ای بلیس خلق سوز فتنه جو ** بر چیام بیدار کردی راست گو
O Iblís, you that consume the people and seek to tempt them (to their ruin), on what ground did you awaken me? Tell the truth!”
باز تقریر ابلیس تلبیس خود را
How Iblís once more exhibited his deceit.
گفت هر مردی که باشد بد گمان ** نشنود او راست را با صد نشان
He said, “No man that thinks evil (is suspicious) would hearken to the truth notwithstanding a hundred signs (that pointed it out).
هر درونی که خیالاندیش شد ** چون دلیل آری خیالش بیش شد2715
Every mind that has conceived fancies (suspicions)—when you bring forward proof, its fancy is increased.
چون سخن دروی رود علت شود ** تیغ غازی دزد را آلت شود
When (sound and true) words enter it, they become a disease (they are corrupted and falsified): the holy warrior's sword becomes a tool for the thief.
پس جواب او سکوت است و سکون ** هست با ابله سخن گفتن جنون
Therefore the answer to him is silence and rest: to talk with a fool is madness.
تو ز من با حق چه نالی ای سلیم ** تو بنال از شر آن نفس لئیم
Why do you complain to God of me, O simpleton? Complain of the wickedness of that vile fleshly soul.
تو خوری حلوا تو را دنبل شود ** تب بگیرد طبع تو مختل شود
You eat halwá (sweetmeat), (then) boils break out in you, fever lays hold of you, your health is disordered.
بیگنه لعنت کنی ابلیس را ** چون نبینی از خود آن تلبیس را2720
You curse Iblís, guiltless (though he is). How do you not see (that) that deception (proceeds) from yourself?
نیست از ابلیس از تست ای غوی ** که چو روبه سوی دنبه میدوی
It is not (the fault) of Iblís, it is (the fault) of yourself, O misguided one, that you are going like a fox towards the sheep's fat tail.
چون که در سبزه ببینی دنبه را ** دام باشد این ندانی تو چرا
When you see the fat tails in the green field, ’tis a snare. Why are you ignorant of this?
ز آن ندانی کت ز دانش دور کرد ** میل دنبه چشم و عقلت کور کرد
You are ignorant because desire for the fat tail has made you far from knowledge and has blinded your (spiritual) eye and intelligence.
حبک الأشیاء یعمیک یصم ** نفسک السودا جنت لا تختصم
Your love of (sensual) things makes you blind and deaf; your black fleshly soul is the culprit: do not quarrel (with others).
تو گنه بر من منه کژ مژ مبین ** من ز بد بیزارم و از حرص و کین2725
Do not put the guilt on me, do not see upside down. I am averse to evil and greed and enmity.
من بدی کردم پشیمانم هنوز ** انتظارم تا شبم آید به روز
I did an evil deed and am still repenting: I am waiting that my night may turn to day.
متهم گشتم میان خلق من ** فعل خود بر من نهد هر مرد و زن
I have become suspect amongst mankind: every man and woman lay their (evil) actions on me (at my door).
گرگ بیچاره اگر چه گرسنه است ** متهم باشد که او در طنطنه است
The helpless wolf, though he is hungry, is suspected of being in luxury.
از ضعیفی چون نتاند راه رفت ** خلق گوید تخمه است از لوت زفت
When, because of feebleness, he cannot go his way, people say it is indigestion (arising) from gross (rich and heavy) food.”
باز الحاح کردن معاویه ابلیس را
How Mu‘áwiya once more pressed Iblís hard.
گفت غیر راستی نرهاندت ** داد سوی راستی میخواندت2730
He said, “Nothing but the truth will save you: justice is calling you to (speak) the truth.
راست گو تا وارهی از چنگ من ** مکر ننشاند غبار جنگ من
Tell the truth, so that you may be delivered from my hand: cunning will not lay the dust of my war (will not induce me to leave you in peace).”
گفت چون دانی دروغ و راست را ** ای خیالاندیش پر اندیشهها
He (Iblís) said, “How do you know (the difference between) falsehood and truth, O thinker of vain fancies, (you that are) filled with (idle) thoughts (about me)?”
گفت پیغمبر نشانی داده است ** قلب و نیکو را محک بنهاده است
He answered, “The Prophet has given an indication: he has laid down the touchstone (criterion) for (distinguishing) the base coin and the good.
گفته است الکذب ریب فی القلوب ** گفت الصدق طمانین طروب
He has said, ‘Falsehood is (the cause of) disquiet in (men's) hearts’; he has said, ‘Truth is (the cause of) a joyous tranquillity.’
دل نیارامد ز گفتار دروغ ** آب و روغن هیچ نفروزد فروغ2735
The (troubled) heart is not comforted by lying words: water and oil kindle no light.
در حدیث راست آرام دل است ** راستیها دانهی دام دل است
(Only) in truthful speech is there comfort for the heart: truths are the bait that entraps the heart.
دل مگر رنجور باشد بد دهان ** که نداند چاشنی این و آن
Sick, surely, and ill-savoured is the heart that knows not (cannot distinguish) the taste of this and that.
چون شود از رنج و علت دل سلیم ** طعم کذب و راست را باشد علیم
When the heart becomes whole (is healed) of pain and disease, it will recognize the flavour of falsehood and truth.
حرص آدم چون سوی گندم فزود ** از دل آدم سلیمی را ربود
When Adam's greed for the wheat waxed great, it robbed Adam's heart of health.
پس دروغ و عشوهات را گوش کرد ** غره گشت و زهر قاتل نوش کرد2740
Then he gave ear to your lies and enticements: he was befooled and drank the killing poison.
کژدم از گندم ندانست آن نفس ** میپرد تمییز از مست هوس
At that moment he knew not scorpion (kazhdum) from wheat (gandum): discernment flies from one that is drunken with vain desire.
خلق مست آرزویند و هوا ** ز آن پذیرایند دستان ترا
The people are drunken with cupidity and desire: hence they are accepting your cheatery.
هر که خود را از هوا خود باز کرد ** چشم خود را آشنای راز کرد
Whoever has rid his nature of vain desire has (thereby) made his (spiritual) eye familiar with the secret.
شکایت قاضی از آفت قضا و جواب گفتن نایب او را
How a cadi complained of the calamity of (holding) the office of cadi, and how his deputy answered him.
They installed a cadi, (and meanwhile) he wept. The deputy said, ‘O cadi, what are you weeping for?
این نه وقت گریه و فریاد تست ** وقت شادی و مبارک باد تست2745
This is not the time for you to weep and lament: it is the time for you to rejoice and receive felicitations.’
گفت اه چون حکم راند بیدلی ** در میان آن دو عالم جاهلی
‘Ah,’ said he, ‘how shall a man without insight pronounce judgement—an ignorant man (decide) between two who know?
آن دو خصم از واقعهی خود واقفند ** قاضی مسکین چه داند ز آن دو بند
Those two adversaries are acquainted with their own case: what should the poor cadi know of those two tangles?
جاهل است و غافل است از حالشان ** چون رود در خونشان و مالشان
He is ignorant and unaware of their (real) state: how should he proceed (to give judgment) concerning their lives and property?’
گفت خصمان عالمند و علتی ** جاهلی تو لیک شمع ملتی
He (the deputy) said, ‘The litigants know (the truth of their case) and (nevertheless) are unsound (prejudiced); you are ignorant (of the facts), but you are the luminary of the whole body (of Moslems),
ز انکه تو علت نداری در میان ** آن فراغت هست نور دیدهگان2750
Because you have no prejudice to interfere (with your discernment), and that freedom (from prejudice) is light to the eyes;
و آن دو عالم را غرضشان کور کرد ** علمشان را علت اندر گور کرد
While those two who know are blinded by their self-interest: prejudice has put their knowledge into the grave.
جهل را بیعلتی عالم کند ** علم را علت کژ و ظالم کند
Unprejudicedness makes ignorance wise; prejudice makes knowledge perverse and iniquitous.
تا تو رشوت نستدی بینندهای ** چون طمع کردی ضریر و بندهای
So long as you accept no bribe, you are seeing; when you act covetously, you are blind and enslaved.’
از هوا من خوی را واکردهام ** لقمههای شهوتی کم خوردهام
I have turned my nature away from vain desire: I have not eaten delicious morsels.
چاشنی گیر دلم شد با فروغ ** راست را داند حقیقت از دروغ2755
My heart, which tastes (and distinguishes), has become bright (like a clear mirror): it really knows truth from falsehood.
به اقرار آوردن معاویه ابلیس را
How Mu‘áwiya—may God be well-pleased with him!— induced Iblís to confess.
تو چرا بیدار کردی مر مرا ** دشمن بیداریی تو ای دغا
Why did you awaken me? You are the enemy of wakefulness, O trickster.
همچو خشخاشی همه خواب آوری ** همچو خمری عقل و دانش را بری
You are like poppy-seeds: you put every one to sleep. You are like wine: you take away understanding and knowledge.
چار میخت کردهام هین راست گو ** راست را دانم تو حیلتها مجو
I have impaled you. Come, tell the truth, I know what is true: do not seek evasions.
من ز هر کس آن طمع دارم که او ** صاحب آن باشد اندر طبع و خو
I expect from every person (only) that of which by nature and disposition he is the owner.
من ز سرکه مینجویم شکری ** مر مخنث را نگیرم لشکری2760
I do not look for any sugar from vinegar; I do not take the catamite for a soldier.
همچو گبران من نجویم از بتی ** کاو بود حق یا خود از حق آیتی
I do not, like (idolatrous) infidels, seek (expect) from an idol that it should be God or even a sign from God.
من ز سرگین مینجویم بوی مشک ** من در آب جو نجویم خشت خشک
I do not seek the smell of musk from dung; I do not seek dry bricks in river water.