آنک عاشق نیست او در آب در ** صورت صورت خود بیند ای صاحب‌بصر
He that is not a lover (of God) sees in the water his own image, O man of insight;
صورت عاشق چو فانی شد درو ** پس در آب اکنون کرا بیند بگو 3645
(But) since the lover's image has disappeared in Him (the Beloved), whom now should he behold in the water? Tell (me that)!
حسن حق بینند اندر روی حور ** هم‌چو مه در آب از صنع غیور
Through the working of the Jealous One, they (the mystics) behold the beauty of God in the faces of the houris, like the moon (reflected) in water.
غیرتش بر عاشقی و صادقیست ** غیرتش بر دیو و بر استور نیست
His jealousy is (directed) against a lover and sincere (adorer); His jealousy is not (directed) against a (human) devil and beast;
دیو اگر عاشق شود هم گوی برد ** جبرئیلی گشت و آن دیوی بمرد
(But) if the devil become a lover (of God), he has carried off the palm: he has become a Gabriel and his devilish nature is dead.
اسلم الشیطان آنجا شد پدید ** که یزیدی شد ز فضلش بایزید
(The meaning of) ‘the Devil became a true believer’ is made manifest on the occasion when by His (God's) grace a Yazíd becomes a Báyazíd.
این سخن پایان ندارد ای گروه ** هین نگه دارید زان قلعه وجوه 3650
This topic is endless. Beware, O company (of travellers), keep your faces (safe) from that fortress!
هین مبادا که هوستان ره زند ** که فتید اندر شقاوت تا ابد
Oh, let not vain desire waylay you, or ye will fall into everlasting misery.
از خطر پرهیز آمد مفترض ** بشنوید از من حدیث بی‌غرض
’Tis a bounden duty to abstain from peril: hear disinterested advice from me.
در فرج جویی خرد سر تیز به ** از کمین‌گاه بلا پرهیز به
In seeking relief (from sorrow) ’tis better that one's wits should be sharp: ’tis better to abstain from (falling into) the ambuscade of tribulation.”
گر نمی‌گفت این سخن را آن پدر ** ور نمی‌فرمود زان قلعه حذر
If their father had not spoken these words and had not warned them against that fortress,
خود بدان قلعه نمی‌شد خیلشان ** خود نمی‌افتاد آن سو میلشان 3655
Their party would never have approached the fortress, their desire would never have inclined towards it;
کان نبد معروف بس مهجور بود ** از قلاع و از مناهج دور بود
For it was not well-known: it was exceedingly remote and aloof from the (other) fortresses and the highways.
چون بکرد آن منع دلشان زان مقال ** در هوس افتاد و در کوی خیال
(But) when he (the King) uttered that prohibition, their hearts were thrown by his speech into vain desire and into the quarter of phantasy,
رغبتی زین منع در دلشان برست ** که بباید سر آن را باز جست
And, because of this prohibition, a craving arose in their hearts to investigate the secret of that (fortress).
کیست کز ممنوع گردد ممتنع ** چونک الانسان حریص ما منع
Who is (to be found) that will refrain from the forbidden thing, since man longs eagerly for what is forbidden?
نهی بر اهل تقی تبغیض شد ** نهی بر اهل هوا تحریض شد 3660
The veto causes the devout to hate (that which is vetoed); the veto incites the sensual to covet it.
پس ازین یغوی به قوما کثیر ** هم ازین یهدی به قلبا خبیر
Therefore He (God) leads many folk astray by this means, and by the same means He guides aright (many) a knowing heart.
کی رمد از نی حمام آشنا ** بل رمد زان نی حمامات هوا
How should the friendly dove be scared by the (fowler's) pipe? Nay, (only) the (wild) doves in the air are scared by that pipe.
پس بگفتندش که خدمتها کنیم ** بر سمعنا و اطعناها تنیم
Then they (the princes) said to him (the King), “We will perform the services (required of us), we will be intent on hearing and obeying (thy commands).
رو نگردانیم از فرمان تو ** کفر باشد غفلت از احسان تو
We will not turn aside from thy commands: ’twould be ingratitude to forget thy kindness”;
لیک استثنا و تسبیح خدا ** ز اعتماد خود بد از ایشان جدا 3665
But, because of their reliance upon themselves, ’twas far from them to pronounce the saving clause and glorify God.
ذکر استثنا و حزم ملتوی ** گفته شد در ابتدای مثنوی
Mention of the saving clause and (of the need for) manifold precaution was made at the beginning of the Mathnawí.
صد کتاب ار هست جز یک باب نیست ** صد جهت را قصد جز محراب نیست
If there are a hundred (religious) books, (yet) they are but one chapter: a hundred (different) regions seek but one place of worship.
این طرق را مخلصی یک خانه است ** این هزاران سنبل از یک دانه است
(All) these roads end in one House: (all) these thousand ears of corn are from one Seed.