’Twas night, and yet, as in the light of day, The earth lay bathed in splendor brilliant. For like a company of princes ranged The happy stars were shining overhead. And the full moon her silver radiance poured; ’Twas the great feast time of the Ramazan. On such a night the moon was throned in heaven Above the thousand star specks of the world; A queen surrounded by nobility. His house was flooded by the moonlight clear. And from the moon, now fourteen nights in orb, Came Gabriel, the messenger of heaven. He said: “Oh thou who like the moon on earth, And like the sun in purity of light Art eminent, and lord of honors here, Accept the thousand greetings that I bring, For with this greeting God a summons sends, To the enjoyment of his majesty. This journey, then, with longing keen begin, For the All-Wise desires thee at his side. Forsake the crowd to meet the unity And taste the presence of all purity. The angels all are ranked below thy seat, Thou art the princely ruler of the heavens.” As Ahmed listened to the messenger He praised the Lord of heaven with fervent prayer. Calmly he mounted on the cherubim, And rose in haste toward his celestial friends. He moved like some fresh morning wind that blows, Toward the sanctuary of Zion’s hill. Soon he, the master of all grace, arrived; And, as the leader of the spirits pure, He stood in heaven, and through the stars he passed, While constellations honored his approach. As in the primal heaven he sat enthroned, The moon was waxing to her fullest orb. With deep obeisance did the queen of night Welcome the visit of the prophet form. Thence to the second heaven he bent his way; The heaven of Mercury blessed him as he came. There on heaven’s page were pointed out to him The dazzling wonders of creation’s work. To the third heaven at last he soared aloft, And Venus welcomed him with kindly grace. Deep bliss his ardent breast with rapture filled, As lutes of love their dulcet notes resound. In the fourth heaven o’er radiant meads he trod, His shadow lent a lustre to the sun. Peacefully fell that shadow on the star, Filling with light the spot that welcomed it. At the fifth heaven he glanced, and lo! he saw That Mars had drawn his falchion, full of fear, Yet with submissiveness the man of God He welcomed, greeting with obeisance due. On the sixth throne elate sat Jupiter, Once happy, festive, lord of heaven and earth. By him the Prophet was received with smiles And prospered on his way with happiness. Saturn, the ruler of the seventh ring, Received him in the circle of his light. “I come,” the Prophet said, “from dark to light; Repulse me not, I pray thee, from thy door.” Thence he ascended by the sunlit path, To that clear region where the stars are fixed,