زو بر آمد خوردهها زشت و نکو ** مار با آن خورده بیرون جست از او
All the things he had eaten, bad or good, came up from him: the snake shot forth from him along with what he had eaten.
چون بدید از خود برون آن مار را ** سجده آورد آن نکو کردار را
When he saw the snake outside of him, he fell on his knees before that beneficent man.
سهم آن مار سیاه زشت زفت ** چون بدید آن دردها از وی برفت1895
As soon as he saw the horror of that black, ugly, big snake, those griefs departed from him.
گفت خود تو جبرییل رحمتی ** یا خدایی که ولی نعمتی
“Truly,” said he, “you are the Gabriel of (Divine) mercy, or you are God, for you are the lord of bounty.
ای مبارک ساعتی که دیدیام ** مرده بودم جان نو بخشیدیام
Oh, blest (is) the hour that you saw me: I was dead, you have given me new life.
تو مرا جویان مثال مادران ** من گریزان از تو مانند خران
You (were) seeking me like mothers (in search of their children); I (was) fleeing from you like asses.
خر گریزد از خداوند از خری ** صاحبش در پی ز نیکو گوهری
The ass flees from his master because of asininity; his owner (runs) after (him) because of good-nature.
نه از پی سود و زیان میجویدش ** لیک تا در گرگش ندرد یا ددش1900
He seeks him, not on account of profit or loss, but in order that a wolf or (other) wild beast may not tear him.
ای خنک آن را که بیند روی تو ** یا در افتد ناگهان در کوی تو
Oh, happy he that espies your face or suddenly lights upon your abode.
ای روان پاک بستوده ترا ** چند گفتم ژاژ و بیهوده ترا
O you whom the pure spirit hath praised, how many foolish and idle words have I spoken to you!
ای خداوند و شهنشاه و امیر ** من نگفتم جهل من گفت آن مگیر
O lord and emperor and amír, I spoke not, my folly spoke: do not punish that (offence).
شمهای زین حال اگر دانستمی ** گفتن بیهوده کی تانستمی
If I had known a tittle of this matter, how could I have spoken foolish words?
بس ثنایت گفتمی ای خوش خصال ** گر مرا یک رمز میگفتی ز حال1905
I should have spoken much praise of you, O man of good qualities, if you had given me a single hint as to the (actual) case;
لیک خامش کرده میآشوفتی ** خامشانه بر سرم میکوفتی
But you, keeping silence, showed perturbation and silently continued to beat me on the head.
شد سرم کالیوه عقل از سر بجست ** خاصه این سر را که مغزش کمتر است
My head became dizzy, the wits flew out of my head— especially as this head has (but) little brain.
عفو کن ای خوب روی خوب کار ** آن چه گفتم از جنون اندر گذار
Pardon, O man of goodly countenance and goodly behaviour: let pass that which I said in frenzy.”
گفت اگر من گفتمی رمزی از آن ** زهرهی تو آب گشتی آن زمان
He answered, “If I had uttered a hint of it, your gall would instantly have turned to water.
گر ترا من گفتمی اوصاف مار ** ترس از جانت بر آوردی دمار1910
Had I told you the qualities of the snake, terror would have made you give up the ghost.”
مصطفی فرمود اگر گویم به راست ** شرح آن دشمن که در جان شماست
Mustafá (Mohammed) said, ‘If I should tell aright the description of the enemy which is in your souls,
زهرههای پر دلان هم بر درد ** نه رود ره نه غم کاری خورد
The gall-bladders even of courageous men would burst: he (such a one) would neither go his way nor care for any work.
نه دلش را تاب ماند در نیاز ** نه تنش را قوت روزه و نماز
Neither would there remain to his heart endurance in supplication, nor to his body strength for fasting and (ritual) prayer.
همچو موشی پیش گربه لا شود ** همچو بره پیش گرگ از جا رود
He would become (good for) nothing as a mouse before a cat; he would be distraught as a lamb before a wolf.
اندر او نه حیله ماند نه روش ** پس کنم ناگفته تان من پرورش1915
No power to plan or move would remain in him: therefore I tend you without speaking.
همچو بو بکر ربابی تن زنم ** دست چون داود در آهن زنم
I am mute, like Bú Bakr-i Rabábí; I handle the iron, like David,
تا محال از دست من حالی شود ** مرغ پر برکنده را بالی شود
So that by my hand the (seemingly) impossible is brought to pass, and wings are restored to the bird whose plumes were torn away.
چون ید الله فوق أیدیهم بود ** دست ما را دست خود فرمود احد
Since there is (the text) the hand of God is above their hands, the One (God) has declared our hand to be His hand.
پس مرا دست دراز آمد یقین ** بر گذشته ز آسمان هفتمین
Therefore mine is surely a long hand that has passed beyond the Seventh Heaven.
دست من بنمود بر گردون هنر ** مقریا بر خوان که انشق القمر1920
My hand showed (its) cunning upon the sky: O teacher of the Qur’án, recite the moon hath been cleft asunder.’
این صفت هم بهر ضعف عقلهاست ** با ضعیفان شرح قدرت کی رواست
This characteristic, moreover, is on account of the weakness of (men's) understandings: how is it possible to explain the (Divine) omnipotence to the weak?
خود بدانی چون بر آری سر ز خواب ** ختم شد و الله أعلم بالصواب
You will surely know when you lift your head from (this sensuous) sleep. ’Tis the end (of my discourse), and God knows best what is right.
مر ترا نه قوت خوردن بدی ** نه ره و پروای قی کردن بدی
“(If I had told you about the snake), you would not have been able to eat, nor would you have been capable of vomiting or cared (to do so).
میشنیدم فحش و خر میراندم ** رب یسر زیر لب میخواندم
I heard (your) abuse and went on with my work; I kept repeating under my lip (breath), ‘O Lord, make (it) easy!’
از سبب گفتن مرا دستور نه ** ترک تو گفتن مرا مقدور نه1925
I had not permission to speak of the cause, and I had not power to abandon you.
هر زمان میگفتم از درد درون ** اهد قومی إنهم لا یعلمون
From the grief in my heart I was saying continually, ‘Guide my people; verily, they know not’.”
سجدهها میکرد آن رسته ز رنج ** کای سعادت ای مرا اقبال و گنج
The man that had been delivered from woe was falling on his knees and saying, “O (thou who art) my bliss, O my fortune and treasure,
از خدا یابی جزاها ای شریف ** قوت شکرت ندارد این ضعیف
Thou wilt get rewards from God, O noble one; this weakling has not the power to thank thee.
شکر حق گوید ترا ای پیشوا ** آن لب و چانه ندارم و آن نوا
God will say thanks to thee, O leader; I have not the lips and the chin and the voice for that.”
دشمنی عاقلان زینسان بود ** زهر ایشان ابتهاج جان بود1930
Of this fashion is the enmity of the wise: their poison is gladness to the soul.
دوستی ابله بود رنج و ضلال ** این حکایت بشنو از بهر مثال
The friendship of the fool is woe and perdition: hear this tale as a parable.
اعتماد کردن بر تملق و وفای خرس
On putting trust in the fawningness and good faith of the bear.
اژدهایی خرس را در میکشید ** شیر مردی رفت و فریادش رسید
A dragon was pulling a bear (into its jaws); a valiant man went and succoured it.
شیر مردانند در عالم مدد ** آن زمان کافغان مظلومان رسد
The valiant (holy) men are a help in the world when the wail of the oppressed reaches (them).
بانگ مظلومان ز هر جا بشنوند ** آن طرف چون رحمت حق میدوند
From every quarter they hear the cry of the oppressed and run in that direction, like the mercy of God.
آن ستونهای خللهای جهان ** آن طبیبان مرضهای نهان1935
Those buttresses for the breaches of the world, those physicians for hidden maladies,
محض مهر و داوری و رحمتند ** همچو حق بیعلت و بیرشوتند
Are pure love and justice and mercy; even as God, they are flawless (incorruptible) and unbribed.
این چه یاری میکنی یک بارگیش ** گوید از بهر غم و بیچارگیش
(If you ask one of them), “Why dost thou give him this aid all at once?” he says, “On account of his grief and helplessness.”
مهربانی شد شکار شیر مرد ** در جهان دارو نجوید غیر درد
Lovingkindness is fallen a prey to the valiant (holy) man, (for) medicine seeks naught in the world but the pain (which it should cure).
هر کجا دردی دوا آن جا رود ** هر کجا پستی است آب آن جا دود
Wherever a pain is, the remedy goes there: wherever a lowland is, the water runs there.
آب رحمت بایدت رو پست شو ** و آن گهان خور خمر رحمت مست شو1940
If thou want the water of mercy, go, become lowly, and then drink the wine of mercy and become drunken.
رحمت اندر رحمت آمد تا به سر ** بر یکی رحمت فرومای ای پسر
Mercy upon mercy comes (and rises like a flood) up to the head; do not thou come down to (and dwell upon) a single mercy, O son!
چرخ را در زیر پا آر ای شجاع ** بشنو از فوق فلک بانگ سماع
Bring the sky under thy feet, O brave one! Hear from above the firmament the noise of the (celestial) music!