I. The Prince and the Handmaid.
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Jalal al-Din Rumi, Maulana and Redhouse, James W. (James William), Sir
The prince: “Would thou’dst my soul enslaved; not she!
But here below effect a cause must see.
Be my Muhammed! I thy ‘Umar stand,
With girded loins awaiting thy command.”
Pray God to grant thee ever meek respect;
The puffed-up fool’s remote from Heaven’s elect.
A shameless monarch to himself’s a curse,
A firebrand to his realm; nay, even worse.
Food in the wilderness by God was sent;
Food without toil, food gratis, without stint.45
Some graceless scoffers out of Moses’ host
Dared to demand the onions, lentils lost.62
Such toilless food then ceased to fall from Heaven;
To dig, to sow, to reap, in lieu is given.
Fresh suit, much later, Jesus made; God willed;
Again food rife became; men’s dishes filled.
That food’s a gift from Heaven is clearly said,
In Jesu’s prayer: “Give us our daily bread.”63
Men’s bold presumption Heaven again incensed,
When basketsful to beggars were dispensed.50
Jesus proclaimed the miracle would last;—
That food would never lack as in the past.
Men doubted, asked for more to store away;
They trusted not God’s word for bread each day.
Importunate those suitors, full of greed;
Heaven’s gate of mercy closed against their breed.
Withheld is rain when alms have ceased to flow;
Where fornication reigns, black death will grow.
Whatever grief and sorrow’s on us sent,
Of wickedness and guilt’s a punishment.55
The hardened sinner, who his God offends,
A ruthless robber is; he spoils his friends.
He who is shameless in his words and deeds,
Despair from disappointment is his meed.
Yon orbs of heaven obey their Maker’s word;
The holy angels meekly serve the Lord.
The sun’s eclipse is but a check to pride;
E’en Satan’s fall presumption caused to tide.
Return we now the sequel to attest,
Of what befell our prince with his new guest.60