Ah! rob not their words of their technical meanings! Zulaikha applied to Yusuf the names of all things, Beginning with wild rue and ending with frankincense. She veiled his name under all other names, And imparted her secret meaning to her confidants. When she said, "The wax is melted by the fire," She meant, "My lover is wroth with me." So when she said, "See, the moon is risen!" Or, "Lo! the willow-bough is putting forth leaves;" Or if she said, "The leaves quiver in the wind," Or, "The wild rue yields perfume as it burns;" Or if she said, "The rose tells her tale to the Bulbul," Or, "The king sings his love-strain;" Or if she said, "Ah! what a blessed lot!" Or, "Who hath disturbed my heart's repose?" Or if she said, "The water-carrier hath brought water,' Or, "Lo! the sun emerges from the clouds;" Or if she said, "Last night the victuals were boiled," Or, "The food was perfectly cooked;" Or if she said, "My bread is without savor" Or, "The heavens are revolving the wrong way; Or if she said, "My head aches with pain," Or, "My headache is now relieved;" If she gave thanks, 'twas for being united to Yusuf; If she wailed, 'twas that she was separated from him. Though she gave vent to thousands of names, Her meaning and purport was only Yusuf; Was she an hungred, when she pronounced his name, She became filled and cheered by his nourishment. Her thirst was quenched by Yusuf 's name, His name was spiritual water to her soul. Was she in pain, by pronouncing his mighty name At once her pain was turned into joy. In the cold it was a warm garment; Her lover's name accomplished all this through love. Strangers may pronounce the "pure name" of God, Yet it effects no such marvels, for they lack love. All that 'Isa accomplished by the name of Jehovah, Zulaikha attained through the name "Yusuf." When the soul is intimately united with God, To name the one is the same as naming the other. Zulaikha was empty of self and filled with love of Yusuf, And there flowed out of her jar what it contained. The scent of the saffron of union made her smile, The stench of the onion of separation made her weep. Each to have in his heart a hundred meanings, Such is not the creed of true love and devotion. "The Friend" is to the lover as day to the sun, The material sun is a veil over the face of the real day. Whoso distinguishes not the veil from "The Friend's" face Is a worshipper of the sun; of such a one beware! "The Friend" is the real day, and daily food of lovers, The heart and the heart's torment of His lovers. After enduring many toils and misfortunes the three princes at last arrived in the metropolis of China, and there- upon the eldest prince expressed his intention of presenting himself before the king, as he could wait no longer. His brothers tried to dissuade him from risking his life, point- ing out that if he acted on blind impulse and vain conceit he would surely go astray, for "a conceit hath naught of 12 truth;" and they further urged him to listen to the coun-
Ah! rob not their words of their technical meanings! Zulaikha applied to Yusuf the names of all things, Beginning with wild rue and ending with frankincense. She veiled his name under all other names, And imparted her secret meaning to her confidants. When she said, "The wax is melted by the fire," She meant, "My lover is wroth with me." So when she said, "See, the moon is risen!" Or, "Lo! the willow-bough is putting forth leaves;" Or if she said, "The leaves quiver in the wind," Or, "The wild rue yields perfume as it burns;" Or if she said, "The rose tells her tale to the Bulbul," Or, "The king sings his love-strain;" Or if she said, "Ah! what a blessed lot!" Or, "Who hath disturbed my heart's repose?" Or if she said, "The water-carrier hath brought water,' Or, "Lo! the sun emerges from the clouds;" Or if she said, "Last night the victuals were boiled," Or, "The food was perfectly cooked;" Or if she said, "My bread is without savor" Or, "The heavens are revolving the wrong way; Or if she said, "My head aches with pain," Or, "My headache is now relieved;" If she gave thanks, 'twas for being united to Yusuf; If she wailed, 'twas that she was separated from him. Though she gave vent to thousands of names, Her meaning and purport was only Yusuf; Was she an hungred, when she pronounced his name, She became filled and cheered by his nourishment. Her thirst was quenched by Yusuf 's name, His name was spiritual water to her soul. Was she in pain, by pronouncing his mighty name At once her pain was turned into joy. In the cold it was a warm garment; Her lover's name accomplished all this through love. Strangers may pronounce the "pure name" of God, Yet it effects no such marvels, for they lack love. All that 'Isa accomplished by the name of Jehovah, Zulaikha attained through the name "Yusuf." When the soul is intimately united with God, To name the one is the same as naming the other. Zulaikha was empty of self and filled with love of Yusuf, And there flowed out of her jar what it contained. The scent of the saffron of union made her smile, The stench of the onion of separation made her weep. Each to have in his heart a hundred meanings, Such is not the creed of true love and devotion. "The Friend" is to the lover as day to the sun, The material sun is a veil over the face of the real day. Whoso distinguishes not the veil from "The Friend's" face Is a worshipper of the sun; of such a one beware! "The Friend" is the real day, and daily food of lovers, The heart and the heart's torment of His lovers. After enduring many toils and misfortunes the three princes at last arrived in the metropolis of China, and there- upon the eldest prince expressed his intention of presenting himself before the king, as he could wait no longer. His brothers tried to dissuade him from risking his life, point- ing out that if he acted on blind impulse and vain conceit he would surely go astray, for "a conceit hath naught of 12 truth;" and they further urged him to listen to the coun-