When he had plucked fruit from the pear-tree, he became frail (false) in his vow and promise.
هم درآن دم گوشمال حق رسید ** چشم او بگشاد و گوش او کشید
At the same instant God’s chastisement arrived: it opened his eye and pulled his ear.
متهم کردن آن شیخ را با دزدان وبریدن دستش را
How the Shaykh was suspected of being in company with thieves and had his hand cut off.
بیست از دزدان بدند آنجا و بیش ** بخش می‌کردند مسروقات خویش
In that place there were twenty thieves and more, dividing the things they had stolen.
شحنه را غماز آگه کرده بود ** مردم شحنه بر افتادند زود
The perfect had been apprised by an informer: the prefect’s men quickly fell upon them.
هم بدان‌جا پای چپ و دست راست ** جمله را ببرید و غوغایی بخاست1680
He (the officer in charge) cut off on the spot the left feet and right hands of them all, and a great hubbub arose.
دست زاهد هم بریده شد غلط ** پاش را می‌خواست هم کردن سقط
The ascetic’s hand too was cut off by mistake; he (the officer) was about to make his foot also fall (to the ground),
در زمان آمد سواری بس گزین ** بانگ بر زد بر عوان کای سگ ببین
(When), just in time, a very elect cavalier came up and shouted at the officer, “Look out, O dog!
این فلان شیخست از ابدال خدا ** دست او را تو چرا کردی جدا
This is such-and-such a Shaykh, (one) of the Abdál (exalted saints) of God: why have you severed his hand?”
آن عوان بدرید جامه تیز رفت ** پیش شحنه داد آگاهیش تفت
The officer rent his garment and went speedily to the prefect and gave him the information at once.
شحنه آمد پا برهنه عذرخواه ** که ندانستم خدا بر من گواه1685
The prefect came bare-footed, begging pardon. “I did not know,” he said; “God will bear me witness.
هین بحل کن مر مرا زین کار زشت ** ای کریم و سرور اهل بهشت
Pray now absolve me from this foul deed, O generous man and chief of the (destined) inhabitants of Paradise!”
گفت می‌دانم سبب این نیش را ** می‌شناسم من گناه خویش را
He (the Shaykh) said, “I know the cause of this (wound inflicted by the) knife: I recognise my sin.
من شکستم حرمت ایمان او ** پس یمینم برد دادستان او
I violated the sanctity of His oaths: therefore His judgement (sentence) took my right hand away.
من شکستم عهد و دانستم بدست ** تا رسید آن شومی جرات بدست
I broke my covenant and knew ‘twas evil (to break it), so that (in consequence of my breaking it) that ill-omened audacity reached (recoiled upon) my hand.
دست ما و پای ما و مغز و پوست ** باد ای والی فدای حکم دوست1690
May my hand and my foot and brain and skin be offered in sacrifice, O governer, to the decree of the Beloved!
قسم من بود این ترا کردم حلال ** تو ندانستی ترا نبود وبال
‘Twas my (destined) lot. I absolve thee from this. Thou didst not know: thou hast no guilt (to answer for).
و آنک او دانست او فرمان‌رواست ** با خدا سامان پیچیدن کجاست
And He that knew, He is the One whose command is (every-where) carried into execution: where is the power of struggling with God?”
ای بسا مرغی پریده دانه‌جو ** که بریده حلق او هم حلق او
Oh, many the bird flying in search of grain whose gullet was cut by its gullet (greediness)!
ای بسا مرغی ز معده وز مغص ** بر کنار بام محبوس قفص
Oh, many the bird that, through its belly (appetite) and pangs of hunger, was made captive in a cage on the edge of a terrace!
ای بسا ماهی در آب دوردست ** گشته از حرص گلو ماخوذ شست1695
Oh, many the fish that, because of its gullet’s greed, was caught by a hook in water hard to reach!
ای بسا مستور در پرده بده ** شومی فرج و گلو رسوا شده
Oh, many the chaste (woman) in a curtained bower that was brought to open shame by the misfortune of lust and gluttony! [Oh, many the chaste (woman) in a curtained bower that was brought to open shame by the misfortune of (her) vulva and throat!]
ای بسا قاضی حبر نیک‌خو ** از گلو و رشوتی او زردرو
Oh, many the learned and honest judge that was disgraced by greed and bribery!
بلک در هاروت و ماروت آن شراب ** از عروج چرخشان شد سد باب
Nay, in the case of Hárút and Márút that wine (of lust) debarred them from ascending to Heaven.