Bounty and Generosity

My mother was fortune, my father generosity and bounty; I

am joy, son of joy, son of joy, son of joy.

Behold, the Marquis of Glee has attainted felicity; this city and

plain are filled with soldiers and drums and flags.

If I encounter a wolf, he becomes moonfaced Joseph; if I go

down into a well, it converts into a Garden of Eram.

He whose heart is as iron and stone out of miserliness is now

changed before me into a Hatem of the age in generosity and

bounty.

Dust becomes gold and pure silver in my hand; how then

should the temptation of gold and silver waylay me?

I have an idol such that, were his sweet scent scattered

abroad, even an idol of stone would receive life through joy.

Sorrow has died for joy in him of “may God bind your consolation”;

how should not such a sword strike the neck of sorrow?

By tyranny he seizes the soul of whom he desires; justices are

all slaves of such injustice and tyranny.

What is that mole on that face? Should it manifest itself, out

of desire for it forthwith maternal aunt would be estranged from

paternal [uncle].

I said, “If I am done and send my story, will you finish it and

expound it?” He answered, “Yes.”

 

My mother was fortune, my father generosity and bounty

Mewlana Jalaluddin Rumi (1207-1273)

Afghanistan (13th Century)

Done