How the hare drew back from the lion when he approached the well.
When the lion came near the well, he saw that the hare lagged on the way and stepped back.
He said, “Why have you stepped back? Do not step back, come on!”
The hare said, “Where is my (power to move a) foot? for (both) hand and foot are gone. My soul trembles and my heart (courage) has fled.
Seest thou not the colour of my face (pale) as gold? My colour indeed is giving knowledge of my inward state.
Since God has called the (external) sign (aspect) informative, the eye of the gnostic has remained turned towards the sign.
Colour and scent are significant like a bell: the neigh of a horse makes (one) acquainted with the horse.
The sound made by any thing conveys knowledge of it, so that you may distinguish the bray of an ass from the creak of a door.
Touching the discrimination of persons (one from another), the Prophet said, ‘A man is hidden when his tongue is folded up.’
The colour of the face indicates the state of the heart: have pity on me, implant love of me in thy heart.
A red complexion has the sound of (declares and expresses) thankfulness (satisfaction); the sound (signification) of a pale complexion is patience and unthankfulness.
There has come upon me that which took away hand and foot, took away colour of face and strength and (every outward) mark;
That which shatters every thing it comes upon, tears up every tree from root and bottom;
There has come upon me that by which man and animal, mineral and plant have been checkmated.
These indeed are (only) parts, (but) wholes (too) are by him (Doom) made yellow in hue and corrupt in odour,
So that the world is now patient, now thankful; the garden now puts on a robe (of verdure) and again is bare.
The sun, which rises fire-coloured, at another hour sinks headlong.
Stars shining in the four quarters (of the sky) are, from time to time, afflicted with (consumed by) burning.
The moon, which excels the stars in beauty, becomes like a phantom from the malady of a hectic fever.
This earth, quiet and controlled, is thrown by earthquakes into feverish tremors.
Oh, from this inherited woe many a mountain in the world has become tiny fragments and (grains of) sand.
This air is conjoined with the (vital) spirit, (but) when the Divine destiny comes, it turns foul and stinking.
The sweet water that was a sister (congenial) to the spirit, (after standing) in a pool, became yellow and bitter and turbid.
The fire that has wind in its moustache—a single puff of wind calls death upon it.
The state of the sea (is such that) from its agitation and commotion (you may) perceive the changes of its mind.
The whirling heaven, which is (ever engaged) in seeking and searching—its state is like the state of its children;
Now nadir, now middle, now zenith: therein are host on host of stars fortunate and unlucky.
From thyself, O part made up of wholes, apprehend the state of every simple (uncompounded) thing.
Inasmuch as wholes suffer grief and pain, how should their part not be pale-faced (sick and subject to decay)?
Especially a part which is composed of contraries—of water and earth and fire and air.
It is no wonder that the sheep recoiled from the wolf; the wonder is that this sheep set its heart on (became friendly with) the wolf.
Life is the peace (harmony) of contraries; death is the fact that war arose between them.
The grace of God has given amity to this lion and wild-ass— these two far distant contraries.
Since the world is sick and a prisoner, what wonder if the sick one is passing away?”
From this point of view he (the hare) recited counsels to the lion. “I have lagged behind,” said he, “because of these bonds.”
