Original content

English translation

Then that newly converted Muslim, from intoxication and delight, said to Ali: “Command, O Commander of the Faithful, so that the soul may move in the body like an embryo. The seven stars serve every embryo for a time, O soul, each in turn. When the time comes for the embryo to receive soul, the sun then becomes its helper. This embryo is set in motion by the sun, for its sun quickly gives it soul. From the other stars this embryo received only a form, until its sun shone upon it. By what path did it find attachment, in the womb, to the fair-faced sun? By a hidden path, far from our senses; the sun of the sphere has many paths: the path by which gold receives strength from it, and the path by which stone becomes ruby; the path that reddens the ruby, and the path that gives lightning-spark to the shoeing nail; the path that ripens fruit, and the path that gives heart to the bewildered one. Speak again, O falcon with kindled wings, trained with the king and with his forearm. Speak again, O burden-bearer of the king who catches the Anqa, O army-breaker by yourself, not with an army. A single community are you, one and a hundred thousand. Speak again, O servant whose falcon has hunted you. In the place of wrath, whence is this mercy? Whose way is it to give a hand to the dragon?”