از برای آزمون می‌آزمود ** زانک بس مردانه و جان سیر بود
He was testing (it) in order to put (it) to the proof, for he was very valiant and surfeited with life.
گفت کم گیرم سر و اشکمبه‌ای ** رفته گیر از گنج جان یک حبه‌ای
He said (to himself), “I take little account of a (sheep's) head and belly: suppose that one grain is gone from the spirit's treasure, (what does it matter?)
صورت تن گو برو من کیستم ** نقش کم ناید چو من باقیستم
Let the bodily form go: who am I (in reality)? Is not the (bodily) figure of small account when I am enduring for ever?
چون نفخت بودم از لطف خدا ** نفخ حق باشم ز نای تن جدا3935
Since by the grace of God the (Divine) spirit was breathed into me, I am the breath of God (which is) kept apart from the windpipe of the body,
تا نیفتد بانگ نفخش این طرف ** تا رهد آن گوهر از تنگین صدف
To the end that the sound of His breathing should not fall in this direction, and that that (spiritual) pearl should escape from the narrow (bodily) shell.
چون تمنوا موت گفت ای صادقین ** صادقم جان را برافشانم برین
Since God said, ‘Desire death, O ye that are sincere,’ I am sincere: I will lavish my soul upon this (I will sacrifice my life for this object).”
ملامت کردن اهل مسجد مهمان عاشق را از شب خفتن در آنجا و تهدید کردن مرورا
How the people of the mosque blamed the lover-guest for (his intention of) sleeping the night there and threatened him.
قوم گفتندش که هین اینجا مخسپ ** تا نکوبد جانستانت همچو کسپ
The people said to him, “Beware! Do not sleep here, lest the Taker of the soul pound thee like the dregs of sesame-grain,
که غریبی و نمی‌دانی ز حال ** کاندرین جا هر که خفت آمد زوال
For thou art a stranger and ignorant of the fact that any one who sleeps in this place perishes.
اتفاقی نیست این ما بارها ** دیده‌ایم و جمله اصحاب نهی3940
This is not an (accidental) occurrence: we and all those possessed of intelligence have ofttimes witnessed this.
هر که آن مسجد شبی مسکن شدش ** نیم‌شب مرگ هلاهل آمدش
To whomsoever that mosque gave lodging for a single night, poisonous death came to him at midnight.
از یکی ما تابه صد این دیده‌ایم ** نه به تقلید از کسی بشنیده‌ایم
We have seen this not (only) once but a hundred times: we have not heard it at second-hand from any one.
گفت الدین نصیحه آن رسول ** آن نصیحت در لغت ضد غلول
The Prophet said, ‘The (Mohammedan) religion is (consists in) sincerity (nasíhat)’: that nasíhat etymologically is the opposite of ghulúl (unfaithfulness).
این نصیحت راستی در دوستی ** در غلولی خاین و سگ‌پوستی
This nasíhat is ‘to be true in friendship’: in an act of ghulúl you are treacherous and currish.
بی خیانت این نصیحت از وداد ** می‌نماییمت مگرد از عقل و داد3945
We are showing this sincerity towards thee, without treachery, from (motives of) love: do not turn away from reason and justice!”
جواب گفتن عاشق عاذلان را
The lover's reply to those who chid him.
گفت او ای ناصحان من بی ندم ** از جهان زندگی سیر آمدم
He said, “O sincere advisers, I have become unrepentantly weary of the world of life.
منبلی‌ام زخم جو و زخم‌خواه ** عافیت کم جوی از منبل براه
I am an idle vagabond, seeking blows and desiring blows: do not seek rectitude from the vagabond on the road.
منبلی نی کو بود خود برگ‌جو ** منبلی‌ام لاابالی مرگ‌جو
(I am) not the vagabond who in sooth is a seeker of provender: I am the reckless vagabond (who is) the seeker of death.
منبلی نی کو به کف پول آورد ** منبلی چستی کزین پل بگذرد
(I am) not the vagabond who gets small money into his palm, (but) the nimble vagabond who would cross this bridge (to the world hereafter)—
آن نه کو بر هر دکانی بر زند ** بل جهد از کون و کانی بر زند3950
Not the one who cleaves to every shop; nay, but (the one who) springs away from (phenomenal) existence and strikes upon a mine (of reality).
مرگ شیرین گشت و نقلم زین سرا ** چون قفص هشتن پریدن مرغ را
Death and migration from this (earthly) abode has become as sweet to me as leaving the cage and flying (is sweet) to the (captive) bird—
آن قفص که هست عین باغ در ** مرغ می‌بیند گلستان و شجر
The cage that is in the very midst of the garden, (so that) the bird beholds the rose-beds and the trees,
جوق مرغان از برون گرد قفص ** خوش همی‌خوانند ز آزادی قصص
(While) outside, round the cage, a multitude of birds is sweetly chanting tales of liberty:
مرغ را اندر قفص زان سبزه‌زار ** نه خورش ماندست و نه صبر و قرار
At (the sight of) that verdant place neither (desire for) food remains to the bird in the cage, nor patience and rest,
سر ز هر سوراخ بیرون می‌کند ** تا بود کین بند از پا برکند3955
(But) it puts out its head through every hole, that perchance it may tear off this fetter from its leg.
چون دل و جانش چنین بیرون بود ** آن قفص را در گشایی چون بود
Since its heart and soul are (already) outside like this, how will it be when you open the cage?”