How a certain person frightened an ascetic, saying, “Weep little, lest thou become blind.”
A comrade in the work (of religion) said to an ascetic, “Weep little, lest thine eye come to harm.”
The ascetic said, “The case is not outside of (admits only) two (alternatives): the eye will see, or it will not see, that (Divine) Beauty.
If it see the Light of God, what is there to grieve about? How little are two eyes (to him that is) in union with God!
And if it shall not see God, let it go! Let such a miserable eye become blind!”
Do not grieve for your eye when that Jesus is yours; do not go to the left (but to the right), that he may give you two right (sound) eyes.
The Jesus of your spirit is present with you: beg aid from him, for he is a goodly aider;
But do not every moment lay on the heart of (that) Jesus the unprofitable work of (providing for) a body full of bones,
Like the fool whom we mentioned in the story for the sake of the righteous.
Seek not you from your Jesus the life of the body, ask not from your Moses the wish of a Pharaoh.
Burden not your heart with thoughts of livelihood; livelihood will not fail: be (constant in attendance) at the (Divine) Court.
This body is a tent for the spirit, or like an ark for Noah.
When the Turcoman is there, he will find a tent, especially when he is one held in honour at the Court (of God).
