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);
ز آن که بر دل نقش تقلید است بند ** رو به آب چشم بندش را برند
Inasmuch as the stamp of blind imitation is (as) a lock upon the heart;-go, scrape off (dissolve) its lock with tears-;
ز آن که تقلید آفت هر نیکویی است ** که بود تقلید اگر کوه قوی است
Inasmuch as imitation is the bane of every good quality; imitation is (but) a straw, (even) if it is a mighty mountain.
گر ضریری لمترست و تیز خشم ** گوشت پارهش دان چو او را نیست چشم485
If a blind man is big and choleric, deem him (only) a piece of flesh, since he has no eye (eye-sight).
گر سخن گوید ز مو باریکتر ** آن سرش را ز آن سخن نبود خبر
Though he (the blind imitator) speak words finer than a hair, his heart has no knowledge of these words.
مستیی دارد ز گفت خود و لیک ** از بر وی تا به می راهی است نیک
He has a certain intoxication from his own words, but there is a good way (distance) between him and the Wine.
همچو جوی است او نه او آبی خورد ** آب از او بر آب خواران بگذرد
He is like a river-bed: it does not drink any water; the water passes through it to the water-drinkers.
آب در جو ز آن نمیگیرد قرار ** ز آن که آن جو نیست تشنه و آب خوار
The water does not settle in the river-bed because the river-bed is not thirsty and water-drinking.
همچو نایی نالهی زاری کند ** لیک بیگار خریداری کند490
Like a reed-flute, he makes a piteous lament, but he (only) seeks a purchaser (admirer).
نوحهگر باشد مقلد در حدیث ** جز طمع نبود مراد آن خبیث
The imitator in his discourse is (like) a professional mourner: that wicked man has no motive except cupidity.