How the lion made trial of the wolf and said, “Come forward, O wolf, and divide the prey amongst us.”
The lion said, “O wolf, divide this (prey): O old wolf, make justice new (give it new life by thy example).
Be my deputy in the office of distributor, that it may be seen of what substance thou art.”
“O King,” said he, “the wild ox is thy share: he is big, and thou art big and strong and active.
The goat is mine, for the goat is middle and intermediate; do thou, O fox, receive the hare, and no mistake!”
The lion said, “O wolf, how hast thou spoken? Say! When I am here, dost thou speak of ‘I’ and ‘thou’?
Truly, what a cur the wolf must be, that he regarded himself in the presence of a lion like me who am peerless and unrivalled!”
(Then) he said, “Come forward, O thou self-esteeming ass!” He approached him, the lion seized him with his claws and rent him.
Inasmuch as he (the lion) did not see in him the kernel of right conduct, he tore the skin off his head as a punishment.
He said, “Since the sight of me did not transport thee out of thyself, a spirit like this (thine) must needs die miserably.
Since thou wert not passing away (from thyself) in my presence, ’twas an act of grace to smite thy neck (behead thee).”
Everything is perishing except His face: unless thou art in His face (essence), do not seek to exist.
When any one has passed away (from himself) in my face (essence), (the words) everything is perishing are not applicable (to him),
Because he is in except, he has transcended not (nonentity): whosoever is in except has not passed away (perished).
Whosoever is uttering ‘I’ and ‘we’ at the door (of the Divine Court), he is turned back from the door and is continuing in not (nonentity).
