II: When, with the mind, I examined the shoulder-bone…

When, with the mind, I examined the shoulder-bone of prediction,
I saw that, within unity's area, the community of plenitude dwelleth.

In what manner shall I describe the infiniteness of the Omniscient,
When all that's inscrutable, He hath drawn, like a veil, over His face?

I behold, floating upon the surface of the waters, the ship of the earth;
And on all sides, I perceive, cones of stone have protruded therefrom.

For how long shall the heavenly bodies, in the firmament, revolve?
By what art, profound, hath the Great Sage suspended them therein?

The conception of the intellect of the wise is unable to penetrate
Unto where the hand of, "Let it be," and "It was," hath reached.

These unadorned heavens became arrayed with embellishments,
Which He, with the diamonds of omnipotence, carved out.

The lamp of the sun and the moon became enkindled therein--
He assented not that, unrevealed, His own skill should remain.

From the clouds, He caused the genial rain to descend on earth;
And herbs and plants of every kind he disseminated thereon.

On its face, the phenomena of spring and autumn, so admirable, arose;
And the gradations of heat and cold were diffused throughout.

From the whole achromatism of colour, that manifesteth itself,
The face of nature is with every tint and hue emblazoned.

On all sides, where'er I cast mine eyes, of every tinge and dye,
The chequered carpet of the Great Chamberlain is spread out.

The countless creatures that, in all directions, meet the eye,
Are the army of this great chess-board, in order arranged.

Here, the destiny of every one, whatever he may be, is fulfilled--
From the game's commencement, the knights are mounted, the footmen on foot.

And mankind themselves, originally, are of one origin and race;
Yet some rule empires, whilst others beg from door to door!

Though the beasts of the field exist, from inconvenience free,
The whole burden of "Do" and "Refrain" is laid upon mankind.

Unto every man his own private interests are the most agreeable;
But the decrees of the Great Judge are separately meted unto all.

The mercy of the All-merciful is equally extended to all men;
Though some have chosen to deny Him, whilst others have obeyed.

For the use of mankind were all living creatures produced;
And man himself created, to acquire knowledge of the truth.

He, who in this life, acquireth not a perception of the nature divine,
Hath naught of humanity in him; and 'tis just to term him a beast.

Whosoever giveth ear unto the inordinate promptings of carnality,
Though, in outward appearance, he liveth, yet his soul is annihilated.

Wherefore doth he give himself airs about this short existence;
Since, without an aim, he is standing like a sign-post in the path?

Like unto the hare, with eyes wide open, he for ever sleepeth:
In what manner, as though entranced, shall the sleep-overcome awake?

He hath abandoned the path at the counsel of the Accursed:
His mind is misled by hypocrisy's manifold deceits.

The poor, ignorant creature is accounted a demon, and beast of prey:
Even worse still--he is amongst decayed carcasses numbered.

His dark, confined heart is as a tomb, for his soul is dead:
His decked-out body, a grave, on which the mould is beaten down.

His distressed and distracted mind is the emblem of the worm:
His sepulchre is intact: it is his soul that is devoured.

He hath no peace nor tranquillity: nought else save torment:
Every moment overwhelmed in misery: driven away as one unclean.

He possesseth not strength sufficient, the human form to support--
He took the deposit on his head, without calculating its weight.

Like unto the mule, it is expelled from its own kindred race,
That, which being one by nature, hath become, with another, mixed.

Tyrant and fool that he was, he should have acted in this way--
He should have cried with piercing cries, and have dashed his head.

Such a ponderous load, as neither Heaven nor earth could bear,
By what strength could the weak, helpless, ignorant, sustain

It behoveth to call for aid, with all speed, unto the perfect,
That they may consign the burden into the hands of the Master.

Unto every wise man, who hath become released from the debt,
Therefrom, the hereditary gift of knowledge divine hath fallen.

The gravity and importance of such knowledge the saints know;
Since they have sought it in the mind, and unto the world's limits.

His laws and His edicts go out upon every person and thing:
He hath built up a wall from this crude and untempered dust.

He made the inanimate to be counted among the living,
When He, the Immaculate, with His own breath, breathed on them.

He will live for ever and ever, and death shall affect him not,
Through whom the Eternal hath drawn the thread of vitality.

What blessed one became purified from ungodliness and scepticism?
He, whom the Lord of Holiness hath, with sanctity's water, cleansed.

Upon the face of the waters, his lamp effulgent burneth;
And, like straws, infidelity and mistrust consume thereon.

At his entreaty, from the stars, was ill-presage wholly removed;
And, thro' his good offices, no hour is accounted portentous.

O Mirza! of the praises due unto the perfections of the saints,
Who, commensurate with their infinity, hath a tittle rendered?