"A dying in every moment"

For lovers, there is a dying in every moment:
truly, the dying of lovers is not of one kind.
The lover has been given two hundred lives
from the Soul of Guidance;
each instant she sacrifices another.
For each life she gives, she receives ten:
as it is said in the Qur'an, "ten like unto them."*
If my blood were shed by that friendly Face,
dancing triumphantly I would lavish my life upon Him.
I have tried it: this life is my death;
and when I escape from this life, it is to endure forever.
"Kill me, kill me, O trusty friends!
For in my being killed is life upon life."**
O You who make the cheek radiant,
O Spirit of everlastingness,
draw my spirit to Yourself
and generously bestow upon me the meeting with You.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

`Âsheqân-râ har zamâni mordanist
mordan-e `âsheq khvod yek naw` nist
U do sad jân dârad az Jân-e Hodâ
vân do sad-râ mi konad har dam fedâ
Har yeki jân-râ satând dah bahâ
az Nabi khvân `asharat amthâlihâ*
Gar borizad khun-e man ân Dust-Ru
pâ-ye kubân jân bar-afshânam baru
Âzmudam marg-e man dar zendegist
chon raham zin zendegi pâyandegist
Uqtuluni uqutuluni yâ thiqât
inna fi qatli hayâtan fi hayât**
Yâ Monir al-khadd yâ Ruh al-baqâ
ijtadhib ruhi wa-jdu li bil-liqâ

*Hud, 11:13
**a quote from the martyr al-Hallâj.

-- Mathnawi III: 3834-3840
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996
(Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra)

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"A dying in every moment"