XV. Zeyd’s Inspiration.
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Jalal al-Din Rumi, Maulana and Redhouse, James W. (James William), Sir
They visit one another’s thrones, high rapture’s seats;
They kiss each other fondly; each all others greets.
My ears grow deaf through listening to those cries of grief,
And sorrow’s anguish from the lips where sin sat chief.
These are slight indications; much more could I say;
I pause; the Prophet’s wearied; cease from speech I may.”
Thus spake the Prophet’s servant, in delirious guise.
The Prophet shook his collar,—sign of deep surprise.
Then spake: “Rein in thy steed! He risks to run away!
Reflected Truth declares: ‘God blushes not.’385 Heyday!45
The mirror’s fallen out from its protecting case!
A mirror and a balance never truth debase!
A mirror and a balance never facts conceal,
Although some one be hurt by what they do reveal!
The mirror and the balance tests are of my rule;
Though for a thousand years thou serve it’s strict formule.
Hide not the truth from thought of deep respect for me.
Show forth the whole, in full. Deficiency mayn’t be.
What is’t that tells thee: ‘Play not, joke not with the truth?’386
The mirror, balance, God,—who smites falsehood with truth!50
Sure, God hath raised me up for that one sole intent,
That through me truth be preached unto its full extent.
Were this not so, what value’s in me, valued friend?
Did I become instructor, only good to mend?
But shut thy mirror tight within its felten sack,
If Sion’s miracle’s repeated in thy track.”
Said Zeyd: “Can man e’er grasp beneath his feeble arm
The sun of truth, eternal luminary, warm?
’Twould burst his grasp asunder; all his wiles were vain,
Though madness he should add to reason in his brain!”55
Replied the Prophet: “On thy eye thy finger place;
The world is straight deprived of all the sun’s bright face!
A finger-tip suffices to blot out the moon;
A symbol, this, of God’s great sin-effacing boon.
A point can cover up a whole world with its shade;
The sun can be eclipsed by what’s a mere monade.
Shut close thy lips. Consider now the mighty sea.
By God’s command the ocean man’s meek slave must be.387
Ev’n as the fountains Selsabīl and Zenjabīl388
Are given for use of angels, Michael, Isrāfīl.38960