The air becomes a fire at times by God’s decree. Both air and fire run wild with joy, His means to be. The streams of mercy, the consuming fires of wrath, Thou’lt see, my son, are both from God. Look well, forsooth. 120 Were not the wind aware of God’s almighty power, How had it ever blown the blast of ‘Ād’s[132] last hour? Around his Muslims Hūd a saving circle drew. The wind within that mystic circuit softly blew. While all that were beyond were dashed to pieces soon. Like chaff before the breeze, their limbs around were strewn. Shaybān the shepherd, too, a circle round his fold Was used to draw; whate’er the season, hot or cold; On Fridays, when, at midday’s sacred hour of praise, He to a congregation hied; lest wolf should seize. 125 No wolf was ever known to break the holy spell; Nor sheep to stray beyond; each knew the limit well. To wind, to wolf, to sheep, and lusts of every one, The circle traced by saint a barrier was, like stone. To Gnostic, so likewise, the harmless gale of death Blows mild and gentle, summer-breezes-like on heath. And fire was fangless; could not Abraham offend. How should it hurt him? Was he not God’s “Chosen Friend”? The pious man burns not in fire of fleshly lust. But sinners still consumed are upon earth’s crust. 130 The Red Sea waves, all raging by divine command, The host of Israel knew; but Pharaoh’s armies drown’d. The earth, again, wide gaping at Jehovah’s word, Did Korah and his wealth devour; but Moses spared.[133] In Jesu’s hand, warmed with his breath, the fictile clay As living birds arose, spread wing, and flew away.[134] Thy lauds and praises, too, breath from thy frame account. Sincerity them vivifies; to heaven they mount. The rock of Sion danced at sight of Moses’ God[135] As perfect cenobite; its faults were all removed. 135 What wonder if a hill should dance and saint become? Was not great Moses’ self a clod of clay and loam? The Jewish king now manifested great surprise. These things, he said, were mockeries, mere patent lies. His councillors conjured him more sedate to be; And not to push his hardihood to rash degree. These councillors he fettered, into prison cast; Injustice to injustice adding, first and last.