گفت از پیری است ای شیخ قدیم ** گفت پشتم درد میآید عظیم3090
“It is from age, O ancient Shaykh,” said the doctor. “Awful pain comes in my back,” said he.
گفت از پیری است ای شیخ نزار ** گفت هر چه میخورم نبود گوار
“It is from age, O emaciated Shaykh” said the doctor. “Whatever I eat,” said he, “is not digested.”
گفت ضعف معده هم از پیری است ** گفت وقت دم مرا دم گیری است
The doctor replied, “Weakness of stomach also is (the result) of age.” Said he, “When I breathe, respiration is hard for me.”
گفت آری انقطاع دم بود ** چون رسد پیری دو صد علت شود
“Yes,” he said, “it is asthma*; when old age arrives, two hundred diseases come on.”
گفت ای احمق بر این بر دوختی ** از طبیبی تو همین آموختی
“O fool,” he exclaimed, “you have stuck at this: this is all that you have learned of medicine.
ای مدمغ عقلت این دانش نداد ** که خدا هر رنج را درمان نهاد3095
O crack-brained man, your intellect has not given you this knowledge, that God hath appointed a remedy for every pain.
تو خر احمق ز اندک مایگی ** بر زمین ماندی ز کوتهپایگی
You, stupid ass, from poorness of ability have remained (fallen) on the ground for want of a sufficient foothold.”
پس طبیبش گفت ای عمر تو شصت ** این غضب وین خشم هم از پیری است
Then the doctor said to him, “O sexagenarian, this anger and this choler are also from old age.
چون همه اوصاف و اجزا شد نحیف ** خویشتنداری و صبرت شد ضعیف
Since all the functions and parts (of your body) are atrophied, your self-control and patience have become weak.”
بر نتابد دو سخن زو هی کند ** تاب یک جرعه ندارد قی کند
He (an old man) cannot endure two words, he cries out thereat; he cannot retain one draught, he vomits (it)—
جز مگر پیری که از حق است مست ** در درون او حیات طیبه است3100
Except, to be sure, the Ancient (Pír) that is drunken with God, and in whose inward being there is “a goodly life.”
از برون پیر است و در باطن صبی ** خود چه چیز است آن ولی و آن نبی
Outwardly he is old, but within he is young. What thing, verily, is he? He is the saint and the prophet.
گر نه پیدایند پیش نیک و بد ** چیست با ایشان خسان را این حسد
If they are not manifest to the good and the evil (alike), what is this envy which the worthless bear against them?
ور نمیدانندشان علم الیقین ** چیست این بغض و حیل سازی و کین
And if they do not know them with certain knowledge, what is this hatred and hatching of plots and enmity?
ور نمیدانند بعث و رستخیز ** چون زنندی خویش بر شمشیر تیز
And (again), if they know the retribution (which shall take place) at the Resurrection and rising from the dead, how should they dash themselves against a sharp sword?
بر تو میخندد مبین او را چنان ** صد قیامت در درون استش نهان3105
He (the prophet or saint) smiles upon you, (but) do not deem him to be such (as he appears): in his inward consciousness are hidden a hundred Resurrections.
دوزخ و جنت همه اجزای اوست ** هر چه اندیشی تو او بالای اوست
Hell and Paradise are entirely parts of him: he is beyond any thought that you may conceive (of him).
هر چه اندیشی پذیرای فناست ** آن که در اندیشه ناید آن خداست
All that you may think of is liable to pass away; he that comes not into thought is God.
بر در این خانه گستاخی ز چیست ** گر همیدانند کاندر خانه کیست
Wherefore (then do they behave with) presumption at the door of this house, if they know who is within the house?
ابلهان تعظیم مسجد میکنند ** در جفای اهل دل جد میکنند
Fools venerate the mosque and exert themselves in maltreating them that have the heart (in which God dwells).
آن مجاز است این حقیقت ای خران ** نیست مسجد جز درون سروران3110
That (mosque) is phenomenal, this (heart) is real, O asses! The (true) mosque is naught but the hearts of the (spiritual) captains.
مسجدی کان اندرون اولیاست ** سجدهگاه جمله است آن جا خداست
The mosque that is the inward (consciousness) of the saints is the place of worship for all: God is there.
تا دل مرد خدا نامد به درد ** هیچ قومی را خدا رسوا نکرد
Until the heart of the man of God was grieved, never did God put any generation to shame.
قصد جنگ انبیا میداشتند ** جسم دیدند آدمی پنداشتند
They were going to make war on the prophets: they saw the body (of the prophet), they supposed he was a man.
در تو هست اخلاق آن پیشینیان ** چون نمیترسی که تو باشی همان
In thee are the moral natures of those peoples of yore: how art not thou afraid lest thou be the same (as they)?
آن نشانیها همه چون در تو هست ** چون تو زیشانی کجا خواهی برست3115
Forasmuch as all those marks are in thee, and thou art (one) of them, how wilt thou be saved?
قصهی جوحی و آن کودک که پیش جنازهی پدر خویش نوحه میکرد
The story of Júhí and the child who cried lamentably beside his father's bier.
کودکی در پیش تابوت پدر ** زار مینالید و بر میکوفت سر
A child was crying bitterly and beating his head beside his father's coffin,
کای پدر آخر کجایت میبرند ** تا ترا در زیر خاکی بسپرند
Saying, “Why, father, where are they taking you to put you under some earth?
میبرندت خانهی تنگ و زحیر ** نی در او قالی و نه در وی حصیر
They are taking you to a narrow and noisome house: there is no carpet in it, nor any mat;
نی چراغی در شب و نه روز نان ** نی در او بوی طعام و نه نشان
No lamp at night and no bread by day; neither smell nor sign of food is there.
نی درش معمور و نی در بام راه ** نی یکی همسایه کاو باشد پناه3120
No door in good repair, no way to the roof; not one neighbour to be (your) refuge.
چشم تو که بوسه گاه خلق بود ** چون رود در خانهی کور و کبود
Your eye, which was a place for the people's kisses—how should it go into a blind and murky house?—
خانهی بیزینهار و جای تنگ ** که در او نه روی میماند نه رنگ
A pitiless house and narrow room, where neither (your) face will be lasting nor (your) colour.”
زین نسق اوصاف خانه میشمرد ** وز دو دیده اشک خونین میفشرد
In this manner was he enumerating the qualities of the house, whilst he wrung tears of blood from his two eyes.
گفت جوحی را پدر ای ارجمند ** و الله این را خانهی ما میبرند
Júhí said to his father, “O worthy (sir), by God they are taking this (corpse) to our house.”
گفت جوحی را پدر ابله مشو ** گفت ای بابا نشانیها شنو3125
The father said to Júhí, “Don't be a fool!” “O papa,” said he, “hear the marks (of identity).
این نشانیها که گفت او یک به یک ** خانهی ما راست بیتردید و شک
These marks which he mentioned one by one—our house has them (all), without uncertainty or doubt.
نی حصیر و نه چراغ و نه طعام ** نه درش معمور و نه صحن و نه بام
(It has) neither mat nor lamp nor food; neither its door is in good repair, nor its court nor its roof.”
زین نمط دارند بر خود صد نشان ** لیک کی بینند آن را طاغیان
In this wise the disobedient have a hundred marks upon themselves, but how should they see them?
خانهی آن دل که ماند بیضیا ** از شعاع آفتاب کبریا
The house, namely, the heart that remains unlighted by the beams of the sun of (Divine) Majesty,
تنگ و تاریک است چون جان جهود ** بینوا از ذوق سلطان ودود3130
Is narrow and dark as the souls of Jews, (being) destitute of (spiritual) savour of the loving King.
نی در آن دل تافت نور آفتاب ** نی گشاد عرصه و نه فتح باب
Neither has the light of the Sun shone into that heart, nor is there (in it any) spaciousness or opening of the door.
گور خوشتر از چنین دل مر ترا ** آخر از گور دل خود برتر آ
The tomb is better for thee than a heart like this. Come now, arise from the tomb which is thy heart!
زندهای و زنده زاد ای شوخ و شنگ ** دم نمیگیرد ترا زین گور تنگ
Thou art living and born of the living. O gay and winsome one, art not thou choked by this narrow tomb?
یوسف وقتی و خورشید سما ** زین چه و زندان بر آ و رو نما
Thou art the Joseph of the time and the sun of heaven: arise from this pit and prison, and show thy face!
یونست در بطن ماهی پخته شد ** مخلصش را نیست از تسبیح بد3135
Thy Jonah has been cooked in the fish's belly: for his deliverance there is no means but glorification of God.
گر نبودی او مسیح بطن نون ** حبس و زندانش بدی تا یبعثون
If he had not glorified (God), the fish's belly would have been his gaol and prison until they shall be raised (from the dead).
او به تسبیح از تن ماهی بجست ** چیست تسبیح آیت روز أ لست
Through glorification he escaped from the body of the fish. What is glorification? The sign (and token) of the Day of Alast.
گر فراموشت شد آن تسبیح جان ** بشنو این تسبیحهای ماهیان
If thou hast forgotten that glorification (rendered to God) by thy spirit, hearken to the glorifications of (uttered by) those Fishes (the prophets and saints).
هر که دید الله را اللهی است ** هر که دید آن بحر را آن ماهی است
Whosoever hath seen God is of God: whosoever hath seen that Sea is that Fish.