گر عصا بستانی از پیری شها ** بیش رنجد که آن گروه از دست و پا
O king, if you take away the staff from an old man, he will be more grieved than that party (the magicians) were (grieved) by (the amputation of) their hands and feet.
نعره‌ی لاضیر بر گردون رسید ** هین ببر که جان ز جان کندن رهید
The cry, “No harm,” reached Heaven: (they said to Pharaoh), “Hark, cut (them) off, for our souls are delivered from the agony.
ما بدانستیم ما این تن نه‌ایم ** از ورای تن به یزدان می‌زییم 3340
We have come to know (that) we are not this body: beyond the body we are living through God.”
ای خنک آن را که ذات خود شناخت ** اندر امن سرمدی قصری بساخت
Oh, blest is he that has recognised his (real) essence and built (for himself) a palace in everlasting security.
کودکی گرید پی جوز و مویز ** پیش عاقل باشد آن بس سهل چیز
A child weeps for walnuts and raisins; those are very trifling things in the view of a reasonable man.
پیش دل جوز و مویز آمد جسد ** طفل کی در دانش مردان رسد
(So) in the spirit's view the body is (like) walnuts and raisins, (but) how should (one who is) a child (in spiritual matters) attain to the knowledge possessed by (spiritual) men?
هر که محجوبست او خود کودکست ** مرد آن باشد که بیرون از شکست
Whoever is veiled (from God) is really a child: the man is he who is beyond (all) uncertainty.
گر بریش و خایه مردستی کسی ** هر بزی را ریش و مو باشد بسی 3345
Siquis barba et testiculis vir esset, every he-goat has a beard and plenty of hair.” [If someone were (defined as) a man by a beard and testicles, every he-goat has a beard and plenty of hair.”]
پیشوای بد بود آن بز شتاب ** می‌برد اصحاب را پیش قصاب
That goat is a bad leader: he is taking his followers quickly along to the butcher.
ریش شانه کرده که من سابقم ** سابقی لیکن به سوی مرگ و غم
He has combed his beard, saying, “I am the foremost.” (Yes); thou art the foremost, but in the direction of death and anguish.
هین روش بگزین و ترک ریش کن ** ترک این ما و من و تشویش کن
Hark, adopt (as thy vocation) travelling (on the Way of righteousness) and abandon thy beard: abandon this egoism and troubled thought,
تا شوی چون بوی گل با عاشقان ** پیشوا و رهنمای گلستان
That thou mayst become like the scent of the rose to (God's) lovers (and mayst be) their leader and guide to the Rose-garden.
کیست بوی گل دم عقل و خرد ** خوش قلاووز ره ملک ابد 3350
Who (what) is the scent of the rose? The breath (voice) of reason and intelligence (which is) a sweet guide on the way to the Kingdom Everlasting.
فرمودن شاه به ایاز بار دگر کی شرح چارق و پوستین آشکارا بگو تا خواجه تاشانت از آن اشارت پند گیرد کی الدین النصیحة و موعظه یابند
How the King (Mahmúd) once more commanded Ayáz, saying, "Give a clear explanation concerning thy rustic shoon and sheepskin jacket in order that thy fellow-servants may be admonished by that indication, for (the Prophet has said), ‘Religion consists in (giving) sincere counsel.’"
سر چارق را بیان کن ای ایاز ** پیش چارق چیستت چندین نیاز
“O Ayáz, declare the mystery of the rustic shoon and why in the presence of the shoon thou showest all this humility,
تا بنوشد سنقر و بک یا رقت ** سر سر پوستین و چارقت
So that thy (fellow-servants) Sunqur and Bakyáruq may hear the inmost secret of thy sheepskin jacket and rustic shoon.
ای ایاز از تو غلامی نور یافت ** نورت از پستی سوی گردون شتافت
O Ayáz, slavery hath gained lustre from thee: thy lustre hath sped from lowliness towards heaven.
حسرت آزادگان شد بندگی ** بندگی را چون تو دادی زندگی
Servitude has become an object of regret to the free, since thou hast given life (and splendour) to servitude.
مؤمن آن باشد که اندر جزر و مد ** کافر از ایمان او حسرت خورد 3355
The true believer is he by whose true belief amidst the ebb and flow (of fortune) the infidel is made regretful.”
حکایت کافری کی گفتندش در عهد ابا یزید کی مسلمان شو و جواب گفتن او ایشان را
Story of the infidel whom, in the time of Abá Yazíd (Báyazíd), they invited to become a Moslem; and how he answered them.
بود گبری در زمان بایزید ** گفت او را یک مسلمان سعید
There was a certain infidel in the time of Báyazíd: a blessed Moslem said to him,
که چه باشد گر تو اسلام آوری ** تا بیابی صد نجات و سروری
“How would it be if you profess Islam, so that you may gain a hundred salvations and sovereignties?”
گفت این ایمان اگر هست ای مرید ** آنک دارد شیخ عالم بایزید
He replied, “If this Faith (of thine), O disciple, is (the same as) that which is held by Báyazíd, the Shaykh (spiritual Director) of the world,
من ندارم طاقت آن تاب آن ** که آن فزون آمد ز کوششهای جان
I cannot endure the glowing heat thereof, which is too great for (all) the strivings of my soul (to attain unto it).
گرچه در ایمان و دین ناموقنم ** لیک در ایمان او بس مؤمنم 3360
Although I feel no certainty as regards the Faith and Religion (of Islam), yet I believe mightily in his Faith.
دارم ایمان که آن ز جمله برترست ** بس لطیف و با فروغ و با فرست
I hold the faith that that (Faith of his) is higher than all (others): ’tis very beautiful, resplendent, and glorious.
مؤمن ایمان اویم در نهان ** گرچه مهرم هست محکم بر دهان
Inwardly I am a believer in his Faith, though a seal is set firmly on my mouth.