پیش خویشان باش چون آوارهای ** بر مه کامل زن ار مه پارهای2580
Stay beside thy kinsfolk––how art thou roaming abroad? Cleave to the perfect Moon if thou art a piece of the moon.
جزو را از کل خود پرهیز چیست ** با مخالف این همه آمیز چیست
What is the (cause of the) part’s keeping aloof from its whole? What is (the cause of) all this mixture with (that which is) diverse?
جنس را بین نوع گشته در روش ** غیبها بین گشته عین از پرتوش
Behold how the genus hath become species in the process (of differentiation): behold how the unseen things have become visible in (their) escape (from occultation).
تا چون زن عشوه خری ای بیخرد ** از دروغ و عشوه کی یابی مدد
So long as thou wouldst fain be wheedled like a woman, O man without wisdom, (thou wilt remain imperfect): how wilt thou be helped by lies and wheedling?
چاپلوس و لفظ شیرین و فریب ** میستانی مینهی چون زر به جیب
Thou art taking flattery and sweet words and cajolement and putting them, like a woman, in thy bosom.
مر ترا دشنام و سیلی شهان ** بهتر آید از ثنای گمرهان2585
For thee the revilings and blows of the (spiritual) kings would be better than the praise of the unrighteous.
صفع شاهان خور مخور شهد خسان ** تا کسی گردی ز اقبال کسان
Swallow the slaps of the (spiritual) kings, do not swallow the honey of the rabble, to the end that through the fortune of (those) personages thou mayst (thyself) become a personage;
ز آنک از ایشان خلعت و دولت رسد ** در پناه روح جان گردد جسد
Because from them come felicity and robes of honour and felicity: under the shelter of the spirit, body becomes soul.
هر کجا بینی برهنه و بینوا ** دان که او بگریخته ست از اوستا
Wherever thou seest one (that is) naked and destitute, know that he hath fled from the (spiritual) master,
تا چنان گردد که میخواهد دلش ** آن دل کور بد بیحاصلش
In order that he may become such as his heart desires––that blind, wicked, worthless heart of him.
گر چنان گشتی که استا خواستی ** خویش را و خویش را آراستی2590
If he had become such as his master desired, he would have graced himself and his kindred.
هر که از استا گریزد در جهان ** او ز دولت میگریزد این بدان
Whoever in the world flees from his master is fleeing from felicity. Know this (for sure)!
Thou hast learned a trade to earn a livelihood for the body: (now) set thy hand to a religious (spiritual) trade.
در جهان پوشیده گشتی و غنی ** چون برون آیی از اینجا چون کنی
In this world thou hast become clothed and rich: when thou comest forth from here, how wilt thou do?
پیشهای آموز کاندر آخرت ** اندر آید دخل کسب مغفرت
Learn such a trade that hereafter the earning of God’s forgiveness may come in as revenue (to thee).
آن جهان شهری است پر بازار و کسب ** تا نپنداری که کسب اینجاست حسب2595
Yonder world is a city full of trafficking and earning: think not that the earnings here (in this world) are a sufficiency.
حق تعالی گفت کاین کسب جهان ** پیش آن کسب است لعب کودکان
The high God hath said that beside those (the next world’s) earnings these earnings in the (present) world are (but) children’s play––
همچو آن طفلی که بر طفلی تند ** شکل صحبت کن مساسی میکند
As a child that embraces another child modo coitum facientis contactum facit; [As a child that embraces another child touches (the other) like an (adult) copulater.]
کودکان سازند در بازی دکان ** سود نبود جز که تعبیر زبان
(Or as) children at play set up a shop, (but) it is of no use (to them) except as a pastime.
شب شود در خانه آید گرسنه ** کودکان رفته بمانده یک تنه
Night falls, and he (the child who acted as shopkeeper comes home hungry: the (other) children are gone, and he is let alone.
این جهان بازیگه است و مرگ شب ** باز گردی کیسه خالی پر تعب2600
This world is a playground, and death is the night: thou returnest with an empty purse, tired out.
کسب دین عشق است و جذب اندرون ** قابلیت نور حق دان ای حرون
The earnings of religion are love and inward rapture––capacity to receive the Light of God, O thou obstinate one!
کسب فانی خواهدت این نفس خس ** چند کسب خس کنی بگذار بس
This vile fleshly soul desires thee to earn that which passeth away: how long wilt thou earn what is vile? Let it go! Enough!
نفس خس گر جویدت کسب شریف ** حیله و مکری بود آن را ردیف
If the vile fleshly soul desire thee to earn what is noble, there is some trick and plot behind it.
بیدار کردن ابلیس معاویه را که خیز وقت نماز است
How Iblís awakened Mu‘áwiya—may God be well-pleased with him!—saying, “Arise, it is time for prayer.”
در خبر آمد که آن معاویه ** خفته بد در قصر در یک زاویه
’Tis related in Tradition that Mu‘áwiya was asleep in a nook of the palace.