غافلی هم حکمتست و این عمی ** تا بماند لیک تا این حد چرا
True, (this) heedlessness and this blindness is (a manifestation of) Divine Wisdom, in order that he (the heedless man) may endure; but why (be heedless) to such an extent as this?
غافلی هم حکمتست و نعمتست ** تا نپرد زود سرمایه ز دست
True, heedlessness is (a manifestation of) Divine Wisdom and Bounty, in order that (his) stock-in-trade may not suddenly fly out of (his) hand;
لیک نی چندانک ناسوری شود ** زهر جان و عقل رنجوری شود2610
But not (heedlessness) so great that it becomes an incurable sore and a poison to the spirit and intellect of one who is sick.
خود کی یابد این چنین بازار را ** که به یک گل می‌خری گلزار را
Who, really, can find bazaars like this where with a single rose thou art buying (whole) roseries;
دانه‌ای را صد درختستان عوض ** حبه‌ای را آمدت صد کان عوض
(Where) a hundred groves come (are offered) to thee in exchange for one seed, a hundred mines in exchange for one groat?
کان لله دادن آن حبه است ** تا که کان‌الله له آید به دست
Kána lilláh is the giving of that groat, in order that kána ’lláh lahú may come into (thy) hand;
زآنک این هوی ضعیف بی‌قرار ** هست شد زان هوی رب پایدار
For this weak unstable hú (personality) was brought into being by the steadfast (permanent) hú of the Lord.
هوی فانی چونک خود فا او سپرد ** گشت باقی دایم و هرگز نمرد2615
When the hú that passes away has surrendered itself to Him, it becomes everlasting and never dies.
هم‌چو قطره‌ی خایف از باد و ز خاک ** که فنا گردد بدین هر دو هلاک
(’Tis) like a drop of water (which is) afraid of wind (air) and earth; for by means of these twain it is made to pass away (and perish.
چون به اصل خود که دریا بود جست ** از تف خورشید و باد و خاک رست
When it has leaped (thrown itself) into the sea, which was its source, it is delivered from the heat of the sun and from wind and earth.
ظاهرش گم گشت در دریا و لیک ** ذات او معصوم و پا بر جا و نیک
Its outward form has disappeared in the sea, but its essence is inviolate and permanent and goodly.
هین بده ای قطره خود را بی‌ندم ** تا بیابی در بهای قطره یم
Hark, O (thou who art like a) drop, give thyself up without repenting, that in recompense for the drop thou mayst gain the Ocean.
هین بده ای قطره خود را این شرف ** در کف دریا شو آمن از تلف2620
Hark, O drop, bestow on thyself this honour, and in the hand of the Sea become safe from destruction.
خود کرا آید چنین دولت به دست ** قطره‌ای را بحری تقاضاگر شدست
Whom indeed should fortune like this befall? A Sea has become the suitor for a drop.
الله الله زود بفروش و بخر ** قطره‌ای ده بحر پر گوهر ببر
In God's name, in God's name, sell and buy at once! Give a drop, and take (in return) the Sea which is full of pearls.
الله الله هیچ تاخیری مکن ** که ز بحر لطف آمد این سخن
In God's name, in God's name, do not make any postponement, for these words (of Moses) come from the Sea of Grace.
لطف اندر لطف این گم می‌شود ** که اسفلی بر چرخ هفتم می‌شود
(All other) grace is lost (vanishes away) in (comparison with) this grace, that one of the lowest is going up to the Seventh Heaven.
هین که یک بازی فتادت بوالعجب ** هیچ طالب این نیابد در طلب2625
Hark, for a marvellous falcon has fallen to thee: no seeker will find it in (his) search.”
گفت با هامان بگویم ای ستیر ** شاه را لازم بود رای وزیر
He (Pharaoh) said, “I will tell Hámán, O veiled (modest) one: the counsel of the vizier is necessary to the king.”
گفت با هامان مگو این راز را ** کور کمپیری چه داند باز را
She said, “Do not tell Hámán this secret: what should a blind decrepit old woman know about a falcon?”
قصه‌ی باز پادشاه و کمپیر زن
Story of the king's falcon and the decrepit old woman.
باز اسپیدی به کمپیری دهی ** او ببرد ناخنش بهر بهی
(If) you give a white falcon to a decrepit old woman, she will clip its talons for the sake of (its supposed) welfare.
ناخنی که اصل کارست و شکار ** کور کمپیری ببرد کوروار
The blind old woman will blindly clip the talons which are the source of its usefulness in the chase,
که کجا بودست مادر که ترا ** ناخنان زین سان درازست ای کیا2630
Saying, “Where has thy mother been, that thy talons are so long, O prince?”
ناخن و منقار و پرش را برید ** وقت مهر این می‌کند زال پلید
She clipped its talons and beak and wings: the filthy old hag does this at the time of (at the time when she is moved by) affection.
چونک تتماجش دهد او کم خورد ** خشم گیرد مهرها را بر درد
When she gives it tutmáj, it will not eat; (then) she is enraged and tears up her feelings of affection,