To jesters every earnest matter is a jest; to the wise (all) jests are earnest.
کاهلان امرودبن جویند لیک ** تا بدان امرودبن راهیست نیک3560
Lazy folk seek the pear-tree, but ’tis a good (long) way to that pear-tree.
نقل کن ز امرودبن که اکنون برو ** گشته‌ای تو خیره‌چشم و خیره‌رو
Descend from the pear-tree on which at present thou hast become giddy-eyed and giddy-faced.
این منی و هستی اول بود ** که برو دیده کژ و احول بود
This (pear-tree) is the primal egoism and self-existence wherein the eye is awry and squinting.
چون فرود آیی ازین امرودبن ** کژ نماند فکرت و چشم و سخن
When thou comest down from this pear-tree, thy thoughts and eyes and words will no more be awry.
یک درخت بخت بینی گشته این ** شاخ او بر آسمان هفتمین
Thou wilt see that this (pear-tree) has become a tree of fortune, its boughs (reaching) to the Seventh Heaven.
چون فرود آیی ازو گردی جدا ** مبدلش گرداند از رحمت خدا3565
When thou comest down and partest from it, God in His mercy will cause it to be transformed.
زین تواضع که فرود آیی خدا ** راست بینی بخشد آن چشم ترا
On account of this humility shown by thee in coming down, God will bestow on thine eye true vision.
راست بینی گر بدی آسان و زب ** مصطفی کی خواستی آن را ز رب
If true vision were easy and facile, how should Mustafá (Mohammed) have desired it from the Lord?
گفت بنما جزو جزو از فوق و پست ** آنچنان که پیش تو آن جزو هست
He said, “Show (unto me) each part from above and below such as that part is in Thy sight.”
بعد از آن بر رو بر آن امرودبن ** که مبدل گشت و سبز از امر کن
Afterwards go up the pear-tree which has been transformed and made verdant by the (Divine) command, “Be.”
چون درخت موسوی شد این درخت ** چون سوی موسی کشانیدی تو رخت3570
This tree has (now) become like the tree connected with Moses, inasmuch as thou hast transported thy baggage towards (hast been endued with the nature of) Moses.
آتش او را سبز و خرم می‌کند ** شاخ او انی انا الله می‌زند
The fire (of Divine illumination) makes it verdant and flourishing; its boughs cry “Lo, I am God.”
زیر ظلش جمله حاجاتت روا ** این چنین باشد الهی کیمیا
Beneath its shade all thy needs are fulfilled: such is the Divine alchemy.
آن منی و هستیت باشد حلال ** که درو بینی صفات ذوالجلال
That personality and existence is lawful to thee, since thou beholdest therein the attributes of the Almighty.
شد درخت کژ مقوم حق‌نما ** اصله ثابت و فرعه فی‌السما
The crooked tree has become straight, God-revealing: its root fixed (in the earth) and its branches in the sky.
باقی قصه‌ی موسی علیه‌السلام
The remainder of the story of Moses, on whom be peace.
که آمدش پیغام از وحی مهم ** که کژی بگذار اکنون فاستقم3575
For there came to him from the peremptory Revelation a message, saying, “Put crookedness aside now, and be upright.”
این درخت تن عصای موسیست ** که امرش آمد که بیندازش ز دست
This tree of the body is (like) Moses’ rod, concerning which the (Divine) command came to him —“Let it fall from your hand,
تا ببینی خیر او و شر او ** بعد از آن بر گیر او را ز امر هو
That thou mayst behold its good and evil; after that, take it up (again) by command of Him.”
پیش از افکندن نبود او غیر چوب ** چون به امرش بر گرفتی گشت خوب
Before his dropping it, it was naught but wood; whenever he took it up by His command, it became goodly.
اول او بد برگ‌افشان بره را ** گشت معجز آن گروه غره را
At first it was shaking down leaves for the lambs; (afterwards) it reduced to impotence that deluded people.
گشت حاکم بر سر فرعونیان ** آبشان خون کرد و کف بر سر زنان3580
It became ruler over the party of Pharaoh: it turned their water into blood and caused them to beat their heads with their hands.
از مزارعشان برآمد قحط و مرگ ** از ملخهایی که می‌خوردند برگ
From their sown fields arose famine and death on account of the locusts which devoured the leaves,
تا بر آمد بی‌خود از موسی دعا ** چون نظر افتادش اندر منتها
Till from Moses, when he considered the ultimate issue, there went up involuntarily a prayer (to God)
کین همه اعجاز و کوشیدن چراست ** چون نخواهند این جماعت گشت راست
“For what reason is all this disablement (of them) and striving (to convert them), since this multitude will never become righteous? ”