[35] _I.e._ the reed was made into a flute. III _Showing that the Self is strengthened by Love._[36] The luminous point whose name is the Self Is the life-spark beneath our dust. By Love it is made more lasting, 325 More living, more burning, more glowing. From Love proceeds the radiance of its being And the development of its unknown possibilities. Its nature gathers fire from Love, Love instructs it to illumine the world. 330 Love fears neither sword nor dagger, Love is not born of water and air and earth. Love makes peace and war in the world, The Fountain of Life is Love’s flashing sword. The hardest rocks are shivered by Love’s glance: 335 Love of God at last becomes wholly God. Learn thou to love, and seek to be loved: Seek an eye like Noah’s, a heart like Job’s! Transmute thy handful of earth into gold, Kiss the threshold of a Perfect Man![37] 340 Like Rúmí, light thy candle And burn Rúm in the fire of Tabríz![38] There is a beloved hidden within thine heart: I will show him to thee, if thou hast eyes to see. His lovers are fairer than the fair, 345 Sweeter and comelier and more beloved. By love of him the heart is made strong And earth rubs shoulders with the Pleiades. The soil of Najd was quickened by his grace And fell into a rapture and rose to the skies.[39] 350 In the Moslem’s heart is the home of Mohammed, All our glory is from the name of Mohammed. Sinai is but an eddy of the dust of his house, The sanctuary of the Ka’ba is his dwelling-place. Eternity is less than a moment of his time, 355 Eternity receives increase from his essence. He slept on a mat of rushes, But the crown of Chosroes was under his people’s feet. He chose the nightly solitude of Mount Hirá, And he founded a state and laws and government. 360 He passed many a night with sleepless eyes In order that the Moslems might sleep on the throne of Persia. In the hour of battle, iron was melted by his sword; In the hour of prayer, tears fell like rain from his eye. When he was called to aid, his sword answered “Amen” 365 And extirpated the race of kings. He instituted new laws in the world, He brought the empires of antiquity to an end. With the key of religion he opened the door of this world: The womb of the world never bore his like. 370 In his sight high and low were one, He sat with his slave at one table. The daughter of the chieftain of Tai was taken prisoner in battle[40] And brought into that exalted presence; Her feet in chains, unveiled, 375 And her neck bowed with shame. When the Prophet saw that the poor girl had no veil, He covered her face with his own veil.