The leaves burst from the stem, and spread themselves

abroad;

Until by growth a tree, whose grace all men applaud.

It now expands in thanks for favours of the Lord;

Each leaf, flower, fruit intones a hymn of praise, like
bard.

Thou, Giver of all good things, nourishedst my root.
And madest me become a strongly growing shoot."

Our souls, shut up in prison in our frames of clay,
465 So break forth into raptures when they're called away.
They dance for very joy, from love of God All-wise,
When, like full moon perfected, they in glory rise.
Material beings, thus, their dance perform, and souls.
Ask not of them the subject of their hyperboles.

The hare had lodged the lion in a dungeon safe.

More shame for lion was it, hare should make him chafe.
Just so a shame it is, and subject for surprise,

The state in which he's left, who Fakhru-'d-Din would
rise.1

O, he's a lion, sure, at bottom of a well.

470 His pride of flesh the hare that cast him down to hell. His pride, the hare, at large, disporting as it will; Himself down in the pit. O, what a bitter pill!

The lion-slaying hare now scampered to his friends, Exclaiming: "Good news bring I; let joy know no ends! Good news! Good news! Festivities bring into play! The hell-cat's gone to hell, from which he came our way. Good news! Good news! That foe to all our lives, and

peace.

Has had his teeth extracted, through our Maker's grace. He who so many crushed with paw of tyranny,

475 Like rubbish has been swept by death's broom clean away."

1 Evidently the name of a rival,

A convocation now was held by all the beasts,
Hilarity and joy enlivened all their breasts.

About the hare, as candle, they, moths-like, all flocked.
All their respects presented; none were found who mocked.
They all declared: "Thou art an angel by heaven sent
(Angel of death, however, he to lion went).

Whatever thou may'st be, our souls thy sacrifice!

Thou'st triumphed. For such prowess praise will not suffice.

Our God it was endowed thee with such wondrous skill.
May God be praised! Deliverance is by His will.
Pray, tell us all about it. How was such thing done?
How couldst thou compass to deceive th' experienced
drone?

Relate in full. 'Twill comfort give to all our souls.
Detail the facts; balm will they be for bygone doles.
Recount at length; for, ah, how many tyrannies
Did we not suffer from him, who now stark dead lies!"

Quoth he: "Most venerable Sirs! God's grace did all.
What could a hare accomplish without Him at call?
He strength of purpose gave me,-light from heaven above.
That light it was that nerved me in my every move.
God granteth crowning grace, to further cause of truth,
'Tis God also who sends vicissitudes on earth.
He, 'tis, alternately, who parties makes prevail.
Now mere opinionists, now men of light avail.
If then, in turn, thou now thyself find uppermost,
Why let hypocrisy, presumption, make thee boast?"

Joy not o'er great prosperity. It does not last.

1

480

485

Airs give not thou thyself; thou'rt but a passing guest.
They whose eternal kingship lasts beyond all times,1
Who sing God's praise beyond the seven spheres and 490
climes,

1 These are sainted spiritualists, true and pious dervishes.

R

They more endure than transient reigns of kings' short

rolls.

They are the never-failing feeders of men's souls.

If thou the pleasures of the world short time forego,
Eternal bliss may compensate th' imbroglio.
Know that this nether world but for a period lasts.
T'abandon it, eternal rest to man forecasts.
Give ear. Forsake all mundane ease, all earthly rest;
Then will thy soul enjoy heaven's cup with double zest.
Cast thou the carcase vile of earthly pomp to dogs.

495 The cup of mere surmise reject; the soul it clogs.

VI.

The Greater (Spiritual) Warfare.

GREAT Princes all! We've killed our dread external foe.
Within us, still, a worse than he remains, I trow.

To slay this inner foe is not the task of mind;
Our moral lion's not destroyed by tricks refined.

Our flesh, a hell; that hell a fiery dragon is.

Whole oceans can't extinguish those fierce flames of his.
Earth's seven oceans all were lost within his maw;
His raging fires would still burn high, to mankind's awe.
Pitcoal, hard-hearted miscreants; these are its food;1
They sink within it, miserable, abject brood.
Withal, its craving hunger ne'er will be appeased,
Until the voice of God cry unto it: "Art eased?
Eased?" will it answer; "No; not yet awhile by far;
Behold my flame, my fury,-burning, fiery roar.”
It swallows down a universe in its fell mood;

And instantly shrieks out: "More food! More food!
More food!”

God, from nubiquity,2 His foot will stamp on hell.
Then will it cease to burn: "He willed, and it befell !" 3

Our fleshly lusts in us are but a part of hell;

Parts have the qualities of their universal.

1 Qur'an ii. 22, and lxvi. 6, say quity "is the converse of “nubiquity.” "mankind and rocks."

2 Another word coined to meet the requirements of the original. "Ubi

Nulliquity might be used.

3 Qur'an ii. III, and seven other places.

5

ΙΟ

The foot of God alone can stamp out hell's alarms.
Who else but God supreme to bend such bow has arms?
Straight arrows serve alone to be shot from a bow ;
But lust's distorted spring shoots crooked arrows too.
Be thou in mind upright as arrow straight for bow.

A bow will not shoot straight, unless the arrow's so.

We've fought our fight and conquered in our outward strife. Now turn we our attention to the inner life.

We've done with outer warfare, lesser as it is;

15 And as the Prophet, wage the greater warfare, his.
We put our trust in God; from Him we ask for aid;
With His assistance faith can move a mountain staid.
To rout an armed foe is nothing very fresh ;
A lion true is he who conquers his own flesh.

To illustrate this truth, give ear unto a tale,
That thou of these few words the moral mayest inhale.
From Cæsar 1 an ambassador to 'Umer came,2
Through deserts far-extending, from Madīna's fame.3
He asked! "Where is the palace of the Caliph, men ;
20 That I to it may lead my cavalcade, my train?"
The people answered: "Thou'lt no Caliph's palace find,
Our Caliph's sole pavilion's his enlightened mind.

4

Through his Commandership' his fame to Rome has

But like our other poor, a hut's his ample home.

How shouldst thou see that palace, brother, stranger, guest, When in thy mind's eye thou a beam hast, unconfessed? Cast out that beam; make clear thy eye from every mote Then mayst thou entertain the hope to see his cote."