1837.] 



Persian poets. 



129 



Beit. 



I am emancipated from the* body and from vain ideality — and walk 

 erect in the reality (of the joys) of union. On hearing this the Shaikh 

 and his friends began to weep. The Montana consoled them and said, 



Do you not know that I possess inwardly a constant friend ? 



His last injunctions to his disciples and friends are as follow; 

 " These are my last precepts to you— Be ye pure before God both in. 

 private and in public — eat sparingly — sleep sparingly — and speak 

 sparingly. Flee from wickedness and crime — be constant in fasting, 

 and assiduous in uprightness. Abandon fleshly lusts, and endure witti 

 patience the tyranny of men. Shun the society of the ignorant, and 

 cultivate that of the virtuous and meek; for assuredly the best of man- 

 kind is he that benefits his fellow creatures, and the best of language 

 is prayer and praise to God. 



On his disciples desiring him to appoint a successor, he said, " Ap- 

 point Chelbi Hussain Uddin." He repeated this three times. On their 

 asking him his wishes with regard to Sultan Walid, he answered, 

 " Walid is a warrior and needeth not advice." Chelbi then asked 

 who should perform his burial service — he answered, " Sadr-uddin." 

 His last words were these — " My friends draw me one way and 

 Shems-uddin another. Listen, O my tribe to him that calls upon the 

 Almighty. I now am compelled to quit you." The poet then placidly 

 yielded up his spirit into the hands of Him that gave it, just as the sun 

 went down. The beauty and pathos of his dying injunctions, and the 



■ Socratic composure of his last moments, will scarce be excelled by 



e aught that modern or ancient history can offer. 



The following are the opening lines of his celebrated Masnavi, 



o elegantly paraphrased by Sir William Jones : 



Lr"* 



Misra. 



