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84 THE TABJUMAN AL-ASHWAQ (XVIII, XIX)

to another, he indicates that they are in a state of unrest,
because they ai’e seeldng that which is unimaginable, and of
which only the traces are to be found in the soul.
7. ‘ Coverings to protect their beauty,’ i.e. unless their
faces, viz. their rea4ities, were veiled, the intense radiance of
this station would consume them.
8. ‘ Seeking their traces ’ : he saj"s, ‘ Seek to approach the
degree of the prophets with thy aspiration (this he indicates
by the word “ camels ”), but not by immediate experience
(JU -), for only the Prophet has immediate experience of
this station.’ There is nothing, however, to prevent any­
one from aspiring to it, although it is unattainable.
9. ‘ I.Ifljir,’ referring to the obstacle which makes immediate
experience of this station impossible for us.
10. ‘ Their lire will be clearly seen,’ i.e. the perils into
which they plunged before they could arrive at these abodes.
A.ccording to the Tradition, ‘ Paradise is encompassed with
hateful actions.’
One of the illuminati told me at al-Mawsil that
he had seen in a dream ^la'rvif al-Karkhi sitting in the midst
of Hell-fire. The dream terrified him and ho did not perceive
its meaning. I said to him, ‘ That tire is the enclosure that
guards the abode in which you saw him seated. Let any­
one who desires to reach that abode plunge into the tii'e.’
My friend was pleased with this explanation and recognized
that it was true.
11. ‘ Let not its lions affright thee,’ i.e. if thou art a true
the form of cubs,’ i.e. innocuous and of no account.
lover be not dismayed by the dangers confronting thee. ‘ In

XIX
1. O mouldei'ing remains (of the encampment) at al-UthayL
where I played with friendly maidens !
2. Yesterday it was cheerful and smiling, but to-day it has
become desolate and frowning.
3. They went far away and I was unaware of them, and they
knew not that my mind was wjitching over them.