He told them that the fire burnt by divine command;
That all those flames arose from their too frugal hand:
"What use are water, vinegar? Distribute bread;
Eschew cold avarice, if by me you'll be led."

They answered: "Wide our doors stand open every day,
We've ever lavish been; almsgiving is our play."

"Umer replied: "In form and custom, bread you've given. But not from love of God. You're hands to dole were driven.

'Twas pride and ostentation led to your display;

Not charity, not pity, sense of duty, say.

Your riches are your seed. Cast not such seed to waste. Place not a sword in robber's hand with senseless haste. Distinction make 'twixt friend and foe to truth divine; Seek out God's saints, and leave them not to starve, to pine.

You've spent your stuff upon your cherished kindred sole, And fancied stupidly you'd followed God's law whole.”

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XVI.

'Ali's Forbearance.

FROM 'Ali may we learn sincerity of meeds.

God's Lion" we may hold free from all gross misdeeds. In fight he'd conquered one who'd earned a hero's crown. His sword he'd swiftly raised, his victim to hew down. That champion spat in 'Ali's face, to mark disdain; The face of one, the Prophet's pride, all saints' chieftain. He spat upon a face to which the moon bowed low, And offered adoration in the temple's show.

That instant 'Ali dropped his sword, high poised in air, 5 And left the spitter harmless;-action debonnair. This raised the foe's astonishment; called forth his awe. That pardon, that forgiveness, grew not from war's law.

He said to 'Ali: "Thou thy sword hadst raised to slay. Why hast thou dropt it now,-prolonged my forfeit day? What hast thou seen, surpassing prowess of my arm, That thus thou hast repented,-left me free from harm? What may it be has calmed the fury of thy breast, Which as the lightning gleamed, and straightway sank to rest?

What didst thou see, that, by reflection on me cast, 10 A spark has leapt to life in my despairing breast? What was thy vision, far above the world of fact, Than life far sweeter, whence my life receives new pact?

For bravery, 'God's Lion' art thou justly named.

For kindness, I now know, thou art too little famed.
For generosity, thou'rt Moses' cloud divine,

From which poured forth the quails and manna, as from

mine!"

The clouds rain wheat. Man, then, by labour and by skill,
Reduces this to food, when finely ground in mill.
But Moses' cloud, more generous far, with open hand,
Sent down in plenty food prepared, by God's command.
For them who ate at Providence's table, free,
God's mercy was displayed;-a banner all could see.
For forty years that daily bread-abounding grace-
Failed not. Fond expectation's utmost stretch took place.
But satisfaction followed not. The thankless crew
Demanded "leeks and onions;" as of old they knew.1

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Ye who are Ahmed's people, graced beyond compare,
Are promised spiritual blessings till last judgment's blare.
Whoever says, at heart: "My trust is in the Lord," 2
God's promise: "Him I'll feed," will find a faithful word.3 20
Without a twist accept this promise, as is meet;
You'll find it in your mouth as milk and honey sweet.

To twist a term, and so deny gift's incidence,

Is to invent a cloak to change the word's true sense.

To think th' expression's wrong sad weakness shows of

mind;

Wisdom divine's a kernel; human reason, rind.

Twist then thyself; change not the sense of words divine; Conceive thy nose at fault; chide not the sweet woodbine.

O'Ali! Thou who mind and eye entirely art! ¡
Relate a little of the knowledge in thy heart.

Thy calmness is a sword that cleaves our minds in twain;
The fountain of thy wisdom makes us whole again.

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1 Qur'an ii. 58.

2 Qur'an ix. 130, &c.

3 Qur'an lxv. 2.

Speak out! I know these mysteries are Jehovah's own;
To kill without a sword's a power of God well known.
He is Creator, without limbs and without tools;
The Giver of all blessings, copious as sea's pools.

How many kinds of wine are savoured by our souls, While eye and ear perceive not whence the wave that rolls!

Pray tell us, 'Ali,—falcon, soaring in heaven's heights,—
30 What didst thou see that instant, to forego thy rights?
Thy eyes have learnt to catch seraphic visions' gleam;
Around thee, all unconscious are, as in a dream.
Thou seest the moon, all brightly shining in the sky;
We see but darkness, clouds above us seem to fly.
Thou seest three moons together, shining bright, out-
spread;

While three of us are scarcely sure one's overhead.
All three have eyes and ears fixed on thee, in suspense,
In keenest expectation. I'm stone of offence.

"Is this a spell to witch the eyes? Is it the truth? 35 To me thou art a wolf; I'm Joseph to thee, sooth. Though worlds there may be, eighteen thousand globes, and more;

Not every eye has power to witness all their store.
Disclose thy secret, 'Ali,-God's own 'Chosen One!'1
How many 'judges' errors' work God's will alone!
Pray tell me what, just now, has been revealed to thee;
Or I'll disclose the vision I've been made to see.

If thou the secret keep, I will declare its sense,

Moon-like, on me thy knowledge shines, with light intense. But if the moon's bright disk break forth from 'neath the cloud,

40 Poor midnight travellers safely, then, pursue their road.

1 'Aliyyu-'l-Murtadzā—“in whom (God) is well pleased ”—is the chiefest of the titles of 'Ali, Prince of Princes, Captain-General of Saints.

They then are safe from error, risk no wandering vain;
Protection of the moonlight shields from terror's chain.
The mutely-teaching promptings of the silvery moon,
If couched in words, would homewards guide us doubly
soon."

Thou art "the Gate;" the Prophet, "Science' City" is,1
Thou art the ray that beams from lustrous sun of his.
Then open, Gate! Unfold thyself to those who seek!
Let rind of science overgrow their minds, all meek.
Stand open, Gate! Thou portal of God's mercy sure!
Thy court's the court of Him" who hath no peer," secure! 2 45
True, every breath and atom's watching to get in.
But if kept closed, who'd say there is a gate to win?
Unless the Keeper open wide the portal's wing,
No soul would dream an entry were an easy thing.

E'en when the gate is opened, lo! surprise is felt.
Hope and desire are scared; each suitor's heart must melt.
As one who finds a treasure in a ruined maze,
Seeks evermore for ruins;-treasures are his craze.
Unless a man receive a pearl from beggar's hand,
He'll never venture pearls from beggars to demand.
For years, should mere opinion wander up and down,
It never will outpass the rents of its torn gown.
Until a fragrance strike thy nostrils from above,
Thou'lt follow thy own nose, but never meet thy love.

Thus spake that new-converted warrior in surprise;
Expressing wonder, such as words may symbolise.
Then added: "O! Command, of Faithful Church thou
Prince.3

That as a babe a spirit new I may evince."

1 Muhammed is reported to have declared: "I am the City of Science, and 'Ali is the Portal thereof;" alluding to the heavenly secrets he had intrusted to the latter, for communi

cation to the worthy. See Anecdotes, chap. iii., No. 79. 2 Qur'an exii. 4. 3 "Commander of the Faithful;" but "Commander of the Believers" would be more correct.

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