بر لب جو صوفیی بنشسته بود ** دست و رو می‌شست و پاکی می‌فزود
On the river-bank a Súfí was seated, washing his hands and face and cleansing himself more and more.
او قفااش دید چون تخییلیی ** کرد او را آرزوی سیلیی 1330
He saw the nape of his (the Súfí's) neck and, like a crazy man, felt a longing to give it a slap;
بر قفای صوفی حمزه‌پرست ** راست می‌کرد از برای صفع دست
(So) he raised his hand to inflict a blow on the nape of the pottage-worshipping Súfí,
کارزو را گر نرانم تا رود ** آن طبیبم گفت کان علت شود
Saying (to himself), “The physician told me it would make me ill if I would not let my desire have its way.
سیلیش اندر برم در معرکه ** زانک لا تلقوا بایدی تهلکه
I will give him a slap in quarrel, for (God hath said), ‘Do not cast yourselves with your own hands into destruction.’
تهلکه‌ست این صبر و پرهیز ای فلان ** خوش بکوبش تن مزن چون دیگران
O such-and-such, this self-restraint and abstinence is (thy) destruction: give him a good blow, do not keep quiet like the others.”
چون زدش سیلی برآمد یک طراق ** گفت صوفی هی هی ای قواد عاق 1335
When he slapped him, there was the sound of a crack: the Súfí cried, “Hey, hey, O rascally pimp!”
خواست صوفی تا دو سه مشتش زند ** سبلت و ریشش یکایک بر کند
The Súfí was about to give him two or three blows with his fist and tear out his moustache and beard piecemeal (but refrained from doing so).
خلق رنجور دق و بیچاره‌اند ** وز خداع دیو سیلی باره‌اند
Mankind are (like) sufferers from phthisis and without a remedy (for their disease), and through the Devil's deception they are passionately addicted to slapping (each other).
جمله در ایذای بی‌جرمان حریص ** در قفای همدگر جویان نقیص
All (of them) are eager to injure the innocent and are seeking (to find) fault behind each others' backs.
ای زننده بی‌گناهان را قفا ** در قفای خود نمی‌بینی جزا
O you who strike the napes of the guiltless, don't you see the retribution (that is coming) behind you?
ای هوا را طب خود پنداشته ** بر ضعیفان صفع را بگماشته 1340
O you who fancy that (indulgence of) desire is your (right) medicine and inflict slaps on the weak,
بر تو خندید آنک گفتت این دواست ** اوست که آدم را به گندم رهنماست
He who told you that this is the cure (for your disease) mocked at you: ’tis he that guided Adam to the wheat,
که خورید این دانه او دو مستعین ** بهر دارو تا تکونا خالدین
Saying, “O ye twain who implore help, eat this grain as a remedy that ye may abide (in Paradise) for ever.”
اوش لغزانید و او را زد قفا ** آن قفا وا گشت و گشت این را جزا
He caused him (Adam) to stumble and gave him a slap on the nape: that slap recoiled and became a (penal) retribution for him (the Devil).
اوش لغزانید سخت اندر زلق ** لیک پشت و دستگیرش بود حق
He caused him (Adam) to stumble terribly in backsliding, but God was his (Adam's) support and helper.
کوه بود آدم اگر پر مار شد ** کان تریاقست و بی‌اضرار شد 1345
Adam was (like) a mountain: (even) if he was filled with serpents (of sin), he is a mine of the antidote (to snake-poison) and was unhurt.
تو که تریاقی نداری ذره‌ای ** از خلاص خود چرایی غره‌ای
You, who do not possess an atom of the antidote, why are you deluded by your (hope of) deliverance?
آن توکل کو خلیلانه ترا ** وآن کرامت چون کلیمت از کجا
Where, in your case, is trust in God like (the trust of) Khalíl (Abraham), and whence will you get the (Divine) grace like (that bestowed upon) Kalím (Moses),
تا نبرد تیغت اسمعیل را ** تا کنی شه‌راه قعر نیل را
So that your knife should not cut (the throat of) Ismá‘íl (Ishmael) and that you should make the depths of the Nile a (dry) highway?
گر سعیدی از مناره اوفتید ** بادش اندر جامه افتاد و رهید
If a blessed one fell from the minaret (and) was saved by the wind filling his raiment,
چون یقینت نیست آن بخت ای حسن ** تو چرا بر باد دادی خویشتن 1350
Why have you, O good man, committed yourself to the wind when you are not sure of that (same) fortune?
زین مناره صد هزاران هم‌چو عاد ** در فتادند و سر و سر باد داد
From this minaret hundreds of thousands (of peoples) like ‘Ád fell down and gave to the wind (lost) their lives and souls.
سرنگون افتادگان را زین منار ** می‌نگر تو صد هزار اندر هزار
Behold those who have fallen headlong from this minaret, hundreds of thousands on thousands!
تو رسن‌بازی نمیدانی یقین ** شکر پاها گوی و می‌رو بر زمین
(If) you have no sure skill in rope-dancing, give thanks for your feet and walk on the ground.