پس فقیر آن شیخ را احوال گفت ** عذر را با آن غرامت کرد جفت
Then the dervish told the Shaykh how the case stood, and coupled excuses with the discharge of that obligation.
مر سؤال شیخ را داد او جواب ** چون جوابات خضر خوب و صواب
To the Shaykh's questions he gave answer good and right, like the answers of Khadir—
آن جوابات سؤالات کلیم ** کش خضر بنمود از رب علیم
(Namely) those answers to the questions of Moses which Khadir, (inspired) by the all-knowing Lord, set forth to him,
گشت مشکلهاش حل و افزون زیاد ** از پی هر مشکلش مفتاح داد
(So that) his difficulties became solved, and he (Khadir) gave to him (Moses) the key to every question (in a way) beyond telling.
از خضر درویش هم میراث داشت ** در جواب شیخ همت بر گماشت3530
The dervish also had (a spiritual) inheritance from Khadir; (hence) he bent his will to answering the Shaykh.
گفت راه اوسط ار چه حکمت است ** لیک اوسط نیز هم با نسبت است
He said, “Although the middle path is (the way of) wisdom, yet the middle path too is relative.
آب جو نسبت به اشتر هست کم ** لیک باشد موش را آن همچو یم
Relatively to a camel, the water in the stream is little, but to a mouse it is like the ocean.
هر که را باشد وظیفه چار نان ** دو خورد یا سه خورد هست اوسط آن
If any one has an allowance of four loaves and eats two or three, that is the mean;
ور خورد هر چار دور از اوسط است ** او اسیر حرص مانند بط است
But if he eat all the four, it is far from the mean: he is in bondage to greed, like a duck.
هر که او را اشتها ده نان بود ** شش خورد میدان که اوسط آن بود3535
If one has appetite for ten loaves and eats six, know that that is the mean.
چون مرا پنجاه نان هست اشتهی ** مر ترا شش گرده هم دستیم نی
When I have appetite for fifty loaves, and you for (no more than) six scones, we are not equivalent.
تو به ده رکعت نماز آیی ملول ** من به پانصد در نیایم در نحول
You may be tired by ten rak‘as (of prayer), I may not be worn thin by five hundred.
آن یکی تا کعبه حافی میرود ** و آن یکی تا مسجد از خود میشود
One goes bare-foot (all the way) to the Ka‘ba, and one becomes beside himself (with exhaustion in going) as far as the mosque.
آن یکی در پاکبازی جان بداد ** وین یکی جان کند تا یک نان بداد
One in utter self-devotion gives his life, one is agonised at giving a single loaf.
این وسط در با نهایت میرود ** که مرا آن را اول و آخر بود3540
This mean belongs to (the realm of) the finite, for that (finite) has a beginning and end.
اول و آخر بباید تا در آن ** در تصور گنجد اوسط یا میان
A beginning and end are necessary in order that the mean or middle (point) between them may be conceived in imagination.
بینهایت چون ندارد دو طرف ** کی بود او را میانه منصرف
Inasmuch as the infinite has not (these) two limits, how should the mean be applicable to it?
اول و آخر نشانش کس نداد ** گفت لو کان له البحر مداد
No one has shown it to have beginning or end. He (God) said, ‘If the sea were to become ink for it (the Word of God)…’
هفت دریا گر شود کلی مداد ** نیست مر پایان شدن را هیچ امید
If the Seven Seas should become entirely ink, (still) there is no hope of coming to an end.
باغ و بیشه گر بود یک سر قلم ** زین سخن هرگز نگردد هیچ کم3545
If orchards and forests should become pens altogether, there would never be any decrease in this Word.
آن همه حبر و قلم فانی شود ** وین حدیث بیعدد باقی بود
All that ink and (all those) pens pass away, and this numberless Word is everlasting.
حالت من خواب را ماند گهی ** خواب پندارد مر آن را گمرهی
At times my state resembles sleep: a misguided person may think it is sleep.
چشم من خفته دلم بیدار دان ** شکل بیکار مرا بر کار دان
Know that my eyes are asleep, (but) my heart is awake: know that my (seemingly) inactive form is (really) in action.
گفت پیغمبر که عینای تنام ** لا ینام قلبی عن رب الأنام
The Prophet said, ‘My eyes sleep, (but) my heart is not asleep to the Lord of created beings.’
چشم تو بیدار و دل خفته به خواب ** چشم من خفته دلم در فتح باب3550
Your eyes are awake, and your heart is sunk in slumber; my eyes are asleep, (but) my heart is in (contemplation of) the opening of the door (of Divine grace).