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82 THE TARJUMAN AL-ASHWA<^ (XVH, XVlIl)

‘ Sal',’ a mountain near Medina, i.(>. tlie station of
Muhammad.
‘ Ajyad,’ a mountain near Mecca, i.e. a Divine station
which causes me to pass away fi-om all plienomeiial existence.
XVIII
1. Halt at the abodes and weep over the ruins and ask the
decayed habitations a question.
2. ‘ Where are the loved ones ? Where are their camel.s gone ? ’
(They answer), ‘ Behold .them traversing the vapour
in the desert.
3. Thou seest them in the mirage like gardens: the vapoiir
makes large in the eyes the figure (of one wlio walks
in it).’
4. Thej’' went, desiring al-‘Udliayb, that tliey might drink
there a cool life-giving fountain.
5. I followed, asking tlie zephyr about thoUi, whether they
have pitched tents or have .sought the shade of the
dal tree.
C. Tlie zephyr said, ‘ I left their tents at Zanid, and the
camels were complaining of fatigue from their night-
journey.
7. They had let down over the tents coverings to pi’otect
their beauty from the heat of noon.
8. Rise, then, and go towards them, seeking their traces, and
drive thy camels speedily in their direction.
9. And when thou wilt .stop at the landmarks of I.Iajir and
10. Their abodes will be near and their lire will be clearly
cross dales and hills there,

seen—a fire whieh has caused the flame of love to
blaze.
11. Make the camels kneel ! Let not its lions affright thee,
for longing love will present them to thine eyes in
the form of cubs.’
Co.MMEXTARV
1. He says to the voice of God (J:Jl calling from
his heart, ‘ Halt at the abodes,’ i.e. the stations where gnostics