حکم یزدان از پی آن خام مرد ** صورت آن استخوان را زنده کرد
For the sake of that foolish man the decree of God gave life to the form which those bones had possessed.
از میان بر جست یک شیر سیاه ** پنجهای زد کرد نقشش را تباه
A black lion sprang forth, smote once with its paw, and destroyed his (bodily) image.
کلهاش بر کند مغزش ریخت زود ** مغز جوزی کاندر او مغزی نبود460
It tore up his skull: his brain was scattered on the spot-the brain (kernel) of a nut, for in him was no brain.
گر و را مغزی بدی اشکستنش ** خود نبودی نقص الا بر تنش
If he had had a brain, his being broken to pieces would have been no injury at all except to his body.
گفت عیسی چون شتابش کوفتی ** گفت ز آن رو که تو زو آشوفتی
Jesus said (to the lion), “How did you maul him so quickly?” The lion said, “Because thou wert troubled by him.”
گفت عیسی چون نخوردی خون مرد ** گفت در قسمت نبودم رزق خورد
Jesus asked, “How did not you drink the man’s blood?” “In the (Divine) dispensation ‘twas not granted to me to drink (it),” replied the lion.
ای بسا کس همچو آن شیر ژیان ** صید خود ناخورده رفته از جهان
Oh, many a one that like that raging lion has departed from the world without having eaten his prey!
قسمتش کاهی نه و حرصش چو کوه ** وجه نه و کرده تحصیل وجوه465
His (ordained portion is not (even) a straw, while his greed is as (great as) a mountain; he hat no means (of satisfying his desires), though he has gotten the (material) means.
ای میسر کرده بر ما در جهان ** سخره و بیگار ما را وارهان
O Thou who hast made it easy for us to do unrewarded and fruitless labour in the world, deliver us!
طعمه بنموده به ما و آن بوده شست ** آن چنان بنما به ما آن را که هست
To us it seems a (tempting) bait and ‘tis (really) a hook: show it to us even as it is.
گفت آن شیر ای مسیحا این شکار ** بود خالص از برای اعتبار
The lion said, “O Messiah, (my killing) this prey was merely for the purpose that warning might be taken (by others).
گر مرا روزی بدی اندر جهان ** خود چه کاراستی مرا با مردگان
Had there (still) been for me in the world an allotted portion (of food), what business indeed should I have had with the dead?”
این سزای آن که یابد آب صاف ** همچو خر در جو بمیزد از گزاف470
This is the punishment deserved by him that finds pure water, and like an ass stales impertinently in the stream.
گر بداند قیمت آن جوی خر ** او بجای پا نهد در جوی سر
If the ass know the value of the stream, instead of his foot he will pull his head in it.
او بیابد آن چنان پیغمبری ** میر آبی زندگانی پروری
He (the fool) finds a prophet like that, a lord of the (life-giving) Water, a cherisher of life:
چون نمیرد پیش او کز امر کن ** ای امیر آب ما را زنده کن
How does not he die before him, saying, “O lord of the Water, make me living by the command ‘Be’?
هین سگ نفس ترا زنده مخواه ** کاو عدوی جان تست از دیرگاه
Take heed! Do not wish your currish (fleshy) soul alive, for it is the enemy of your spirit since long ago.
خاک بر سر استخوانی را که آن ** مانع این سگ بود از صید جان475
Dust be on the head of the bones that hinder this cur from hunting the spirit!
سگ نهای بر استخوان چون عاشقی ** دیوچهوار از چه بر خون عاشقی
(If) you are not a cur, how are you in love with bones? Why are you in love with blood, like a leech?
آن چه چشم است آن که بیناییش نیست ** ز امتحانها جز که رسواییش نیست
What (sort of) eye is that that hath no sight, and gets nothing but disgrace from the tests (to which it is put)?
سهو باشد ظنها را گاه گاه ** این چه ظن است این که کور آمد ز راه
Opinions are sometimes erroneous, (but) what (sort of) opinion is this that is blind to the (right) road?
دیده آ بر دیگران نوحهگری ** مدتی بنشین و بر خود میگری
O eye, thou makest lament for others: sit down awhile and weep for thyself!
ز ابر گریان شاخ سبز و تر شود ** ز آنکه شمع از گریه روشنتر شود480
The bough is made green and fresh by the weeping cloud, for the (same) reason that the candle is made brighter by (its) weeping.
هر کجا نوحه کنند آن جا نشین ** ز آنکه تو اولیتری اندر حنین
Wheresoever people are lamenting, sit you there (and lament), because you have a better right to moan (than they have),
ز آن که ایشان در فراق فانیاند ** غافل از لعل بقای کانیاند
Inasmuch as they are (concerned) with parting from that which passes away, and are forgetful of the ruby of everlasting-ness that belongs to the mine (of Reality);