How the kinsfolk of Majnún said to him, “The beauty of Laylá is limited, it is not so very great: in our city there are many fairer than she. We will show unto thee one or two or ten: take thy choice, and deliver us (from reproach) and thyself (from affliction)”; and how Majnún answered them.
شاعر: رومی
وزن: فاعلاتن فاعلاتن فاعلن (رمل مسدس محذوف یا وزن مثنوی)
صنف: مثنوی
The fools in their ignorance said to Majnún, “The beauty of Laylá is not so very great, it is of slight account.
There are thousands of moon-like sweethearts fairer than she in our city.”
He replied, “The (outward) form is a pot, and beauty is the wine: God is giving me wine from her form.
He gave you vinegar from her pot, lest love of her should pull you by the ears.”
The hand of God, the Almighty and Glorious, gives poison or honey to every one from the same pot.
Thou seest the pot, but the wine does not show itself to the wrong eye.
Spiritual experience is (like) the women who look modestly: it shows no sign but to its possessor.
That wine is (like) the women who look modestly, while these vessels screening it (from view) are like the tents.
The great river (too) is (like) a tent, wherein is life for the duck, but death for crows.
Venom also is the snake's food and provision, (but) its venom is anguish and death to others.
The form of every blessing and affliction is a Hell to this one, a Paradise to that one.
Therefore (though) ye see all bodies and things, and there is food and poison in them (all)—ye see (it) not.
Every body resembles a bowl or a pot, wherein is both food and a (cause of) heart-burning.
The bowl is visible, the plenty (contained) in it is hidden: (only) he who tastes it (the contents) knows what he is eating or drinking from it.
The form of Joseph was like a beauteous cup: from it his father drank a hundred exhilarating wines.
Again, to his brethren (the draught they took) from it was poisoned water which was increasing in them anger and hatred.
Again, to Zalíkhá (the draught she took) from it was (sweet as) sugar: she was quaffing a different opiate from (the hand of) Love.
The nutriment which came from Joseph to that fair one was other than that which came to Jacob.
The sherbets are various, but the pot is one, in order that no doubt may remain in thee concerning the wine of the Unseen.
The wine belongs to the Unseen, the pot to this world: the pot is apparent, the wine in it is very hidden:
Very hidden from the eyes of the uninitiated, but manifest and evident to the adept.
O my God, our eyes have been intoxicated. Forgive us: our burdens have been made heavy.
O concealed One who hast filled (the world) from East to West (with Thy radiance) and art exalted above the light of the Orient and the Occident,
Thou art an inmost Ground of consciousness revealing our inmost thoughts, Thou art a bursting (Force) that causes our (dammed-up) rivers to burst forth.
O Thou whose Essence is hidden while Thy gifts are sensible, Thou art as the water and we as the millstone.
Thou art as the wind and we as the dust: the wind is hidden while the dust blown by it is plainly visible.
Thou art the Spring, we are fair as the verdant orchard: it (the Spring) is hidden while its bounty is manifest.
Thou art as the spirit, we are like hand and foot: the closing and opening of the hand is due to the spirit.
Thou art as the reason, we are like this tongue: this tongue hath its (power of) expression from the reason.
Thou art like the joy, and we are the laughter, for we are the result of (Thy) blessed joy.
(All) our movement (action) is really a continual profession of faith which bears witness to the Eternal Almighty One.
The turning of the millstone in agitation is a profession of faith in the existence of the waterbrook.
O Thou who art beyond my conception and utterance, dust be on the head of me and my similes!
Thy servant cannot refrain from depicting Thy beauty: every moment he says to Thee, “May my soul be Thy carpet!”
(He is) like the shepherd who used to say, “O God, come to Thy shepherd and lover,
That I may seek out the lice in Thy smock and stitch Thy shoon and kiss Thy skirt.”
There was none equal to him in passion and love, but he fell short in glorification and (respectful) speech.
His love pitched its tent on the sky: the (beloved) Soul became the dog (guardian) of that shepherd's tent.
When the sea of Divine Love surged up, it struck upon his heart; it struck (only) upon your ear.
