Then the partridge approached, contented and walking gracefully; it came out of its hole, timidly and as though intoxicated. Its beak is red, its plumage dawn-colored, and blood boils in its eyes. At one moment it flies with belt and sword, at another it turns its head away from the sword. “I have constantly remained among the ruins,” it said, “because I greatly love precious stones. Love of jewels has kindled a fire in my heart, and it is enough for my happiness. When the heat of this fire makes itself felt, the gravel I have swallowed grows red as though stained with blood; and I can see that when the fire takes effect, it immediately gives the stone the color of blood. I have remained inactive and perplexed between the stone and the fire. Ardently and passionately, I eat gravel, and, my heart aflame, I sleep upon the stone. O my friends! Open your eyes; see what I eat and how I sleep. Can one rouse a creature that sleeps upon a stone and eats stones? In this painful state, my heart is wounded by a hundred sorrows, because my love of precious stones binds me to the mountain. Let whoever loves anything other than jewels know that this thing is transient; but the kingdom of jewels is an eternal dwelling; by their very essence they belong to the mountain; I know both the mountain and the precious stone. To seek the diamond, I never leave my belt or my sword, whose watered blade always offers me diamonds, and it is there that I seek them. I have not yet found any essence whose nature was superior to that of jewels, nor any pearl of such fine water as theirs. Now the road to the Simurgh is difficult, and my foot remains bound to the precious stones, as though it were sunk in clay. How could I bravely approach the Simurgh, with my hand upon my head and my foot in the mire? No more do I turn away from the diamond than fire from its prey; either I die, or I find precious stones. The nobility of my character must be revealed, for whoever does not possess it is without worth.”
The hoopoe replied to her: “O thou who hast all the colours of precious stones! thou art somewhat lame, and thou offerest lame excuses. The blood of thy heart dyes thy feet and thy beak, and thou abasest thyself in pursuit of jewels. What are jewels but coloured stones? And yet it is their love that makes thy heart of steel; without colour, they would be no more than common little pebbles. Now he who clings to colour (rank) has no weight (blood). He who possesses fragrance seeks not colour, just as he who seeks the true jewel of essential worth is not content with a stone.”
SOLOMON’S RING.
No stone ever possessed the eminent distinction of the bezel of Solomon’s ring. The fame and renown of this ring were immense, and yet its bezel was but a simple stone weighing half a dang. When Solomon chose this stone for the bezel of his ring, the whole face of the earth came under his power. Thus Solomon saw his reign established; he saw the horizons beneath his sway. The extent of his kingdom was therefore immense! The wind carried him everywhere at his pleasure, and in reality he possessed only his stone of half a dang. He said: “Since my kingdom and my rule are secure only through this stone, I will not have anyone henceforth possess such power, whether in the spiritual or the temporal world.”
SOLOMON’S RING.
No stone ever possessed the eminent distinction of the bezel of Solomon’s ring. The fame and renown of this ring were immense, and yet its bezel was but a simple stone weighing half a dang. When Solomon chose this stone for the bezel of his ring, the whole face of the earth came under his power. Thus Solomon saw his reign established; he saw the horizons beneath his sway. The extent of his kingdom was therefore immense! The wind carried him everywhere at his pleasure, and in reality he possessed only his stone of half a dang. He said: “Since my kingdom and my rule are secure only through this stone, I will not have anyone henceforth possess such power, whether in the spiritual or the temporal world.”
O my king! I have clearly seen, with the eye of reason, this precarious realm; it is but a miniature of the one that shall come hereafter. Henceforth, never give it to anyone else; I wish to have nothing to do with armies or empire; I choose instead, for ever, the dervish’s wallet. Though Solomon was a mighty king, because of the stone in his ring, that stone nevertheless checked his progress along the spiritual path.
If that stone had such an effect upon Solomon, what would it not do to a creature such as Thou, poor partridge? And since the diamond is but a stone, seek it not; give Thy soul only for thy mistress’s face; turn Thy heart from the common jewel, Thou who seekest the true jewel! and ever pursue the good jeweller.
If that stone had such an effect upon Solomon, what would it not do to a creature such as Thou, poor partridge? And since the diamond is but a stone, seek it not; give Thy soul only for thy mistress’s face; turn Thy heart from the common jewel, Thou who seekest the true jewel! and ever pursue the good jeweller.