At heart’s desire, the feet begin the nimble dance, Or seek advantage, or avoid some sore mischance. 70 The heart commands, the hands to calculations fall; Should it prefer, they write a book or treatise small. A hand there is, ’twould seem, within these hands of ours; A hidden hand, that moves the body’s wondrous powers. If that incites, this wages battle with the foe; Should that induce, this aids a friend to stand tiptoe. It pushes; straightway spoon’s plunged into soup; It wills; a ponderous club forthwith attacks some group. What is it that the heart says to them all by turns? Most wonderful accord! Most marvellous alterns! 75 The ancient seal of Solomon the heart has found! With that alone it guides the senses o’er their ground. Externally, five senses serve its high command; Internally, five faculties obey its hand. Ten senses, thus, seven organs, wait upon its wants; Besides a host of minor servants, confidants. As Solomon thou sittest, O heart! Thou reignest supreme! On fairy and on demon, set thy seal, thy scheme. In this thy realm be upright; practise thou no fraud; No demon, then, shall rob thee of thy seal, thy gaud.[390] 80 The world shall learn thy name, shall practise all thy rites; Time and eternity remain thy perquisites. But should a demon carry off thy seal, perchance, Thy reign is o’er; thy fortune loses all advance. Thenceforward vain regret shall canker in thy breast, Until the day thou’rt called to thy account at last. Unless thy heart renounce all selfish use of wit, By mirror and by balance canst thou be held quit?” Luqmān the sage, in presence of his noble lord,[391] Among the slaves and servants was a mere byword. 85 The lord one day commanded; straight some slaves were sent To gather fruit from orchard for his throat’s content. With them did Luqmān go, as parasite to feast, Brimful of wisdom, black as night, a negro beast. Their labour o’er, the slaves lay down to rest awhile; The fruit they tasted, tasted still, consumed the pile. Returning home, on Luqmān the whole blame they laid; His lord was angered mightily at what they said. Luqmān inquired the cause of this estrangement keen. The lord gave vent in loud abuse to his roused spleen. 90 Said Luqmān: “Lord, I swear by God’s most holy name, Dishonest servant ne’er can hope for aught but blame. Make proof of us. ’Tis easy. Lord thou art of all. Command. We’ll drink our fill of water hot as gall. Then make us run about within the meadow’s bound. On horseback thou, on foot we, ’ll all trudge quickly round. Thou soon shalt witness sights to show ‘the milk who spilt.’ Hearts’ secrets’ Great Revealer will disclose the guilt.”