خرس چون فریاد کرد از اژدها ** شیر مردی کرد از جنگش جدا1970
When the bear cried out for help against the dragon, a valiant man removed it from the (dragon's) claws.
حیلت و مردی بهم دادند پشت ** اژدها را او بدین قوت بکشت
Cunning and courage gave support to each other: by this strength he slew the dragon.
اژدها را هست قوت حیله نیست ** نیز فوق حیلهی تو حیلهای است
The dragon has strength, (but) it has not cunning; again, there is a cunning above your cunning.
حیلهی خود را چو دیدی باز رو ** کز کجا آمد سوی آغاز رو
When you have regarded your own cunning, go back (and see) whence it came: go to the origin.
هر چه در پستی است آمد از علا ** چشم را سوی بلندی نه هلا
Whatever is below has come from above: come on, turn your eye towards the height.
روشنی بخشد نظر اندر علی ** گر چه اول خیرگی آرد بلی1975
Looking aloft gives light, though at first it produces dazzlement; yes, it does.
چشم را در روشنایی خوی کن ** گر نه خفاشی نظر آن سوی کن
Accustom your eye to the light; if you are not a bat, look in that direction.
عاقبت بینی نشان نور تست ** شهوت حالی حقیقت گور تست
Vision of the end is the sign of your (having the) light; the lust of the moment is in truth your (dark) grave.
عاقبت بینی که صد بازی بدید ** مثل آن نبود که یک بازی شنید
The man with vision of the end, who has seen a hundred artifices, is not like him that has (only) heard of one artifice,
ز آن یکی بازی چنان مغرور شد ** کز تکبر ز اوستادان دور شد
(And who) has been so befooled by that one artifice that in his pride he has become alienated from the masters.
سامریوار آن هنر در خود چو دید ** او ز موسی از تکبر سر کشید1980
Like Sámirí, when he has seen in himself that (little) skill, through pride he has rebelled against (a) Moses.
او ز موسی آن هنر آموخته ** وز معلم چشم را بر دوخته
He has learned that skill from (a) Moses and (then) closed his eyes to his teacher.
لاجرم موسی دگر بازی نمود ** تا که آن بازی و جانش را ربود
Moses, of course, exhibited another artifice, so that it swept away (both) that artifice (of Sámirí) and his life.
ای بسا دانش که اندر سر دود ** تا شود سرور بدان خود سر رود
Oh, many is the knowledge (talent) that runs in the head (and urges) that he (the owner) should become eminent—in truth, through that (knowledge) his head goes (he loses his life).
سر نخواهی که رود تو پای باش ** در پناه قطب صاحب رای باش
If you wish not your head to be lost, be (lowly as) a foot: be under the protection of the Qutb who is possessed of discernment.
گر چه شاهی خویش فوق او مبین ** گر چه شهدی جز نبات او مچین1985
Though you be a king, deem not yourself above him: though you be honey, gather naught but his sugar-cane.
فکر تو نقش است و فکر اوست جان ** نقد تو قلب است و نقد اوست کان
Your thought is the outward form, and his thought is the soul: your coin is false, and his coin is (pure as) the mine.
او تویی خود را بجو در اوی او ** کو و کو گو فاخته شو سوی او
You are (really) he: seek yourself in his “he” (personality). Say coo, coo: become a dove (flying) towards him.
And if you are unwilling to serve the (holy) men of (human) kind, you are in the dragon's mouth, like the bear.
بو که استادی رهاند مر ترا ** و ز خطر بیرون کشاند مر ترا
It may be that a Master will deliver you and pull you out of danger.
زاریی میکن چو زورت نیست هین ** چون که کوری سر مکش از راه بین1990
As you have no strength, keep making a lamentation; since you are blind, take care, do not turn your head away from him that sees the road.
تو کم از خرسی نمینالی ز درد ** خرس رست از درد چون فریاد کرد
You are less (worse) than the bear, (for) you are not wailing at the pain. The bear was freed from pain when it made an outcry.
ای خدا این سنگ دل را موم کن ** نالهی ما را خوش و مرحوم کن
O God, make this stony heart (soft as) wax; make our wailing sweet (to Thee) and an object of (Thy) mercy!
گفتن نابینای سائل که دو کوری دارم
How a sightless beggar said, “I have two blindnesses.”
بود کوری کاو همیگفت الامان ** من دو کوری دارم ای اهل زمان
There was a blind man who used to say, “Pity! I have two blindnesses, O people of the time.
پس دو باره رحمتم آرید هان ** چون دو کوری دارم و من در میان
Therefore, hark ye, show unto me twice as much compassion, since I have two blindnesses, and I (live) between (them.)”
گفت یک کوریت میبینیم ما ** آن دگر کوری چه باشد وانما1995
(Somebody) said, “We see one blindness of yours: what may the other blindness be? Explain.”
گفت زشت آوازم و ناخوش نوا ** زشت آوازی و کوری شد دوتا
He answered, “I have an ugly voice and unpleasing tones: ugliness of voice and blindness are double (blindness).
بانگ زشتم مایهی غم میشود ** مهر خلق از بانگ من کم میشود
My ugly cry becomes the source of annoyance: the people's love is lessened by my cry.
زشت آوازم به هر جا که رود ** مایهی خشم و غم و کین میشود
Whithersoever my ugly voice goes, it becomes the source of anger and annoyance and hatred.
بر دو کوری رحم را دوتا کنید ** این چنین ناگنج را گنجا کنید
Double your compassion for (these) two blindnesses: make room (in your hearts) for one who gets so little room.”
زشتی آواز کم شد زین گله ** خلق شد بر وی به رحمت یک دله2000
The ugliness of (his) voice was diminished by this plaint: the people became of one mind in (showing) compassion for him.
کرد نیکو چون بگفت او راز را ** لطف آواز دلش آواز را
When he had told the secret (and explained his meaning), his voice was made beautiful by the graciousness of the voice of his heart;
و انکه آواز دلش هم بد بود ** آن سه کوری دوری سرمد بود
But that one whose heart's voice also is bad—(for him) those three blindnesses are banishment everlasting (from the favour of God);
لیک وهابان که بیعلت دهند ** بو که دستی بر سر زشتش نهند
Yet it may be that the bounteous (saints), who give without cause, will lay a hand (of blessing) upon his ugly head.
چون که آوازش خوش و مظلوم شد ** زو دل سنگین دلان چون موم شد
Since his (the blind beggar's) voice became sweet and pitiable, the hearts of the stony-hearted were made (soft) as wax thereby.
نالهی کافر چو زشت است و شهیق ** ز آن نمیگردد اجابت را رفیق2005
Inasmuch as the infidel's lament is ugly and (like) braying, for that (reason) it meets with no (favourable) response.
اخسؤا بر زشت آواز آمده ست ** کاو ز خون خلق چون سگ بود مست
“Be silent” has come down (has been revealed in the Qur’án) against the ugly-voiced (infidel), for he was drunken with the people's blood, like a dog.
چون که نالهی خرس رحمت کش بود ** نالهات نبود چنین ناخوش بود
Inasmuch as the lament of the bear attracts compassion, (while) your lament is not like this, (but) is unpleasing,
دان که با یوسف تو گرگی کردهای ** یا ز خون بیگناهی خوردهای
Know that you have behaved with wolfishness to (a) Joseph, or have drunk of the blood of an innocent.
توبه کن و ز خورده استفراغ کن ** ور جراحت کهنه شد رو داغ کن
Repent, and empty yourself of what you have drunk; and if your wound is old (and unhealed), go, cauterise (it).
تتمهی حکایت خرس و آن ابله که بر وفای او اعتماد کرده بود
Continuation of the story of the bear and of the fool who had put trust in its good faith.
خرس هم از اژدها چون وارهید ** و آن کرم ز آن مرد مردانه بدید2010
The bear, too, when it was delivered from the dragon and received such kindness from that brave man—
چون سگ اصحاب کهف آن خرس زار ** شد ملازم در پی آن بردبار
Like the dog of the Men of the Cave, that poor bear became an attendant at the heels of him that bore the burden (of the fight with the dragon).
آن مسلمان سر نهاد از خستگی ** خرس حارس گشت از دل بستگی
That Moslem, from fatigue, laid down his head (to rest); the bear, from devotion (to him), became (his) guard.
آن یکی بگذشت و گفتش حال چیست ** ای برادر مر ترا این خرس کیست
A certain man passed by and said to him, “What has happened? O brother, who is this bear (in relation) to you?”
قصه واگفت و حدیث اژدها ** گفت بر خرسی منه دل ابلها
He recounted the adventure, and the story of the dragon. The other said, “Do not set your heart on a bear, O fool!
دوستی ابله بتر از دشمنی است ** او بهر حیله که دانی راندنی است2015
The friendship of a fool is worse than (his) enmity: it (the bear) ought to be driven away by every means you know.”
گفت و الله از حسودی گفت این ** ور نه خرسی چه نگری این مهر بین
He (the man with the bear) said (to himself), “By God, he has said this from envy; otherwise,” (he said aloud), “why do you look at the bearishness (of the bear)? Behold this affection (which it has for me)!”
گفت مهر ابلهان عشوهده است ** این حسودی من از مهرش به است
“The affection of fools,” said the other, “is beguiling; this envy of mine is better than its (the bear's) affection.
هی بیا با من بران این خرس را ** خرس را مگزین مهل هم جنس را
Hey, come with me and drive away this bear: do not choose the bear (as your friend), do not forsake one of your own kind!”
گفت رو رو کار خود کن ای حسود ** گفت کارم این بد و رزقت نبود
“Go, go,” said he, “mind your own business, O envious man!” Said the other, “This was my business, and it was not your fortune (to follow my advice).