آینهی دل صاف باید تا در او ** واشناسی صورت زشت از نکو
The mirror of the heart must be clear, in order that you may know therein the ugly form from the beautiful.
ترک گفتن آن مرد ناصح بعد از مبالغهی پند مغرور خرس را
How the man of sincere counsel, after having done his utmost in (the way of) admonition, took leave of him who was deluded by (his confidence in) the bear.
آن مسلمان ترک ابله کرد و تفت ** زیر لب لاحولگویان باز رفت
That Moslem left the foolish man and quickly, saying Lá hawl under his lip (breath), went back (to his abode).
گفت چون از جد و پندم وز جدال ** در دل او بیش میزاید خیال2065
He said, “Inasmuch as from my earnestness and admonition and from (my) disputing (with him), (the only result is that) vain fancies are being born in his mind more (and more),
پس ره پند و نصیحت بسته شد ** امر أعرض عنهم پیوسته شد
Therefore the road of admonition and counsel has become barred: the command, ‘Turn aside from them,’ has arrived.”
چون دوایت میفزاید درد پس ** قصه با طالب بگو بر خوان عبس
When your remedy increases the disease, then (leave him who will not be cured, and) tell your story to one that seeks (to hear the Truth). Read (the chapter of the Qur’án, which begins with the word) ‘Abasa (he frowned):
چون که اعمی طالب حق آمده ست ** بهر فقر او را نشاید سینه خست
“As the blind man has come seeking the Truth, ‘tis not meet to wound his breast (by turning aside from him) on account of his poverty.
تو حریصی بر رشاد مهتران ** تا بیاموزند عام از سروران
Thou (Mohammed) art eager for the great ones to take the right way, in order that the common folk may learn from the rulers.
احمدا دیدی که قومی از ملوک ** مستمع گشتند گشتی خوش که بوک2070
O Ahmad (Mohammed), thou hast seen that a company of princes have become ready to listen (to thee), and thou art pleased (with the hope) that, maybe,
این رئیسان یار دین گردند خوش ** بر عرب اینها سرند و بر حبش
These chieftains will become good friends of the Religion (Islam), (for) they are lords over the Arabs and the Abyssinians,
بگذرد این صیت از بصره و تبوک ** ز انکه الناس علی دین الملوک
(And that) the fame of this will pass beyond Basra and Tabúk, since ‘people follow the religion of their kings.’
زین سبب تو از ضریر مهتدی ** رو بگردانیدی و تنگ آمدی
For this cause thou hast averted thy face from the blind man that was led into the right way, and hast become vexed,
که در این فرصت کم افتد این مناخ ** تو ز یارانی و وقت تو فراخ
Saying (to him), ‘This gathering (of strangers) seldom falls out so opportunely, (whereas) you are one of my friends, and your time is ample.
مزدحم میگردیم در وقت تنگ ** این نصیحت میکنم نه از خشم و جنگ2075
You are urgent with me at an inconvenient time. I give you this admonition, (but) not in anger and strife.’
احمدا نزد خدا این یک ضریر ** بهتر از صد قیصر است و صد وزیر
O Ahmad, in the sight of God this one blind man is better than a hundred emperors and a hundred viziers.
یاد الناس معادن هین بیار ** معدنی باشد فزون از صد هزار
Take heed., remember (the adage), ‘Men are mines’: one mine may be more than a hundred thousand.
معدن لعل و عقیق مکتنس ** بهتر است از صد هزاران کان مس
The mine of lurking ruby and cornelian is better than myriads of mines of copper.
احمدا اینجا ندارد مال سود ** سینه باید پر ز عشق و درد و دود
O Ahmad, here riches have no use; a breast is wanted, full of love and pain and sighs.
اعمی روشن دل آمد در مبند ** پند او را ده که حق اوست پند2080
The blind man of enlightened heart is come: do not shut the door; give him counsel, for counsel is his right.
گر دو سه ابله ترا منکر شدند ** تلخ کی گردی چو هستی کان قند
If two or three fools have disbelieved in thee, how shouldst thou be soured when thou art a mine of candy?
گر دو سه ابله ترا تهمت نهند ** حق برای تو گواهی میدهد
If two or three fools impute falsehood to thee, God is giving testimony on thy behalf.”
گفت از اقرار عالم فارغم ** آن که حق باشد گواه او را چه غم
He (Mohammed) said, “I am unconcerned with the acknowledgment of the world: what care (for the world) hath he whose witness is God?
گر خفاشی را ز خورشیدی خوری است ** آن دلیل آمد که آن خورشید نیست
If a bat receives anything agreeable (to it) from a sun, ‘tis a proof that that (sun) is not the (real) sun.
نفرت خفاشکان باشد دلیل ** که منم خورشید تابان جلیل2085
The disgust of the wretched bats is a proof that I am the shining glorious sun.
گر گلابی را جعل راغب شود ** آن دلیل ناگلابی میکند
If the beetle feels a desire for some (particular) rose-water, that constitutes a proof of its not being rose-water.
گر شود قلبی خریدار محک ** در محکیاش در آید نقص و شک
If any false coin is eager for the touchstone, uncertainty and doubt enter into (the fact of) its being a touchstone.