The worldly sense is the ladder to this world; the religious sense is the ladder to Heaven.
صحت این حس بجویید از طبیب ** صحت آن حس بخواهید از حبیب
Seek ye the well-being of the former sense from the physician; beg ye the well-being of the latter sense from the Beloved.
صحت این حس ز معموری تن ** صحت آن حس ز تخریب بدن305
The health of the former arises from the flourishing state of the body; the health of the latter arises from the ruin of the body.
راه جان مر جسم را ویران کند ** بعد از آن ویرانی آبادان کند
The spiritual way ruins the body and, after having ruined it, restores it to prosperity:
کرد ویران خانه بهر گنج زر ** وز همان گنجش کند معمورتر
Ruined the house for the sake of the golden treasure, and with that same treasure builds it better (than before);
آب را ببرید و جو را پاک کرد ** بعد از آن در جو روان کرد آب خورد
Cut off the water and cleansed the river-bed, then caused drinking-water to flow in the river-bed;
پوست را بشکافت و پیکان را کشید ** پوست تازه بعد از آتش بردمید
Cleft the skin and drew out the iron point (of the arrow or spear)—then fresh skin grew over it (the wound);
قلعه ویران کرد و از کافر ستد ** بعد از آن بر ساختش صد برج و سد310
Rased the fortress and took it from the infidel, then reared thereon a hundred towers and ramparts.
کار بیچون را که کیفیت نهد ** این که گفتم هم ضرورت میدهد
Who shall describe the action of Him who hath no like? This that I have said (is what) the present necessity is affording.
گه چنین بنماید و گه ضد این ** جز که حیرانی نباشد کار دین
Sometimes it (the action of God) appears like this and sometimes the contrary of this: the work of religion is naught but bewilderment.
نی چنان حیران که پشتش سوی اوست ** بل چنین حیران و غرق و مست دوست
(I mean) not one bewildered in such wise that his back is (turned) towards Him; nay, but one bewildered (with ecstasy) like this and drowned (in God) and intoxicated with the Beloved.
آن یکی را روی او شد سوی دوست ** و آن یکی را روی او خود روی دوست
The face of the one is set towards the Beloved, (while) the face of the other is just his own face (he is facing himself).
روی هر یک مینگر میدار پاس ** بو که گردی تو ز خدمت رو شناس315
Look long on the face of every one, keep watch attentively: it may be that by doing service (to Súfís) you will come to know the face (of the true saint).
چون بسی ابلیس آدم روی هست ** پس به هر دستی نشاید داد دست
Since there is many a devil who hath the face of Adam, it is not well to give your hand to every hand,
ز انکه صیاد آورد بانگ صفیر ** تا فریبد مرغ را آن مرغ گیر
Because the fowler produces a whistling sound in order to decoy the bird,
بشنود آن مرغ بانگ جنس خویش ** از هوا آید بیابد دام و نیش
(So that) the bird may hear the note of its congener and come down from the air and find trap and knife-point.
حرف درویشان بدزدد مرد دون ** تا بخواند بر سلیمی ز ان فسون
The vile man will steal the language of dervishes, that he may thereby chant a spell over (fascinate and deceive) one who is simple.
کار مردان روشنی و گرمی است ** کار دونان حیله و بیشرمی است320
The work of (holy) men is (as) light and heat; the work of vile men is trickery and shamelessness.
شیر پشمین از برای کد کنند ** بو مسیلم را لقب احمد کنند
They make a woollen lion for the purpose of begging; they give the title of Ahmad (Mohammed) to Bú Musaylim;
بو مسیلم را لقب کذاب ماند ** مر محمد را اولو الالباب ماند
(But) to Bú Musaylim remained the title of Kadhdháb (Liar), to Mohammed remained (the title of) Ulu ’l-albáb (Endowed with understanding).
آن شراب حق ختامش مشک ناب ** باده را ختمش بود گند و عذاب
The wine of God, its seal (last result) is pure musk, (but) as for (the other) wine, its seal is stench and torment
داستان آن پادشاه جهود که نصرانیان را میکشت از بهر تعصب
Story of the Jewish king who for bigotry's sake used to slay the Christians.
بود شاهی در جهودان ظلم ساز ** دشمن عیسی و نصرانی گداز
Amongst the Jews there was a king who wrought oppression, an enemy of Jesus and a destroyer of Christians.
عهد عیسی بود و نوبت آن او ** جان موسی او و موسی جان او325
’Twas the epoch of Jesus and the turn was his: he was the soul of Moses, and Moses the soul of him;
شاه احول کرد در راه خدا ** آن دو دمساز خدایی را جدا
(But) the squint-eyed (double-seeing) king separated in the way of God those two Divine (prophets) who were (really) in accord (with each other).
گفت استاد احولی را کاندر آ ** رو برون آر از وثاق آن شیشه را
The master said to a squint-eyed (pupil), “Come on; go, fetch that bottle out of the room.”
گفت احول ز ان دو شیشه من کدام ** پیش تو آرم بکن شرح تمام
Said the squint-eyed one: “Which of the two bottles shall I bring to you? Explain fully.”
گفت استاد آن دو شیشه نیست رو ** احولی بگذار و افزون بین مشو
“There are not two bottles,” replied the master; “go, leave off squinting and do not be seeing more (than one).”
گفت ای استا مرا طعنه مزن ** گفت استا ز ان دو یک را در شکن330
“O master,” said he, “don't chide me.” Said the master, “Smash one of those two.”
شیشه یک بود و به چشمش دو نمود ** چون شکست او شیشه را دیگر نبود
The bottle was one, though in his eyes it seemed two; when he broke the bottle, there was no other.
چون یکی بشکست هر دو شد ز چشم ** مردم احول گردد از میلان و خشم
When one was broken, both vanished from sight: a man is made squint-eyed by (evil) propensity and anger.
خشم و شهوت مرد را احول کند ** ز استقامت روح را مبدل کند
Anger and lust make a man squint-eyed, they change the spirit (so that it departs) from rectitude.
چون غرض آمد هنر پوشیده شد ** صد حجاب از دل به سوی دیده شد
When self-interest appears, virtue becomes hidden: a hundred veils rise from the heart to the eye.
چون دهد قاضی به دل رشوت قرار ** کی شناسد ظالم از مظلوم زار335
When the cadi lets bribery gain hold of his heart, how should he know the wronger from the wretched victim of wrong?
شاه از حقد جهودانه چنان ** گشت احول کالامان یا رب امان
The king, from Jewish rancour, became so squint-eyed that (we cry), “Mercy, O Lord, mercy (save us from such an affliction)!”
صد هزاران مومن مظلوم کشت ** که پناهم دین موسی را و پشت
He slew hundreds of thousands of wronged (innocent) believers, saying, “I am the protection and support of the religion of Moses.”
آموختن وزیر مکر پادشاه را
How the vizier instructed the king to plot.
او وزیری داشت گبر و عشوهده ** کاو بر آب از مکر بر بستی گره
He had a vizier, a miscreant and ogler (deceiver), who by reason of (his exceeding) guile would tie knots on water.
گفت ترسایان پناه جان کنند ** دین خود را از ملک پنهان کنند
“The Christians,” said he, “seek to save their lives; they hide their religion from the king.
کم کش ایشان را که کشتن سود نیست ** دین ندارد بوی، مشک و عود نیست340
Slay them not, for slaying (them) is useless: religion hath no smell, it is not musk and aloes-wood.
سر پنهان است اندر صد غلاف ** ظاهرش با تست و باطن بر خلاف
The secret is concealed in a hundred coverings: its outward form is (in agreement) with thee, (but) the inward (reality) is (in) disagreement.”
شاه گفتش پس بگو تدبیر چیست ** چارهی آن مکر و ان تزویر چیست
The king said to him: “Tell (me), then, what is the (best) plan? What is the remedy against that deceit and imposture?—
تا نماند در جهان نصرانیی ** نی هویدا دین و نی پنهانیی
So that there may not remain a single Christian in the world, neither one whose religion is manifest nor one who is concealed.”
گفت ای شه گوش و دستم را ببر ** بینیام بشکاف و لب در حکم مر
“O king,” said he, “cut off my ears and hands, rip my nose and lips by bitter (cruel) decree;
بعد از آن در زیر دار آور مرا ** تا بخواهد یک شفاعتگر مرا345
Then bring me under the gallows, that an intercessor may plead for me.
بر منادی گاه کن این کار تو ** بر سر راهی که باشد چار سو
Do this deed in the place for (public) proclamation, on a highway where roads run in four directions.
آن گهم از خود بران تا شهر دور ** تا در اندازم در ایشان شر و شور
Then banish me from thy presence to a distant land, that I may cast mischief and confusion amongst them.
تلبیس وزیر با نصارا
How the vizier brought the Christians into doubt and perplexity.
پس بگویم من به سر نصرانیام ** ای خدای راز دان میدانیام
Then I will say (to them), ‘I am secretly a Christian. O God who knowest (all) things hidden, Thou knowest me.
شاه واقف گشت از ایمان من ** وز تعصب کرد قصد جان من
The king was informed of my (Christian) faith and from bigotry sought to take my life.
خواستم تا دین ز شه پنهان کنم ** آن که دین اوست ظاهر آن کنم350
I wished to hide my religion from the king and profess his religion,
شاه بویی برد از اسرار من ** متهم شد پیش شه گفتار من
(But) the king got a scent of my inmost beliefs, and my words were suspected (when I stood) before the king.
گفت گفت تو چو در نان سوزن است ** از دل من تا دل تو روزن است
He said, “Your words are like a needle in bread (specious but pernicious); there is a window between my heart and yours.