گفت آخر او ز من مسکینتر است ** گفت قاصد کرده است او را زر است
He (the man) said, “Why, he is poorer than I.” “He has done it (made himself out to be poor) on purpose,” replied the other; “he has gold.”
گفت چون وهم است ما هر دو یکایم ** در مقام احتمال و در شکایم
He (the man) said, “Since it is (a matter of) opinion, we are both the same: we are (equally) exposed to (mere) probability and doubt.
خود و را بکشید اول ای شهان ** تا بترسم من دهم زر را نشان
Kill him first, O princes, in order that I may be afraid and point out the way to the gold.”
پس کرمهای الهی بین که ما ** آمدیم آخر زمان در انتها3055
See, then, the loving kindnesses of God, in that we have come (into the world) in the latter days, at the very end.
آخرین قرنها پیش از قرون ** در حدیث است آخرون السابقون
The last epoch is in front of the (other) epochs: in the Traditions of the Prophet is (the saying)—“(We are) the last (in time), the foremost (in excellence).”
تا هلاک قوم نوح و قوم هود ** عارض رحمت به جان ما نمود
In order that the destruction of the people of Noah and the people of Húd might display to our souls the face of (Divine) Mercy (who calls us to repentance),
کشت ایشان را که ما ترسیم از او ** ور خود این بر عکس کردی وای تو
He (God) slew them, that we might fear Him; and if indeed He had done contrariwise, alas for thee!
بیان حال خود پرستان و ناشکران در نعمت وجود انبیا و اولیا علیهم السلام
Explaining the state of those who are self-conceited and unthankful for the blessing of the existence of the prophets and saints—peace be unto them!
هر ک از ایشان گفت از عیب و گناه ** وز دل چون سنگ وز جان سیاه
Whosoever of them (the proclaimers of Divine Mercy) has spoken of fault and sin, and of a heart like stone, and of a black soul;
و ز سبک داری فرمانهای او ** و ز فراغت از غم فردای او3060
And of holding light His commands, and of being free from care for His To-morrow;
و ز هوس و ز عشق این دنیای دون ** چون زنان مر نفس را بودن زبون
And of being, like women, enslaved to the fleshly soul by passion and by love of this vile world;
و آن فرار از نکتههای ناصحان ** و آن رمیدن از لقای صالحان
And of fleeing from the pungent sayings of sincere counsellors, and of shrinking from the countenance of the righteous;
با دل و با اهل دل بیگانگی ** با شهان تزویر و روبهشانگی
(And of) estrangement from the spirit and spiritual folk, (and of) fraud and fox-like behaviour towards the (spiritual) kings;
سیر چشمان را گدا پنداشتن ** از حسدشان خفیه دشمن داشتن
(And of) thinking the fully satisfied (saints) to be (greedy) beggars, (and of) secretly regarding them with enmity (arising) from envy—
گر پذیرد چیز تو گویی گداست ** ور نه گویی زرق و مکر است و دغاست3065
If he (such a saintly man as has been described) accept anything, you say he is a beggar; and if not, you say it is (from) hypocrisy and deceit and guile.
گر در آمیزد تو گویی طامع است ** ور نه گویی در تکبر مولع است
If he mix (in society), you say he is covetous; and if not, you say he is excessively given to pride;
یا منافقوار عذر آری که من ** ماندهام در نفقهی فرزند و زن
Or you hypocritically excuse yourself, saying, “I am held back (by what I have to do) in maintaining my wife and children.
نه مرا پروای سر خاریدن است ** نه مرا پروای دین ورزیدن است
Neither have I leisure to scratch my head, nor have I leisure to cultivate religion.
ای فلان ما را به همت یاد دار ** تا شویم از اولیا پایان کار
O so-and-so, remember me in thy benedictions, that in the end I may become one of the saints.”
این سخن نه هم ز درد و سوز گفت ** خوابناکی هرزه گفت و باز خفت3070
These words he does not even speak from (true) passion and ardour; (’tis as though) a drowsy man muttered some idle talk and went to sleep again.
هیچ چاره نیست از قوت عیال ** از بن دندان کنم کسب حلال
(He says), “I cannot help feeding my family: I strain every nerve to earn a lawful livelihood.”
چه حلال ای گشته از اهل ضلال ** غیر خون تو نمیبینم حلال
How lawful, O thou that hast become one of the lost? I deem nothing lawful but (to shed) thy blood.
از خدا چارهستش و از لوت نه ** چارهش است از دین و از طاغوت نه
He can do without God, but not without food; he can do without the Religion, but not without the idols.
ای که صبرت نیست از دنیای دون ** صبر چون داری ز نعم الماهدون
O thou that canst not refrain thy self from this vile world, how canst thou refrain thyself from Him who spread the earth as a carpet?
ای که صبرت نیست از ناز و نعیم ** صبر چون داری از الله کریم3075
O thou that canst not refrain thyself from delight and luxury, how canst thou refrain thyself from the Bountiful God?
ای که صبرت نیست از پاک و پلید ** صبر چون داری از آن کاین آفرید
O thou that canst not refrain thyself from aught pure or foul, how canst thou refrain thyself from Him who created this?