{"collection":"Islam","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/isl/saab/saab28.htm","path":"isl/saab/saab28.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/isl/saab/saab28.htm","text":"Salaman and Absal, by Jami, tr. Edward Fitzgerald, [1904]\nThen The Sage counsell\u2019d, and Sal\u00e1m\u00e1n heard,\n And drew the Wisdom down into his Heart;\n And, sitting in the Shadow of the Perfect,\n His Soul found Quiet under; sweet it seem\u2019d,\n Sweeping the Chaff and Litter from his own,\n To be the very Dust of Wisdom's Door,\n Slave of the Firm\u00e1n of the Lord of Life.\n Then The Sage marvell\u2019d at his Towardness,\n And wrought in Miracle in his behalf.\n He pour\u2019d the Wine of Wisdom in his Cup,\n He laid the Dew of Peace upon his lips;\n And when Old Love return\u2019d to Memory,\n And broke in Passion from his Lips, The Sage,\n Under whose waxing Will Existence rose\n Responsive, and, relaxing, waned again,\n Raising a Fantom Image of Abs\u00e1l,\n Set it awhile before Sal\u00e1m\u00e1n's Eyes,\n Till, having sow\u2019d the Seed of Quiet there,\n It went again down to Annihilation.\n But ever, for the Sum of his Discourse,\n The Sage would tell of a Celestial Love;\n \"Zuhrah,\" he said, \"the Lustre of the Stars\n \"'Fore whom the Beauty of the Brightest wanes;\n\"Who were she to reveal her perfect Beauty,\n \"The Sun and Moon would craze; Zuhrah,\" he said,\n \"The Sweetness of the Banquet\u2014none in Song\n \"Like Her\u2014her Harp filling the Ear of Heaven,\n \"That Dervish-dances at her Harmony.\"\n Sal\u00e1m\u00e1n listen\u2019d, and inclin\u2019d\u2014again\n Repeated, Inclination ever grew;\n Until The Sage beholding in his Soul\n The Spirit quicken, so effectually\n With Zuhrah wrought, that she reveal\u2019d herself\n In her pure Beauty to Sal\u00e1m\u00e1n's Soul,\n And washing Abs\u00e1l's Image from his Breast,\n There reign\u2019d instead. Celestial Beauty seen,\n He left the Earthly; and, once come to know\n Eternal Love, he let the Mortal go.","title":"Salaman and Absal: Sal\u00e1m\u00e1n and Abs\u00e1l: XXVI","type":"page"}