Were you indeed not blinded by the Curse Of Self-exile...

Were you indeed not blinded by the Curse Of Self-exile, that still grows worse and worse, Yourselves would know that, though you see him not, He is with you this Moment, on this Spot,60 Your Lord through all Forgetfulness and Crime, Here, There, and Everywhere, and through all Time.

But as a Father, whom some wayward Child By sinful Self-will has unreconciled, Waits till the sullen Reprobate at cost Of long Repentance should regain the Lost; Therefore, yourselves to see as you are seen, Yourselves must bridge the Gulf you made between By such a Search and Travel to be gone Up to the mighty mountain Kaf, whereon70 Hinges the World, and round about whose Knees Into one Ocean mingle the Sev'n Seas; In whose impenetrable Forest-folds Of Light and Dark "Symurgh" his Presence holds; Not to be reach'd, if to be reach'd at all But by a Road the stoutest might apal; Of Travel not of Days or Months, but Years- Life-long perhaps: of Dangers, Doubts, and Fears As yet unheard of: Sweat of Blood and Brain Interminable-often all in vain-80 And, if successful, no Return again: A Road whose very Preparation scared The Traveller who yet must be prepared.

Who then this Travel to Result would bring Needs both a Lion's Heart beneath the Wing, And even more, a Spirit purified Of Worldly Passion, Malice, Lust, and Pride: Yea, ev'n of Worldly Wisdom , which grows dim And dark, the nearer it approaches Him , Who to the Spirit's Eye alone reveal'd,90 By sacrifice of Wisdom's self unseal'd; Without which none who reach the Place could bear To look upon the Glory dwelling there.' One Night from out the swarming City Gate Stept holy Bajazyd, to meditate Alone amid the breathing Fields that lay In solitary Silence leagues away, Beneath a Moon and Stars as bright as Day.

And the Saint wondering such a Temple were, And so lit up, and scarce one worshipper,100 A voice from Heav'n amid the stillness said: 'The Royal Road is not for all to tread, Nor is the Royal Palace for the Rout, Who, even if they reach it, are shut out.

The Blaze that from my Harim window breaks With fright the Rabble of the Roadside takes; And ev'n of those that at my Portal din, Thousands may knock for one that enters in.' Thus spoke the Tajidar: and the wing'd Crowd, That underneath his Word in Silence bow'd,110 Clapp'd Acclamation: and their Hearts and Eyes Were kindled by the Firebrand of the Wise.