چون جوان بودی و زفت و سخت‌زه ** تو نمی‌رفتی سوی صف بی زره
When thou wert young and robust and strongly-knit, thou didst not go into the battle-line without a coat of mail.
چون شدی پیر و ضعیف و منحنی ** پرده‌های لا ابالی می‌زنی3425
Now that thou hast become old and infirm and bent, thou art knocking at the curtains (doors) of recklessness,
لا ابالی‌وار با تیغ و سنان ** می‌نمایی دار و گیر و امتحان
And with sword and spear, like one who recks of naught, thou art grappling and struggling and making trial (of thyself).
تیغ حرمت می‌ندارد پیر را ** کی بود تمییز تیغ و تیر را
The sword hath no respect for the old: how should sword and arrow possess discernment?”
زین نسق غمخوارگان بی‌خبر ** پند می‌دادند او را از غیر
In this manner were the ignorant sympathisers giving him counsel zealously.
جواب حمزه مر خلق را
The reply of Hamza to the people.
گفت حمزه چونک بودم من جوان ** مرگ می‌دیدم وداع این جهان
Hamza said, “When I was young, I used to regard farewell to this world as death.
سوی مردن کس برغبت کی رود ** پیش اژدرها برهنه کی شود3430
How should any one go to death eagerly? How should he come naked (unarmed) to meet the dragon?
لیک از نور محمد من کنون ** نیستم این شهر فانی را زبون
But now, through the Light of Mohammed, I am not subject to this city (the world) that is passing away.
از برون حس لشکرگاه شاه ** پر همی‌بینم ز نور حق سپاه
Beyond (the realm of) the senses, I behold the camp of the (Divine) King thronged with the army of the Light of God,
خیمه در خیمه طناب اندر طناب ** شکر آنک کرد بیدارم ز خواب
Tent on tent and tent-rope on tent-rope. Thanks be to Him who awakened me from slumber!”
آنک مردن پیش چشمش تهلکه‌ست ** امر لا تلقوا بگیرد او به دست
That one in whose eyes death is destruction—he takes hold of (clings to) the (Divine) command, “Do not cast (yourselves into destruction)”;
و آنک مردن پیش او شد فتح باب ** سارعوا آید مرورا در خطاب3435
And that one to whom death is the opening of the gate—for him in the (Divine) Allocution (the Qur’án) there is (the command), “Vie ye with each other in hastening.”
الحذر ای مرگ‌بینان بارعوا ** العجل ای حشربینان سارعوا
Beware, O ye who regard death! Surpass one another (in dread of death)! Quick, O ye who regard the Resurrection! Vie ye with each other in hastening!
الصلا ای لطف‌بینان افرحوا ** البلا ای قهربینان اترحوا
Welcome, O ye who regard the (Divine) grace! Rejoice! Woe (to you), O ye who regard the (Divine) wrath! Be sorrowful!
هر که یوسف دید جان کردش فدی ** هر که گرگش دید برگشت از هدی
Whosoever deems it (death) to be (lovely as) Joseph gives up his soul in ransom for it; whosoever deems it to be (like) the wolf turns back from (the path of) right guidance.
مرگ هر یک ای پسر همرنگ اوست ** پیش دشمن دشمن و بر دوست دوست
Every one's death is of the same quality as himself, my lad: to the enemy (of God) an enemy, and to the friend (of God) a friend.
پیش ترک آیینه را خوش رنگیست ** پیش زنگی آینه هم زنگیست3440
In the eyes of the Turcoman the mirror hath a fair colour; similarly in the eyes of the Ethiopian the mirror is (dark as) an Ethiopian.
آنک می‌ترسی ز مرگ اندر فرار ** آن ز خود ترسانی ای جان هوش دار
Your fear of death in fleeing (from it) is (really) your fear of yourself. Take heed, O (dear) soul!
روی زشت تست نه رخسار مرگ ** جان تو همچون درخت و مرگ برگ
’Tis your (own) ugly face, not the visage of Death: your spirit is like the tree, and death (is like) the leaf.
از تو رستست ار نکویست ار بدست ** ناخوش و خوش هر ضمیرت از خودست
It has grown from you, whether it is good or evil: every hidden thought of yours, foul or fair, is (born) from yourself.
گر بخاری خسته‌ای خود کشته‌ای ** ور حریر و قزدری خود رشته‌ای
If you are wounded by a thorn, you yourself have sown; and if you are (clad) in satin and silk, you yourself have spun.
دانک نبود فعل همرنگ جزا ** هیچ خدمت نیست همرنگ عطا3445
Know that the act is not of the same complexion as the requital: the service is nowise of the same complexion as the payment given (in return for it).
مزد مزدوران نمی‌ماند بکار ** کان عرض وین جوهرست و پایدار
The labourers' wage does not resemble the work, inasmuch as the latter is the accident, while the former is the substance and permanent.
آن همه سختی و زورست و عرق ** وین همه سیمست و زرست و طبق
The former is wholly hardship and effort and sweat, while the latter is wholly silver and gold and trays (of food).
گر ترا آید ز جایی تهمتی ** کرد مظلومت دعا در محنتی
If suspicion fall upon you from some quarter, (the reason is that) the person whom you wronged has invoked (God) against you in an affliction (which you have brought upon him).