مدتی این مثنوی تاخیر شد ** مهلتی بایست تا خون شیر شد
This Mathnawí has been delayed for a while: an interval was needed in order that the blood might turn to milk.
تا نزاید بخت تو فرزند نو ** خون، نگردد شیر شیرین خوش شنو
Blood does not become sweet milk until thy fortune gives birth to a new babe. Hearken well (to my words).
چون ضیاء الحق حسام الدین عنان ** باز گردانید ز اوج آسمان
When the Light of God, Husámu’ddín, drew the reins (of his spirit) back from the zenith of Heaven—
چون به معراج حقایق رفته بود ** بیبهارش غنچهها نشکفته بود
(For) after he had gone in the ascension to (spiritual) realities, without his (life-giving) springtide the buds (of mystic knowledge) were unburst (in my heart)—
چون ز دریا سوی ساحل باز گشت ** چنگ شعر مثنوی با ساز گشت5
When (I say) he returned from the Sea towards the shore, the lyre of the poesy of the Mathnawí became attuned (again).
مثنوی که صیقل ارواح بود ** باز گشتش روز استفتاح بود
The Mathnawí, which was the burnisher (purifier) of spirits —his return was the day of (my) seeking (an auspicious) commencement (for it).
مطلع تاریخ این سودا و سود ** سال اندر ششصد و شصت و دو بود
The date of beginning this gainful (spiritual) traffic was in the year six hundred and sixty-two.
بلبلی ز ینجا برفت و باز گشت ** بهر صید این معانی باز گشت
A nightingale went hence and returned: it became a falcon for hunting these spiritual truths.
ساعد شه مسکن این باز باد ** تا ابد بر خلق این در باز باد
May this falcon's resting-place be the fore-arm of the King! May this gate (to the Truth) be open to (all) the people unto everlasting!
آفت این در هوا و شهوت است ** ور نه اینجا شربت اندر شربت است10
The bane of this gate is sensuality and lust; else, draught on draught (of spiritual knowledge) is (to be found) here.
این دهان بر بند تا بینی عیان ** چشم بند آن جهان حلق و دهان
Close this mouth that you may see plainly: gullet and mouth are the eye-bandage (which makes you blind) to yonder world.
ای دهان تو خود دهانه‌ای دوزخی ** وی جهان تو بر مثال برزخی
O mouth, verily thou art the mouth of Hell; and, O world, thou art like the intermediate state.
نور باقی پهلوی دنیای دون ** شیر صافی پهلوی جوهای خون
The everlasting light is beside this low world, the pure milk is beside rivers of blood.
چون در او گامی زنی بیاحتیاط ** شیر تو خون میشود از اختلاط
When you take one step in it (the world) without precaution, your milk will be turned to blood through commixture.
یک قدم زد آدم اندر ذوق نفس ** شد فراق صدر جنت طوق نفس15
Adam took one step in sensual pleasure: separation from his high place in Paradise became a collar on the neck of his (fleshly) soul.
همچو دیو از وی فرشته میگریخت ** بهر نانی چند آب چشم ریخت
The angels were fleeing from him as from a devil: how many tears did he shed for the sake of a single loaf!
گر چه یک مو بد گنه کاو جسته بود ** لیک آن مو در دو دیده رسته بود
Although the sin which he had compassed was (but) a hair, yet that hair had grown in his eyes.
بود آدم دیدهی نور قدیم ** موی در دیده بود کوه عظیم
Adam was the eye of the Eternal Light: a hair in the eye is a great mountain.
گر در آن آدم بکردی مشورت ** در پشیمانی نگفتی معذرت
If Adam had taken counsel in that (matter), he would not have uttered excuses in penitence,
ز آن که با عقلی چو عقلی جفت شد ** مانع بد فعلی و بد گفت شد20
Because when one intellect is joined with another intellect, it prevents evil action and evil speech;
نفس با نفس دگر چون یار شد ** عقل جزوی عاطل و بیکار شد
(But) when the fleshly soul is associated with another fleshly soul, the partial (individual) intellect becomes idle and useless.
چون ز تنهایی تو نومیدی شوی ** زیر سایهی یار خورشیدی شوی
When because of loneliness you fall into despair, you become (bright as) a sun (if you go) under the shadow (protection) of the friend.
رو بجو یار خدایی را تو زود ** چون چنان کردی خدا یار تو بود
Go, seek at once the friend of God: when you have done so, God is your friend.
آن که در خلوت نظر بر دوخته ست ** آخر آن را هم ز یار آموخته ست
He who has fixed his gaze upon seclusion (and made it his object), after all ’tis from the friend (of God) that he has learned that (lesson).
خلوت از اغیار باید نه ز یار ** پوستین بهر دی آمد نه بهار25
One must seclude one's self from strangers, (but) not from the friend: the fur-coat is for winter, not for spring.