talent’s all I own.
I’ll tell it in few words; succinctness is a crown.”
Said Solomon: “Let’s hear it. What then is thy skill?”
The hoopoe answered: “This.—I perch where’er I will.
From my seat I look down like plumbline on the ground,
And see if hidden water under it is found;
Where is it; at what depth; what are its qualities;
Whence takes its rise; from rock, sand, clay’s varieties.335
O Solomon, whene’er thou send’st thy armies forth,
Me call to mind; my skill is surely notice worth.”
To him replied then Solomon: “Esteemed good friend,
Thee I will name Purveyor-General on land.
Whene’er my troops go forth, through sandy deserts sent,
With them thou’lt journey; so, ne’er will be water scant.”
The crow on hearing this with jealousy was stung.
Addressing Solomon, he said: “This bird a lie has sung.
His insolence is great to boast thus to the king.
Such falsehood’s quite disgusting. Who’s heard such a thing?340