Man’s life’s a gift of God. Alas! How few will think!
The value of each moment’s great, so near death’s brink.
I’ve spent my life, not thinking how the moments fly.
I’ve sung and harped as though a man should never die.
Alas! that I in singing songs of mirth and glee,
Entirely had forgot that death would visit me.
Alas! that shrillest notes have set my ears in flames,
And scorched my heart to shamelessness! Sad names!
Alas! the gamut’s intervals were heard all night.
The day has dawned; the caravan passed with the light. 300
My God! Help, help! Me save from him who cries for help!
Protection I implore from self;--I, who thus yelp!
I never shall obtain my right, except through craft.
For craft is german more to me than self ingraft.
By craft this self itself doth rear across my way.
Beyond my craft myself I see, when craft’s at bay.
Just like as when a man is telling gold with thee.
Alone it thou considerest,--self thou dost not see.
So did the harper weep, and loudly did complain.
His sins he numbered up, committed in life’s train. 305
To him then ‘Umer: “This contrition deep of thine
Is proof thou sober art, though grief thy heart entwine.
Thy worldly journey’s over, other path now take;
For this sobriety’s a sin thou must forsake.
Sobriety’s a virtue in the road thou’st trod.
The past and future both are curtains hiding God.
Set fire to both of them! How long wilt thou remain
Partitioned up by diaphragms like a reed cane?
So long as reed has diaphragms, it’s not our friend;
With lips and voice of ours its notes it cannot blend. 310
So long as thou goest round the house, thou waverer art;[280]
But when thou’st entered, then full ease reigns in thy heart.
O thou, whose knowledge of full knowledge is not half,
Contrition is, with thee, worse than thy fault, mooncalf.
Thou’rt contrite for the past. On what occasion
Wilt thou contrition feel for this contrition?
At one time worshipper thou wert of notes of harp;
And now, like lover, thou’dst kiss sighs and moans so sharp.”
Like mirror, ‘Umer having thus reflected truth,
The harper’s heart received enlightenment, forsooth. 315
He, spirit-like, became relieved of moan and smile.
His old mind took its leave, his new heart was docile.
Amazement fell upon him, stupor bathed each sense,
Ecstatic trance then followed, earth and sky flew hence.
A yearning and a longing past description.
As I cannot explain; try thy perception.
Such ecstasy, such words, beyond all mood and tense;
Immersion total in God’s glorious effulgence.
Immersion such, escape therefrom impossible;
That sea henceforth to him became impassable. 320