Muntakhab al-tawarikh 28: ANOTHER QASIDA.
Muntakhabu-t-tawārīkh (Ranking, Lowe, Haig) 28
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ANOTHER QASIDA.
28.1
I, who have made my dwelling in a corner like the Simurgh I have made my nest beyond the axis of earthly sphere. Why do I bear the shame of every bird in this ill-omened land? I have gone like the ‘Anqa and have made my resting place in the mountains.
Until the bird of my ambition swoops down upon the harvest of the lower world, I have made the harvest field of the sky full of grain like stars.
Why does the moon display the halo harvest when it does not chew a single grain to any one, whereas I with one single grain of manliness have bound many a sheaf?
By the light of the knowledge of God I have made the newly wedded virgin bride of reality to shine in the chamber of wisdom with the brilliance of the day.
The course of the heavenly bodies in the columns of the almanac of the Creation, I have proved one by one by comparison with the astronomical tables of intellect.
In the bridle of four rings, that is the trappings of the four elements, great is the training which I have given the unruly steed of my passions.
I have made the parrot of my soul, whose cage is the form of this uncouth body which is like a midden, every moment to rival the nightingale of the verdant garden.
The parrot has left for the garden; the kite of lust which is following it, circling round and round my nature, I have detained within the midden of the body.
In many an art for which the scientists had no taste I have made as great progress, hundred-fold as they are, as a man who follows but one art.
28.2
My intellect has served to light the lamp of the treasure of science; I have made my skill the oil which supplies the light to the wick.
The jewel of the secret of reality has been acquired in such a (perfect) way that I have made my mind the storehouse of the treasury of secret knowledge.
Once by way of vaunting in the rose garden of desire, I displayed the brilliancy of my skill particoloured like the peacock.
The falcon of the Divine indignation smote me with its talons from its hiding-place, so that I took refuge in a corner like the pigeon.
They would have shewn me the way (and have bidden me walk) in this solitary windowless tower
Had not my ambition carried me far beyond the seven windows (of the sky)
A tower, narrow, ay ! at that time even narrower than my heart, (so narrow that) you would say I am a cord and have given myself a place in the eye of a needle.
It is the constellation of the Archer, and I am like the Sun, and have by my cold sighs changed the bright spring of the world into the bitter cold of winter.
This was not all ; the good tidings of my bad fortune brought to me the blacksmith, to whom I said — Strike off my head in return for the blood which is upon my head.
The splendour and comfort of the golden-throned sun is my desert.
Whereas I am resting upon a (hard) iron (prison) seat.
The seven-headed dragon (The Sky) hides its head (in astonishment) to see that I have brought this two-headed serpent (night and day) under my skirt.
28.3
They determine for me an imprisonment like that of Bizhan in the well of tyranny. I have not seen Manizha nor have I committed the crime of Bizhan.
Patience by the strength of Rustam, as one may say, I have entrusted the strength necessary for my release to the arm of Rustam-like patience.
All of my companions are free to follow their occupations while I am fast in prison.
God forbid I should be the only one of all mankind to have committed this fault!
The times are out of joint, if not how can the following of the Ishraqi philosophy which I followed so excellently have thrown me into misfortune?
The shaft of the tyrannical heavens passed through and through from the back, although I had armed my breast with the cuirass of patience.
My body longs for food in the captivity of sorrow, and I have prepared for its support my blood as its drink, and my heart as its meal.
Once I was like the tulip in complaining, but then afterwards I made myself like the lily ten-tongued (but silent).
Like the violet I have let my head fall forward (in sorrow) from dearth of benefactors, and though like the lily I have ten tongues I am become dumb in thy praise.
I am suffering the punishment of my words, because in my lying flattery I have made every beggar a king, and have made the (worthless) Ladan into frankincense.
At one time I have proclaimed Suha superior in brilliancy to the moon,
At another I have scorned the river as being inferior to the drippings of a sieve.
28.4
I have made friends with Avarice, like ‘Amid from the lust for blood, and for that reason I have made contentment my enemy.
I have subjected my spirit, which is like a high mettled horse, to the burthen of labour, because of the tyranny and meanness of the heavens, see now what a jade he has become.
127. I have made barren my truth-adorning heart and my jewel-producing nature, without the help of not now only but long ago, This one poem of mine is worth a whole Badakhshan and a hundred caskets of jewels, nay more, every verse of it have I made better than particoloured hair!
Imprisonment has brought me to lamentation, and from the delicacy of my speech you see the joy which I have given in the very midst of my lamentation.
Oh Lord, give me my sustenance from the date-tree of thy favour, I have made the bud of my heart to sing the praises of thy Unity.
Present me with the robe of honour of thy protection, for thy court is my original refuge, lo I have fled to my refuge.
Keep far from the darkness of infidelity, hypocrisy hatred and enmity, that heart which I have embellished with the light of sincerity to Thee.
Keep thou the Sun of Divine knowledge shining within my heart, for I have made my heart the mine of the jewels of true belief.