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

It’s beauti
fied for men,* God gave it shape;
So how can men know where they can escape?
So
he’s consoled by her
* she was created:
Can Adam then from Eve be separated?
A Hamza and Rostam in bravery ––
His wife still keeps him bound in slavery,
Although his words could make the whole world sway,
‘
Please redhead, speak to me! ’
* he still would say;
Water puts out the 
flames which winds just fan
2440
But boils away when heated in a pan,
For if a pan should separate the two
It will evaporate in front of you.
Though outwardly above her you may tower,
You want her, so within she has the power.
This love’s the special human quality;
Beasts lack it –– that’s their inferiority.
In explanation of the saying ‘Women prevail over intelligent men,
while ignorant men prevail over them’
The Prophet once said, ‘Women all control
Intelligent men, those who have a soul,
But stupid men rule women, for they’re crude
2445
And hold a simple, bullish attitude.’
They lack all tenderness and can’t be kind ––
Their animal soul still controls their mind:
Tenderness is a human quality,
While lust and rage show animality,
A ray from God is that one whom you love,
Creative, uncreated, from above.
The Poor Bedouin and his Wife
150

---

The man submits to his wife’s request that he should seek a
livelihood, regarding her opposition as a sign from God:
To those who have the knowledge to discern
What spins you round’s the thing that makes you turn
The things his wife said made the man feel shame
Like dying o
fficers who don’t want blame:
‘I have become my lover’s foe,’ he said,
2450
‘How did I kick my own soul in the head!’
Our sight is veiled whenever fate decrees,
Our mind can’t tell our elbows from our knees,
But once it’s passed, our mind then starts to mourn:
It rips our shirt now that the veil’s been torn!
He said, ‘I feel ashamed, my darling wife,
I’ve strayed, but now I seek a righteous life:
I’ve sinned against you, please act mercifully,
Please don’t uproot my heart immediately!
If an old in
fidel feels as I do
2455
Once he repents he’s then a Muslim too.’
Through love of God, who’s kind and generous,
All of existence feels delirious ––
He’s loved by faith and in
fidelity:
Copper and gold both serve in alchemy.
In explanation of why Moses and Pharaoh were both
compelled by God’s decree like poison and antidote,
darkness and light, and of Pharaoh’s prayers in solitude
to God that He would not shatter his reputation
Moses and Pharaoh both served God this way,
Moses seemed guided, Pharaoh led astray;
Moses would weep for God when it was light,
Pharaoh would do that in the dark at night:
‘What is this halter on my neck?’ he’d pray,
2460
‘Without it, “I am I” how could I say!
The Poor Bedouin and his Wife
151

---

While you’ve illumined Moses like a spark
By that same power you’ve made this servant dark:
You’ve lit just like the moon his radiant face,
My moon-like soul you’ve turned black with disgrace;
My star’s dependent on this moon for light ––
Now it’s eclipsed how can I still shine bright?
Saying I am “the lord”, slaves start drum rolls
But it’s for the eclipse men beat their bowls:
*
They all raise such a clamour for one aim ––
2465
So that this moon may thus be put to shame.
Although I’m Pharaoh, I’m a desperate soul,
Each calls me “highest lord”, then beats his bowl!
We’re fellow servants, but your axe still chops
The branches that it chooses in this copse,
Then joins a branch back to its trunk once more
While other branches it will just ignore:
But over your axe power each branch lacks,
No branch has yet escaped this ruthless axe ––
Since your axe has the power to dictate,
2470
Would you please make all crooked things now straight!’
Pharaoh said to himself once more, ‘How odd!
Do I not pray throughout the night to God?
I’m meek in secret, and in harmony ––
When I reach Moses what becomes of me?’
The gilt of false gold has ten coats, but turns
Pitch black when it is brought near 
flames, and burns.
My body follows Him, my heart as well,
One moment I’m the kernel, then the shell:
He tells me ‘Be a 
field!’ and I turn green,
2475
‘Be ugly!’ –– I turn paler than you’ve seen,
A moon that’s bright then black, deprived of light:
This is the way God works –– am I not right?
Before ‘