“Is soaring my vocation? Heaven’s my pinions’ goal. Do I revolve? My centre’s fixed in highest shoal. 90 If load I carry, I well know where this is due. I’m but a moon; a Sun before me gives the cue. I’ve no desire for converse with material things. An ocean flows not from a meadow brook’s scant springs. I frame discourse to suit the feeble minds of men. This system has no fault; it met our Prophet’s ken. “I’m free from prejudice; accept a free man’s oath. Against one free man, crowds of slaves possess no truth. By law, in canon of Islām, the word of slaves No value has, as evidence;--the chain depraves. 95 Ten thousand slaves may witness bear in court of law; Their testimony weighs not in the scales one straw. The slave to passion bondsman is, in sight of God. He’s lower than the captive ’neath taskmaster’s rod. A slave may be enfranchised by his owner’s word; Lust’s victim, though freeborn, dies bound with strongest cord. The slave to passion cannot loose his heavy chain. God’s mercy, special grace, can set him free again. He’s fallen into a pit, unfathomed, bottomless. His own sin this. Compulsion ’tis not, fate, nor cess. 100 Into a pit he’s cast himself, for which my mind Cannot imagine sounding-line, its depth to find. “It’s useless to continue further in this strain. Not hearts alone, but rocks, may weep at folly’s train. If men’s hearts break not, ’tis that they are harder still, Through carelessness, preoccupation, sloth, ill-will. They’ll break and bleed one day, when tears will not avail. Be contrite, then, before repentance’ sighs must fail. Since slavish testimony’s not accepted there, His word alone is valid who from lust is clear. 105 The Lord’s Commissioned One’s a valid witness. See! Because, from all eternity, from slavery’s stain he’s free. I, too, am free. Wrath cannot bind my soul with chains. God’s attributes, alone, have power to rule my brains. “Come in, thou. Grace of God hath set thy spirit free. A flint thou wert. Rich pearl henceforward shalt thou be. Thou’rt plucked from blasphemy’s vast thorny desert sands. A flowering shrub henceforth in faith’s rich garden lands. Thou art become myself; I, thee; beloved friend! Thou’rt Alī. Can I ‘Alī slay? May heaven forfend! 110 Thy past transgression rank’s as highest virtue’s deed. In twinkling of an eye heaven’s bounds thou mayest outspeed.