آن حسودان بد درختان بودهاند ** تلخ گوهر شور بختان بودهاند
Those envious ones were bad trees; they were ill-fortuned ones of bitter stock.
از حسد جوشان و کف میریختند ** در نهانی مکر میانگیختند1570
They were boiling and foaming with envy, and were starting plots m secret,
تا غلام خاص را گردن زنند ** بیخ او را از زمانه بر کنند
That they might behead the favourite slave and tear up his root from the world;
چون شود فانی چو جانش شاه بود ** بیخ او در عصمت الله بود
(But) how should he perish, since the King was his soul, and his root was under the protection of God?
شاه از آن اسرار واقف آمده ** همچو بو بکر ربابی تن زده
The King had become aware of those secret thoughts, (but) like Bú Bakr-i Rabábí he kept silence.
در تماشای دل بد گوهران ** میزدی خنبک بر آن کوزهگران
In (viewing) the spectacle of the hearts of (those) evil-natured ones he was clapping his hands (derisively) at those potters (schemers).
مکر میسازند قومی حیلهمند ** تا که شه را در فقاعی در کنند1575
Some cunning people devise stratagems to get the King into a beer-jug;
پادشاهی بس عظیمی بیکران ** در فقاعی کی بگنجد ای خران
(But) a King (so) exceedingly grand and illimitable—how should He be contained in a beer jug, O asses?
از برای شاه دامی دوختند ** آخر این تدبیر از او آموختند
They knitted a net for the King; (yet) after all, they (had) learnt this contrivance from Him.
نحس شاگردی که با استاد خویش ** همسری آغازد و آید به پیش
Ill-starred is the pupil that begins rivalry with his master and comes forward (to contend with him).
با کدام استاد استاد جهان ** پیش او یکسان و هویدا و نهان
With what master? The master of the world, to whom the manifest and the occult are alike;
چشم او ینظر بنور الله شده ** پردههای جهل را خارق بده1580
Whose eyes have become seeing by the light of God and have rent the veils of ignorance.
از دل سوراخ چون کهنه گلیم ** پردهای بندد به پیش آن حکیم
(Making) a veil of (his) heart, (which is as) full of holes as an old blanket, he (the disciple) puts it on in the presence of that Sage.
پرده میخندد بر او با صد دهان ** هر دهانی گشته اشکافی بر آن
The veil laughs at him with a hundred mouths, every mouth having become a slit (open) to that (master). [The veil laughs at him with a hundred mouths, every mouth having become (like) a slit (vulva) in the thighs (of a woman).]
گوید آن استاد مر شاگرد را ** ای کم از سگ نیستت با من وفا
The master says to the disciple, "O you who are less than a dog, have you no faithfulness to me?
خود مرا استا مگیر آهن گسل ** همچو خود شاگرد گیر و کوردل
Even suppose I am not a master and an iron-breaker, suppose I am a disciple like yourself and blind of heart,
نه از منت یاری است در جان و روان ** بیمنت آبی نمیگردد روان1585
Have not you help in spirit and mind from me? Without me no water is set flowing for you.
پس دل من کارگاه بخت تست ** چه شکنی این کارگاه ای نادرست
Therefore my heart is the factory of your fortune: why would you break this factory, O unrighteous one?"
گوییاش پنهان زنم آتش زنه ** نه به قلب از قلب باشد روزنه
You may say that you kindle the flame (of rivalry) against him in secret (not openly); but is there not a window between heart and heart?
آخر از روزن ببیند فکر تو ** دل گواهی میدهد زین ذکر تو
After all, he sees your thought through the window: your heart gives testimony as to what you are meditating.
گیر در رویت نمالد از کرم ** هر چه گویی خندد و گوید نعم
Suppose that, from kindness, he does not rebuke you to your face, (and that) whatever you say, he smiles and says "Yes"
او نمیخندد ز ذوق مالشت ** او همیخندد بر آن اسگالشت1590
He does not smile from pleasure at your stroking (flattering him); he smiles at that (concealed) thought of yours.
پس خداعی را خداعی شد جزا ** کاسه زن کوزه بخور اینک سزا
So a deceit is paid with a deceit: strike with a cup, (and you) get struck with a jug—serve you right!
گر بدی با تو و را خندهی رضا ** صد هزاران گل شکفتی مر ترا
Were his smile at you one of approval, hundreds of thousands of flowers would blossom for you.
چون دل او در رضا آرد عمل ** آفتابی دان که آید در حمل
When his heart works (for you) in approval, deem it (to be) a sun entering Aries,