To them as a rejoinder puss spoke: “My dear friends, My inspiration’s God’s; small means effect great ends. The wisdom God hath taught the little honey-bee, You do not find possessed by lion, or by me. 115 We see its cells arranged, with liquid sweetness filled, The portals of such art to open God hath willed. Then see the silkworm, how it’s taught by God to spin. Have elephants the power to draw out threads so thin? The earthy Adam was by God taught all our names.[150] His knowledge was the admiration of heaven’s frames. Th’ angelic choir were silenced; they knew not so much. The fiend be cursed. He’d not confess the fact was such. That fasting hermit of six hundred thousand years[151] Became the new-born babe’s dire muzzle,--source of tears. 120 Lest it should suck the milk religion’s teachings give,— Lest it should soar on high around heaven’s towers, and live,— The learning of external sense a muzzle lies,— The milk of truth sublime’s denied to all its cries. But God hath planted in man’s heart a precious pearl. Nor seas, nor skies, such gem enclose within their whirl! How long of form thy talk--form-worshipper--vain man? Cannot thy senseless soul cast off form’s deadening ban? Did human form alone suffice a man to make, Ahmed and Abū-Jahl were one in grade, in stake. 125 A painting on a wall may show the human form. But look and see what lacks, the figure to inform. ’Tis life it wants, and soul;--the pretty-looking thing! Ask for its life. No! No! Though portrait of a king. The heads of all earth’s lions bowed down meek and low, When God the Seven Sleepers’[152] dog applauded. How! To call it dog, to charge it with defect of race, No harm can do it; God in heaven hath given it place. ’Twas not the pen prescrib’d the qualities of form; Th’ Omniscient, the Just, ’twas, made it multiform. 130 Th’ Omniscient, the Just, a Spirit is, All-Blest; Him no place holds; He’s not before, behind, east, west. He influences matter from His high abode; But heaven of heavens cannot contain the Spirit’s mode.” That theme is endless. Let us then just turn away. Let’s ask about the hare; hear what he has to say. Sell off thy ass’ ears; with the price a fresh pair buy. An ass’s ears will never understand this cry.[153] Go to. Examine well the hare’s most foxy wile,— The subtle stratagem that did the lion foil. 135