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THE TARJUMAN AL-ASHWAQ (X X l, X X ll) 91
5. And as imicli as thou wishest of dense shade and fruit,
delicious to the gatherer, s^Yaying the bough (on
whieli it hangs),
0. And q£ tlioso wlio seek Zariid and its sands, and of those
who chant as they drive the camels from behind, and
of those who march in front and lead them well.
C o m m e n t a r y
1. ‘ O garden of the valley,’ in reference to the bush in
which the Divine light app^jired to Moses.
‘ The lady of the preserve,’ i.e. the reality of Moses,
signifying a spiritual degree which the gnostic inherited
from Closes. ‘ Preserve ’ denotes the station of Gloiy
unattainable by his essence.
‘ Shininj; front-teeth,’ because he is in the station of
converse and speech
2. ‘ Until she be settled,’ i.e. until the place be ready for
her reception, .so that she may speak from his e.ssence to hi.s
es.sence without regard to anything extraneous.
‘ .k ‘ Dew to feed the tender shoots,’ i.e. gracious sorts of
knowledge which nonrisli the human oi’ganism.
0. ‘ Zariid and its sands,’ i.e. elusive sorts of .knowledge
which are not to bo apprehended save in moments of ecstasy.
‘ And of those who chant,’ etc. The h(uH who drives the
cam»*ls fi’fjin behind typifies that which c o m e s witli fear and
chiding and menaces, while the hiiiU who goes in front of the
camels typifies that which comes with hope and joy and
kindne.ss. The former is the servant of the Wrathful
latter is the servant of the Merciful
XXTI
t. 'i'urn the camels aside towards the stony tract of Thahmad,
where arc. the tender branches and the humid meadow,
2. Where the lightnings show to thee their flashes, where
the clouds pass at eve and morn,
9. And lift thy voice at dawn to invoke the bright-faced
damsels and the fair lissome virgin.s.