Chapter X: Story on the Madman's Prayer, with Remarks

My body still shakes, when I think of the pray'rsOf a madman, in Mecca's most sacred of squares.He was saying to God, midst much wailing and cries :"Don't upset me! for no one will help me to rise!If Thou call me with kindness, or drive me away;On Thy threshold, alone, my weak head I will lay."That we are embarrassed and weak, Thou canst tell,And crushed by inordinate passions, as well!This passion refractory gallops not, such,That Wisdom can manage the reins in its clutch.Who with devilish lust has the strength to contend?Can an ant to encounter a leopard pretend?By the men of Thy road, I swear, grant me a way !And from all of those enemies, save me ! I pray.Oh, God! by the nature in Thee that's divine!By the virtues unequalled, unmatched that are Thine!By the phrase which the pilgrims to Mecca exclaim!The entombed at Medina (peace be on his name!)By Allah-Akhbar ! shouted by Ghazies who strike ;Who estimate warriors and women alike!By the fervent devotion of vet'rans arrayed!By the truthfulness youths newly-risen displayed !In that gulf of "one" breath, to preserve me assist !From the shame of declaring that "two" can exist!Those who practise devotion the hope entertain,That they're able to plead for the many profane.By the holy! keep me from pollution away!And if sin I've committed, forgive me, I pray !By the vet'rans, whose backs are bent double from pray'r !Who from shame for their sins at their insteps all stare,From the face of Felicity, seal not my eyes!Let me speak, when the time to confess shall arise!Hold Certainty's lamp on the road before me!In the practice of sin, let my hand shortened be!Turn my eyes from whatever's unfit to be seen !Do not give me control over things vile and mean !That atom am I, on Thy love without claim;My presence or absence, in darkness, the same.From the sun of Thy favour, one ray suits my case;For, except in Thy rays, none can look on my face.Look the way of a knave, that he may better be!Regard from a king fills the beggar with glee.If for justice and equity, me, Thou shouldst seize,I shall weep; for Thy pardon did not promise these.Do not drive me, oh, God ! from Thy door in disgrace!For another, I cannot secure in its place.If through ignorance absent some days from Thy grace,I've returned, do not shut, now, the door in my face!From the shame of pollution, what plea shall I bring?Better humbleness show, saying, " Absolute King!I'm a pauper ; my sins by their guilt, do not test !The rich show their pity for people distressed."To weep on account of my weakness is wrong ;If I suffer from weakness, my refuge is strong!We have broken our promise, oh God! through neglect ;Who to battle against Thy decrees can expect?From the hand of our counsels, what good can arise?As a plea for our failings, this word will suffice :"Whatever I've made, Thou hast cast from its siteHow can Self ever cope with Divinity's might?Away from Thy orders my head I've not led;But Thy orders, like this, issue over my head!"