2-1387 His agitation became so great that salt (bitterness) from it was reaching all

hearts up to above the sky.

2-1389 The people could not endure his madness; his fire was carrying off their
beards1316.

2-1390 When that fire fell on the beards of the common people, they bound him and
put him in a prison.

6-1980 Because this is no common madness: in these cases medicine cannot give right
guidance.

6-1981 If frenzy of this kind overtakes a physician, he will wash out (obliterate) the
book of medicine with tears of blood.

5-1888 Beyond doubt, o worshipped one1317, I must become mad for three days at the
beginning of every month1318.

5-1889 Listen, today is the first of the three days: it is the day of triumph (pīrūz), not
the day of the turquoise (pīrūzah)1319.

5-1890 For every heart that is in love with the King, it is always the beginning of the
month.

5-1894 It is not just one madness I have amidst the sorrows of love, but it is madness
upon madness upon madness.

3-1394 In a mystical intoxication like his, the observance of due respect to the letter of
the Qur’ān will not be there at all; or if it is, it is a wonder.

5-1892 Since my elephant has dreamed of Hindūstān1320, abandon hope of receiving

the tax1321: the village is ruined.

5-1908 If a single mote of reason and consciousness is left in me, then what is this
melancholy, madness and distracted speech?

5-1909 Since my brain is empty of reason and consciousness, how then am I at fault in
these mad ravings?

5-1910 No; the fault is his, for he robbed me of my reason: in his presence the reason
of all rational beings is dead.

5-1911 O you who causes the reason to wander and the understanding to go astray,
intelligences have no beacon of hope but you.

1316
I.e. in his ecstasy he had no regard for their formal religion. (Nich.).
1317
Literally “idol” (ṣanam).
1318
Referring to the old belief that madness was influenced by the moon (Nich.).
1319
I.e. spiritual bliss, not worldly fortune (Nich.).
1320
I.e. “my spirit has had a vision of its original home” (Nich.).
1321
I.e. “of hearing the tale” (Nich.).

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