یک حکایت گویمت بشنو به هوش ** تا بدانی که طمع شد بند گوش
I will tell you a story: listen to it attentively, that you may know that selfish desire is a plug in the ear.
هر که را باشد طمع الکن شود ** با طمع کی چشم و دل روشن شود
Whosoever hath (such) desire becomes a stammerer (morally confused); with desire (present), how should the (spiritual) eye and the heart become bright?
پیش چشم او خیال جاه و زر ** همچنان باشد که موی اندر بصر580
The fancy of power and wealth before his eye is just as a hair in the eye,
جز مگر مستی که از حق پر بود ** گر چه بدهی گنجها او حر بود
Except, to be sure, (in the case of) the intoxicated (saint) who is filled with God: though you give (him) treasures (vast riches), he is free;
هر که از دیدار برخوردار شد ** این جهان در چشم او مردار شد
(For) when any one enjoys vision (of God), this world becomes carrion in his eyes.
لیک آن صوفی ز مستی دور بود ** لاجرم در حرص او شب کور بود
But that Súfí was far removed from (spiritual) intoxication; consequently he was night-blind (purblind) in (his) greed.
صد حکایت بشنود مدهوش حرص ** در نیاید نکتهای در گوش حرص
The man dazed by greed may hear a hundred stories, (but) not a single point comes into the ear of greed.
تعریف کردن منادیان قاضی مفلسی را گرد شهر
How the criers of the Cadi advertised an insolvent round the town.
بود شخصی مفلسی بیخان و مان ** مانده در زندان وبند بیامان585
There was an insolvent person without house or home, who remained in prison and pitiless bondage.
لقمهی زندانیان خوردی گزاف ** بر دل خلق از طمع چون کوه قاف
He would unconscionably eat the rations of the prisoners; on account of (his) appetite he was (a burden) like Mount Qáf on the hearts of the people (in the gaol).
زهره نه کس را که لقمهی نان خورد ** ز انکه آن لقمهربا کاوش برد
No one had the pluck to eat a mouthful of bread, because that snatcher of portions would carry off his entire meal.
هر که دور از دعوت رحمان بود ** او گدا چشم است اگر سلطان بود
Any one who is far from the feast of the Merciful (God) has the eye of a (low) beggar, though he be a sultan.
مر مروت را نهاده زیر پا ** گشته زندان دوزخی ز آن نان ربا
He (the insolvent) had trodden virtue underfoot; the prison had become a hell on account of that robber of bread.
گر گریزی بر امید راحتی ** ز آن طرف هم پیشت آید آفتی590
If you flee in hope of some relief, on that side also a calamity comes to meet you.
هیچ کنجی بیدد و بیدام نیست ** جز به خلوتگاه حق آرام نیست
No corner is without wild beasts; there is no rest but in the place where you are alone with God.
کنج زندان جهان ناگزیر ** نیست بیپا مزد و بیدق الحصیر
The corner (narrow cell) of this world's inevitable prison is not exempt from the charges for visitors and (the cost of) housewarming.
و الله ار سوراخ موشی در روی ** مبتلای گربه چنگالی شوی
By God, if you go into a mouse-hole, you will be afflicted by some one who has the claws of a cat.
آدمی را فربهی هست از خیال ** گر خیالاتش بود صاحب جمال
Man has fatness from (thrives on) fancy, if his fancies are beautiful;
ور خیالاتش نماید ناخوشی ** میگدازد همچو موم از آتشی595
And if his fancies show anything unlovely he melts away as wax (is melted) by a fire.
در میان مار و کژدم گر ترا ** با خیالات خوشان دارد خدا
If amidst snakes and scorpions God keep you with the fancies of them that are (spiritually) fair,
مار و کژدم مر ترا مونس بود ** کان خیالت کیمیای مس بود
The snakes and scorpions will be friendly to you, because that fancy is the elixir which transmutes your copper (into gold).
صبر شیرین از خیال خوش شده ست ** کان خیالات فرج پیش آمده ست
Patience is sweetened by fair fancy, since (in that case) the fancies of relief (from pain) have come before (the mind).
آن فرج آید ز ایمان در ضمیر ** ضعف ایمان ناامیدی و زحیر
That relief comes into the heart from faith: weakness of faith is despair and torment.
صبر از ایمان بیابد سر کله ** حیث لا صبر فلا إیمان له600
Patience gains a crown from faith: where one hath no patience, he hath no faith.
گفت پیغمبر خداش ایمان نداد ** هر که را صبری نباشد در نهاد
The Prophet said, “God has not given faith to any one in whose nature there is no patience.”
آن یکی در چشم تو باشد چو مار ** هم وی اندر چشم آن دیگر نگار
That same one (who) in your eyes is like a snake is a picture (of beauty) in the eyes of another,