Page:The Mesnevī (Volume 2).pdf/43

 The bystanders laughed at the parrot’s inference, because it deemed the wearer of the frock to be like itself.

Do not measure the actions of holy men by (the analogy of) yourself, though shér (lion) and shir (milk) are similar in writing.

On this account the whole world is gone astray: scarcely any one is cognisant of God’s Abdal (Substitutes)'.

They set up (a claim of) equality with the prophets; they supposed the saints to be like themselves,

"Behold," they said, "we are men, they are men; both we and they are in bondage to sleep and food."

In (their) blindness they did not perceive that there is an infinite difference between (them).

Both species of zanbúr ate and drank from the (same) place, but from that one (the hornet) came a sting, and from this other (the bee) honey. %

Both species of deer ate grass and drank water: from this one came dung, and from that one pure musk.

Both reeds drank from the same water-source, (but) this one is empty and that one (full of) sugar.

Consider hundreds of thousands of such likenesses and observe that the distance between the two is (as great as) a seventy years’ journey.

This one eats, and filth is discharged from him; that one eats, and becomes entirely the light of God.

This one eats, (and of him) is born nothing but avarice and envy; that one eats, (and of him) is born nothing but love of the One (God).

This one is good (fertile) soil and that one brackish and bad; this one is a fair angel and that one a devil and wild beast.

If both resemble each other in aspect, it may well be (so): bitter water and sweet water have (the same) clearness.

Who knows (the difference) except a man possessed of (spiritual) taste? Find (him): he knows the sweet water from the brine.

Comparing magic with (prophetic) miracle, he (the ignorant one) fancies that both are founded on deceit.

The magicians (in the time) of Moses, for contention’s sake, lifted up (in their hands) a rod like his,

(But) between this rod and that rod there is a vast difference; from this action (magic) to that action (miracle) is a great way.

This action is followed by the curse of God, (while) that action receives in payment the mercy (blessing) of God.

The infidels in contending (for equality with the prophets and saints) have the nature of an ape: the (evil) nature is a canker within the breast.