چون نباشد روز و شب یا ماه و سال ** کی بود سیری و پیری و ملال
When there is no day and night and month and year, how should there be satiety and old age and weariness?
در گلستان عدم چون بی‌خودیست ** مستی از سغراق لطف ایزدیست
Since there is (for us) selflessness in the rose-garden of non-existence, there is (for us) intoxication caused by the goblet of Divine grace.
لم یذق لم یدر هر کس کو نخورد ** کی بوهم آرد جعل انفاس ورد
Any one that has not drunk (thereof is in the same case as those to whom the saying, ‘Whoso) has not tasted does not know’ (is applicable): how should the dung-beetle conceive the (fragrant) breaths of the rose?
نیست موهوم ار بدی موهوم آن ** همچو موهومان شدی معدوم آن
It is not conceivable: if it were conceivable, it would become non-existent, like (all) objects of conception.
دوزخ اندر وهم چون آرد بهشت ** هیچ تابد روی خوب از خوک زشت2945
How should Hell conceive Paradise? Does a beauteous face shine (forth) at all from an ugly pig?
هین گلوی خود مبر هان ای مهان ** این‌چنین لقمه رسیده تا دهان
Hark, do not cut your own throat! Take heed, O despicable one, (when) such a morsel as this has reached your mouth.
راههای صعب پایان برده‌ایم ** ره بر اهل خویش آسان کرده‌ایم
We have brought the hard ways to an end; we have made the way easy for our own people.”
مکرر کردن قوم اعتراض ترجیه بر انبیا علیهم‌السلام
How the people (of Sabá) repeated their resistance to the (prophets') hope (of converting them and set themselves) against the prophets, on whom be peace.
قوم گفتند از شما سعد خودیت ** نحس مایید و ضدیت و مرتدیت
The people (of Sabá) said, “If ye bring good luck to yourselves, ye are ill-starred for us and are opposed (to us) and rejected (by us).
جان ما فارغ بد از اندیشه‌ها ** در غم افکندید ما را و عنا
Our souls were free from cares: ye have cast us into grief and trouble.
ذوق جمعیت که بود و اتفاق ** شد ز فال زشتتان صد افتراق2950
Through your evil presage the delightful concord and agreement that existed (amongst us) has been turned into a hundred separations.
طوطی نقل شکر بودیم ما ** مرغ مرگ‌اندیش گشتیم از شما
(Formerly) we were parrots eating sugar for dessert; (now) through you we have become birds that meditate on death.
هر کجا افسانه‌ی غم‌گستریست ** هر کجا آوازه‌ی مستنکریست
Wheresoever is a grief-spreading tale, wheresoever is an odious rumour,
هر کجا اندر جهان فال بذست ** هر کجا مسخی نکالی ماخذست
Wheresoever in the world is an evil presage, wheresoever is a monstrous transformation, a terrible punishment, an infliction of chastisement—
در مثال قصه و فال شماست ** در غم‌انگیزی شما را مشتهاست
(All those things) are (contained) in the parable of your story and in your evil presage: ye have an appetite for rousing grief.”
باز جواب انبیا علیهم السلام
How the prophets, on whom be peace, answered them once more.
انبیا گفتند فال زشت و بد ** از میان جانتان دارد مدد2955
The prophets said, “The foul and evil presage has its support from within your souls.
گر تو جایی خفته باشی با خطر ** اژدها در قصد تو از سوی سر
If you are asleep in a perilous place, and a dragon is approaching you from a spot close at hand,
مهربانی مر ترا آگاه کرد ** که بجه زود ار نه اژدرهات خورد
And a kindly person has made you aware (of it), saying, ‘Jump up quickly, or else the dragon will devour you’—
تو بگویی فال بد چون می‌زنی ** فال چه بر جه ببین در روشنی
If you say, ‘Why are you uttering an evil presage?’ (he will reply), ‘What (evil) presage? Jump up and see in the light of day.
از میان فال بد من خود ترا ** می‌رهانم می‌برم سوی سرا
I myself will deliver you from the midst of the evil presage and will take you home.’
چون نبی آگه کننده‌ست از نهان ** کو بدید آنچ ندید اهل جهان2960
He (such a person) is one that acquaints (you) with things hidden, like the prophet who has seen what the people of this world have not seen.
گر طبیبی گویدت غوره مخور ** که چنین رنجی بر آرد شور و شر
If a physician say to you, ‘Do not eat unripe grapes, for such an illness (as is caused by them) will produce (grave) trouble and mischief,’
تو بگویی فال بد چون می‌زنی ** پس تو ناصح را مثم می‌کنی
And if you say, ‘Why are you uttering an evil presage?’— then you are making out your sincere adviser to be culpable.