بخش 165 - ایثار کردن صاحب موصل آن کنیزک را بدین خلیفه تا خون‌ریز مسلمانان بیشتر نشود

When the envoy came to the captain, he (the captain) gave him the paper on which the features (of the girl) were depicted,

(Saying), “Look on the paper: this (is what) I require. Hark, give (her up), or else (I will take her by force, for) I am the conqueror.”

On the return of the envoy, that manly King said, “Take no account of a (mere) form, lead her away at once.

I am not an idolater in the epoch of the true Faith: ’tis more fit that the idol should be in the hands of the idolater.”

When the envoy brought her (to him), the captain straightway fell in love with her beauty.

Love is an (infinite) ocean, on which the heavens are (but) a flake of foam: (they are distraught) like Zalíkhá in desire for a Joseph.

Know that the wheeling heavens are turned by waves of Love: were it not for Love, the world would be frozen (inanimate).

How would an inorganic thing disappear (by change) into a plant? How would vegetive things sacrifice themselves to become (endowed with) spirit?

How would the spirit sacrifice itself for the sake of that Breath by the waft whereof a Mary was made pregnant?

Each one (of them) would be (as) stiff and immovable as ice: how should they be flying and seeking like locusts?

Every mote is in love with that Perfection and hastening upward like a sapling.

Their haste is (saying implicitly) “Glory to God!” They are purifying the body for the sake of the spirit.

The captain deemed (what was really) a pit to be like a (safe) road: to him the sterile soil appeared goodly, (so) he sowed seed (in it).

Dormiens cum (aliquis) simulacrum (amatae) in somnio videret, cum eo coivit et aqua (seminis) effusa est.

Postquam somnium abscessit et ipse extemplo experrectus est, sensit illam pupam sibi jam vigilanti coram non adesse.

Dixit: “Eheu, aquam meam nihilo ingessi; eheu, dolosi illius (simulacri) dolum expertus sum.”

Fuit ille dux (nonnisi) corporis imperator, revera vir non fuit: virilitatis semen in ejusmodi arena sevit.

The steed of his love tore up a hundred bridles: he (the captain) was shouting, “I care naught for death.

What should I care about the Caliph? (Since I am) in love, my life and death are the same to me.”

Prithee, do not sow with such ardour and heat: take counsel with a (spiritual) master.

(But) where is counsel, where is reason, (when) the torrent of cupidity has extended its talons to destroy (them)?

A barrier in front and a barrier behind; (but) he that is fascinated by a (lovely) cheek does not see (what is) before or behind.

The black torrent comes to take his life, so that a fox may hurl a lion into the well (of destruction).

Something (materially) non-existent causes a phantom to appear in a well, in order that it (the phantom) may cast into it lions (strong) as mountains.

Do not have any one intimate with thy womenfolk, for these two (the man and the woman) may be compared to cotton and sparks of fire.

It needs a fire quenched by God's water, one that like Joseph holds fast (to God) in (the hour of) evil temptation,

To withdraw itself (bravely) as lions from a charming Zalíkhá tall and slender as a cypress.

He (the captain) turned back from Mawsil and went on his way till he encamped in a wooded meadowland.

The fire of his love was blazing in such wise that he could not distinguish earth from heaven.

He sought to embrace that moon (beauty) in her tent: where (at that time) was his reason and his dread of the Caliph?

When lust beats the drum (of victory) in this vale, what is thy reason? A (worthless) radish and the son of a radish.

To his fiery eye a hundred Caliphs seemed at that moment less than a gnat.

Postquam ille feminarum cultor bracas exuit et inter crura mulieris recubavit,

Quo tempore penis ejus ad sedem suam recte ibat, tumultus ingens et clamor militum exortus est.

Exsiliit et nudo podice in aciem (currebat), grasping a fiery (flashing) scimitar in his hand.

He saw that a fierce black lion from the jungle had suddenly rushed upon the centre of the army;

(That) the Arab horses were demoniacally excited, (that) every stable and tent was in confusion;

(And that) the fierce lion from the covert was bounding twenty ells into the air, like billows of the sea.

The captain was manful and intrepid: he advanced, like a furious lion, to meet the lion.

He smote (it) with his sword and clove its head; (then) at once he hastened (back) to the tent of the beauty.

Ubi sese puellae formosissimae ostendit, penis ejus itidem erectus erat.

Pugna congressus erat cum tali leone: penis ejus erectus manebat nec languore jacuerat.

Illa diva, facie venusta lunae simili praedita, virilitatis ejus admiratione obstupuit.

Protinus cum eo magna cupidine coivit: illae duae animae statim unitae evaserunt.

Through the union of these two souls with one another, there will come to them from the Unseen World another soul.

It will appear by the road of birth, if there be naught to waylay (prevent) its conception.

Wherever two persons unite in a love or hate, a third will certainly be born;

But those forms are born in the Unseen World: when you go thither, you will see them in (clear) view.

That progeny is born of your associations: beware, do not rejoice too soon in any associate.

Remain in expectation of the appointed time (of meeting): recognise the truth of the (Divine) promise that the offspring shall join (their parents);

For they are born of action and causes: each one hath form and speech and dwelling-place.

Their cry is coming (to you) from those delightful bowers— “O thou who hast forgotten us, hark, come with all speed!”

The soul (spiritual result) of (every) man and woman is waiting (for them) in the Unseen: why are you delaying? Step forward at once (on the way).

He (the captain) lost his way and, (beguiled) by that false dawn, fell like a gnat into the pot of buttermilk.