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 52 MATHNAWI, BOOK I

Man devised (something), and his device was a snare (wherein he was trapped): that which he thought to be life was (actually) the drainer of his blood (his destroyer).

He locked the door while the foe was in the house: the plot of Pharaoh was a story of this sort.

920 That vengeful man slew hundreds of thousands of babes, while the one he was searching after was in his (Pharaoh's) house.

Since in our eyesight (foresight) there is much defect, go, let your own sight pass away (fana) in the sight of the Friend (God).

His sight for ours-what a goodly recompense! In His sight you will find the whole object of your desire.

So long as the child could neither grasp (exert strength) nor run, he had nothing to ride on but his father's neck;

When he became a busybody and plied hand and foot (exerted himself), he fell into trouble and wretchedness.

925

The spirits of created beings, before (the creation of) hand and foot, by reason of their faithfulness were flying in (the realm of) purity;

When they were constrained by the (Divine) command, Get ye down, they became engaoled in anger and covetousness and contentment.

We are the family of the Lord and craving after milk (like infants): he (the Prophet) said, "The people are God's family."

He who gives rain from heaven is also able, from His mercy, to give us bread." How the lion again pronounced exertion to be superior to trust in God. "Yes," said the lion; "but the Lord of His servants set a ladder before our feet,

930

Step by step must we climb towards the roof: to be a necessitarian here is (to indulge in) foolish hopes.

You have feet: why do you make yourself out to be lame? you have hands: why do you conceal the fingers (whereby you grasp)?

When the master put a spade in the slave's hand, his object was made known to him (the slave) without (a word falling from his) tongue.

Hand and spade alike are His (God's) implicit signs; (our powers of) thinking upon the end are His explicit declarations.

When you take His signs to heart, you will devote life your to fulfilling that indication (of His will).

935

He will give you many hints (for the understanding) of mysteries, He will remove the burden from you and give you (spiritual) authority. Do you bear (His burden)? He will cause you to be borne