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THE TAIUUMAX AL-ASHW’AQ (XXXVI, XXXV Il) 121
2. And may he who lias greeted tliee for years greet
thee once and twice and then once again !
3. I crossed every, desert and wilderness to meet her, riding
on the big-humped she-canlel and the old dromedary,
4. Until the lightning shone from the direction of al-Ghaihi,
and its coming in the night has increased the passion
that I felt before.

COMMENTAUY
1. ' O earth of the Higlitand,’ i.e. the understanding in the
corporeal world.
‘ The“white clouds,’ i.e. Divine Knowledge.
2. ‘ He who has greeted thee,’ i.e. the Truth, which bestows
.spiritual gifts.
3. ‘ I crossed every desert and wilderness,’ i.e. I suffered
austerities and mortifications of the flesh.
‘ The big-humped she-camel,’ i.e. the religious law.
‘ The old dromedary,’ i.e. the matured and experienced mind.
4. ‘ The lightning,’ i.e. the luminous radiance of the most
inacce.ssible veil of the Divine glory.
‘ Al-Ghada,’ phenomenal existence.
‘ Coming in the night,’ i.e. in the darkne.ss of the phenomenal
world.

XXXVIl

1. O iriy two comrades, ■approach the guarded pasture and
seek Najd and yonder sign that marks the way,
3. And whenever ye come to the v'alley of Mina --for then
2. And come down to a well at the tents of the curving .sand
and beg shade of its ddl and nula77i trees.

ye have come to that in which is my heart’s being—
4. Deliver to all who dwell there the greetings of love from
me, or onlj'^ saj’, ' Peace be with you ! ’
5. And hearken what they will reply, and tell how one who
is heartsick
fi. Complains of the ardom-s of love, while he is hiding
nothing, .seeking information, and asking questions.