WISDOM OF THE EAST THE PERSIAN MYSTICS JALÁLU'D-DÍN RÚMÍ BY F. HADLAND DAVIS AUTHOR OF "IN THE VALLEY OF STARS THERE IS A TOWER OP SILENCE" LONDON JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W. 1920 TO A. T. K. THIS LITTLE BOOK OF EASTERN WISDOM IS LOVINGLY INSCRIBED "OUR JOURNEY IS TO THE ROSE-GARDEN OF UNION" JALÁLU'D-DÍN RÚMÍ. PREFACE I desire to thank Mr. R. A. Nicholson for his kind and generous permission to use selections from his _Dīvāni Shamsi Tabrīz_, and also his publishers, the Cambridge Press. I am deeply indebted to Mr. E. H. Whinfield for allowing me to use quotations from his rendering of the _Masnavi_ (Trübner's Oriental Series). I also cordially thank Mr. John Hastie for giving me permission to quote a few passages from the late Rev. Professor Hastie's "Festival of Spring" (James Maclehose and Sons, Glasgow). The poems quoted from this volume are entitled: "Thy Rose," "I saw the Winter weaving," "Love sounds the Music of the Spheres," "The Souls Love-moved," and "The Beloved All in All." All the other translations from the lyrical poetry of Jalálu'd-Dín Rúmí are by Mr. R. A. Nicholson. To these gentlemen, and to those I have left unnamed, I tender my warmest thanks for their help, sympathy, and interest in my attempt to "popularise the wisest of the Persian Súfís." F. HADLAND DAVIS. LONDON, _January_ 22, 1907. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION I. ORIGIN OF SÚFÍISM II. THE EARLY SÚFÍS III. THE NATURE OF SÚFÍISM IV. THE INFLUENCE OF SÚFÍISM V. ANALYSIS OF THE RELIGION OF LOVE THE LIFE AND WORK OF JALÁLU'D-DÍN RÚMÍ I. LIFE II. SHAMSI TABRĪZ III. THE STORIES OF AL-AFLĀKÍ AND THE DEATH OF JALÁLU'D-DÍN RÚMÍ IV. THE NATURE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF JALÁLU'D-DÍN RÚMÍ'S POETRY SELECTIONS FROM THE "DĪVĀNI SHAMSI TABRĪZ" SELECTIONS FROM THE "MASNAVI" APPENDIX: A NOTE ON PERSIAN POETRY EDITORIAL NOTE The object of the Editors of this series is a very definite one. They desire above all things that, in their humble way, these books shall be the ambassadors of good-will and understanding between East and West--the old world of Thought and the new of Action. In this endeavour, and in their own sphere, they are but followers of the highest example in the land. They are confident that a deeper knowledge of the great ideals and lofty philosophy of Oriental thought may help to a revival of that true spirit of Charity which neither despises nor fears the nation of another creed and colour. L. CRANMER-BYNG. S. A. KAPADIA. NORTHBROOK SOCIETY, 21, CROMWELL ROAD, KENSINGTON, S.W. INTRODUCTION I. THE ORIGIN OF SÚFÍISM