Did crows but realise their ugliness supreme, As white as snow they’d change, through rage and arrant shame. A charmer sings a charm against a snake, his foe; The snake charms him in turn; hence follows boundless woe. Were not his trap a charm prepared by the snake, Would he become the victim of some small mistake? The charmer first is caught in toils of greed and lust. And sees not ’tis the snake has charmed him, bound him fast. 90 The snake addresses him: ‘O charmer! See now! Look! Thy own work thou perceivest, my wiles hast mistook. Thou charmest in God’s name to make me thy bond-slave, And lead me captive, make me sport for fool and knave. The name of God it is that holds me fast enchained; That name thou usest as my trap. Art not soft-brained? That name will one day vengeance on thee for me take. In fear of that dread name, I, soul and body, quake. He’ll either take thy life with poison-fang of mine; Or, like me, unto prison He will thee consign!’” 95 Thus spake the woman bitterly unto her spouse, Whole volumes would not hold the words that she let loose. He answered her: “My wife! Art woman? Art thou mad? ‘My poverty’s my pride.’[288] Reproach me not when sad. Possessions, wealth, are but a cap the scalp to hide. The scaldheads or baldpates alone in caps confide. Whoever’s hair has grown in curls or tresses full. Is always proud when he his cap away can pull. A man of God resembles precious sense of sight. Our eyes should not be bandaged, or we can’t see right. 100 The dealer who exposes slaves free from defects, Strips off the useless cloak that hides all ill effects. Were they not sound, would he the sheltering mantle strip? Nay! Contrary! With clothing he’d their vices clip, And say as an excuse: ‘He’s timid; she’s shamefaced, And shrinks from being here bare of vestments placed.’” “A man of wealth may full of sundry vices be. His riches are his mantle; none his failings see. Men all are covetous; their greed ’tis blinds them all, One touch of fellow-feeling binds them as one ball. 105 But should a poor man say what’s precious more than gold His saying is not heeded by the world so cold.” “The functions of a dervish far transcend thy ken. The aim of mendicancy’s folly to most men. True dervishes retire away from wealth and power. Their bread the Lord, majestic, furnishes each hour. Our God is just. When had it happened that the just Have acted with injustice towards the poor who trust? To one, all blessings God gives, favours, luxuries; Another one, at will, with coals of fire He tries. 110 Who doubts that God thus acts with uncontrolled will, His portion be the fire of tribulation still.”