Rumi's Masnavi - (True), there may be pardon (for the sinner), but where (for him) is the glorious hope that through piety the servant of God may be (spiritually) illumined?

عفو باشد لیک کو فر امید ** که بود بنده ز تقوی روسپید
(True), there may be pardon (for the sinner), but where (for him) is the glorious hope that through piety the servant of God may be (spiritually) illumined?

دزد را گر عفو باشد جان برد ** کی وزیر و خازن مخزن شود
If a robber be pardoned, he saves his life, (but) how should he become a vizier and keeper of the treasury?

ای امین الدین ربانی بیا ** کز امانت رست هر تاج و لوا 3155
Come, O godly Amínu’ddín, for every tiara and ensign has grown from trustworthiness (amánat).

پور سلطان گر برو خاین شود ** آن سرش از تن بدان باین شود
If the Sultan's son become a traitor to him, on that account his head will be severed from his body;

وز غلامی هندوی آرد وفا ** دولت او را می‌زند طال بقا
And if a Hindú slave show faithfulness, sovereignty will applaud him (and cry), ‘Long may he live!’

چه غلام ار بر دری سگ باوفاست ** در دل سالار او را صد رضاست
What of a slave? If a dog is faithful (in keeping watch) at a door, there are a hundred feelings of satisfaction with him in the heart of the master (of the house).

زین چو سگ را بوسه بر پوزش دهد ** گر بود شیری چه پیروزش کند
Since, because of this (faithfulness), he kisses the mouth of a dog, if he (the faithful one) be a lion, how triumphant he will make him!

جز مگر دزدی که خدمتها کند ** صدق او بیخ جفا را بر کند 3160
(Robbers get nothing but pardon), except, to be sure, the robber who performs acts of service (to God) and whose sincerity uproots his (former) perfidy,

چون فضیل ره‌زنی کو راست باخت ** زانک ده مرده به سوی توبه تاخت
Like Fudayl, the brigand who played straight, because he ran with the strength of ten men towards repentance;

وآنچنان که ساحران فرعون را ** رو سیه کردند از صبر و وفا
And as the magicians (who) blackened the face of Pharaoh by their fortitude and faithfulness.

دست و پا دادند در جرم قود ** آن به صد ساله عبادت کی شود
They gave their hands and feet (to be cut off as a penalty) for the crime that entailed retaliation: how should that (degree of faithfulness) be attained by means of a hundred years' devotional service?

تو که پنجه سال خدمت کرده‌ای ** کی چنین صدقی به دست آورده‌ای
You who have served (Him) for fifty years, when have you brought into your possession such a sincerity as this?

حکایت آن درویش کی در هری غلامان آراسته‌ی عمید خراسان را دید و بر اسبان تازی و قباهای زربفت و کلاهای مغرق و غیر آن پرسید کی اینها کدام امیرانند و چه شاهانند گفت او را کی اینها امیران نیستند اینها غلامان عمید خراسانند روی به آسمان کرد کی ای خدا غلام پروردن از عمید بیاموز آنجا مستوفی را عمید گویند
Story of the dervish who saw at Herát the well-equipped slaves of the ‘Amíd of Khurásán, mounted on Arab horses and wearing gold-embroidered coats, caps richly ornamented (with silver or gems), etc. He asked, ‘What princes and what kings are these?’ On being told that they were not princes, but the slaves of the ‘Amíd of Khurásán, he turned his face to Heaven, crying, ‘O God, learn from the ‘Amíd how to take care of slaves!’ There (in Khurásán) the State-accountant (Mustawfí) is called ‘Amíd.

جامه‌ی اطلس کمر زرین روان ** روی کردی سوی قبله‌ی آسمان
Going about in satin raiment with a belt of gold, would turn his face to Heaven,

کای خدا زین خواجه‌ی صاحب منن ** چون نیاموزی تو بنده داشتن
And cry, ‘O God, why dost not Thou learn from this bountiful Khwája how to keep (Thy) slave?

بنده پروردن بیاموز ای خدا ** زین رئیس و اختیار شاه ما
O God, let this ra’ís (high dignitary) and chosen (minister) of our king teach Thee how to care for Thy slave.’

بود محتاج و برهنه و بی‌نوا ** در زمستان لرز لرزان از هوا
He (the dervish) was needy and naked and without food: (’twas) in winter (and) he was trembling exceedingly from the (cold) air.

انبساطی کرد آن از خود بری ** جراتی بنمود او از لمتری 3170
That man (who was) beside himself (with cold and hunger) committed an impertinence: from grossness (of disposition) he displayed an (impious) audacity.

اعتمادش بر هزاران موهبت ** که ندیم حق شد اهل معرفت
He relied on the thousands (infinite number) of (God's) gifts, saying (to himself) that the gnostic has become God's boon-companion.

گر ندیم شاه گستاخی کند ** تو مکن آنک نداری آن سند
If the king's boon-companion take a liberty, (yet) do not thou behave so, who hast not the same support.

حق میان داد و میان به از کمر ** گر کسی تاجی دهد او داد سر
God gave the waist, and the waist is better than the belt: if any one give (thee) a tiara, (yet) He gave the head (that bears it).

تا یکی روزی که شاه آن خواجه را ** متهم کرد و ببستش دست و پا
(The dervish continued his reproaches) till a certain day when the king accused the Khwája (of dishonesty) and bound him hand and foot,

آن غلامان را شکنجه می‌نمود ** که دفینه‌ی خواجه بنمایید زود 3175
(While) he put those slaves to the rack, saying, ‘Show (to me) at once the Khwája's buried treasure;

سر او با من بگویید ای خسان ** ورنه برم از شما حلق و لسان
Tell me his secret; O ye rascals, or I will cut your throats and (cut out) your tongues.’

مدت یک ماهشان تعذیب کرد ** روز و شب اشکنجه و افشار و درد
He tortured them during a (whole) month: (’twas) the rack, torment, and anguish by day and by night.