And fancied stupidly you’d followed God’s law whole.”223
XVI.
Ali’s Forbearance.
From ‘Alī may we learn sincerity of meeds.
“God’s Lion” we may hold free from all gross misdeeds.
In fight he’d conquered one who’d earned a hero’s crown.
His sword he’d swiftly raised, his victim to hew down.
That champion spat in ‘Alī’s face, to mark disdain;
The face of one, the Prophet’s pride, all saints’ chieftain.
He spat upon a face to which the moon bowed low,