A flowering shrub henceforth in faith’s rich garden lands.
Thou art become myself; I, thee; beloved friend!
Thou’rt Alī. Can I ‘Alī slay? May heaven forfend!110
Thy past transgression rank’s as highest virtue’s deed.
In twinkling of an eye heaven’s bounds thou mayest outspeed.
“How blest is the transgression pardoned of the Lord!
The rose, from thorny stem, He calls forth at a word!
Remember ‘Umer’s guilt,—his murderous design[416]
Against the Prophet! This brought him to faith benign.
Was’t not to practise magic Pharaoh called his priests?