Anew the artist on a part assayed his hand. Afresh the bully interfered, by pain unmanned. “What part art now at work on? Say, my worthy friend!” “O,” said the artist, “now his body I append.” 65 “Leave out his body!” gasped the suffering Qazwīn man; “The pain’s unbearable. Make short work, as thou can.” The artist now quite lost his wits, as well he might; He scratched his head; sought how to mend his plight; Dashed all his needles, indigo, design, to earth; In anger saying: “What the plague’s come now to birth? A lion tailless, headless, bodiless, who’s seen? God such a lion ne’er created, sure, I ween!” Have patience, thou too, brother, with thy needle’s smart. So shalt thou ’scape the sting of conscience in thy heart. 70 They who have conquered,--freed themselves from body’s thrall, Are worshipped in the spheres, the sun, the moon, stars, all. Whoever’s killed pride’s demon in his earthly frame, The sun and clouds are slaves, to do his bidding, tame. His heart can lessons give of flaming to the lamp; The very sun not equals him in ardent vamp. For God hath said, in speaking of the scorching sun, These words: “It swerved from them.”[331] It had new course to run. The sharpest thorns are welcome, as the roseleaf soft, To finite who to th’ Infinite can soar aloft. 75 What signifies to glorify the Lord of heaven; To humble self to dust; with meekness, pride to leaven? What use to learn to formulate God’s unity; What use to bow one’s self before the Deity? Wouldst shine as brilliantly in sight of all? Annihilate thy darksome self,--thy being’s pall. Let thy existence in God’s essence be enrolled, As copper in alchemist’s bath is turned to gold. Quit “I” and “We,” which o’er thy heart exert control. ’Tis egotism, estranged from God, that clogs thy soul. 80 XI. The Lion’s Hunt, in Company. A lion, wolf, and fox together went to hunt; Among the hills, in quest of game, they turned their brunt. By mutual help and aid, they hoped to make the field Too hot for other animals not under union’s shield. Co-operating with each other, they surmised, A heavy bag they each would make of what each prized.