بخش 68 - نومید شدن آن پادشاه از یافتن آن گنج و ملول شدن او از طلب آن

When he met with obstacles (to success) in (all) the breadth and length (of his enterprise), the king became sick at heart and weary.

(After) the king (had) dug pits in the deserts, yard by yard, he threw the scroll wrathfully before him (the fakir).

“Take this scroll,” said he, “which has no (good) effects; you are the fittest (owner) for it, since you have no work.

It is no use for one who has work (to do) that he should burn the rose and go about (busy himself with) the thorn.

’Tis singular (how) the victims of this melancholy madness expect grass to grow from iron.

This specialty needs a man of stout heart like you: do you, who have a stout heart, search for this (treasure).

If you cannot find it, you will never weary (of seeking); and if you find it, I grant you the right of possession.”

How should Reason wend the way of despair? ’Tis Love that runs on its head in that direction.

Love is reckless, not Reason: Reason seeks that from which it may get some profit.

(The lover is) fierce in onset and body-consuming and unabashed: in tribulation, like the nether millstone;

A hard-faced one that has no back: he has killed in himself the seeking of selfinterest.

He gambles (everything) clean away, he seeks no reward, even as he receives (everything) clean (as a free gift) from Him (God).

God gives him his existence without any cause: the devoted (lover) yields it up again without cause;

For devotion consists in giving without cause: gambling (one's self) clean away (pure self-sacrifice) is outside of (transcends) every religion.

Forasmuch as religion seeks (Divine) grace or salvation, those who gamble (everything) clean away are (God's) chosen favourites.

Neither do they put God to any test, nor do they knock at the door of any profit or loss.