(31) Up from Earth’s Centre through the Seventh Gate I rose, and on the Throne of Saturn[63] sate, And many a Knot unravel’d by the Road; But not the Master-knot of Human Fate.— (32) There was the Door to which I found no Key; There was the Veil through which I might not see: Some little talk awhile of _Me_ and _Thee_ There was—and then no more of _Thee_ and _Me_.[64]— (33) Earth could not answer; nor the Seas that mourn In flowing Purple, of their Lord forlorn; Nor rolling Heaven, with all his Signs reveal’d And hidden by the sleeve of Night and Morn. (34) Then of the _Thee in Me_ who works behind The Veil, I lifted up my hands to find A Lamp amid the Darkness; and I heard, As from Without—“_The Me Within Thee Blind!_”— (35) Then to the Lip of this poor earthern Urn I lean’d, the Secret of my Life to learn: And Lip to Lip it murmur’d—“While you live, Drink!—for once dead, you never shall return.”— (36) I think the Vessel, that with fugitive Articulation answer’d, once did live, And drink; and Ah! the passive lip I kiss’d. How many kisses might it take—and give![65]— (44) Why, if the Soul can fling the dust aside, And naked on the Air of Heaven ride, Wer’t not a Shame—wer’t not a Shame for him In this clay carcase crippled to abide?— (50-52) A Hair perhaps divides the False and True; Yes; and a single Alif were the clue— Could you but find it—to the Treasure-house, And peradventure to _The Master_ too. Whose secret Presence * * * * * * * eludes your pains; Taking all shapes * * *; and They change and perish all—but He remains. A moment guess’d—then back behind the Fold Immerst of darkness * * * (55-56) You know, my Friends, * * * I made a Second Marriage in my house; Divorced old barren Reason from my Bed, And took the Daughter of the Vine to spouse.— For “Is” and “Is-not” though with Rule and line, And “Up-and-Down” by Logic I define, Of all that one should care to fathom, I Was never deep in anything but Wine.— (66-67) I sent my Soul through the Invisible, Some letter of that After-life to spell: And by and by my Soul returned to me, And answer’d: “I myself am Heav’n and Hell:” Heav’n but the Vision of fulfill’d Desire And Hell the shadow from a Soul on fire Cast on the Darkness into which Ourselves, So late emerg’d from, shall so soon expire. * * * * * * * * the Banquet is ended! FARIDU’D-DIN SHAKRGUNJ (about A. D. 1200).