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

The reverence of the magicians towards Moses, whom they asked,
‘What do you wish –– would you like to cast your rod 
first?’ *
In Pharaoh’s reign magicians set a date
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To challenge Moses, object of their hate,
But these men still showed Moses deference,
These vain magicians showed much reverence
By saying, ‘You choose when, O Messenger,
And throw your rod down 
first if you prefer.’
Moses said, ‘No, magicians I implore
That you throw down your tricks 
first on the floor.’
They earned God’s grace by being subservient,
This cut their power and means of argument:
When they acknowledged who he was this time,
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They lost the power to carry out their crime.
Each morsel and each word is lawful too
For the perfected, not for men like you!
The Escape of the Merchant’s Parrot
101

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While you’re an ear, this man’s a tongue, you see,
And God told all men ‘
Listen!’
* Didn’t he?
Each baby when it’s born screams out its fears
But then stays silent for a while, all ears;
For hours it has to keep its small lips sealed
Till speech’s secret should become revealed,
And if it doesn’t listen, but just cries
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It’s the most stupid thing beneath the skies!
The one born deaf who’s never heard a word
Is mute, how can speech move him –– that’s absurd!
To learn to speak, 
first hearing’s necessary,
Through hearing learn how to speak properly:
‘
Enter their houses by their doors!’
* He said,
Seek through their cause the outcomes up ahead!
Speech not in need of hearing is unknown
Apart from God’s desire-free speech alone,
For the Creator follows no one’s lead,
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We’re helped by Him, of help He has no need.
In making things and speaking we’ve relied
On teachers or a pattern that can guide ––
If these words haven’t left you in a shock
Start weeping now and wear a dervish frock!
Adam’s tears freed him from admonishment,
Tears are the breaths of those who’re penitent,
Adam came down to earth so he could grieve,
To weep for what he’d done and then take leave:
He came from Eden and the seventh heaven
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To beg and plead that he might be forgiven,
So if you’re really Adam’s progeny
Then keep on striving in his company ––
Blend in your tears with 
fire to make a sweet:
The orchard blooms through rain and solar heat.
What do you know about how tears might taste?
You just love bread like blind men –– what a waste!
Empty your belly that you’ve 
filled with bread
Then
fill it up with precious jewels instead!
It’s devil’s milk you’ve fed your infant soul,
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Take it to angels –– feed it from their bowl!
The Escape of the Merchant’s Parrot
102

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When you are weary, gloomy, and depressed,
You must be feeding from the devil’s breast;
The food which can increase light and perfection
Is paid for through a lawful occupation;
And oil which puts the lamp out we should call
‘Water’, it can’t be really oil at all:
Knowledge and wisdom lawful meals produce
*
And love and tenderness they can induce,
While morsels 
filled with envy which can snare
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Are all unlawful –– ignorance breeds there!
Have you sown wheat then seen just barley rise,
A horse give birth to donkeys –– don’t tell lies!
Pure food is like a seed, its fruit’s pure thought,
And it’s a sea, while thought’s the jewel sought;
With longing, lawful food will overwhelm
Your heart, so it can reach the highest realm.