Part 22

From the turning of the Sphere my luck hath seen reverse and woe; Blood I've drunk, for from my banquet wine arose and forth did go. With the flame, my burning sighs, I've lit the wand'ring wildered heart; I'm a fire, doth not all that which turns about me roasted glow? With thy rubies wine contended—oh! how it hath lost its wits! Need 'tis yon ill-mannered wretch's company that we forego. Yonder moon saw not my burning's flame upon the parting day— How can e'er the sun about the taper all night burning know? Every eye that all around tears scatters, thinking of thy shaft, Is an oyster-shell that causeth rain-drops into pearls to grow. Forms my sighing's smoke a cloud that veils the bright cheek of the moon; Ah! that yon fair moon will ne'er the veil from off her beauty throw! Ne'er hath ceased the rival e'en within her ward to vex me sore; How say they, Fuzuli, "There's in Paradise nor grief nor woe"?

MUSEDDES

A stately Cypress yesterday her shade threw o'er my head; Her form was heart-ensnaring, heart-delighting her light tread; When speaking, sudden opened she her smiling rubies red, There a pistachio I beheld that drops of candy shed. "This casket can it be a mouth? Ah! deign!" I said; said she: "Nay, nay, 'tis balm to cure thy hidden smart; aye, truly thine!" Down o'er her crescents she had pressed the turban she did wear, By which, from many broken hearts, sighs raised she of despair; She loosed her tresses—hid within the cloud her moon so fair, And o'er her visage I beheld the curls of her black hair. "Those curling locks, say, are they then a chain?" I said; said she: "That round my cheek, a noose to take thy heart; aye, truly thine!"

The taper bright, her cheek, illumined day's lamp in the sky; The rose's branch was bent before her figure, cypress-high; She, cypress-like, her foot set down upon the fount, my eye, But many a thorn did pierce her foot she suffered pain thereby. "What thorn unto the roseleaf-foot gives pain?" I said; said she: "The lash of thy wet eye doth it impart; aye, truly thine!" Promenading, to the garden did that jasmine-cheeked one go; With many a bright adornment in the early springtide's glow; The hyacinths their musky locks did o'er the roses throw; That Picture had tattooed her lovely feet rose-red to show. "The tulip's hue whence doth the dog-rose gain?" I said; said she: "From Hood of thine shed 'neath my glance's dart; aye, truly thine!"

To earth within her ward my tears in torrents rolled apace; The accents of her ruby lips my soul crazed by their grace; My heart was taken in the snare her musky locks did trace, That very moment when my eyes fell on her curls and face. "Doth Scorpio the bright Moon's House contain?" I said; said she: "Fear! threatening this Conjunction dread, thy part; aye, truly thine!"

Her hair with ambergris perfumed was waving o'er her cheek, On many grieving, passioned souls it cruel woe did wreak; Her graceful form and many charms my wildered heart made weak; The eye beheld her figure fair, then heart and soul did seek. "Ah! what bright thing this cypress of the plain?" I said; said she: "'Tis that which thy fixed gaze beholds apart; aye, truly thine!"

When their veil her tulip and dog-rose had let down yesterday, The morning breeze tore off that screen which o'er these flow'rets lay; Came forth that Envy of the sun in garden fair to stray, Like lustrous pearls the dewdrops shone, a bright and glistening spray. "Pearls, say, are these, aye pearls from 'Aden's main?" I said; said she: "Tears, these, of poor Fuzuli, sad of heart; aye, truly thine!"

MUKHAMMES

Attar within vase of crystal, such thy fair form silken-gowned; And thy breast is gleaming water, where the bubbles clear abound; Thou so bright none who may gaze upon thee on the earth is found; Bold wert thou to cast the veil off, standing forth with garland crowned: Not a doubt but woe and ruin all the wide world must confound!

Lures the heart thy gilded palace, points it to thy lips the way; Eagerly the ear doth listen for the words thy rubies say; Near thy hair the comb remaineth, I despairing far away; Bites the comb, each curling ringlet, when it through thy locks doth stray: Jealous at its sight, my heart's thread agonized goes curling round.

Ah! her face the rose, her shift rose-hued, her trousers red their shade; With its flame burns us the fiery garb in which thou are arrayed. Ne'er was born of Adam's children one like thee, O cruel maid! Moon and Sun, in beauty's circle, at thy fairness stand dismayed: Seems it thou the Sun for mother and the Moon for sire hast owned.

Captive bound in thy red fillet, grieve I through thy musky hair; Prone I 'neath those golden anklets which thy silvern limbs do wear; Think not I am like thy fillet, empty of thy grace, O fair! Rather to the golden chain, which hangs thy cheek round, me compare: In my sad heart pangs a thousand from thy glance's shafts are found.

Eyes with antimony darkened, hands with henna crimson dyed; Through these beauties vain and wanton like to thee was ne'er a bride. Bows of poplar green, thy painted brows; thy glances shafts provide. Poor Fuzuli for thine eyes and eyebrows aye hath longing cried: That the bird from bow and arrow flees not, well may all astound.

FROM LEYLI AND MEJNUN

Yield not the soul to pang of Love, for Love's the soul's fierce glow; That Love's the torment of the soul doth all the wide world know. Seek not for gain from fancy wild of pang of Love at all; For all that comes from fancy wild of Love's pang is griefs throe. Each curving eyebrow is a blood-stained saber thee to slay; Each dusky curl, a deadly venomed snake to work thee woe. Lovely, indeed, the forms of moon-like maidens are to see— Lovely to see, but ah! the end doth bitter anguish show. From this I know full well that torment dire in love abides, That all who lovers are, engrossed with sighs, rove to and fro. Call not to mind the pupils of the black-eyed damsels bright, With thought, "I'm man"; be not deceived, 'tis blood they drink, I trow. E'en if Fuzuli should declare, "In fair ones there is troth," Be not deceived—"A poet's words are falsehoods all men know."

MEJNUN ADDRESSES NEVFIL

Quoth Mejnun: "O sole friend of true plight! With counsel many have tried me to guide right; Many with wisdom gifted have advice shown, But yet this fiend hath been by no one o'erthrown; Much gold has on the earth been strewn round, But yet this Stone of Alchemist by none's found. Collyrium I know that doth increase light, What use though is it if the eye doth lack sight? I know that greatest kindliness in thee lies, What use, though, when my fate doth ever dark rise? Upon my gloomy fortune I no faith lay, Impossible my hope appeareth alway. Ah! though in this thou shouldest ever hard toil, The end at length will surely all thy plans foil. No kindliness to me my closest friends show; Who is a friend to him whom he doth deem foe? I know my fortune evil is and woe-fraught; The search for solace is to me, save pain, naught. There is a gazel that doth well my lot show, Which constant I repeat where'er my steps go."

MEJNUN'S GAZEL

From whomsoe'er I've sought for troth but bitterest disdain I've seen; Whome'er within this faithless world I've trusted, all most vain I've seen. To whomsoe'er I've told my woes, in hope to find some balm therefor, Than e'en myself o'erwhelmed and sunk in deeper, sadder pain I've seen. From out mine aching heart no one hath driven cruel grief away, That those my friends of pleasure's hour affection did but feign I've seen. Although I've clutched its mantle, life hath turned away its face from me; And though I faith from mirror hoped, there persecuted swain I've seen. At gate of hope I set my foot, bewilderment held forth its hand, Alas! whene'er hope's thread I've seized, in hand the serpent's train I've seen. A hundred times the Sphere hath shown to me my darksome fortune's star; Whene'er my horoscope I've cast, but blackest, deepest stain I've seen. Fuzuli, blush not then, should I from mankind turn my face away; For why? From all to whom I've looked, but reason sad too plain I've seen.

ZEYD'S VISION

His grief and mourning Zeyd renewed alway, From bitter wailing ceased he not, he wept aye. That faithful, loving, ever-constant friend dear. One night, when was the rise of the True Dawn near, Feeling that in his wasted frame no strength stayed, Had gone, and down upon that grave himself laid. There, in his sleep, he saw a wondrous fair sight, A lovely garden, and two beauties, moon-bright; Through transport rapturous, their cheeks with light glow; Far distant now, all fear of anguish, pain, woe; With happiness and ecstasy and joy blest, From rivals' persecutions these have found rest; A thousand angel-forms to each fair beauty, With single heart, perform the servant's duty. He, wondering, question made: "What Moons so bright these? What lofty, honored Sovereigns of might these? What garden, most exalted, is this parterre? What throng so bright and beautiful, the throng there?" They answer gave: "Lo! Eden's shining bowers these; That radiant throng, the Heaven-born Youths and Houris; These two resplendent forms, bright as the fair moon, These are the ever-faithful—Leyli, Mejnun! Since pure within the vale of love they sojourned, And kept that purity till they to dust turned, Are Eden's everlasting bowers their home now, To them the Houris and the Youths as slaves bow: Since these, while on the earth, all woe resigned met, And patience aye before them in each grief set, When forth they fled from this false, faithless world's bound, From all those pangs and sorrows they release found!"

POEMS OF NABI

MUKHAMMES

Alas! nor dew nor smiling rose within this mead is mine; Within this market-place nor trade nor coin for need is mine; Nor more nor less; nor power nor strength for act or deed is mine; Nor might nor eminence; nor balm the cure to speed is mine. Oh, that I knew what here I am, that which indeed is mine!

Being's the bounty of the Lord; and Life, the gift Divine; The Breath, the present of his love; and Speech his Grace's sign; The Body is the pile of God; the Soul, his Breath benign; The Powers thereof, his Glory's trust; the Senses, his design. Oh, that I knew what here I am, that which indeed is mine!

No work, no business of my own within this mart have I; All Being is of him alone—no life apart have I; No choice of entering this world, or hence of start have I; To cry, "I am! I am!" in truth, no power of heart have I. Oh, that I knew what here I am, that which indeed is mine!

The Earth the carpet is of Power; the Sphere, the tent of Might; The Stars, both fixed and wandering, are Glory's lamps of light; The World's the issue of the grace of Mercy's treasures bright; With forms of beings is the page of Wisdom's volume dight. Oh, that I knew what here I am, that which indeed is mine!

Being is but a loan to us, and Life in trust we hold: In slaves a claim to Power's pretension arrogant and bold; The servant's part is by submission and obedience told; Should He, "My slave," address to me, 'twere favors manifold. Oh, that I knew what here I am, that which indeed is mine!

I'm poor and empty-handed, but grace free is of the Lord; Nonentity's my attribute: to Be is of the Lord; For Being or Non-being's rise, decree is of the Lord; The surging of the Seen and Unseen's sea is of the Lord. Oh, that I knew what here I am, that which indeed is mine!

Of gifts from table of his Bounty is my daily bread; My breath is from the Breath of God's benignant Mercy fed; My portion from the favors of Almighty Power is shed; And my provision is from Providence's kitchen spread. Oh, that I knew what here I am, that which indeed is mine!

I can not, unallotted, take my share from wet or dry; From land or from the ocean, from earth or from the sky; The silver or the gold will come, by Providence laid by; I can not grasp aught other than my fortune doth supply. Oh, that I knew what here I am, that which indeed is mine!

Creation's Pen the lines of billows of events hath traced; Th' illumined scroll of the Two Worlds, Creation's Pencil graced; Their garments upon earth and sky, Creation's woof hath placed; Men's forms are pictures in Creation's great Shah-Nama traced. Oh, that I knew what here I am, that which indeed is mine!

I can not make the morning eve, or the dark night the day; I can not turn the air to fire, or dust to water's spray; I can not bid the Sphere stand still, or mountain region stray; I can not Autumn turn by will of mine to lovely May. Oh, that I knew what here I am, that which indeed is mine!

From out of Nothingness his mighty Power made me appear; Whilst in the womb I lay, saw he to all I need for here; With kindness concealed and manifest did he me rear; With me he drew a curtain o'er Distinction's beauty dear. Oh, that I knew what here I am, that which indeed is mine!

God's Revelation is Discernment's Eye, if't oped remain; The picturings of worlds are all things changing aye amain; The showing of the Hidden Treasure is this raging main, This work, this business of the Lord, this Majesty made plain. Oh, that I knew what here I am, that which indeed is mine!

Now void, now full, are Possibility's storehouses vast; This glass-lined world's the mirror where Lights Twain their phases cast; The blinded thing—in scattering strange fruits its hours are past; Ruined hath this old Vineyard been by autumn's sullen blast. Oh, that I knew what here I am, that which indeed is mine!

GAZEL

Ne'er a corner for the plaintive bulbul's nest remaineth now; Ne'er a palm-tree 'neath whose kindly shade is rest remaineth now. Day and night some balm I've sought for, to relieve my wounded heart; Ne'er a cure within the heavens' turquoise chest remaineth now. From its source, through every country, searched have I, but all in vain— Ne'er a single drop, in mercy's fountain blest, remaineth now. Empty earthen pots are reckoned one with jewels rich and rare; Ne'er a scale in value's mart the worth to test remaineth now. 'Neath the earth may now the needy hide themselves, Nabi, away; Ne'er a turret on the fort of interest remaineth now.

POEMS OF BAQI

A QAISDA ON SULTAN SULEIMAN

One night when all the battlements Heaven's castle doth display, Illumed and decked were, with the shining lamps, the stars' array, Amidst the host of gleaming stars the Moon lit up his torch; Athwart the field of Heaven with radiance beamed the Milky Way. The Secretary of the Spheres had ta'en his meteor-pen, That writer of his signature whom men and jinns obey. There, at the banquet of the sky, had Venus struck her lyre, In mirth and happiness, delighted, joyed and smiling gay. Taking the keynote for her tune 'neath in the vaulted sphere, The tambourinist Sun her visage bright had hid away. Armed with a brand of gleaming gold had leapt into the plain The Swordsman of the sky's expanse, of heaven's field of fray. To give direction to the weighty matters of the earth Had Jupiter, the wise, lit up reflection's taper's ray. There raised aloft old Saturn high upon the Seventh Sphere Sitting like Indian elephant-conductor on did stray. "What means this decking of the universe?" I wond'ring said; When, lo! with meditation's gaze e'en whilst I it survey, Casting its beams on every side, o'er all earth rose the Sun, O'er the horizons, e'en as Seal of Suleiman's display. The eye of understanding looked upon this wondrous sight; At length the soul's ear learned the secret hid in this which lay: What is it that hath decked earth's hall with splendors such as this, Saving the might and fortune of the King who earth doth sway? He who sits high upon the throne above all crowned kings, The Hero of the battlefield of dread Keyani fray, Jemshid of happiness and joy, Darius of the fight, Khusrev of right and clemency, Iskender of his day!

Lord of the East and West! King whom the kings of earth obey! Prince of the Epoch! Sultan Suleiman! Triumphant Aye!

Meet 'tis before the steed of yonder Monarch of the realms Of right and equity, should march earth's rulers' bright array. Rebelled one 'gainst his word, secure he'd bind him in his bonds, E'en like the dappled pard, the sky, chained with the Milky Way. Lord of the land of graciousness and bounty, on whose board Of favors, spread is all the wealth that sea and mine display; Longs the perfumer, Early Spring, for th' odor of his grace; Need hath the merchant, Autumn, of his bounteous hand alway. Through tyrant's hard oppression no one groaneth in his reign, And though may wail the flute and lute, the law they disobey. Beside thy justice, tyranny's the code of Key-Qubad; Beside thy wrath, but mildness Qahraman's most deadly fray. Thy scimitar's the gleaming guide empires to overthrow, No foe of Islam can abide before thy saber's ray. Saw it thy wrath, through dread of thee would trembling seize the pine; The falling stars a chain around the heaven's neck would lay. Amidst thy sea-like armies vast, thy flags and standards fair, The sails are which the ship of splendid triumph doth display. Thrust it its beak into the Sphere, 'twould seize it as a grain, The _'anqa_ strong, thy power, to which 'twere but a seed-like prey. In past eternity the hand, thy might, it struck with bat, That time is this time, for the Sky's Ball spins upon its way. Within the rosy garden of thy praise the bird, the heart, Singeth this soul-bestowing, smooth-as-water-running lay.

If yonder mouth be not the soul, O heart-enslaver gay, Then wherefore is it like the soul, hid from our eyes away? Since in the casket of our mind thy ruby's picture lies, The mine is now no fitting home for gem of lustrous ray. Thy tresses fall across thy cheek in many a twisting curl, "To dance to Hijaz have the Shamis tucked their skirts," we'd say. Let both the youthful pine and cypress view thy motions fair; The gardener now to rear the willow need no more assay. The dark and cloudy-brained of men thine eyebrows black depict, While those of keen, discerning wit thy glistening teeth portray. Before thy cheek the rose and jasmine bowed in _sujud_, The cypress to thy figure in _qiyam_ did homage pay. The heart's throne is the seat of that great monarch, love for thee; The soul, the secret court, where doth thy ruby's picture stay. The radiance of thy beauty bright hath filled earth like the sun, The hall, "Be! and it is," resounds with love of thee for aye. The cries of those on plain of earth have risen to the skies, The shouts of those who dwell above have found to earth their way. Nor can the nightingale with songs as sweet as Baqi's sing, Nor happy as thy star can beam the garden's bright array. The mead, the world, blooms through thy beauty's rose, like Irem's bower; On every side are nightingales of sweet, melodious lay. Now let us pray at Allah's court: "May this for aye endure, The might and glory of this prospered King's resplendent sway; Until the lamp, the world-illuming sun, at break of dawn, A silver candelabrum on the circling skies display, Oh! may the Ruler of the world with skirt of aid and grace Protect the taper of his life from blast of doom, we pray!" Glory's the comrade; Fortune, the cup-bearer at our feast; The beaker is the Sphere; the bowl, the Steel of gold-inlay!

GAZEL

'Tis love's wild sea, my sighs' fierce wind doth lash those waves my tears uprear; My head, the bark of sad despite; mine eyebrows twain, the anchors here. Mine unkempt hair, the den of yonder tiger dread, the fair one's love; My head, dismay and sorrow's realm's deserted mountain region drear. At whatsoever feast I drain the cup thy rubies' mem'ry to, Amidst all those who grace that feast, except the dregs, I've no friend near. Thou know'st, O Light of my poor eyes, with _tutya_ mixed are gems full bright, What then if weep on thy path's dust mine eyes that scatter pearls most clear! The Sphere, old hag, with witchcraft's spell hath parted me from my fond love, O Baqi, see, by God, how vile a trick yon jade hath played me here!

GAZEL

Years trodden under foot have I lain on that path of thine; Thy musky locks are noose-like cast, around my feet to twine. O Princess mine! boast not thyself through loveliness of face, For that, alas, is but a sun which must full soon decline! The loved one's stature tall, her form as fair as juniper, Bright 'midst the rosy bowers of grace a slender tree doth shine. Her figure, fair-proportioned as my poesy sublime, Her slender waist is like its subtle thought—hard to divine. Then yearn not, Baqi, for the load of love's misfortune dire; For that to bear mayhap thy soul no power doth enshrine.

GAZEL

With her graceful-moving form, a Cypress jasmine-faced is she? Or in Eden's bower a branch upon the Lote or Tuba-tree? That thy blood-stained shaft which rankles in my wounded breast, my love, In the rosebud hid a lovely rose-leaf, sweetheart, can it be? To the dead of pain of anguish doth its draught fresh life impart; O cupbearer, is the red wine Jesu's breath? tell, tell to me! Are they teeth those in thy mouth, or on the rosebud drops of dew? Are they sparkling stars, or are they gleaming pearls, that there I see? Through the many woes thou wreakest upon Baqi, sick of heart, Is't thy will to slay him, or is it but sweet disdain in thee?

GAZEL

Before thy form, the box-tree's lissom figure dwarfed would show; Those locks of thine the pride of ambergris would overthrow. Who, seeing thy cheek's glow, recalls the ruby is deceived; He who hath drunken deep of wine inebriate doth grow. Should she move forth with figure like the juniper in grace, The garden's cypress to the loved one's form must bend right low. Beware, give not the mirror bright to yonder paynim maid, Lest she idolater become, when there her face doth show. Baqi, doth he not drink the wine of obligation's grape, Who drunken with A-lestu's cup's overwhelming draught doth go?

GAZEL

Thy cheek, like limpid water, clear doth gleam; Thy pouting mouth a bubble round doth seem. The radiance of thy cheek's sun on the heart Like moonlight on the water's face doth beam. The heart's page, through the tracings of thy down, A volume all illumined one would deem. That fair Moon's sunny love the earth have burned, It warm as rays of summer sun doth stream. At woful sorrow's feast my bloodshot eyes, Two beakers of red wine would one esteem. Baqi, her mole dark-hued like ambergris, A fragrant musk-pod all the world would deem.