CONCERNING THE COMMUNICATION OF ZULEIKHA'S LOVE TO JOSEPH, AND HIS RUNNING AFTER HER AND TEARING HER ROBE, AND THE FOUNDING OF A HOUSE OF WORSHIP.

Lovers the road of love who purely tread
At last will earn the name of “loved” instead.
With the pure flame of love who ever burned,
From lover into loved that was not turned?
Zuleikha, who in love was pure as day,
And in love equally life passed away,
When in her infancy with dolls she played,
Herself their friend in love affairs she made.
When she engaged herself in any game,
“The game of love,” it always was the same.
And when to play two dolls she might prepare,
One was the lover, one the loved one there.
Her right hand from her left when first she knew,
And to sit down or rise more forward grew,
In that sweet dream her wakeful fortune brought,
In Joseph's love snare she at once was caught.
From her own country she withdrew her heart,
And to the land of Egypt would depart.
Not for her own, but only Joseph's sake,
From her own town to his her way she'd take.
In thought of him her precious youth she passed,
In hope his union she might gain at last.
In age into desire for him she fell,
And into blindness for his love as well.
And when in age her sight and youth returned,
With love of that fair face her soul still burned.
Thenceforward in his love would she abide,
And in his faith's bond aye she lived and died.
Since her sincerity all limits passed,
To Joseph its contagion spread at last.
And Joseph's heart affection so inflamed,
That of such love his heart became ashamed.
Over his heart that charmer gained such pow'r
He could not be without her for an hour.
To please her so her heart he wandered round,
That the two ever face to face were found.
He watered so her field of joy indeed,
Of water every moment there was need.
When thus through him Zuleikha's veil was rent,
The sun of truth his ray towards her bent.
That sun upon her with such fury smote,
That Joseph vanished in it as a mote.
And in that crucible of love profane
Her days were ever passed in melting's pain.
But when the sun of righteousness arose
There was before her nothing to oppose.
Of truth the blandishment upon her lay,
From all that was not right she fled away.
One night from Joseph's hand in haste she fled,
And limping to obtain release she sped.
Behind he seized her garment as she flew,
And by his hand her robe was rent in two.
Zuleikha said to him: “In days of yore
“Thy robe from off thy body once I tore.
“Thou hast my garment now from off me torn,
“And I my crime's just punishment have borne.
“Of right and wrong I now no longer fear;
“In tearing robes we both stand equal here.”
Tow'rds piety when Joseph saw her bent,
And towards that purpose her heart fully leant,
Of gold he built for her a palace there,
No house of pleasure, but a house of prayer.
Like heaven's azure vault its bricks in glow,
Through art its ground as Paradise below.
From floor to roof this handsome paintings fill;
Geometricians spend there all their skill.
Out of its windows shone forth fortune's light,
And from its doors wealth's herald took his flight.
Far from its terrace evil eye he sent!
Like Huri's eyebrows were its arches bent.
The sun its source in its light's image made,
The house in it impervious to shade.
From painters' happy brush there came to view
In the walls' date-groves many trees that grew.
And on each branch there many a bird reposed,
But to melodious song their beaks were closed.
Within that house a glorious throne was laid,
A part of gold, a part of rubies made.
Two hundred pictures rare were in it hung,
And thousands of fair pearls were in it strung.
He took her hand, and as the throne he graced
Her, too, with heart's affection on it placed.
He said: “O thou endowed with many a grace,
“Till Judgment Day thou bringest me disgrace,
“For in the day thou calledst me a slave,
“Thy favour even then a dwelling gave.
“Of rubies made, of red and yellow gold,
“Full of all beauty that a house might hold.
“And now, reward for all thy favours rare,
“I built at thy advice this house of prayer.
“In thankfulness to God sit ever there;—
“Thou owest thanks to God in ev'ry hair.
“He gave thee riches after poverty,
“And after old age gave He youth to thee.
“The eye that had gone He gave light once more,
“Before thy face He opened mercy's door.
“The age when sorrow He has made thee taste
“With union's antidote has He replaced.”
Zuleikha also through the Heavenly Grace,
Upon the royal throne thus took her place.
In that seclusion made her glad abode,
Through Joseph's union and the Grace of God.