جود جمله از عوضها دیدن است ** پس عوض دیدن ضد ترسیدن است
All munificence is from seeing compensations; therefore seeing the compensation is opposed to fearing (and shrinking from the act of munificence).
بخل نادیدن بود اعواض را ** شاد دارد دید در خواض را
Miserliness consists in not seeing compensations: the prospect of pearls keeps the divers glad.
پس به عالم هیچ کس نبود بخیل ** ز انکه کس چیزی نبازد بیبدیل
Hence no one in the world is miserly, since no one hazards anything without (seeing) what is to be received in exchange.
پس سخا از چشم آمد نه ز دست ** دید دارد کار جز بینا نرست900
Generosity, then, comes from the eye, not from the hand: ’tis seeing that matters; none but the seer is saved.
عیب دیگر این که خود بین نیست او ** هست او در هستی خود عیب جو
“Another fault (of his is) that he is not self-conceited; he is anxious to find fault with his self-existence.
عیب گوی و عیب جوی خود بده ست ** با همه نیکو و با خود بد بده ست
He has (always) been one who speaks in blame of himself and seeks to blame himself; he has (always) been good (kind) to all and bad (unkind) to himself.”
گفت شه جلدی مکن در مدح یار ** مدح خود در ضمن مدح او میار
The King said, “Do not show (such) eagerness in praising your friend, do not introduce praise of yourself in the mask of (your) praise of him;
ز انکه من در امتحان آرم و را ** شرمساری آیدت در ما ورا
Because I will bring him to the test, and shame will befall you in the upshot.”
قسم غلام در صدق و وفای یار خود از طهارت ظن خود
How the slave, from the purity of his thought, swore to the truth and loyalty of his friend.
گفت نه و الله و بالله العظیم ** مالک الملک و به رحمان و رحیم905
He said, “Nay, by Allah, and by the great God, the possessor of kingdom, and by the Merciful and Compassionate One;
آن خدایی که فرستاد انبیا ** نه به حاجت بل به فضل و کبریا
By the God who sent the prophets, not in (His) need (of them), but in grace and majesty;
آن خداوندی که از خاک ذلیل ** آفرید او شهسواران جلیل
By the Lord who from the lowly earth created (those) glorious princely riders,
پاکشان کرد از مزاج خاکیان ** بگذرانید از تک افلاکیان
(And) purified them from the temperament of earthly beings, and caused them to outrun the celestials;
بر گرفت از نار و نور صاف ساخت ** وانگه او بر جملهی انوار تاخت
(By Him) who took up from the Fire and fashioned into pure Light—and then it outstripped all (the other) lights—
آن سنا برقی که بر ارواح تافت ** تا که آدم معرفت ز آن نور یافت910
That splendour of lightning which shone over the spirits, so that Adam gained from that Light (his) knowledge (of God).
آن کز آدم رست و دست شیث چید ** پس خلیفهش کرد آدم کان بدید
The hand of Seth gathered that which grew from Adam: therefore Adam, when he saw that (Light in him), made him his vicar.
نوح از آن گوهر که برخوردار بود ** در هوای بحر جان دربار بود
Since Noah had enjoyment of that Jewel, he showered pearls (of Divine wisdom) in the air of the Sea of Soul.
جان ابراهیم از آن انوار زفت ** بیحذر در شعلههای نار رفت
From (possession of) that mighty radiance the spirit of Abraham went fearlessly into the flames of the fire.
چون که اسماعیل در جویش فتاد ** پیش دشنهی آب دارش سر نهاد
When Ismá‘íl (Ishmael) fell into the stream thereof, he laid his head before his (Abraham's) flashing knife.
جان داود از شعاعش گرم شد ** آهن اندر دست بافش نرم شد915
The soul of David was heated by its rays: iron became soft in his hand-loom.
چون سلیمان بد وصالش را رضیع ** دیو گشتش بنده فرمان و مطیع
When Solomon was suckled on (the milk of) union with it, the demon became a thrall to his command and obedient.
در قضا یعقوب چون بنهاد سر ** چشم روشن کرد از بوی پسر
When Jacob bowed his head (in submission) to the (Divine) destiny, it (the Light) illumined (gladdened) his eye with the scent of his (lost) son.
یوسف مه رو چو دید آن آفتاب ** شد چنان بیدار در تعبیر خواب
When the moon-faced Joseph beheld that Sun, he became so wide-awake (wise) in the interpretation of dreams.
چون عصا از دست موسی آب خورد ** ملکت فرعون را یک لقمه کرد
When the rod drank water (was imbued with the influence of the Light) from the hand of Moses, it made one mouthful of Pharaoh's empire.
نردبانش عیسی مریم چو یافت ** بر فراز گنبد چارم شتافت920
When Jesus, the son of Mary, found its ladder, he sped to the topmost height of the Fourth Dome (of Heaven).
چون محمد یافت آن ملک و نعیم ** قرص مه را کرد او در دم دو نیم
When Mohammed gained that Kingdom and Felicity, he in a moment clave the disk of the moon in two halves.