شد مناسب وصفها در خوب و زشت ** شد مناسب حرفها که حق نبشت
The (good and evil) qualities are congruous in the good and evil (souls): congruous are the letters that God hath written.
دیده و دل هست بین اصبعین ** چون قلم در دست کاتب ای حسین
The eye and the heart are between two fingers like a pen in the hand of the writer, O Husayn.
اصبع لطفست و قهر و در میان ** کلک دل با قبض و بسطی زین بنان
(These) are the fingers of Grace and Wrath, and between them the pen, the heart, is in a state of distress or ease (caused) by these fingers.
ای قلم بنگر گر اجلالیستی ** که میان اصبعین کیستی
O pen, if thou art one that (duly) magnifies (God), consider whose two fingers thou art between.
جمله قصد و جنبشت زین اصبعست ** فرق تو بر چار راه مجمعست2780
All thy volition and movement are (controlled) by this finger: thy head (point) is on the crossways of the assembly-place.
این حروف حالهات از نسخ اوست ** عزم و فسخت هم ز عزم و فسخ اوست
These letters (symbolising) thy (diverse) states are of His inditing: thy forming a purpose and changing it is just from His forming a purpose and changing it.
جز نیاز و جز تضرع راه نیست ** زین تقلب هر قلم آگاه نیست
There is no way but supplication and self-abasement: not every pen is conscious of this subjection to (Divine) control.
این قلم داند ولی بر قدر خود ** قدر خود پیدا کند در نیک و بد
The pen knows this (control), but (only) according to its (fore-ordained) measure: it manifests its measure (of knowledge) in good and evil (actions).
آنچ در خرگوش و پیل آویختند ** تا ازل را با حیل آمیختند
(As regards) that (apologue) which they attached to the hare and the elephant, so that they confused (the dispensation of) eternity with (mere) tricks,
بیان آنک هر کس را نرسد مثل آوردن خاصه در کار الهی
[Explaining that it is not seemly for every one to adduce parables, especially concerning Divine actions.]
کی رسدتان این مثلها ساختن ** سوی آن درگاه پاک انداختن2785
How is it seemly for you to make these similitudes and cast them at (apply them to) that holy Court?
آن مثل آوردن آن حضرتست ** که بعلم سر و جهر او آیتست
That use of similitudes belongs to the Lord, for He is the (sole) authority for the knowledge of the hidden and the manifest.
تو چه دانی سر چیزی تا تو کل ** یا به زلفی یا به رخ آری مثل
What dost thou know of the hidden nature of anything, that thou, baldpate, shouldst use a lock of hair or a cheek as similitudes?
موسیی آن را عصا دید و نبود ** اژدها بد سر او لب می‌گشود
A Moses deemed that (wood) a rod, but it was not (a rod): it was a dragon: its hidden nature was opening its lips (revealing itself).
چون چنان شاهی نداند سر چوب ** تو چه دانی سر این دام و حبوب
Inasmuch as such a (spiritual) king knows not the hidden nature of wood, how shouldst thou know the hidden nature of this snare and bait?
چون غلط شد چشم موسی در مثل ** چون کند موشی فضولی مدخل2790
Since the eye of Moses was at fault in the similitude, how should a meddling mouse find an entrance (to perception of the truth)?
آن مثالت را چو اژدرها کند ** تا به پاسخ جزو جزوت بر کند
He (God) will make that comparison of thine a dragon, that in answer it may tear thee to pieces.
این مثال آورد ابلیس لعین ** تا که شد ملعون حق تا یوم دین
The accursed Iblís used this (kind of) comparison, so that he fell under God's curse till the Day of Judgement.
این مثال آورد قارون از لجاج ** تا فرو شد در زمین با تخت و تاج
Qárún (Korah) from contumacy used this (kind of) comparison, so that he sank down into the earth with his throne and diadem.
این مثالت را چو زاغ و بوم دان ** که ازیشان پست شد صد خاندان
Know that this comparison of thine is like crows and owls by which a hundred households are laid low.
مثلها زدن قوم نوح باستهزا در زمان کشتی ساختن
How the people of Noah uttered similitudes derisively at the time of his building the Ark
نوح اندر بادیه کشتی بساخت ** صد مثل‌گو از پی تسخیر بتاخت2795
Noah built an Ark in the desert : a hundred speakers of parables ran up to ridicule (him).
در بیابانی که چاه آب نیست ** می‌کند کشتی چه نادان و ابلهیست
He is making a ship (Ark) in the desert where no well of water exists: what an ignorant fool he is!"
آن یکی می‌گفت ای کشتی بتاز ** و آن یکی می‌گفت پرش هم بساز
One was saying, "O ship, run!" while another said, "Make wings for it too ! "
او همی‌گفت این به فرمان خداست ** این بچربکها نخواهد گشت کاست
He (Noah) said, "This is by the command of God: this will not be defeated by jeers."
حکایت آن دزد کی پرسیدند چه می‌کنی نیم‌شب در بن این دیوار گفت دهل می‌زنم
Story of the thief who was asked, “What are you doing at the bottom of this wall at midnight?” and replied, “I am beating a drum.”
این مثل بشنو که شب دزدی عنید ** در بن دیوار حفره می‌برید
Hear this parable—how a wicked thief was cutting a hole at the bottom of a wall.
نیم‌بیداری که او رنجور بود ** طقطق آهسته‌اش را می‌شنود2800
Some one half-awake, who was ill, heard the soft tapping of his (pick),