گر تو باشی راست ور باشی تو کژ ** پیشتر میغژ بدو واپس مغژ
Whether you be straight (righteous) or crooked, always creep forwards to Him; do not creep backwards.
پیش شاهان گر خطر باشد به جان ** لیک نشکیبد از او با همتان
If in the presence of kings there be danger to life, yet they that aspire cannot refrain from (presence with) Him.
شاه چون شیرینتر از شکر بود ** جان به شیرینی رود خوشتر بود
Since the King is sweeter than sugar, ’tis better that life should go (as a sacrifice) to (that) sweetness.
ای ملامت گر سلامت مر ترا ** ای سلامت جو تویی واهی العری1375
O blamer (of lovers), safety be thine! O seeker of safety, thou art infirm.
جان من کوره ست با آتش خوش است ** کوره را این بس که خانهی آتش است
My soul is a furnace: it is happy with the fire: ’tis enough for the furnace that it is the fire's house.
همچو کوره عشق را سوزیدنی است ** هر که او زین کور باشد کوره نیست
For Love, as (for) the furnace, there is something to be burned: any one that is blind to this is not a furnace.
برگ بیبرگی ترا چون برگ شد ** جان باقی یافتی و مرگ شد
When the provision of unprovidedness has become your provision, you have gained life everlasting, and death is gone.
چون ترا غم شادی افزودن گرفت ** روضهی جانت گل و سوسن گرفت
When the pain (of love) has begun to increase your (spiritual) joy, roses and lilies have taken possession of the garden of your soul.
آن چه خوف دیگران آن امن تست ** بط قوی از بحر و مرغ خانه سست1380
That which is the dread of others is your safety (safeguard): the duck is (made) strong by the river, the domestic fowl weak.
باز دیوانه شدم من ای طبیب ** باز سودایی شدم من ای حبیب
Once more have I become mad, O Physician! Once more have I become frenzied, O Beloved!
حلقههای سلسلهی تو ذو فنون ** هر یکی حلقه دهد دیگر جنون
The rings (links) of Thy chain are multiform: every single ring gives a different madness.
داد هر حلقه فنونی دیگر است ** پس مرا هر دم جنونی دیگر است
The gift of every ring is (consists in) different forms: therefore I have a different madness at every moment.
پس فنون باشد جنون این شد مثل ** خاصه در زنجیر این میر اجل
So “Madness is of different forms”—this has become a proverb; especially (is it true) as regards the chain of this most glorious Prince.
آن چنان دیوانگی بگسست بند ** که همه دیوانگان پندم دهند1385
Such a madness has broken the bonds (of my reason) that all madmen would give me admonition.
آمدن دوستان به بیمارستان جهت پرسش ذو النون مصری
How friends came to the madhouse for Dhu ’l-Nún—may God sanctify his honoured spirit!
این چنین ذو النون مصری را فتاد ** کاندر او شور و جنونی نو بزاد
It so happened to Dhu ’l-Nún the Egyptian that a new agitation and madness was born within him.
شور چندان شد که تا فوق فلک ** میرسید از وی جگرها را نمک
His agitation became so great that salt (bitterness) from it was reaching (all) hearts up to above the sky.
هین منه تو شور خود ای شوره خاک ** پهلوی شور خداوندان پاک
Beware, O (thou of) salty soil, do not put thy agitation beside (in comparison with) the agitation of the holy lords (saints).
خلق را تاب جنون او نبود ** آتش او ریشهاشان میربود
The people could not endure his madness: his fire was carrying off their beards.
چون که در ریش عوام آتش فتاد ** بند کردندش به زندانی نهاد1390
When (that) fire fell on the beards of the vulgar, they bound him and put him in a prison.
نیست امکان واکشیدن این لگام ** گر چه زین ره تنگ میآیند عام
There is no possibility of pulling back this rein, though the vulgar be distressed by this way.
دیده این شاهان ز عامه خوف جان ** کاین گره کورند و شاهان بینشان
These (spiritual) kings have seen (themselves in) danger of their lives from the vulgar; for this multitude are blind, and the kings (are) without (a visible) mark.
چون که حکم اندر کف رندان بود ** لاجرم ذو النون در زندان بود
When authority is in the hands of profligates, (a) Dhu ’l-Nún is inevitably in prison.
یک سواره میرود شاه عظیم ** در کف طفلان چنین در یتیم
The great king rides alone! Such a unique pearl in the hands of children!
در چه دریا نهان در قطرهای ** آفتابی مخفی اندر ذرهای1395
What pearl? (Nay), the Sea hidden in a drop, a Sun concealed in a mote.
آفتابی خویش را ذره نمود ** و اندک اندک روی خود را بر گشود
A Sun showed itself as a mote, and little by little uncovered its face.
جملهی ذرات در وی محو شد ** عالم از وی مست گشت و صحو شد
All motes vanished in it; the (whole) world became intoxicated by it and (then) became sober.
چون قلم در دست غداری بود ** بیگمان منصور بر داری بود
When the pen (of authority) is in the hand of a traitor, unquestionably Mansúr is on a gibbet.
چون سفیهان راست این کار و کیا ** لازم آمد یقتلون الأنبیاء
When this affair (dominion) belongs to the foolish, the necessary consequence is (that) they kill the prophets.
انبیا را گفته قومی راه گم ** از سفه إنا تطیرنا بکم1400
Through folly the people who had lost the (right) way said to the prophets, “Lo, we augur ill from you.”
جهل ترسا بین امان انگیخته ** ز آن خداوندی که گشت آویخته
See the ignorance of the Christian appealing for protection to the Lord who was suspended (on the Cross)!
چون به قول اوست مصلوب جهود ** پس مر او را امن کی تاند نمود
Since, according to his (the Christian's) belief, He was crucified by the Jews, how then can He protect him?
چون دل آن شاه ز ایشان خون بود ** عصمت و أنت فیهم چون بود
Inasmuch as the heart of that King (Jesus) bleeds on account of them (the Christians), how should there be (for them) the inviolable defence of whilst thou art amongst them?
زر خالص را و زرگر را خطر ** باشد از قلاب خاین بیشتر
To the pure gold and to the goldsmith the danger from the false counterfeiter is greater (than from any one else).
یوسفان از رشک زشتان مخفیند ** کز عدو خوبان در آتش میزیند1405
Josephs are concealed on account of the jealousy of the ugly, for because of enemies the beautiful live in the fire (of tribulation).
یوسفان از مکر اخوان در چهاند ** کز حسد یوسف به گرگان میدهند
Josephs are in the pit through the guile of (their) brethren, who from envy give Joseph to the wolves.
از حسد بر یوسف مصری چه رفت ** این حسد اندر کمین گرگی است زفت
What happened to Joseph of Egypt on account of envy? This envy is a big wolf in covert.
لاجرم زین گرگ یعقوب حلیم ** داشت بر یوسف همیشه خوف و بیم
Of necessity, kind Jacob always had fear and dread for Joseph because of this wolf.
گرگ ظاهر گرد یوسف خود نگشت ** این حسد در فعل از گرگان گذشت
The outward (visible) wolf, indeed, did not prowl about (approach) Joseph; (but) this envy has actually surpassed wolves (in malignity).
رحم کرد این گرگ و ز عذر لبق ** آمده که إنا ذهبنا نستبق1410
This (visible) wolf took pity (on Joseph), and by way of specious excuse came (the words), “Lo, we went to compete with one another.”
صد هزاران گرگ را این مکر نیست ** عاقبت رسوا شود این گرگ بیست
Hundreds of thousands of wolves have not this cunning; (but) this wolf will at last be put to shame—stop (and see)!—
ز انکه حشر حاسدان روز گزند ** بیگمان بر صورت گرگان کنند
Because on the Day of Bale the envious will without doubt be (raised from the dead and) brought together (to Judgement) in the shape of wolves.
حشر پر حرص خس مردار خوار ** صورت خوکی بود روز شمار
The resurrection of the greedy vile eater of carrion (unlawful food) will be in the shape of a hog on the Day of Reckoning.
زانیان را گند اندام نهان ** خمر خواران را بود گند دهان
Adulteris (erit) foetor membri latentis; wine-drinkers will have stinking mouths. [Adulturers (will) have stinking private members; wine-drinkers will have stinking mouths.]
گند مخفی کان به دلها میرسید ** گشت اندر حشر محسوس و پدید1415
The hidden stench that was reaching (only) to (people's) hearts will become sensible and manifest at the Resurrection.
بیشهای آمد وجود آدمی ** بر حذر شو زین وجود ار ز آن دمی
The being of Man is a jungle: be on your guard against this being, if you are of that (Divine) Breath.
در وجود ما هزاران گرگ و خوک ** صالح و ناصالح و خوب و خشوک
In our being there are thousands of wolves and hogs; (there is) goodly and ungodly and fair and foul.
حکم آن خور است کان غالبتر است ** چون که زر بیش از مس آید آن زر است
To the disposition that is preponderant belongs the decision (as to what you are): when the gold is more than the copper, it (the mixture) is gold.
سیرتی کان بر وجودت غالب است ** هم بر آن تصویر حشرت واجب است
The manner of acting that preponderates in your nature—in that same form you must needs rise (from the dead).
ساعتی گرگی در آید در بشر ** ساعتی یوسف رخی همچون قمر1420
At one hour a wolf enters into Man, at another hour a moon-like beauty with the face of Joseph.
میرود از سینهها در سینهها ** از ره پنهان صلاح و کینهها
Good and hateful qualities pass from bosoms into bosoms by a hidden way;