A dervish was in a ship: he had made a bolster (for himself) from the goods of saintly fortitude.
یاوه شد همیان زر او خفته بود ** جمله را جستند و او را هم نمود
A purse of gold was lost. He was asleep (at the time). They searched all (in the ship) and brought him also to view
کاین فقیر خفته را جوییم هم ** کرد بیدارش ز غم صاحب درم3480
Saying, “Let us search this sleeping mendicant as well.” (So) the owner of the money, (excited) by grief, awakened him.
که در این کشتی حرمدان گمشدست ** جمله را جستیم نتوانی تو رست
“A bag of valuables,” said he, “has been lost in this ship. We have searched the whole company: you cannot escape (suspicion).
دلق بیرون کن برهنه شو ز دلق ** تا ز تو فارغ شود اوهام خلق
Put off your dervish-cloak, strip yourself of it, in order that the people's suspicions may be cleared away from you.”
گفت یا رب مر غلامت را خسان ** متهم کردند فرمان در رسان
He cried, “O Lord, these vile wretches have made an accusation against Thy slave: bring Thy command to pass!”
چون به درد آمد دل درویش از آن ** سر برون کردند هر سو در زمان
When the heart of the dervish was pained by that (suspicion), at once there put forth their heads on every side
صد هزاران ماهی از دریای ژرف ** در دهان هر یکی دری شگرف3485
From the deep sea myriads of fishes, and in the mouth of each (was) a superb pearl:
صد هزاران ماهی از دریای پر ** در دهان هر یکی در و چه در
Myriads of fishes out of the full sea, each with a pearl in its mouth—and what (marvellous) pearls!—
هر یکی دری خراج ملکتی ** کز اله است این ندارد شرکتی
Every pearl the revenue of a kingdom. “These,” they said (to him), “are from God, they have no association (with any one but God).”
در چند انداخت در کشتی و جست ** مر هوا را ساخت کرسی و نشست
He dropped a quantity of pearls on the ship and sprang (aloft): he made the air his high-seat and sate (thereon),
خوش مربع چون شهان بر تخت خویش ** او فراز اوج و کشتیاش به پیش
(Resting) at ease, cross-legged, as kings upon their thrones— he above the zenith, and the ship before him.
گفت رو کشتی شما را حق مرا ** تا نباشد با شما دزد گدا3490
He said, “Begone! The ship for you, God for me, so that a beggarly thief may not be with you!
تا که را باشد خسارت زین فراق ** من خوشم جفت حق و با خلق طاق
Let us see who will be the loser by this separation! I am pleased, (being) paired (united) with God and singled (isolated) from (His) creatures.
نه مرا او تهمت دزدی نهد ** نه مهارم را به غمازی دهد
He does not accuse me of theft, He does not hand me over to (the mercy of) an informer.”
بانگ کردند اهل کشتی کای همام ** از چه دادندت چنین عالی مقام
The people in the ship cried out, “O noble chief, wherefore has such a high estate been given to thee?”
گفت از تهمت نهادن بر فقیر ** و ز حق آزاری پی چیزی حقیر
He answered, “For throwing suspicion on dervishes and offending God on account of a despicable thing (as ye have done)!
حاش لله بل ز تعظیم شهان ** که نبودم در فقیران بد گمان3495
God forbid! Nay, (it was) for showing reverence to (the spiritual) kings, inasmuch as I did not conceive ill thoughts against dervishes—
آن فقیران لطیف خوش نفس ** کز پی تعظیمشان آمد عبس
Those gracious dervishes of sweet breath (pure spirit), for whose magnification (the chapter of the Qur’án entitled) ‘Abasa was revealed.”
آن فقیری بهر پیچا پیچ نیست ** بل پی آن که بجز حق هیچ نیست
That dervishhood is not for the sake of (avoiding) entanglement (with the world); no, (it is) because nothing exists but God.
متهم چون دارم آنها را که حق ** کرد امین مخزن هفتم طبق
How should I hold in suspicion those whom God hath entrusted with the treasury of the Seventh Heaven?
متهم نفس است نه عقل شریف ** متهم حس است نه نور لطیف
The fleshly soul is suspect, not the sublime Reason: the senses are suspect, not the subtle Light.
نفس سوفسطایی آمد میزنش ** کش زدن سازد نه حجت گفتنش3500
The fleshly soul is a sophist: beat it constantly, for beating does it good, not arguing with it.
معجزه بیند فروزد آن زمان ** بعد از آن گوید خیالی بود آن
It sees a miracle (wrought by a prophet), and at the moment it glows (with belief); (but) afterwards it says, “’Twas (only) a phantasy;
ور حقیقت بودی آن دید عجب ** چون مقیم چشم نامد روز و شب
For if that wondrous sight was real, why did it not become abiding, day and night, in the eye?”
آن مقیم چشم پاکان میبود ** نه قرین چشم حیوان میشود
It is abiding in the eyes of the pure, (but) it does not haunt the eyes of animals (sensual men);
کان عجب زین حس دارد عار و ننگ ** کی بود طاوس اندر چاه تنگ
For the miracle is ashamed and scornful of these (bodily) senses: how should a peacock be (confined) in a narrow pit?
تا نگویی مر مرا بسیار گو ** من ز صد یک گویم و آن همچو مو3505
Take heed not to call me garrulous: I say (only) one in a hundred, and that (one) like a hair.
تشنیع صوفیان بر آن صوفی که پیش شیخ بسیار میگوید
How some Súfís abused a certain Súfí, saying that he talked too much in the presence of the Shaykh.
صوفیان بر صوفیی شنعت زدند ** پیش شیخ خانقاهی آمدند
Some Súfís abused a certain Súfí, and came to the Shaykh of the convent,
شیخ را گفتند داد جان ما ** تو از این صوفی بجو ای پیشوا
And said to the Shaykh, “Demand justice for our souls from this Súfí, O Guide!”
گفت آخر چه گله ست ای صوفیان ** گفت این صوفی سه خو دارد گران
He said, “Why, what is the complaint, O Súfís?” He (their spokesman) replied, “This Súfí has three annoying habits:
در سخن بسیار گو همچون جرس ** در خورش افزون خورد از بیست کس
In speech he is garrulous as a bell; in eating he eats more than twenty persons;
ور بخسبد هست چون اصحاب کهف ** صوفیان کردند پیش شیخ زحف3510
And if he sleep, he is like the Men of the Cave.” (Thus) did the Súfís march to war (against him) before the Shaykh.
شیخ رو آورد سوی آن فقیر ** که ز هر حالی که هست اوساط گیر
The Shaykh turned his face towards that dervish, saying, “In every case that exists, take the middle (course).
در خبر خیر الأمور أوساطها ** نافع آمد ز اعتدال أخلاطها
(It is stated) in Tradition that the best things are the mean (those between the two extremes): the (four) humours are beneficial through being in equipoise.
گر یکی خلطی فزون شد از عرض ** در تن مردم پدید آید مرض
If by accident (any) one humour become excessive, disease appears in the human body.
بر قرین خویش مفزا در صفت ** کان فراق آرد یقین در عاقبت
Do not exceed in (any) quality him that is thy yoke-fellow, for that will assuredly bring about separation (between you) in the end.
نطق موسی بد بر اندازه و لیک ** هم فزون آمد ز گفت یار نیک3515
The speech of Moses was in measure, but even so it exceeded the words of his good friend.
آن فزونی با خضر آمد شقاق ** گفت رو تو مکثری هذا فراق
That excess resulted in (his) opposing Khadir; and he (Khadir) said, ‘Go, thou art one that talks too much: this is a (cause of) separation (between us).’
موسیا بسیار گویی دور شو ** ور نه با من گنگ باش و کور شو
O (thou who resemblest) Moses, thou art garrulous. Go far off, or else be dumb with me and blind!
ور نرفتی وز ستیزه شستهای ** تو به معنی رفتهای بگسستهای
And if thou goest not, but remainest sitting (here) in despite (of me), thou art gone in reality and severed (from my company).”
چون حدث کردی تو ناگه در نماز ** گویدت سوی طهارت رو به تاز
When suddenly you commit an act of (legal) impurity in the ritual prayer, it (the prayer) says to you, “Go speedily to purify yourself”;
ور نرفتی خشک جنبان میشوی ** خود نمازت رفت بنشین ای غوی3520
And if you go not, you will be moving (exerting yourself) in vain; verily your prayer is gone beforehand (already), O misguided man!
رو بر آنها که هم جفت تواند ** عاشقان و تشنهی گفت تواند
Go to them that are your mates, (them) that are enamoured of your discourse and thirsting for it.
پاسبان بر خوابناکان بر فزود ** ماهیان را پاسبان حاجت نبود
One who keeps watch is superior to those who slumber: the (spiritual) fish have no need of one who keeps watch.
جامه پوشان را نظر بر گازر است ** جان عریان را تجلی زیور است
Those who wear clothes look to the launderer, (but) the soul of the naked hath (Divine) illumination as its adornment.
یا ز عریانان به یک سو باز رو ** یا چو ایشان فارغ از تن جامه شو
Either withdraw (and turn) aside from the naked, or like them become free from body-garments.
ور نمیتانی که کل عریان شوی ** جامه کم کن تا ره اوسط روی3525
And if you cannot become wholly naked, make your garments less, so that you may tread the middle path.
عذر گفتن فقیر به شیخ
How the dervish excused himself to the Shaykh.
پس فقیر آن شیخ را احوال گفت ** عذر را با آن غرامت کرد جفت
Then the dervish told the Shaykh how the case stood, and coupled excuses with the discharge of that obligation.
مر سؤال شیخ را داد او جواب ** چون جوابات خضر خوب و صواب
To the Shaykh's questions he gave answer good and right, like the answers of Khadir—