تو مرا جویان مثال مادران ** من گریزان از تو مانند خران
You (were) seeking me like mothers (in search of their children); I (was) fleeing from you like asses.
خر گریزد از خداوند از خری ** صاحبش در پی ز نیکو گوهری
The ass flees from his master because of asininity; his owner (runs) after (him) because of good-nature.
نه از پی سود و زیان میجویدش ** لیک تا در گرگش ندرد یا ددش1900
He seeks him, not on account of profit or loss, but in order that a wolf or (other) wild beast may not tear him.
ای خنک آن را که بیند روی تو ** یا در افتد ناگهان در کوی تو
Oh, happy he that espies your face or suddenly lights upon your abode.
ای روان پاک بستوده ترا ** چند گفتم ژاژ و بیهوده ترا
O you whom the pure spirit hath praised, how many foolish and idle words have I spoken to you!
ای خداوند و شهنشاه و امیر ** من نگفتم جهل من گفت آن مگیر
O lord and emperor and amír, I spoke not, my folly spoke: do not punish that (offence).
شمهای زین حال اگر دانستمی ** گفتن بیهوده کی تانستمی
If I had known a tittle of this matter, how could I have spoken foolish words?
بس ثنایت گفتمی ای خوش خصال ** گر مرا یک رمز میگفتی ز حال1905
I should have spoken much praise of you, O man of good qualities, if you had given me a single hint as to the (actual) case;
لیک خامش کرده میآشوفتی ** خامشانه بر سرم میکوفتی
But you, keeping silence, showed perturbation and silently continued to beat me on the head.
شد سرم کالیوه عقل از سر بجست ** خاصه این سر را که مغزش کمتر است
My head became dizzy, the wits flew out of my head— especially as this head has (but) little brain.
عفو کن ای خوب روی خوب کار ** آن چه گفتم از جنون اندر گذار
Pardon, O man of goodly countenance and goodly behaviour: let pass that which I said in frenzy.”
گفت اگر من گفتمی رمزی از آن ** زهرهی تو آب گشتی آن زمان
He answered, “If I had uttered a hint of it, your gall would instantly have turned to water.
گر ترا من گفتمی اوصاف مار ** ترس از جانت بر آوردی دمار1910
Had I told you the qualities of the snake, terror would have made you give up the ghost.”
مصطفی فرمود اگر گویم به راست ** شرح آن دشمن که در جان شماست
Mustafá (Mohammed) said, ‘If I should tell aright the description of the enemy which is in your souls,
زهرههای پر دلان هم بر درد ** نه رود ره نه غم کاری خورد
The gall-bladders even of courageous men would burst: he (such a one) would neither go his way nor care for any work.
نه دلش را تاب ماند در نیاز ** نه تنش را قوت روزه و نماز
Neither would there remain to his heart endurance in supplication, nor to his body strength for fasting and (ritual) prayer.
همچو موشی پیش گربه لا شود ** همچو بره پیش گرگ از جا رود
He would become (good for) nothing as a mouse before a cat; he would be distraught as a lamb before a wolf.
اندر او نه حیله ماند نه روش ** پس کنم ناگفته تان من پرورش1915
No power to plan or move would remain in him: therefore I tend you without speaking.
همچو بو بکر ربابی تن زنم ** دست چون داود در آهن زنم
I am mute, like Bú Bakr-i Rabábí; I handle the iron, like David,
تا محال از دست من حالی شود ** مرغ پر برکنده را بالی شود
So that by my hand the (seemingly) impossible is brought to pass, and wings are restored to the bird whose plumes were torn away.
چون ید الله فوق أیدیهم بود ** دست ما را دست خود فرمود احد
Since there is (the text) the hand of God is above their hands, the One (God) has declared our hand to be His hand.
پس مرا دست دراز آمد یقین ** بر گذشته ز آسمان هفتمین
Therefore mine is surely a long hand that has passed beyond the Seventh Heaven.
دست من بنمود بر گردون هنر ** مقریا بر خوان که انشق القمر1920
My hand showed (its) cunning upon the sky: O teacher of the Qur’án, recite the moon hath been cleft asunder.’
این صفت هم بهر ضعف عقلهاست ** با ضعیفان شرح قدرت کی رواست
This characteristic, moreover, is on account of the weakness of (men's) understandings: how is it possible to explain the (Divine) omnipotence to the weak?
خود بدانی چون بر آری سر ز خواب ** ختم شد و الله أعلم بالصواب
You will surely know when you lift your head from (this sensuous) sleep. ’Tis the end (of my discourse), and God knows best what is right.