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Page 1 of 11910 · PDF PAGE 23
Introduction 15 translated literally into Sanskrit, word by word, reads like a mutilated but unmistakable passage from some lost Upanishad. Such follies as Sri Parananda’s lunatic commen- taries on Matthew and John could never have been perpetrated but for the fact that after all his fun- damental theory — that Christ was a Yogi — is cor- rect. And our hymn : “ For ever with the Lord ! Amen ! so let it be ! Life from the dead is in that word : ’Tis immortality.” may be rendered by paraphrase : For ever Timeless : an epithet only used of the Atm…
1910 · PDF PAGE 97
… the tomb Isa4 would rise, as silly Christians say. Thy podex being his, thine El Qahar Is always gold, and never rose and grey.5 1. The word used here is [Persian text] ‘ hearing ’ and also “ the Song and Dance of the Mevliviyeh dervishes.” Thus far Palmer ; and I can learn no more. But probably the word is used to emphasize the purely religious nature of the passion.
1910 · PDF PAGE 107
…e thy podex El Qahar’s urgent and immi- nent design !7 1. God — not Noah. But the grape here means the physical basis of Ecstasy. 2. The word used here is not [Persian text] but [Persian text] the square root (arithmetic). Possibly a pun with the word [Persian text] jazbat, which I have translated “ charm.” However there is (ac- cording to Mahbub) a mystic truth con- cealed. Arithmetic like all sciences was at one time considered magical by the vulgar ; to this day the “ magic squares ” of numbers of which the simplest cast is : 492 357 816 are…
1910 · PDF PAGE 152
…an trace no legend to justify this epi- thet ; perhaps it is merely poetic for “ mighty.” 3. This verse (says Mahbub) conceals a “ Great Word to become mad, and go about naked ” if re- peated 1001 times nightly for a number of nights not stated. Very probable. The concealed Word is only the common : [Persian text] “ Glory to God and Praise to God ! There is no God but God. Great is He, and protecteth us ; there is no might save in Him, the Exalted One.” 4. The “ Heart of the Q’uran ” ; one of it holiest chapters, recited or read to all good Mus…
1910 · PDF PAGE 126
…a pupil on a skeleton left by the mas- ter. But the very stigmata on which this view is based — the absence of the Takhallus, and of the word “ kun ” — seem to us to point the other way. No forger would have omitted so simple a precau- tion. It is possible that the ode is incomplete. More reasonable seems the suggestions that el Haji (1) disliked the introduction of his holy word [Persian text] and of his sacred Name in an ode of
1910 · PDF PAGE 125
…will heartily agree with these sentiments. El Qahar is more than mystic and sodomite ; he is a practical person. But perhaps the unusual word huqqa is a pun on hukm (command) and the phrase means, “ As long as I obey God’s law, I care nothing for phi- losophy ! ” A. L. I cannot admit that huqqa is an altogether un- usual word ; I think hukm rather merits the title. Besides, the pun is not obvious and less to a Persian than an Indian at that. Ed.
1910 · PDF PAGE 139
…ush and pale ; Mine is a bower of eglantine, my couch of lilac and nargis. The cup of wine is in my hand ; the slaves await the master’s word ; My huqqa2 smoke to heaven curls, laden with maddening cannabis.3 I feel upon my jasmine-jar these eyes ; this brain its beauty knows, Its perfume roused to ecstasy by cunning strain of ambergris.4 Above, Habib my lover hangs ; his podex is the jasmine-jar ; His lips are softly closed on mine, one long unfa- thomable kiss. All, all is rapture ; who would shift one inch all mystery to disclose ? A fool is…
1910 · PDF PAGE 109
… of his song the lovely lilt. 1. This is the very same old fable we learnt about the Tower of Babel. 2. Jilt — the Persian has a coarser word — our English “ cockteaser.” But a translator must be allowed both latitude and modesty.
1910 · PDF PAGE 49
…c echo in my blood ! For El Qahar thy beauty broods, Of thy perfections chews the cud. 1. [Persian text] Suli, an impaling stake. A rare word of Sanskrit origin. 2. Chokmah, the “ emanation ” referred to the Sphere of the Stars. 3. Geburah. Curiously reminiscent of Cazotte’s conception of Asmodai. There may be a pun be- tween [Persian text] camel or distortions of them. One may consult the descriptions of the 72 evil spirits of the Goetia, or the following actual results of the clairvoyance of a well known Irish lady.
1910 · PDF PAGE 26
…ace of a kind which does not leave the inmost of myself. There in the depths of the soul glows something which is not in space : there a word is heard which has no syllables : thence there breathes a perfume which no breezes waft away : there food is always savoured and never eaten : there are embraces which never ask to end...” 3. The few who still suppose that Omar Khayyam was a libertine should read the exposition of Book XI of this Purana. 4. Manes (Mani) the heresiarch was of course a Persian. 5. I cannot agree that such a moment necessari…
1910 · PDF PAGE 95
…mber ! Beware ! sayeth El Qahar the seer. 1. Dirham — a coin, equivalent according to Darmstetter to about 13s. 6d of our money. But the word is used very loosely to imply a piece of money, so that 100 dirhams here probably stands for a shilling or less.
1910 · PDF PAGE 160
…concealed some details of the Poet’s life and amours. 2. Azrael — angel of death ; Israfel — of the last Judgement, bear respectively a sword and a trum- pet. We have taken Azrael though modern Per- sians usually (Not the text here. Ed.) call him Abu Yahya [Persian text] “ Father John.” Some ignorant Persians confuse him with Ezekiel ! Result : “ to sup with Father John ” means either to eat dirt, i.e. (apologize) or “ to die.” Hence an offended Persian in a tavern brawl, may “ You must sup with Father John to-night ” meaning “ Retract, or I kn…
1910 · PDF PAGE 141
…ire, Would we not shatter it to bits, and then Remould it nearer to the heart’s desire. ” 2. [Persian text] huqqah. It is said that this word represents heiroglyphically the process of smoking. [Persian text] the harsh aspirate changed to [Persian text] the smooth aspirate by the me- dium of the force of [Persian text] which Arab mys- tics describe as being “ of a watery, lunar nature, and consonant to dogs, jackals, beetles, pools, old women painted, dreams, water pots, drunkenness, illusion, broken spears, and astrologers.” In this case the w…
1910 · PDF PAGE 54
…rance of hair on face or privates utterly disqualifies a boy for path- ic). 5. [Persian text] This is one of El Haji’s “ port- manteau ” words. He will not specify [Persian text] (solar) or [Persian text] (lunar) eclipse : so calmly invented a word with the third possible guttural to include all kinds ! 6. From the Q’uran. Used however to reject amorous advances, as they say “ Allah is bountiful ” to a beggar, meaning “ I am not.” But here it is meant seriously, or at worst to imply ; “ This is very disgraceful conduct — let us blame it on Al- …
1910 · PDF PAGE 84
76 The First Joy of Union. 1. The Sanskrit root Sar “ head ” has given to Europe and Asia the word for ruler ; as Sar, sir, sieur, Caesar, Sarah, Kaiser, Tsar, Shah, sirdar, sirkar, sire, signor, señor, siegneur, and a host of others. 2. [Persian text] the temple at Mecca. But I think here it means the House not made with hands. The letter [Persian text] itself (not [Persian text] but the Hebrew ב. Ed.) means house, and connotes (says Mahbub) a great Magus — “ The Magus of Power.” The passage means therefore that mystic Union is the key to Prac…
1910 · PDF PAGE 87
…ned — The readings here are very various. We find ill-favoured, ill-mannered, infam- ous, ill-starred, ill-doing and so on. So I chose a word wide enough to include them all. 4. The Q’uran. Many Moslems know it by heart throughout. The interior riming of so many of the chapters makes this task curiously easy, even to a stranger. I found that I could readily master any of the shorter chapters in an hour or so, while the acquirement of a dozen stray words would last me the whole day. 5. This attempt to reconcile all-Power and all- Benevolence is …
1910 · PDF PAGE 22
…is nor Buddhaghosha can parallel his Devotion and his Phenomenalism. No doubt at times one is puzzled for a while : one picks up a loose word here and there : one doubts : one guesses : one is illumined in a mo- ment. One is rather reminded of the working of a helio- graph under unfavourable conditions. But (as with that instrument) by dint of repetition one gets the all-important message at last : and the situation is saved. It is undoubtedly the importance which he at- taches to Sin, Repentance, Penance, Grace, as the means of raising the old…
1910 · PDF PAGE 81
… love restored. Thou shalt never leave the side of El Qahar, and Laila shall be sold to Haroun the goatfaced Jew.7 1. [Persian text] the word used here “ has the value of 180, which is 4 times 45, so it means that his guardian angel is on all sides of him.” So Mah- bub ! 2. All this implies that the adept has by now ac- quired the complete control of his mind and his senses. If a camel is shewn to the ordinary man, he is compelled to see a camel, and cannot per- suade himself that it is a house or an ox. If a drum is beaten near him, he is obli…
1910 · PDF PAGE 35
27 words in pretence of conversation ; thine eyes hard shut lest thou shouldst see thy lover move and perhaps (oh, worst of woes !), frighten him from thee ; fearful, oh ! infinitely fearful lest he should not love thee after all, soft words (oh, the burning cheeks, the bitten lips !) whose hidden fire shall kindle the great blaze ? How talk with thee, whose quickened hearing has not known him creep ever closer, yet afraid to touch thee, has not heard the rushing of his heart, the shortening of his breath ? How talk, if thou have not felt one t…