The Masnavi, Book One (Oxford World's Classics)

The lion again claims exertion to be superior to trust,
and explains the advantages of exertion
The lion said, ‘That’s true, but don’t forget
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The works of prophets and believers yet.’
All their exertions God himself made good,
Like all the trials and torture they withstood,
Their plans succeeded –– take that as a sign!
What issues from a 
fine man must be fine.
Heavenly birds they captured with their traps
New virtues made of their own handicaps ––
So strive your utmost on the mystic way
Just like the prophets and the saints, don’t stray!
For striving hard does not mean 
fighting fate
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Since fate itself has served this on our plate ––
Call me an in
fidel if men lose out
By trying to be faithful and devout!
Your head’s not broken –– treatment’s not required,
Just strive a bit, then rest like those retired!
Those after this world seek a rotten place
But seeking what’s beyond is no disgrace;
How a Hare Killed the Tyrannical Lion
62

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All schemes to gain wealth here fail miserably
But schemes to 
flee this world taste victory,
So dig a tunnel to escape your cell,
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Don’t block it up, or you’ll be stuck in hell:
This world’s a prison, we’re locked up inside,
To free yourself dig all the way outside!
What is this world? Being heedless of the Lord,
Not women and those precious goods you hoard!
But wealth you hold for your religion’s health
Is good: the Prophet called it ‘
righteous wealth!’
Water that’s poured inside will sink the boat
While water underneath keeps it a
float.
Driving wealth from his heart to keep it pure
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King Solomon preferred the title ‘Poor’:
That sealed jar in the stormy sea out there
Floats on the waves because it’s full of air,
When you’ve the air of dervishhood inside
You’ll
float above the world, and there abide;
Although the world is this man’s property
To his heart’s eye it’s worthless vanity ––
So seal your heart’s mouth shut like Solomon
And
fill it with divine breath from the One!
Like pain and cure, exertion’s being’s true,
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Denial of this is mere exertion too.
The establishment of the superiority of exertion over trust
So many proofs the lion would relate,
The fatalists grew tired of this debate;
The fox, the deer, the hare, the jackal too
Stopped answering back, abandoning their view;
With him they then agreed a deal, where he
Would not lose out –– they gave a guarantee:
Each day a beast would come straight to his den
Without the need for him to hunt again:
Whoever drew the shortest of the straws
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Would race just like a cheetah to his jaws!
How a Hare Killed the Tyrannical Lion
63

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But when the hare’s turn came he screamed a lot:
‘How long must tyrants take all that we’ve got!’
The other animals blame the hare for his delay in going to the lion
They told him, ‘Many times we’ve sacri
ficed
Our lives to keep our pledge, and that’s su
fficed.
You stubborn hare, don’t shame us any more,
Now hurry up before he starts to roar!’
The hare answers them
The hare said, ‘Friends, won’t you give me respite,
My scheme will save you from your sorry plight,
Life then will be secure for all of you,
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The same applies for all your children too:
Each prophet called on his community
In the same way to seek security,
A route beyond each could identify
As narrow as the pupil of an eye ––
Their people thought them, like the pupil, small,
But who could boast their greatness –– none at all!’