XIV. The Chinese and Roman Artists. GIVE ear to this advice from one who's well informed: 'Lay down your head where'er by wine you've been transformed." Whene'er a drunken man reels forth from tavern door, So are all people children, round the saints of God; 5 None adults are, save they who've cast off passion's clod. 'Twas said: "The world's a toy, a plaything; and men all Are infants."1 These are God's words. These are God's words. True in sense they fall. No child but loves his toys, his playthings, games, and sports; By cultivation of the mind man sense imports. Man's love for worldly things is like child's love for toys; 1 Qur'ān vi. 32; xxix. 64; xxx. 6; xlvii. 38; Ivii. 19. I Men's quarrels are the same as those fought out by boys; 'Tis they who bear a burden, pack-horse-like, or ass; So let it be till that day when God's riders shall, On steeds of fire, transcend the seventh heaven's rolling ball. "The spirit and the angels mount unto their God." 1 The spheres shall shake, when under saintly footsteps trod. 15 Whereas the raff of mankind mount their own coat-tails; Imagining they're horsemen, prancing as ship sails. · The Lord hath said: "Imagining's of no avail.” 2 Man ne'er disputes about the sun, whate'er the whim he flouts. The time will come, he'll see what wretched screw he rides; That which he deemed a courser's but his own shanks' sides. His senses, thoughts, and reasonings, he then will find, The wisdom of the saints is what bears them aloft. 3 20 1 Qur'an lxx. 4. 2 Qur'an x. 37. 3 Qur'an lxii. 5. All science not received from word of God direct, Still, if man bear his burden well, he's recompensed; 25 His burden is removed; ease to him is dispensed. See, then, you bear not science' load from fleshly lust; Lest you should suffer inwardly fatigue,—disgust; But mount the agile steed of sacred lore divine; So shall the burden on your back at once decline. Unless you drink His cup, how 'scape from fleshly lust? O you, who, in His name, content are with the Just! When from His name and attributes some inkling's born, This inkling points the road to union one fair morn., Thou'st never known a guide, but some one must be led; 30 And when no road is travelled, gnome can't dog man's tread. Thou'st never heard a name, but indicates a thing; A flower thou'st never plucked from verbal rosa's ding. Hast thou pronounced a name? Straightway the thing ensue. The moon seek in the sky;-not in lake-waters, blue. 35 So shalt thou see thyself pure, free from soil of pelf. The Prophet said: That man is one of my true flock, Whose heart and mind are hewn from my own calling's rock. His soul perceives me through the selfsame holy light Reports, traditions, chains of evidence, are lost; When soul communes with soul, minds freely can accost." This riddle solve: "A Kurd I last night was, by birth; The Chinese urged they had the greater painter's skill. The parties twain a wordy war waged in debate; The Chinese asked a hundred paints for their art's use; As heaven's vault, simplicity filled all their shelves. You know comes from the sun, the moon, or stars in crowds. 1 See, in the author's own preface, his eulogistic mention of Sheykh Husāmu-'d-Dîn, p. iii., where this saying is also given. 2 By "Roman," in the East, is meant what Europeans incorrectly name 40 45 50 At length the Chinamen their task had quite fulfilled. With joy intense their hearts did beat, their bosoms thrilled. The sovereign came, inspected all their rich designs, 55 And lost his heart with wonder at their talents' signs. He then passed to the Romans, that his eyes might see. The curtains were withdrawn, to show whate'er might be. The Chinese paintings all, their whole designs in full, Reflected truly were on that high-burnished wall. Whatever was depicted by the Chinese art Was reproduced by mirrors, perfect every part. Those Romans are our mystics;-know, my worthy friend; No art, no learning; study, none;-but gain their end. They polish well their bosoms, burnish bright their hearts, 60 Remove all stain of lust, of self, pride, hate's deep smarts. That mirror's purity prefigures their hearts' trust; With endless images reflections it incrust. The formless Form the thousand thousand hidden forms Here, reason stands aghast, O erring child of sense; 65 The heart's with God,-the heart is God,-boundless, immense ! From all eternity, the figures of all things, Unnumbered, multitudinous, gleam in heart's wings. In heart of saint reflected is, most multiform. His polished heart is cleansed from being's soiling stain ; And at each moment contemplates fresh beauty's train. |