نک مرا در پیری از لطف و کرم ** حق چنین رنجوریی داد و سقم
Lo, in (my) old age God of His grace and bounty hath bestowed on me such a sickness and malady!
درد پشتم داد هم تا من ز خواب ** بر جهم هر نیم شب لا بد شتاب
He too hath given me pain in the back, so that every midnight I cannot help springing up quickly from sleep.
تا نخسبم جمله شب چون گاومیش ** دردها بخشید حق از لطف خویش
In order that I may not slumber all night like a buffalo, God of His grace hath given me pains.
زین شکست آن رحم شاهان جوش کرد ** دوزخ از تهدید من خاموش کرد2260
Through this infirmity the mercy of Kings has been aroused, and Hell’s threatening of me has been silenced.”
رنج گنج آمد که رحمتها در اوست ** مغز تازه شد چو بخراشید پوست
Pain is a treasure, for there are mercies in it: the kernel becomes fresh when you scrape off the rind.
ای برادر موضع تاریک و سرد ** صبر کردن بر غم و سستی و درد
O brother, (to dwell in) a dark and cold place, to endure patiently sorrow and weakness and pain,
چشمهی حیوان و جام مستی است ** کان بلندیها همه در پستی است
Is the Fountain of Life and the cup of (spiritual) intoxication, for those heights are all in lowliness.
آن بهاران مضمر است اندر خزان ** در بهار است آن خزان مگریز از آن
That Spring is implied in autumn, and that autumn is (fulfilled) in the Spring: do not flee from it.
همره غم باش و با وحشت بساز ** میطلب در مرگ خود عمر دراز2265
Be a fellow-traveller with grief, agree with desolation, seek long (lasting) life in thy death (to self).
آن چه گوید نفس تو کاینجا بد است ** مشنوش چون کار او ضد آمده ست
Do not listen to what thy fleshly soul says, that this place (of self-mortification) is bad, inasmuch as her doings are contrary (to thy spiritual advancement).
تو خلافش کن که از پیغمبران ** این چنین آمد وصیت در جهان
Do thou oppose her, for such (is the) injunction (that) has come from the prophets in the world.
مشورت در کارها واجب شود ** تا پشیمانی در آخر کم بود
It becomes necessary to take counsel concerning things to be done, so that there may not be repentance in the end.
گفت امت مشورت با کی کنیم ** انبیا گفتند با عقل امیم
The community said, “With whom shall we take counsel?” The prophets answered, “With intellect, (which is) the Imám (leader).”
گفت گر کودک در آید یا زنی ** کاو ندارد عقل و رای روشنی2270
He (the questioner) said, “(But) if a child should come in, or a woman who has no clear understanding or judgement.”
گفت با او مشورت کن و انچه گفت ** تو خلاف آن کن و در راه افت
“Take counsel with her,” said he (the prophet), “and do the contrary of what she bids (thee), and go thy way.”
نفس خود را زن شناس از زن بتر ** ز انکه زن جزوی است نفست کل شر
Know that your fleshly soul is woman and worse than woman, because woman is a part (of evil), but your fleshly soul is evil entire.
مشورت با نفس خود گر میکنی ** هر چه گوید کن خلاف آن دنی
If you take counsel with your fleshly soul, oppose that vile one (in) whatsoever she may say.
گر نماز و روزه میفرمایدت ** نفس مکار است مکری زایدت
If she bid you pray and fast-the fleshly soul is a great plotter, she will bring some plot against you to birth.
مشورت با نفس خویش اندر فعال ** هر چه گوید عکس آن باشد کمال2275
(When you take) counsel with your fleshly soul concerning (your) actions––whatsoever she tells (you to do), the reverse of that is perfectly right.
بر نیایی با وی و استیز او ** رو بر یاری بگیر آمیز او
(If) you cannot cope with her and her contumacy, go to a friend and mix with him.
عقل قوت گیرد از عقل دگر ** نی شکر کامل شود از نیشکر
Mind gains strength from another mind: the sugar-cane is made perfect by the sugar-cane.
من ز مکر نفس دیدم چیزها ** کاو برد از سحر خود تمییزها
I have seen (wondrous) things (arising) from the deceitfulness of the fleshly soul, for by her magic she takes away the faculties of discernment.
وعدهها بدهد ترا تازه به دست ** که هزاران بار آنها را شکست
She will proffer afresh to you promises that she has broken thousands of times.
عمر اگر صد سال خود مهلت دهد ** اوت هر روزی بهانهی نو نهد2280
If your life be prolonged even for a hundred years, she will lay before you a new pretext every day.
گرم گوید وعدههای سرد را ** جادویی مردی ببندد مرد را
She utters cold (vain) promises (as though) warm (from the heart); (she is) a witch, she ties up the manhood of a man.