تو ز حسرت گاه بر سر می‌زنی ** گاه ریش خام خود بر می‌کنی
(While) thou at one moment wilt beat thy head in remorse, and at another tear thy foolish beard,
کای دریغا آن من بود این دکان ** کور بودم بر نخوردم زین مکان2560
Saying, “Alas, this shop was mine, (but) I was blind and got no profit from this place of abode.
ای دریغا بود ما را برد باد ** تا ابد یا حسرتا شد للعباد
Alas, the wind swept our existence away: (the text) O sorrow for the servants of God is come (true) unto everlasting.
غره شدن آدمی به ذکاوت و تصویرات طبع خویشتن و طلب ناکردن علم غیب کی علم انبیاست
[How Man is deluded by the sagacity and imaginations of his (carnal) nature and does not seek knowledge of the Unseen, which is the knowledge possessed by the prophets.]
دیدم اندر خانه من نقش و نگار ** بودم اندر عشق خانه بی‌قرار
I saw (beautiful) pictures and paintings in the house: I was without self-control in (my) love of the house.
بودم از گنج نهانی بی‌خبر ** ورنه دستنبوی من بودی تبر
I was unaware of any hidden treasure; otherwise, the axe would have been (as) the pomander in my hand.
آه گر داد تبر را دادمی ** این زمان غم را تبرا دادمی
Ah, if I had given the axe its due, I should now have given a quittance to (should have been quit of) grief.
چشم را بر نقش می‌انداختم ** هم‌چو طفلان عشقها می‌باختم2565
I was casting my eye on the picture and falling idly in love (with it), like children.”
پس نکو گفت آن حکیم کامیار ** که تو طفلی خانه پر نقش و نگار
That fortunate Sage, then, has said well, “Thou art a child: the house is full of pictures and paintings.”
در الهی‌نامه بس اندرز کرد ** که بر آر دودمان خویش گرد
In the Iláhí-náma he gave many an injunction, saying, “Raise the dust from (utterly demolish) thine own household.”
بس کن ای موسی بگو وعده‌ی سوم ** که دل من ز اضطرابش گشت گم
(Pharaoh said), “Enough, O Moses! Tell (me) the third promise, for my heart has become lost (distraught) from the agitation caused by (eagerness to hear) it.”
گفت موسی آن سوم ملک دوتو ** دو جهانی خالص از خصم و عدو
Moses said, “This third (promise) is a twofold empire—(an empire) appertaining to the two worlds (temporal and spiritual), free from adversary and enemy;
بیشتر زان ملک که اکنون داشتی ** کان بد اندر جنگ و این در آشتی2570
Greater than the empire of which thou art now in possession; for that was (whilst thou wert) at war (with God), and this (will be whilst thou art) at peace (with Him).
آنک در جنگت چنان ملکی دهد ** بنگر اندر صلح خوانت چون نهد
He who bestows on thee, (whilst thou art) at war, such an empire as this— consider how (bounteously) He will lay the table for thee (when thou art) at peace.
آن کرم که اندر جفا آنهات داد ** در وفا بنگر چه باشد افتقاد
That (Divine) bounty which gave thee those (goodly) things in thy unrighteousness—consider what will be (its) care (for thee) in thy faithfulness.”
گفت ای موسی چهارم چیست زود ** بازگو صبرم شد و حرصم فزود
“O Moses,” said he, “what is the fourth (promise)? Quickly declare (it): my patience is gone and my desire has waxed great.”
گفت چارم آنک مانی تو جوان ** موی هم‌چون قیر و رخ چون ارغوان
He said, “The fourth is that thou wilt remain (ever) young, (with) hair (black) like pitch and cheeks (pink) like the arghawán (flower of the Judas-tree).
رنگ و بو در پیش ما بس کاسدست ** لیک تو پستی سخن کردیم پست2575
To us (prophets) colour and perfume are very worthless, but thou art low, (so) we have made our words low.
افتخار از رنگ و بو و از مکان ** هست شادی و فریب کودکان
Boasting of colour and perfume and dwelling-place is a joy and deception (only) to children.
بیان این خبر کی کلموا الناس علی قدر عقولهم لا علی قدر عقولکم حتی لا یکذبوا الله و رسوله
[Explanation of the Tradition, "Speak ye unto men according to the measure of their understandings, not according to the measure of your understandings, so that God and His messenger may not be given the lie."]
چونک با کودک سر و کارم فتاد ** هم زبان کودکان باید گشاد
Since my business happens to be with a child, I must accordingly speak the language suited to children,
که برو کتاب تا مرغت خرم ** یا مویز و جوز و فستق آورم
Saying, ‘Go to school, that I may buy a bird for thee or bring (home) raisins and walnuts and pistachio nuts.’
جز شباب تن نمی‌دانی به کیر ** این جوانی را بگیر ای خر شعیر
Thou knowest only the youth of the body: take this youthfulness: take the barley, O ass!
هیچ آژنگی نیفتد بر رخت ** تازه ماند آن شباب فرخت2580
No wrinkle will fall upon thy face: thy fortunate youthfulness will remain fresh.
نه نژند پیریت آید برو ** نه قد چون سرو تو گردد دوتو
Neither will the witheredness of old age come over thy countenance, nor will thy cypress-like figure. be (bent) double;
نه شود زور جوانی از تو کم ** نه به دندانها خللها یا الم
Nor will the strength of youth vanish from thee, nor in thy teeth will there be decay or pain;
نه کمی در شهوت و طمث و بعال ** که زنان را آید از ضعفت ملال
Nec libido et fututio et coitus maritalis adeo defiecient ut feminis taedium sit propter languorem tuum. [Nor will there be a deficiency in sexual desire, intercourse, and marital union so that there will be weariness for women because of your weakness.]