056

Ever to be about with men Proveth the self doth not attain; To friends be thou a stranger, then, Who art familiar with pain.

How long before the palace gate Of princes wilt thou bow thy face? From God, Who did thy soul create, Learn thou the pride of matchless grace.

The warrior’s love will come one day To such a point of excellence That notice he will no more pay To mortal beauty’s blandishments.

I sang before the sanctuary So sad a song of heart’s desire, That each initiate learned from me The joy of separation’s fire.

Unseeing are the buyers’ eyes, And I rejoice and jubilate Because Love’s precious merchandise Remaineth still immaculate.

Come, let us on the tulip tread And drink the wine cup fearlessly; Lawful it is, if lovers shed The blood of ancient piety.

Go forth from Muslim company, And in Islam thy refuge take; For Muslims count as equity The measures infidel they make.

057

Like a tulip’s flame I burn In your presence as I turn; By my life, and yours, I swear Youth of Persia ever fair!

I have dived, and dived again With my thoughts into life’s brain Until I prevailed to find Every secret of your mind.

Sun and moon—I gazed on these Far beyond the Pleiades, And rebuilt a sanctuary In your infidelity.

I have twisted well the blade Till its edge was sharper made; Pale the gleam and lustreless Wasted in your wilderness.

Comes the man, to free at last Slaves confined in fetters fast; Through the windows in the wall Of your prison I see all.

Make a ring about me now; In my breast a fire’s aglow That your forebears lit one day, Things of water and of clay.

058

Soft my breath doth pass Soft as April airs; Jasmine sweet the grass Springeth from my tears.

Desert tulip glows With the blood I shed As in beaker shews Wine all ruby red.

Soareth so my flight O’er the highest sphere That the souls of light Seek to trap me there.

Labours ever new Make man’s dust to glow; Moon and star still do As long time ago.

My self’s lamp I lit, Now that Moses’ hand Men have hidden it ‘Neath the wristlet band.

Come, O come to prayer; Court no prince’s door: So our fathers were When the world was poor.

059

Leave him who never won to sight, And bears report alone; Who makes long speech, but the delight Of vision gives to none.

To bard and scholar listened I, Philosopher to boot; Although their palm is proud and high, It yields nor leaf nor fruit.

The gleam that hoary acolyte So prides himself upon Reveals a thousand shades of night, But never glow of dawn.

I have a charge ’gainst God to lay That still I keep concealed; He takes my precious heart away, And Joseph does not yield.

Neither in idol house nor shrine That saki I can find To grant, no ember’s fitful shine, But splendour unconfined.

060

It chanced within the desert nigh A caravan was passing by, And presently there reached my ear The leader’s carol, loud and clear.

“If from some Pharaoh’s dark redoubt A Joseph might at last come out, Open for all to plunder lies A caravan of merchandise.”