The Christians all gave their hearts to him: what (h)ow great,
indeed, is the strength of the blind conformity of the vulgar!
They planted love of him within their breasts, they were
regarding him as the vicar of Jesus.
He inwardly (in reality) was the accursed one-eyed Antichrist.
O God, do Thou (hear and) answer the cry (of those in trouble)
-- what a good helper art Thou!
O God there are myriads of snares and baits, and we are
as greedy foodless birds.
From moment to moment we are caught in a fresh snare,
though we become, each one, (like) a falcon or a Simurgh.
Every moment Thou art delivering us, and again we are
going to a snare, O Thou art without want!
We are putting corn in this barn, (and then) we are losing the
corn that has been garnered.
(Why), after all, do not we consider with intelligent mind
that this damage to the corn arises from the deceitfulness of
the mouse?
Since the mouse has made a hole in our barn, and our barn
has been ravaged by its guile,
O soul, in the first place avert the mischief of the mouse,
and then show fervour (zeal) in garnering the corn.
Hear (one) of the sayings related from the Chiefest of the
Chief (the Prophet): "No prayer is complete without 'presence'
(concentration of the mind on God)."
If there is no thievish mouse in our barn, where is the corn
of forty years; works (of devotion)?
Why is the daily sincerity (of our devotions) not being stored,
bit by bit, in this barn of ours:
Many a star (spark) of fire shot forth from the iron (of good
works) and that burning heart received (it) and drew (it) in;
But in the darkness a hidden thief is laying his finger upon
the stars,
Extinguishing the stars one by one, that no lamp may shine
from the (spiritual sky).
Though there be thousands of snares at our feet, when Thou
art with us there is not any trouble.
Every night Thou freest the spirits from the body's snare,
and dost erase (the impressions on) the tablets (of the mind).
The spirits are set free every night from this cage, (they are)
done with ordinance and talk and tale.
At night prisoners are unconscious of their prison, at night
governors are unconscious of their power.
There is no sorrow, no thought of gain or loss, no fancy of this
person or that person.
This is the state of the 'arif (Gnostic), even without sleep:
God said, (Thou wouldst deem them awake) whilst they slept.
Shy not at this
1.
He is asleep, day and night, to the affairs of the world, like
a pen in the hand of the Lord's control.
One who sees not the hand in the writing thinks (that) the
act (of writing proceeds) from the pen by means of movement.
He (God) hath shown forth some part of this state of the
'arif, (inasmuch as) the vulgar too are carried off (overtaken)
by sleep of the senses.
Their souls are gone into the desert that is without description:
their spirits and bodies are at rest;
And with a whistle thou leadest them back to the snare,
leadest them all (back) to justice and to the judge.
Thre Israfil (Seaphiel), He (God) who causes the dawn to
break brings them all from those lands (of spirit) into (the
world of) form.
He embodies the spirits divested (of body), He makes each
body pregnant (laden) again (with actions and works).
He makes the steed of the souls bare of saddle: this is the
inner meaning of "Sleep is the brother of Death";
But in order that they may return in the daytime, He puts
a long tether on its leg.
So that in the daytime He may lead it back from that meadow
and bring it from the pasture (to go) under the load.
Would that He had guarded this spirit as the Men of the
Cave or as the Ark of Noah,
That this mind and eye and ear might be delivered from the
Flood of wakefulness and consciousness!
Oh! In the world there is many a Man of the Cave beside
you, before you, at this time:
The Cave is with him, the Friend is in converse with him;
but your eyes and ears are sealed, (so) what does it avail?
Explanation of the envy of the vizier
That petty vizier had his origin from envy, so that for vanity
he gave to the wind (sacrificed) his ears and nose,
In the hope that by the sting of envy his venom might enter
the souls of the poor (Christians).
Anyone who from envy mutilates his nose makes himself without
ear and without nose (unable to apprehend spiritual things).
The nose is that which catches a scent, and which the scent
leads towards an abode (of spiritual truth).
Whoever hath no scent is without a nose; the scent (referred
to) is that scent which is religious.
When he has caught a scent and given no thanks for it,
(that) ingratitude comes and devours his nose (deprives him
of the organ of spiritual perception).
Do not, like the vizier, make brigandage your stock-in-trade;
Do not turn the people away from the ritual prayer.
The miscreant vizier had become (in appearance) a true
religious counselor, (but) he had craftily put garlic in the almond
cake.
How the sagacious among the Christians perceived the
guile of the vizier
Whoever was possessed of spiritual discernment was feeling a
sweet savour in his words and, joined therewith, bitterness.
The vizier was saying fine things mixed (with foul): he
had poured some poison into the sugared julep.
The outward sense of it was saying, "Be diligent in the Way,"
but in effect it was saying to the soul, "Be slack".
If the surface of silver is white and new, (yet the hands and
dress are blackened by it.
Although the fire is red-faced (bright and glorious) with sparks,
look at the black behaviour (displayed) in its action.
If the lightning appears luminous to the eye, (yet) from its
distinctive property it is the robber of sight (it strikes men blind).
(As for) any Christian who was not wary and possessed of
discernment, the words of him (the vizier) were (as) a collar on
his neck.
During six years, in separation from the king, the vizier
became a refuge for the followers of Jesus.
To him the people wholly surrendered their religion and
their hearts; at his command and decree they were ready to die.
How the king sent messages in secret to the vizier
Messages (passed) between the king and him: the king had
words of comfort from him
2 in secret.
The king wrote to him, saying "O my fortunate one, the
time is come; quickly set my mind at ease."
The vizier replied: "Behold O king, I am preparing to cast disorders
into the religion of Jesus."
Explanation of the twelve tribes of Christians.
The people of Jesus had twelve amirs as rulers
in authority over them.
Each party followed one amir and had become devoted to its
Own amir from desire (of worldly gain).
These twelve amirs and their followers became the slaves of
that vizier and his evil sign.
They put all their trust in his words, they all took his procedures
as a pattern.
Each amir would have given up his life in his presence at
the time and hour (on the spot), if the vizier had bidden him die.
1 I.e. "do not deny this or disbelieve in it."
2 Literally, "through him the king had comforts."
"The Mathnawi of Jalalu'ddin Rumi"
Edited and translated by Reynold A. Nicholson
Published by "E.J.W.Gibb Memorial",
Cambridge, England.
First published 1926, Reprinted 1990.
