بخش 99 - غره شدن آدمی به ذکاوت و تصویرات طبع خویشتن و طلب ناکردن علم غیب کی علم انبیاست

I saw (beautiful) pictures and paintings in the house: I was without self-control in (my) love of the house.

I was unaware of any hidden treasure; otherwise, the axe would have been (as) the pomander in my hand.

Ah, if I had given the axe its due, I should now have given a quittance to (should have been quit of) grief.

I was casting my eye on the picture and falling idly in love (with it), like children.”

That fortunate Sage, then, has said well, “Thou art a child: the house is full of pictures and paintings.”

In the Iláhí-náma he gave many an injunction, saying, “Raise the dust from (utterly demolish) thine own household.”

(Pharaoh said), “Enough, O Moses! Tell (me) the third promise, for my heart has become lost (distraught) from the agitation caused by (eagerness to hear) it.”

Moses said, “This third (promise) is a twofold empire—(an empire) appertaining to the two worlds (temporal and spiritual), free from adversary and enemy;

Greater than the empire of which thou art now in possession; for that was (whilst thou wert) at war (with God), and this (will be whilst thou art) at peace (with Him).

He who bestows on thee, (whilst thou art) at war, such an empire as this— consider how (bounteously) He will lay the table for thee (when thou art) at peace.

That (Divine) bounty which gave thee those (goodly) things in thy unrighteousness—consider what will be (its) care (for thee) in thy faithfulness.”

“O Moses,” said he, “what is the fourth (promise)? Quickly declare (it): my patience is gone and my desire has waxed great.”

He said, “The fourth is that thou wilt remain (ever) young, (with) hair (black) like pitch and cheeks (pink) like the arghawán (flower of the Judas-tree).

To us (prophets) colour and perfume are very worthless, but thou art low, (so) we have made our words low.

Boasting of colour and perfume and dwelling-place is a joy and deception (only) to children.