The Qur’ān ponder this my verse to understand.[110] There God hath said: “Thou threwst not, when thou threwst” the sand.[111] Although we shoot an arrow swiftly to its mark, The bow, the arrow, we ourselves, are from God’s ark. There’s no compulsion here, though God can all compel. ’Tis not complaint, if I of God’s compulsion tell. All our complaints of our felt needs are indices. 305 If shame we feel, of our freewill a sign it is. Without choice were we, there ’d be no pretext for shame. Why blush and hang the head, cast down the eyes so tame? What doth a master in disciple always chide? Why teacheth he in Providence still to confide? Shouldst thou assert God carelessly makes us to act,— That sun of verity He hides in mists of fact,— An answer I will give,--just lend thy ear to me; Forsake all blasphemy,--of God’s faith ever be: “The longings, the regrets, that every sick man feels, 310 Awakings are of conscience. Sickness this reveals. The moment man is ailing,--prisoner to bed sent, He counts his sins, he asks for grace, vows to repent. He sees the wickedness of all he’s said and done; He promises, in future, errant ways to shun. ‘If but I’m spared,’ he says, ‘I never will sin more; I’ll righteousness ensue, all trespasses abjure.’ By this thou seest that sickness is not all an ill. ’Tis but a time for waking conscience good to will. Know then the aphorism, O seeker after truth,— Whoe’er thou be, to whom scent of it may give ruth: 315 ‘The man that’s most awake, with most of pain will reel; The more his conscience pricks, more sorely sad he’ll feel!’ If thou wert really conscious God ’tis thee compels. What need to feel ashamed;--to utter frightful yells? Thou art not so; thou feelest not a captive’s chain; Thou know’st thou’rt free to act, or from each act abstain. Whoever saw a captive sporting in his bonds? Whoever heard of prisoners acting vagabonds? Hast thou had fetters fastened on to both thy feet? Hast e’er beheld kings’ guardsmen resting in thy seat? 320 Then be not thou to others hard as jailer man. Obduracy befits not him a king may ban. Compulsion since thou feel’st not, make it not pretext. Say’st that thou feel’st it? Where’s the proof? Show us it next. In every act to which thou inclination hast, Thou know’st thyself free agent: what thou willst, thou dost. If any case arise thy will, thy wish, to brave, Straightway compulsionist thou art: ‘God so would have.’”