A literary history of Persia

which He may bestow.APHORISMS 425The following sayings, taken almostat random from the biographies of some of the abovementioneddevotees given by 'Attar in his Tadhkirattil-Awllya and by J&m( in his Nafahdtsufficiently serve to illustrate this point.and Baharistdn willSayings of Ibrdhim Adham. "O God, Thou knowest that in mineeyes the Eight Paradises weigh no more than the wing of a gnatcompared with that honour which Thou hast shown me in givingme Thy love, or that familiarity which Thou hast given to me bythe commemoration of Thy Name, or that freedom from all elsewhich Thou hast vouchsafed to me when I meditate on theGreatness of Thy Glory." ('Attar.)Being once asked why he had abandoned his kingdom ofBalkh, he replied" One dayI was seated on the throne when a mirror was presentedto me. I looked therein, and perceived that my destination was thetomb, wherein I should have no friend to cheer me, and that I hadbefore me a long journey for which I had made no provision. Isaw a Just Judge, and myself equipped with no proof, and mykingdom grew distasteful to my heart." (Attdr.)A man offered him ten thousand dirhams ybut he refusedthem, saying" Wouldst thou for such a sum of money erase my name fromthe register of Dervishes?"('Attdr.')"Three veils must be removed from before the Pilgrim's heartere the Door of Happiness is opened to him. First, that should thedominion of both worlds be offered to him as an Eternal Gift, heshould not rejoice, since whosoever rejoiceth on account of anycreated thingis still covetous, and ' the covetous man is debarred '(from the knowledge of God). ' The second veil is this, that shouldhe possess the dominion of both worlds, and should it be taken fromhim, he should not sorrow for his empoverishment, for this is thesign of wrath, and ' he who is in wrath is tormented.' The third isthat he should not be beguiled by any praise or favour, for whoeverand such an one is veiled (from theis so beguiled is of mean spirit,Truth) : the Pilgrim must be high-minded." ('Attar.)