Moses and the Dervish

GOD, that heaven’s seven climates hath spread forth,

To every creature, even as is the worth,

The lot apportions, and the use of things.

If to the creeping cat were given wings

No sparrow’s egg would ever be a bird.

Moses the Prophet, who with God conferred,

Beheld a Dervish, that, for dire distress

And lack of clothes to hide his nakedness

Buried his body in the desert sand.

This Dervish cried:

“O Moses, whom the Hand

Of the Most High God favors! make thy prayer

That he may grant me food and clothes to wear

Who knows the misery of me and the need.”

Then Moses prayed to God, that he would feed

And clothe that Dervish.

Nine days after this,

Returning from Mount Sinai in bliss,

Having beheld God’s face, the Prophet met

The Dervish in the hands of Justice, set

Between two officers; and all about

The rabble followed him with hoot and shout

And jeer.

The Prophet asked of those that cried,

“What hath befallen this man?”

And they replied,

“He hath drunk wine, and having slain a man,

Is going to the death.”

Moses began

To praise the Maker of the Universe,

Seeing that his prayer, though granted, proved perverse,

Since God to every living soul sets forth

The circumstance according to the worth.