Saying, “(In case) of necessity a carcase is lawful (food); (there is) many a vicious act that necessity made a virtuous one.”
هم در آن دم آن خرک بفروختند ** لوت آوردند و شمع افروختند
They instantly sold the little ass; they fetched dainty viands and lit candles.
ولوله افتاد اندر خانقه ** کامشبان لوت و سماع است و شره
Jubilation arose in the monastery: (they cried), “To-night there are dainties and music and dancing and voracity.
چند از این صبر و از این سه روزه چند ** چند از این زنبیل و این دریوزه چند
How much (more) of this (carrying the) wallet and this beggary? How much (more) of this patience and of this three-day fasting?
ما هم از خلقیم و جان داریم ما ** دولت امشب میهمان داریم ما
We also are of (God's) creatures, we have soul. Good luck (is ours) to-night: we have the guest (to entertain).”
تخم باطل را از آن میکاشتند ** کان که آن جان نیست جان پنداشتند525
Thereby they were sowing the seed of falsehood, for they deemed soul that which is not soul.
و آن مسافر نیز از راه دراز ** خسته بود و دید آن اقبال و ناز
And the traveller, too, was tired by the long journey and (gladly) saw that favour and fondness (with which they regarded him).
صوفیانش یک به یک بنواختند ** نرد خدمتهای خوش میباختند
The Súfís, one by one, caressed him: they were playing the game of (bestowing) pleasant attentions (on him).
گفت چون میدید میلانشان به وی ** گر طرب امشب نخواهم کرد کی
When he saw their affection towards him, he said, “If I don't make merry to-night, when (shall I do so)?”
لوت خوردند و سماع آغاز کرد ** خانقه تا سقف شد پر دود و گرد
They ate the viands and began the samá‘ (musical dance); the monastery was filled with smoke and dust up to the roof—
دود مطبخ گرد آن پا کوفتن ** ز اشتیاق و وجد جان آشوفتن530
The smoke of the kitchen, the dust of (raised by) beating the feet (dancing), the tumult (caused) by longing and ecstasy of spirit.
گاه دست افشان قدم میکوفتند ** گه به سجده صفه را میروفتند
Now, waving their hands, they would beat (the ground with) their feet; now, in (religious) prostration, they would sweep the dais (with their foreheads).
دیر یابد صوفی آز از روزگار ** ز آن سبب صوفی بود بسیار خوار
(Only) after long (waiting) does the Súfí gain his desire (the satisfaction of his appetite) from Fortune: for that reason the Súfí is a great eater;
جز مگر آن صوفیی کز نور حق ** سیر خورد او فارغ است از ننگ دق
Except, to be sure, the Súfí who has eaten his fill of the Light of God: he is free from the shame of beggary;
از هزاران اندکی زین صوفیند ** باقیان در دولت او میزیند
(But) of these Súfís there are (only) a few among thousands; the rest are living in (under the protection of) his (the perfect Súfí's spiritual) empire.
چون سماع آمد از اول تا کران ** مطرب آغازید یک ضرب گران535
When the samá‘ had come (run its course) from beginning to end, the minstrel struck up a heavy (deep-sounding) strain.
خر برفت و خر برفت آغاز کرد ** زین حراره جمله را انباز کرد
He commenced (to sing), "The ass is gone, and the ass is gone": he made the whole (company) sharers in this ditty.
زین حراره پای کوبان تا سحر ** کفزنان خر رفت و خر رفت ای پسر
From this enthusiasm (they continued) beating their feet (dancing) to this ditty till dawn, clapping their hands (and singing), "The ass is gone, the ass is gone!"
از ره تقلید آن صوفی همین ** خر برفت آغاز کرد اندر حنین
By way of imitation that Súfí began (to sing) in (tones of) impassioned feeling this same (phrase), “The ass is gone.”
چون گذشت آن نوش و جوش و آن سماع ** روز گشت و جمله گفتند الوداع
When the pleasure and excitement and music and dancing were over, day dawned and they all said, “Farewell!”
خانقه خالی شد و صوفی بماند ** گرد از رخت آن مسافر میفشاند540
The monastery was deserted, and the Súfí remained (alone): that traveller set about shaking the dust from his baggage.
رخت از حجره برون آورد او ** تا به خر بر بندد آن همراه جو
He brought out the baggage from his cell, in order that he might tie it on the ass, (for he was) desirous of (finding) people to travel with.
تا رسد در همرهان او میشتافت ** رفت در آخر خر خود را نیافت
He was hurrying that he might overtake his fellow-travellers; he went into the stable but did not find the ass.
گفت آن خادم به آبش برده است ** ز انکه خر دوش آب کمتر خورده است
He said, “The servant has taken it (the ass) to water, because it drank little water last night.”
The servant came, and the Súfí said to him, “Where is the ass?” “Look at your beard,” replied the servant, and a quarrel arose.
گفت من خر را به تو بسپردهام ** من ترا بر خر موکل کردهام545
He (the Súfí) said, “I have entrusted the ass to you, I have put you in charge of the ass.
از تو خواهم آن چه من دادم به تو ** باز ده آن چه فرستادم به تو
Discuss (the matter) with propriety, don't argue: deliver back to me what I delivered to you.
بحث با توجیه کن حجت میار ** آن چه بسپردم ترا واپس سپار
I demand from you what I gave to you: return that which I sent to you.
گفت پیغمبر که دستت هر چه برد ** بایدش در عاقبت واپس سپرد
The Prophet said that whatever your hand has taken must in the end be restored (to its owner).
ور نهای از سرکشی راضی بدین ** نک من و تو خانهی قاضی دین
And if you, from insolence, are not content with this, look here, let us (go) to the house of the Cadi of (our) religion.”
گفت من مغلوب بودم صوفیان ** حمله آوردند و بودم بیم جان550
The servant said, “I was overpowered: the Súfís rushed (on me), and I was in fear for my life.
تو جگر بندی میان گربگان ** اندر اندازی و جویی ز آن نشان
Do you throw a liver with the parts next it amongst cats, and (then) seek the trace of it?
در میان صد گرسنه گردهای ** پیش صد سگ گربهی پژمردهای
One cake of bread amongst a hundred hungry people, one wasted (starved) cat before a hundred dogs?”
گفت گیرم کز تو ظلما بستدند ** قاصد خون من مسکین شدند
“I suppose,” said the Súfí, “that they took it (the ass) from you by violence, (and thereby) aimed at the life of wretched me;
تو نیایی و نگویی مر مرا ** که خرت را میبرند ای بینوا
(And seeing this) you would not come and say to me, ‘They are taking away your ass, O poor man!’
تا خر از هر که بود من واخرم ** ور نه توزیعی کنند ایشان زرم555
So that I might buy back the ass from (the purchaser) whoever he is, or else they might divide my money (amongst themselves and return the ass to me).
صد تدارک بود چون حاضر بدند ** این زمان هر یک به اقلیمی شدند
There were a hundred ways of mending (the injury) when they (the Súfís) were present, (but) now each one is gone to a (different) clime.
من که را گیرم که را قاضی برم ** این قضا خود از تو آمد بر سرم
Whom should I seize? Whom should I take to the Cadi? ’Tis from you in sooth that this judgement has come upon me.
چون نیایی و نگویی ای غریب ** پیش آمد این چنین ظلمی مهیب
How wouldn't you come and say (to me), ‘O stranger, such a terrible outrage has occurred’?”
گفت و الله آمدم من بارها ** تا ترا واقف کنم زین کارها
“By God,” said he, “I came several times to inform you of these doings,
تو همیگفتی که خر رفت ای پسر ** از همه گویندگان با ذوقتر560
(But) you were always saying, ‘The ass is gone, O son,’ with more gusto than all (the others) who said it.
باز میگشتم که او خود واقف است ** زین قضا راضی است مردی عارف است
(So) I was (always) going back, (thinking), ‘He himself is aware; he is satisfied with this (Divine) judgement: he is a man that knows (God)’.”
گفت آن را جمله میگفتند خوش ** مر مرا هم ذوق آمد گفتنش
The Súfí said, “They all were saying (it) merrily, (so) I also took delight in saying it.
مر مرا تقلیدشان بر باد داد ** که دو صد لعنت بر آن تقلید باد
Blind imitation of them has brought me to ruin: two hundred curses be on that imitation!
خاصه تقلید چنین بیحاصلان ** خشم ابراهیم با بر آفلان
Especially (on) imitation of such good-for-nothing rascals— the wrath of Abraham be on them that sink!
عکس ذوق آن جماعت میزدی ** وین دلم ز آن عکس ذوقی میشدی565
The delight of that company (of Súfís) was casting a reflexion, and this heart of mine was becoming delighted by that reflexion.”
عکس چندان باید از یاران خوش ** که شوی از بحر بیعکس آب کش
The reflexion (cast) from goodly friends is necessary until you become, without (the aid of any) reflexion, a drawer of water from the Sea.
عکس کاول زد تو آن تقلید دان ** چون پیاپی شد شود تحقیق آن
Know that the reflexion first cast is (only) imitation, (but) when it has become successive (continually recurrent) it turns into (direct) realisation (of the truth).