batch.motif.sufi-rumi-mesnevi-book-1-redhouse-gutenberg-l7999-l8095
---
record_id: batch.motif.sufi-rumi-mesnevi-book-1-redhouse-gutenberg-l7999-l8095
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
passage_locator:
label: OF QONYA. / PREFACE. / IN THE NAME OF GOD, / THE ALL-MERCIFUL, THE VERY-COMPASSIONATE.;
lines 7999-8095
start: '7999'
end: '8095'
translation: The Mesnevi
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: "“By night we have no light; no colour can we see.”"
summary: 'The passage first gives a doctrinal reflection on perception through opposites,
the hiddenness of God, thought as waves arising from a sea, momentary renewal
of life, and the illusion of continuity. It then resumes the animal narrative:
a hungry lion confronts a confident hare, rebukes him for lateness, and the hare
pleads for mercy while reporting that another lion attacked him and a second hare
on the way.'
language: English
quote_policy: quoted
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The speaker says light, colors, joy, and occult things become apparent through
their converses such as darkness and sorrow, while God has no converse and therefore
cannot be distinguished in that way.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The passage says words and sounds arise from thought as waves arise on the
sea, and that forms arise from formlessness and fade back into it.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The passage says the world is renewed each moment and compares perceived continuity
to a rapidly moving flame appearing as an extended fire.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: A hungry and enraged lion sees a hare arriving confidently and without visible
fear.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: The lion angrily addresses the hare, asserts his power over elephants, tigers,
and pards, and reminds the hare of a pact.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: The hare asks the lion to hear his excuse, calls him a prince, asks pity for
the weak, and frames himself as a poor supplicant.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: The hare says he set out early with a second hare selected by lot as the lion’s
food under the pact, but that a strange invading lion attacked them on the road.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: God
description: The divine being described as having no converse, as distinguishing
Moses and the Mount, and as sending thoughts like bolts.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Moses
description: Named as one whom God distinguishes along with the Mount.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Ahmed
description: Cited as having declared that life is transitory.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Husāmu-’d-Dīn
description: Called a student of the mystery and a doctor of great skill.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: The lion
description: A hungry, enraged lion who claims dominion and rebukes the hare for
violating or slighting a pact.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: The hare
description: A hare who arrives confidently, asks to give an excuse, pleads for
pity, and reports an attack by another lion.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: The second hare
description: A companion of the speaking hare, described as food for the lion and
selected by lot under the pact.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: The strange invading lion
description: A lion said by the hare to have attacked the two hares on the road.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
roles:
- id: role:1
label: transcendent divine source and distinguisher
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: God is said to have no converse, to distinguish Moses and the Mount, and
to send thoughts like bolts.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:2
label: distinguished prophetic figure
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Moses is named as distinguished by God.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: cited authority on transience
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Ahmed is cited for the declaration that life is transitory.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:4
label: student of the mystery
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Husāmu-’d-Dīn is described as a student of this mystery and a skilled doctor.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:5
label: dominant predator and ruler under a pact
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The lion claims to prey on elephants, frighten other predators, possess dominion,
and be owed observance of a pact.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:6
label: weak supplicant and messenger
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The hare asks for mercy as a weak supplicant and reports the reason for his
delayed arrival.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:7
label: allotted victim
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The second hare is described as selected by lot as food for the lion according
to the pact.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:8
label: rival attacker
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The hare reports that a strange invading lion attacked them on the road.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: light and darkness as converses
literal_form: light, color, darkness
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: the Mount
literal_form: the Mount named with Moses
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:3
label: sea and waves of thought
literal_form: sea of thought; waves of thought; ocean’s main
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:4
label: river of life
literal_form: life like a ceaselessly renewed river
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:5
label: moving flame appearing as fire
literal_form: flash of flame and fire produced by rapid motion
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:6
label: pact and lot
literal_form: a pact governing the delivery of a hare selected by lot as food
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Perception through opposites
summary: The passage explains that light, color, joy, and hidden things are perceived
through contrasting opposites, while God lacks such a converse.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Thought, form, and return
summary: Thought is compared to a sea whose waves become words, while existence
takes form from formlessness and returns to it.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Momentary renewal and apparent continuity
summary: Life and the world are described as continually renewed, with continuity
compared to a moving flame appearing as an extended fire; Husāmu-’d-Dīn is praised
as a student of this mystery.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: The lion confronts the hare
summary: The hungry lion sees the hare arrive confidently and angrily rebukes him,
asserting dominion and invoking the pact.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:5
label: The hare’s plea and report
summary: The hare asks for mercy, presents himself as weak, and says that a second
hare selected as food was with him when a strange lion attacked them.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: knowledge through opposites
taxonomy_refs:
- duality
- wisdom
basis: The passage repeatedly states that light, color, joy, and hidden things are
known through their converses, while God is beyond such contrast.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: high
cautions: The passage uses doctrinal and philosophical language rather than a narrative
mythic episode.
- id: motif:2
label: return from form to formlessness
taxonomy_refs:
- return
basis: The passage says existence takes form from the realm of formlessness and
fades again into it, citing the phrase that all must return to Him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage is metaphysical and devotional; it does not narrate a concrete
journey.
- id: motif:3
label: death and renewal at every moment
taxonomy_refs:
- death_rebirth
basis: The passage says that each moment death and return await, and that the world
and life are renewed continuously.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: medium
cautions: The language concerns continual transience and renewal, not a single death-and-rebirth
story.
- id: motif:4
label: weak supplicant before dominant predator
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The hare addresses the lion as a powerful prince, asks pity for the weak,
and pleads for a hearing after the lion’s accusation.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: Only this portion of the animal narrative is present; the outcome is not
included.
- id: motif:5
label: tribute victim chosen by lot under pact
taxonomy_refs:
- sacrifice
basis: The hare reports that a second hare was selected by lot as food for the lion
according to the pact.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The offering is to a predatory ruler rather than explicitly to a deity;
the taxonomy reference is approximate.
- id: motif:6
label: rival predator interrupts tribute journey
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The hare claims that while traveling with the allotted second hare, a strange
invading lion attacked them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The report is speech by the hare; the passage does not independently verify
the invading lion.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 7999-8014
quote_or_summary: Light, color, joy, and hidden things are said to be known through
their converses; God has no converse, and God distinguishes Moses and the Mount.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 8016-8029
quote_or_summary: Words and sounds are compared to waves arising from the sea of
thought; existence takes form from formlessness and returns; Ahmed is cited on
life’s transience, and thoughts are said to be shot by God.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 8031-8040
quote_or_summary: The world and life are said to be renewed each moment; continuity
is compared to a moving flash of flame appearing as fire; Husāmu-’d-Dīn is praised
as a student of the mystery.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 8042-8047
quote_or_summary: The lion, enraged by hunger, sees the hare coming confidently
across the plain, while the hare shows no visible fear or consciousness of fault.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 8049-8060
quote_or_summary: The lion calls the hare insolent, asserts that he preys on elephants
and frightens tigers and pards, and tells the hare not to forget the pact.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 8062-8081
quote_or_summary: The hare asks the lion to hear his excuse, calls him prince, asks
pity for the weak, and says he is at the lion’s feet if unworthy of grace.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 8082-8095
quote_or_summary: The hare says he set out early for the lion’s court with a companion
hare selected by lot as food under the pact, but a strange invading lion attacked
them on the road.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is straightforward. Motif labels for metaphysical teachings
and the tribute-by-lot animal episode are candidate-level and require human review,
especially where taxonomy fit is approximate.
reviewer_status:
status: needs_review
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-29'
notes: |-
No comparison claims were added because the provided passage alone does not establish a specific cross-text comparison beyond candidate motif families.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:sufi-rumi-mesnevi-book-1-redhouse-gutenberg__l7999-l8095
passage_sha256=1467e5832f9da537d1292f9a51b4b5ec4d890a66b7953762b0165dd0af20151a