Rumi's Masnavi - The people were laughing at his words, at the folly of his hope, and at his contention,

خلق می‌خندید بر گفتار او ** بر طمع‌خامی و بر بیگار او
The people were laughing at his words, at the folly of his hope, and at his contention,

که چه می‌گوید عجب این سست‌ریش ** یا کسی دادست بنگ بیهشیش
Saying, “Marvellous! What is he saying—this idiot? Or has some one given him beng (that is the cause) of senselessness?

راه روزی کسب و رنجست و تعب ** هر کسی را پیشه‌ای داد و طلب 1465
The way of (getting) daily bread is work and trouble and fatigue; He (God) hath given every one a handicraft and (the capacity for) seeking (a livelihood):

اطلبوا الارزاق فی اسبابها ** ادخلو الاوطان من ابوابها
‘Seek ye your daily portions in the means thereof: enter your dwellings by their doors.’

شاه و سلطان و رسول حق کنون ** هست داود نبی ذو فنون
At present the King and ruler and messenger of God is the prophet David, one endowed with many accomplishments.

با چنان عزی و نازی کاندروست ** که گزیدستش عنایتهای دوست
Notwithstanding such glory and pride as is in him, forasmuch as the favours of the Friend have chosen him out—

معجزاتش بی شمار و بی عدد ** موج بخشایش مدد اندر مدد
His miracles are countless and innumerable, the waves of his bounty are tide upon tide:

هیچ کس را خود ز آدم تا کنون ** کی بدست آواز صد چون ارغنون 1470
When has any one, even from Adam till now, had a hundred (melodious) voices like an organ,

که بهر وعظی بمیراند دویست ** آدمی را صوت خوبش کرد نیست
Which at every preaching causes (people) to die? His beautiful voice made two hundred human beings non-existent.

شیر و آهو جمع گردد آن زمان ** سوی تذکیرش مغفل این از آن
At that time the lion and the deer unite (in turning) towards his exhortation, the one oblivious of the other;

کوه و مرغان هم‌رسایل با دمش ** هردو اندر وقت دعوت محرمش
The mountains and the birds are accompanying his breath (voice), both are his confidants in the hour of his calling (unto God);

این و صد چندین مرورا معجزات ** نور رویش بی جهان و در جهات
These and a hundred times as many miracles are (vouchsafed) to him; the light of his countenance is (both) transcendent and immanent—

با همه تمکین خدا روزی او ** کرده باشد بسته اندر جست و جو 1475
Notwithstanding all (this) majesty, God must have made his livelihood to be bound up with seeking and endeavour.

بی زره‌بافی و رنجی روزیش ** می‌نیاید با همه پیروزیش
Without weaving coats of mail and (without) some trouble (on his part), his livelihood is not coming (to him), notwithstanding all his victoriousness.

این چنین مخذول واپس مانده‌ای ** خانه کنده دون و گردون‌رانده‌ای
(Yet) a God-forsaken abandoned one like this, a low scoundrel and outcast from Heaven,

این چنین مدبر همی خواهد که زود ** بی تجارت پر کند دامن ز سود
A backslider of this sort, desires, without trading, at once to fill his skirt (pocket) with gain!

این چنین گیجی بیامد در میان ** که بر آیم بر فلک بی نردبان
Such a crazy fellow has come forward, saying, ‘I will climb up to the sky without a ladder.’”

این همی‌گفتش بتسخر رو بگیر ** که رسیدت روزی و آمد بشیر 1480
This one would say to him derisively, “Go and receive (it), for your daily portion has arrived and the messenger has come with the good news”;

و آن همی خندید ما را هم بده ** زانچ یابی هدیه‌ای سالار ده
And that one would laugh, (saying), “Give us too (a share) of what you get as a gift, O headman of the village.”

او ازین تشنیع مردم وین فسوس ** کم نمی‌کرد از دعا و چاپلوس
(But) he was not diminishing his prayers and wheedling entreaties because of this abuse and ridicule from the people,

تا که شد در شهر معروف و شهیر ** کو ز انبان تهی جوید پنیر
So that he became well-known and celebrated in the town as one who seeks (to obtain) cheese from an empty wallet.

شد مثل در خام‌طبعی آن گدا ** او ازین خواهش نمی‌آمد جدا
That beggar became a proverb for foolishness, (but) he would not desist from this petitioning.

دویدن گاو در خانه‌ی آن دعا کننده بالحاح قال النبی صلی الله علیه وسلم ان الله یحب الملحین فی الدعا زیرا عین خواست از حق تعالی و الحاح خواهنده را به است از آنچ می‌خواهد آن را ازو
How a cow ran into the house of him that was praying importunately. The Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, has said, “God loves them that are importunate in prayer,” because the actual asking (of anything) from God most High and the importunity (itself) is better for the petitioner than the thing which he is asking of Him.

تا که روزی ناگهان در چاشتگاه ** این دعا می‌کرد با زاری و آه 1485
Until suddenly one day, (when) he was uttering this prayer with moaning and sighs at morningtide,

ناگهان در خانه‌اش گاوی دوید ** شاخ زد بشکست دربند و کلید
Suddenly a cow ran into his house; she butted with her horns and broke the bolt and key.