The Persian Mystics: Jalálu'd-dín Rúmí

Rumi · en
"O friends, God has given me inspiration.
    Oftentimes strong counsel is suggested to the weak.
    The wit taught by God to the bee
    Is withheld from the lion and the wild ass.
    It fills its cells with liquid sweets,
    For God opens the door of this knowledge to it.
    The skill taught by God to the silkworm
    Is a learning beyond the reach of the elephant.
    The earthly Adam was taught of God names,
    So that his glory reached the seventh heaven.
    He laid low the name and fame of the angels,
    Yet blind indeed are they whom God dooms to doubt!"




    WHITE NIGHTS

    Every night Thou freest our spirits from the body
    And its snare, making them pure as rased tablets.
    Every night spirits are released from this cage,
    And set free, neither lording it nor lorded over.
    At night prisoners are unaware of their prison,
    At night kings are unaware of their majesty.




    "THE KINGLY SOUL"

    The kingly soul lays waste the body,
    And after its destruction he builds it anew.
    Happy the soul who for love of God
    Has lavished family, wealth, and goods!--
    Has destroyed its house to find the Hidden Treasure,
    And with that Treasure has rebuilt it in fairer sort;
    Has dammed up the stream and cleansed the channel,
    And then turned a fresh stream into the channel.




    SAINT AND HYPOCRITE

    Watch the face of each one, regard it well,
    It may be by serving thou wilt recognise Truth's face.
    As there are many demons with men's faces,
    It is wrong to join hand with every one.
    When the fowler sounds his decoy whistle,
    That the birds may be beguiled by that snare,
    The birds hear that call simulating a bird's call,
    And, descending from the air, find net and knife.
    So vile hypocrites steal the language of Dervishes,
    In order to beguile the simple with their trickery.
    The works of the righteous are light and heat,
    The works of the evil treachery and shamelessness.
    They make stuffed lions to scare the simple,
    They give the title of Muhammad to false Musailima.
    But Musailima retained the name of "Liar,"
    And Muhammad that of "Sublimest of beings."
    That wine of God (the righteous) yields a perfume of musk;
    Other wine (the evil) is reserved for penalties and pains.




    HARSHNESS AND ADORATION