Original content

English translation

The falcon says to the duck: Rise from the water, so that you may see the sugar-strewing plains. The wise duck says to him: Falcon, keep away; water is our fortress, safety, and joy. When the devil comes like a falcon, ducks, make haste: beware, go out little from the fortress of water. They say to the falcon: Go, go, turn back; take your hand from over our heads, persistent one. We are quit of your invitation; let your invitation be yours. We will not drink this breath of yours, unbeliever. Our fortress is for us; sugar and sugarlands are for you. I do not want your gift; let your orchard be yours. When life remains, provision will not be lacking; when the army exists, the banner will not be lacking. The prudent master offered many excuses; he made many pretexts before the rebellious devil. He said: At this moment I have important affairs; if I come, that will not remain in order. The king has charged me with a delicate task; waiting for me, the king has not slept at night. I dare not abandon the king’s command; I cannot become shamefaced before the king. Every morning and evening a special officer arrives and seeks an accounting from me. Would you think it right that I come to the village, so that the sultan should knit his brow? After that, how shall I remedy his anger? Should I bury myself alive because of this? In this fashion he spoke a hundred excuses; stratagems did not fit with the command of God. If all the atoms of the world become weavers of stratagems, before heaven’s decree they are nothing, nothing. How can this earth flee from heaven? How can it hide itself from it? Whatever comes from heaven toward earth has no escape, no remedy, no hiding-place. If the sun rains fire upon it, it has set its face before that fire. And if rain makes a flood upon it, laying cities waste upon it, it has surrendered to it like Job: I am captive; rain down whatever you wish. O you who are part of this earth, do not raise your head; when you see God’s command, do not draw back. Since you have heard, We created you from dust, dust-likeness was sought of you; do not turn your face away. See: I planted a seed in the soil; it became earth-like, and I raised it up. Once more, take up earth-likeness as your practice, so that I may make you commander over all princes. Water flows from above to lowliness; then from lowliness it rises upward. Wheat came from above beneath the soil; after that it became an ear of grain and vigorous. The seed of every fruit came into the earth; after that it raised its heads from burial. The source of blessings came down from the sphere to the dust; it descended and became food for the pure soul. Because, through humility, it came down from the sphere, it became part of a living, brave human being. Then that inanimate thing became human attributes and flew joyfully above the Throne, saying: From the living world we came at first; again from lowliness we went upward. All parts, in motion and in rest, speak: Indeed, to Him we return. The remembrance and glorifications of the hidden parts have cast a tumult into heaven. When Fate aimed at your bitter oranges, a villager checkmated a city-dweller. With thousands of precautions the master was checkmated; by that journey he was exposed to calamities. His trust was in his own firmness, though a half-flood swept him away. When Fate puts its head out from the sphere, all the wise become blind and deaf. Fish fall out of the sea; the snare takes the soaring bird helpless. Thus fairy and demon are put into a bottle; indeed, a Harut goes into Babylon. Except for the one who has fled into decree, no astrological quadrature has shed his blood. Other than fleeing into decree, no stratagem will free you from it.