بخش 129 - قصهٔ شکایت استر با شتر کی من بسیار در رو می‌افتم در راه رفتن تو کم در روی می‌آیی این چراست و جواب گفتن شتر او را

One day a mule saw a camel, since he had been put into a stable with him.

He (the mule) said, “I often fall on my face in hill and road and in market and street.

Particularly (in descending) from the top of the mountain to the bottom I come down on my head every moment from terror.

Thou dost not fall on thy face: why is it? Or maybe in sooth thy pure spirit is destined to felicity.

I come down on my head every instant and strike my knees (on the ground): by that slipping I make muzzle and knees all bloody.

My pack-saddle and trappings become awry (lie in disorder) on my head, and I always get a beating from the muleteer;

Like the unintelligent man who, from corrupt understanding, in (the case of his committing) sin continually breaks (his vow of) penitence.

Through weakness of resolution that breaker of (vows of) penitence becomes the laughing-stock of Iblís in the world.

He constantly comes down on his head, like a lame horse, for his load is heavy and the road is (full of) stones.

He is always getting blows on his head from the Unseen, that man of luckless nature, from breaking (his vows of) penitence.

Then again he repents with infirm resolution: the Devil spits (in scorn) and shatters his penitence.

Weakness on weakness! (Yet) his arrogance is such that he regards with contempt those that attain (to God).

O camel, thou who art a type of the true believer dost not fall on thy face, nor dost thou turn up thy nose (in disdain).

What hast thou that thou art so untouched by bane and free from stumbling and dost not fall on thy face?”

He (the camel) said, “Though every felicity is from God, there are many differences between me and thee.

I have a high head, my eyes are high: lofty vision is a protection against injury.

From the top of the mountain I see the mountain-foot, I see every hollow and level, fold by fold,

Just as that most noble prince (the perfect saint) saw his future destiny till the day of death.

That person of goodly qualities knows at the present time what will happen after twenty years.

That God-fearing man did not see his own destiny only; nay, the destiny of (every) inhabitant of the West and East.

The Light makes its abode in his eye and heart. Wherefore does it make (its abode there)? For love of home.

(He is) like Joseph, who at first dreamed that the sun and moon bowed in worship before him:

After ten years, nay, more, that which Joseph had seen came to pass.

That (saying), ‘he sees by the Light of God,’ is not vain: the Divine Light rives the sky asunder.

In thine eye that Light is not. Go! Thou art in pawn to the animal senses.

From weakness of eye thou seest (only) in front of thy foot: thou art weak and thy guide, too, is weak.

The eye is the guide for hand and foot, for it sees (both) the right and the wrong place.

Another thing is that my eye is clearer; another, that my nature is purer,

Because I am one of the lawfully begotten, not one of the children of adultery and the people of perdition.

Thou art one of the children of adultery: without doubt the arrow flies crookedly when the bow is bad.”