How can a lover find love’s nectar in himself? That question passes comprehension, my good elf. Man’s finite reason disbelieves love’s potent sway. Himself he yet esteems endowed with head to-day. He’s clever, and he’s knowing, _nil_ he’s not; anon. Until an angel’s nothing,[260] he’s a sheer demon. In word and act a man may be a friend of ours; But when it comes to heart and mind, he huffs and lours. If he from _esse_, reach not _posse’s_ state, he’s _nil_; And willingly;--unwillingly, we may worlds fill. 80 The Soul, our God, ’s perfection. Perfect is His “call.”[261] His Ahmed used to say: “Ensoul us, O Bilāl![262] Lift up thy voice, O Bilāl,--thy harmonious voice. Put forth the breath that I infused at thy heart’s choice. The breath that ’twas made Adam lose all consciousness; While all the hosts of heaven, too, felt their helplessness.” That Ahmed, Mustafà, at one blest sight stood lost.[263] His wedding-night it was. Dawn-worship it him cost.[264] He woke not from the sleep his blessed vision shed. Dawn-worship he o’erslept; the sun shone overhead. 85 On that, his wedding-night, in presence of his bride, His sainted soul kissed hands, high honour’s fullest tide. Both love and soul are occult, hidden and concealed. If God I have “bride” named, let it stand fault repealed. I silence would have kept, from fear of love’s caprice, If for a moment only, I’d been granted grace. But He still said: “Say on. The word is not a fault. It’s naught but the decree there should appear default. It’s shame to him who only sees another’s faults. What fault is noticed by the Soul safe from assaults?” 90 A fault it is to eyes of creatures ignorant. But not with God the Lord, our Maker benignant. E’en blasphemy is wisdom with th’ Omnipotent;[265] Attributed to mortals, mortal sin patent. If one sole fault be found amidst a hundred truths, ’Tis like a stick that’s used to prop sweet flowers’ growths. Both will be surely weighed in justice’ equal scales; For, like the soul and body, both are pleasant tales. The saints have therefore said, for sweet instruction’s sake: “The bodies of the pure with souls just balance make.” 95