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THE TARJUMAX AL-ASHWAt) ( X X ll l) 95

3. ‘ The vulture,’ i.e. the spirit of the intermediate world
( nearer than anj'^ other of the ruling
spirits to the Heavenly Host.
‘ The undq,' which lays its eggs in the loftie.st and most
inaccessible places.
4. ‘ Ornaments,’ i.e. the manifestation of the Divine
(jualities. In Bodl. (Uri) 1270, the commentary states that
al-'Afpiq is said to be a great castle on the top of a high
mountain.
7. ‘ And whose home,’ et<^, i.e. this station, notwithstanding
its .sublimity, is veiled by various sorts of revealed knowledge,
belonging to the class of love, from this pei'son who abides
there, so that he is caused to pa.ss awaj' from the contemplation
of himself in this centre of manife.station.
9. ‘ The waters of the well,’ i.e. the life acquired from good
works, viz. the life of knowledge iL*-), in reference to
Ivor, vi, 122 : ‘ Shall he who tvafi dead and whom ur restored-
to life . . . ? ’
10. ‘ On this road,’ i.e. the right way in
reference to Ivor, vi, 154.
11. ‘ A little before sumise,’ i.e. the hour of the ascent that
succeeds the Divine descent into the terrestrial heaven, Avhich
descent occurs in the last third of the night.
12. ‘-A bright-faced lissome dam.sel,’ i.e. the Essential
attribute whicli is his object of d<‘sire. She is called
‘ lissome’ because of her do.scent toward.s us, yet from it
nothing is derived that can be grasped by knowledge or
in the hearts of her worshippers.
understanding or janagination.
' Diffusing a perfume,’ etc., i.e. leaving Divine impressions

13. ‘ Swtij’ing drunkenly.’ in reference to the station of
bewilderment
‘ Which the winds have bent,’ i.e. the a.spirations by
seeking her cau.se her to incline, as God says, ‘ If anyone
comes a span nearer to Me, I will come a cubit nearer to him.’
]4. This v<'i\se refers to the infinite bounties, spiritual and
other, which God has heaped upon His servants.