How can a lover find love’s nectar in himself?
That question passes comprehension, my good elf.
Man’s finite reason disbelieves love’s potent sway.
Himself he yet esteems endowed with head to-day.
He’s clever, and he’s knowing, _nil_ he’s not; anon.
Until an angel’s nothing,[260] he’s a sheer demon.
In word and act a man may be a friend of ours;
But when it comes to heart and mind, he huffs and lours.
If he from _esse_, reach not _posse’s_ state, he’s _nil_;
And willingly;--unwillingly, we may worlds fill. 80
The Soul, our God, ’s perfection. Perfect is His “call.”[261]
His Ahmed used to say: “Ensoul us, O Bilāl![262]
Lift up thy voice, O Bilāl,--thy harmonious voice.
Put forth the breath that I infused at thy heart’s choice.
The breath that ’twas made Adam lose all consciousness;
While all the hosts of heaven, too, felt their helplessness.”
That Ahmed, Mustafà, at one blest sight stood lost.[263]
His wedding-night it was. Dawn-worship it him cost.[264]
He woke not from the sleep his blessed vision shed.
Dawn-worship he o’erslept; the sun shone overhead. 85
On that, his wedding-night, in presence of his bride,
His sainted soul kissed hands, high honour’s fullest tide.
Both love and soul are occult, hidden and concealed.
If God I have “bride” named, let it stand fault repealed.
I silence would have kept, from fear of love’s caprice,
If for a moment only, I’d been granted grace.
But He still said: “Say on. The word is not a fault.
It’s naught but the decree there should appear default.
It’s shame to him who only sees another’s faults.
What fault is noticed by the Soul safe from assaults?” 90
A fault it is to eyes of creatures ignorant.
But not with God the Lord, our Maker benignant.
E’en blasphemy is wisdom with th’ Omnipotent;[265]
Attributed to mortals, mortal sin patent.
If one sole fault be found amidst a hundred truths,
’Tis like a stick that’s used to prop sweet flowers’ growths.
Both will be surely weighed in justice’ equal scales;
For, like the soul and body, both are pleasant tales.
The saints have therefore said, for sweet instruction’s sake:
“The bodies of the pure with souls just balance make.” 95