JÁMÍ BY F. HADLAND DAVIS AUTHOR OF "JALÁLU'D-DÍN RÚMÍ," ETC. WISDOM OF THE EAST THE PERSIAN MYSTICS LONDON JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W. 1918 "With men of light I sought these pearls to string, The drift of mystics' sayings forth to bring." JÁMÍ TO ALL THOSE WHO FIND IN THE WISDOM AND MYSTICISM OP THE EAST GREAT BEAUTY AND A GREAT PEACE THIS LITTLE BOOK IS INSCRIBED PREFACE In the preparation of this little volume much depended upon the kindness and generosity of certain Oriental scholars, who have allowed me to reproduce some of their translations from Jámí. I have attempted to give their best work in so far as it tends to illustrate the mystical teaching of the last great poet of Persia. Once more I am indebted to Mr. E. H. Whinfield for permission to quote from his translation of the _Lawá'ih_ (Oriental Translation Fund, New Series, vol. xvi., Royal Asiatic Society, London). I have to thank Prof. Edward G. Browne for allowing me to use his beautiful translation from _Yúsuf and Zulaikha_, which I have called "The Coming of the Beloved." This translation appears, in fuller form, in Prof. E. G. Browne's article on "Súfíism" in _Religious Systems of the World_ (Sonnenschein). The chapter in the present volume entitled "The Story of Yúsuf and Zulaikha" originally appeared in the _Orient Review_, and I am indebted to the editors for their courtesy in allowing me to reproduce it here. I very much appreciate Mr. E. Edwards's kindly interest in my work, and for the valuable suggestions he has made from time to time. I tender my thanks to Messrs. Kegan Paul for allowing me to make a selection from _Yúsuf and Zulaikha_, translated by the late Mr. Ralph T. Griffith (Trübner's Oriental Series). The translations from _Salámán and Absál_ are by Edward FitzGerald, and those from the _Baháristán_ were originally published by the Kama Shastra Society. F. HADLAND DAVIS LONDON, _March_,1908. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION I. THE LIFE OF JÁMÍ II. THE STORY OF "SALÁMÁN AND ABSÁL" III. THE TEACHING OF THE "LAWÁ'IH" IV. THE STORY OF "YÚSUF AND ZULAIKHA" V. THE "BAHÁRISTÁN," OR "ABODE OF SPRING" SELECTIONS FROM "SALÁMÁN AND ABSÁL" SELECTIONS FROM THE "LAWÁ'IH" SELECTIONS FROM "YÚSUF AND ZULAIKHA" SELECTIONS FROM THE "BAHÁRISTÁN" EDITORIAL NOTE