بخش 130 - باز آمدن زن جوحی به محکمهٔ قاضی سال دوم بر امید وظیفهٔ پارسال و شناختن قاضی او را الی اتمامه

After a year Júhí, in consequence of the afflictions (of poverty), turned to his wife and said, “O clever wife,

Renew last year's contribution (to our household): complain of me to the cadi.”

The wife came before the cadi with (some other) women: she made a certain woman her interpreter,

Lest the cadi should recognise her by her speech and remember his past misfortune.

The coquettish glances of a woman are fascinating, but that (fascination) is increased a hundredfold by her voice.

Since she durst not raise (utter) a sound, the wife's ogling looks alone were of no avail.

“Go,” said the cadi, “and fetch the defendant, that I may settle thy quarrel with him.”

(When) Júhí arrived, the cadi did not recognise him at once, for at (their first) meeting he was in the chest.

He had (only) heard his voice outside, during the buying and selling and chaffering.

He said (to Júhí), “Why won't you give your wife all the money she needs for expenses?” He replied, “I am devoted with (heart and) soul to the religious law,

But if I die I do not possess (enough to pay for) the shroud: I am bankrupt in this game, I have gambled everything away.”

From (hearing) these words the cadi, as it happened, recognised him and called to mind his roguery and the trick he had played.

“You played that game with me,” he said: “last year you put me out of action.

My turn is past: this year try that gamble on some one else and keep your hands off me!”

The knower of God has been isolated from the six (directions) and the five (senses): (necessarily, therefore), he has become on his guard against the sixes and fives of the backgammon (played by the World and the Devil).

He has escaped from the five senses and the six directions: he has made you acquainted with (what lies) beyond all that.

His intimations are the intimations of Eternity: he has transcended all conceptions and withdrawn himself apart.

Unless he is outside of this hexagonal well, how should he bring up a Joseph from the inside (of it)?

He is one who goes to draw water above the unpillared firmament, (while) his body, like a bucket, is (low down) in the well, helping (to rescue the fallen).

The Josephs cling to his bucket, escape from the well, and become kings of Egypt.

The other buckets seek water from the well: his bucket has no concern with the water, it seeks (only) friends (in trouble).

The (other) buckets plunge into the water for food: his bucket is the food and life of the soul of the fish.

The (other) buckets are attached to the lofty wheel (of Fortune): his bucket is (held) in two Almighty fingers.

What bucket and what cord and what wheel? This is a very weak comparison, O pasha.

(But) whence shall I get a comparison that is without frailty? One to match him (the knower of God) will not come, and never has come, (to hand).

(He is) a hundred thousand men concealed in a single man, a hundred bows and arrows enclosed in a single blowpipe;

A (type of) thou didst not throw when thou threwest, a temptation (for the ignorant), a hundred thousand stacks (of grain) in a handful.

(He is) a sun hidden in a mote: suddenly that mote opens its mouth (and reveals the sun).

The heavens and the earth crumble to atoms before that Sun when he springs forth from ambush.

How is a spirit like this meet for (confinement in) the body? Hark, O body, wash thy hands of this spirit!

O body that hast become the spirit's dwelling-place, ’tis enough: how long can the Sea abide in a water- skin?

O thou who art a thousand Gabriels in (the form of) man, O thou who art (many) Messiahs inside the ass (of Jesus),

O thou who art a thousand Ka‘bas concealed in a church, O thou who causest ‘ifrít and devil to fall into error,

Thou art the spaceless Object of worship in space: the devils have their shop destroyed by thee,

(For they say), “How should I pay homage to this clay? How should I bestow on a (mere) form a title signifying (my) obedience (adoration)?”

He is not the form (in which he appears): rub thine eye well, that thou mayst behold (in him) the radiance of the light of (Divine) glory!