Much better to walk barefoot than with shoe too small!
tail of travel's sweeter than strife in one's wall!"

different had I hoped; knew not I'd aught to fear."
made herself most servile, thing of small amount;
ked: "Thy humble servant am I; so me count
al and body, all I have, 's at thy command;
rbiter art thou; dispose; I'll not withstand,
of poverty impatiently complained,
myself, for thee, was our sad lot disdained
fictions thou our remedy hast been;

e to see thee want; my anguish thence grows g

ling spouse! For thee was all my deep dismay and moans for thee came into bitter play God to witness, in my heart and mind life to lay down, if thou'rt so inclined My heart, the life with which my soul's endedTrace aright the channel by my thoughts pursued! through suspicion thou art vexed with me, I value not; breath,-body's naught! Just see ll gold and silver, count them less than dirt, thee bring anguish. No! I'm no much flirt. o the only picture painted on my heart; at thou talk of leaving me, from home depart? me, if thou wilt. Thou hast the right and power, for whose divorce excuse I make each hour! to mind the time when I thy idol was, hon, priest-like, didst worship me! Alas! Alas! heart I cultivated just as thou desiredst

thoughtest 'twas food I knew thou it with love

685

Spring breaks

e design, omes in sight; Light,

De man wields,

ache, Booth cake,

694

The verdure's beauty infinite is, as a part;

The cooing of the dove's as infinite, in logic art.
But go we not too far afield for sorts and kinds;
Or poor disciples ne'er will slake their thirsting minds.

Dost doubt? Art racked with difficulties? To excess ? Have patience. "Patience is the key of all success!" 1 Be abstinent. Let not thy crowding thoughts run wild. 670 Thoughts lions are, and antelopes. Mind's forest; child!

The prime of remedies is abstinence, we know.
And scratching irritates the itch ;-as leeches show.
Of treatment medical the base is abstinence.

Therefore be abstinent. Show strength of mind and sense.
Accept my counsel. Lend an ear as I advise;

In golden earrings, counsel's pearls shall be thy prize.
Be thou as slave to this, my cunning goldsmith-art;
I'll teach thee how to soar beyond the stars' bright chart.
Know, first of all, creation's minds are manifold,
675 As are its forms;-from Alpha to Omega told.
From this variety, disorder seems to rise;
Though, in true sense, to unity the series hies.
In one sense, they're discordant; other, in accord;
They now as folly, now as wisdom, pass a word.
The day of judgment will to each assign its place;
All men of wisdom yearn to see that day of grace.

He who, as blackamoor, is steeped in sin's dark dye,
In that dread day shall gulp dishonour's foulest lye.
The wretch whose countenance beams not bright as the

sun,

680 Shall strive in vain behind the densest veil to run.

If, like some thorns, his stem display no single rose,
That springtide will prove fatal to his safe repose.

But he that blooms from head to foot with righteous deeds,
With joy shall welcome spring's awakening of those meads.

The useless thorn desires the nipping wintry blast,
To lay all low and simplify the flowery vast;
That so, all beauty cloaked, all squalor hid, the same,
All glorious hues, all hideous sights, be rendered tame.
The leaf's fall to such thorn more grateful is than spring;
The ruby and the flint are one in tithesman's ring.
True, that the gardener's eye in winter knows the thorn;
But what is one eye's scrutiny to general scorn!

The vulgar public is, as 'twere, one witless wight;
Each star's a clipping of the moon, in its fond sight.
Not so great men of wisdom, radiant with troth,

They shout with joy: "Good tidings! Spring breaks
into growth!"

Unless the flowers blossom on the fertile trees,
How can the fruit be gathered, honey store the bees?
The flowers blow and fade; the fruit begins to swell.
So, when our bodies die, our souls in glory dwell.
The fruit's reality; the flower is but a sign;
The flower's the harbinger; the fruit, the true design.
The flower blown and past, the fruit then comes in sight;
The first must perish ere the other can see light.
Unless a loaf be broke, no nutriment it yields;
Until the grapes are crushed, no cup of wine man wields.
So drugs, to prove a solace to the sufferer's ache,
Together must be blended, rolled in one smooth cake.

685

600

694

X.

Patience and Perseverance under a Teacher.

HUSAMU-'D-DIN, Light of the Truth, take up, my friend, A sheet, that thou a Teacher's virtues mayst append. True, thou'rt not strong; thy frame is delicate, at best; But thou'rt the sun that lights my thoughts to their safe

nest.

Thou art both lamp and lantern, all in one. Dost see? Guide to my heart's behests, clue to my wish,-thou'rt he. Their thread is in thy hand; thy guidance can it shift; The pearls upon it strung are gems, thy soul's free gift.

Write down the qualities by which a Teacher's known. 5 Select thy Teacher first; then, follow all he's shown. A Teacher's summer's glow; cold winter, crowd terrene; The rabble's darkness self; the Teacher, moon serene.

Young Fortune have I named my Teacher, for the nonce;—
Young Fortune, truth's real Teacher; vigorous at once.
An ancient Teacher he; commencement he ne'er had;
A solitary pearl;—all peerless, never sad.

Increase of age gives wine fresh strength, as well is known;

Especially truth's wine, that flows from God's high throne. Select a Teacher, then. Without such, travel's vain;

10 The way is dangerous,-beset with evil's train.

By well-known road, though travelled many times before, Without a guide to venture, opens peril's door.

How then an unknown path thou ne'er hast followed yet?

Go not alone, without a guide ;-act not in fret.
Unless thy Teacher be at hand to lead thee right,
The clamours of the demons surely thee'll affright.
Those demons will mislead thee, into danger cast;
More clever ones than thou have lost their wits at last.

Learn from the Prophet's words the error of their ways;
How Satan led them far astray in bygone days.
From off the track to all that's good he them misled;
Them carried off; them rendered blind, by vain thoughts
fed.

Behold their bones, their skeletons, along the road!
Take warning thence. Drive not thy beast with madden-
ing goad!

Dismount; and to the rightful path safe lead him back, Where guides abound, - experienced travellers dot the track.

Leave not thy beast; his rein loose not thou from thy hand.
His inclination is to wander o'er the land.

One moment only leave him carelessly to roam;
Towards the pastures he at once will rush, all foam.
Thy beast is not a friend to travelling by the road.
How many muleteers through this have lost a load!
Know'st not the way? Observe which path thy beast

would take,

And follow the reverse.

Secure this will thee make.

"Consult thou them; "1 but then, do not what they advise;

For he who them opposes not, to ruin hies.

Lend not thyself to lust and fancy's every wind;

For these are what lead men astray; to God's truth blind..

1 Qur'an iii. 153.

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