(Masnavi Book 3: 53) Jacob’s love for Joseph

How Jacob, on whom be peace, was privileged to taste the cup of God from the face of Joseph, and inhale the scent of God from the scent of Joseph; and the exclusion of his (Joseph's) brethren and others from both these (privileges).

3030. That which Jacob experienced from (beholding) the face of Joseph was peculiar to him:

when did that (delight) come to his (Joseph's) brethren?

This one (Jacob), from love of him (Joseph), puts himself in the pit, while that one (Joseph's brother) digs a pit for him (Joseph) in hatred.

In the sight of this one (Joseph's brother) his (Joseph's) food-wallet is empty of bread; in the sight of Jacob it is full, for he is desiring eagerly.

None with face unwashed beholds the faces of the houris: he (the Prophet) said, “There is no ritual prayer without the ablution.”

Love is the meat and drink of souls; hunger, from this point of view, is the food of souls.

3035. Jacob had hunger for Joseph; (hence) the smell of the bread was reaching him from afar.

He that took the shirt (of Joseph) was hastening (on his way) and was not perceiving the scent of Joseph's shirt,

While he that was a hundred leagues (distant) from that quarter was smelling the perfume, since he was Jacob.

Oh, there is many a learned man that has no profit of (his) knowledge: that person is one who commits knowledge to memory, not one who loves (it).

From him the hearer (but not the learned man himself) perceives the scent (of knowledge),

though the hearer be of the common sort,

3040. Because the shirt in his (the learned man's) hand is a borrowed thing, like a slave-girl in the hands of a slave-dealer.

The slave-girl is useless to the slave-dealer: she is in his hands (only) for the sake of the purchaser.

The dispensation of God is a bestowal of the allotted portion: no one's (portion) has access (can

find its way) to another.

A good fancy becomes that (blessed) man's garden (of Paradise); an ugly fancy waylays this

(unblest) man (and brings him to perdition).

That Lord who has made from one fancy the garden (of Paradise), and from one fancy Hell and the place of melting (torment)—

3045.Then who (but He) should know the way to His roseries? Then who (but He) should know the way to His furnaces?

The sentry of the heart, while on his round, does not see from what corner of the soul the fancy

comes.

If he saw its rising-place, he would contrive to bar the way to every unlovely fancy;

(But) how should the foot of the scout reach that spot?—for it is the watchtower and mountain- fortress of Non-existence.

Blindly lay hold of the skirt of His grace: this is the blind man's seisin (act of taking legal

possession), O king.

3050. His skirt is His command and behest: fortunate is he to whom piety is (as) his soul. The (blessed) one is in (the midst of) meadows and water-brooks, while the other (unblest) one beside him is in torment.

He (the latter) remains in wonderment, saying, “Wherefore is this man's delight?” and the other remains in wonderment, saying, “In whose prison is this man?

Hark, why art you parched?—for here are fountains. Hark, why art you pale?—for here are a

hundred remedies.

Hark, neighbour, come into the garden!” He (the unblest man) says, “O (dear) soul, I cannot come.”