چونک هفت و هشت از مه بگذرید ** شاه‌پیل آمد ز چشمه می‌چرید
When seven and eight (fifteen nights) of the month had passed, the king elephant came to drink from the spring.
چونک زد خرطوم پیل آن شب درآب ** مضطرب شد آب ومه کرد اضطراب2750
When on that night the elephant put his trunk in the water, the water was disturbed, and the Moon showed disturbance.
پیل باور کرد از وی آن خطاب ** چون درون چشمه مه کرد اضطراب
The elephant believed that speech of his (the hare's), when the Moon in the spring showed disturbance.
مانه زان پیلان گولیم ای گروه ** که اضطراب ماه آردمان شکوه
O company (of prophets), we are not (to be reckoned) among those stupid elephants who are terrified by the disturbance of the Moon.”
انبیا گفتند آوه پند جان ** سخت‌تر کرد ای سفیهان بندتان
The prophets said, “Ah, (our) spiritual admonition has (only) made your (carnal) bondage more grievous, O ye fools!
جواب گفتن انبیا طعن ایشان را و مثل زدن ایشان را
How the prophets answered their sneers and uttered parables unto them.
ای دریغا که دوا در رنجتان ** گشت زهر قهر جان آهنجتان
Oh, alas that in (the case of) your disease the remedy has become for you the poison of soul-wringing (Divine) vengeance.
ظلمت افزود این چراغ آن چشم را ** چون خدا بگماشت پرده‌ی خشم را2755
This lamp (of spiritual admonition) has increased the darkness of that (diseased) eye, since God has set (over it) the veil of wrath.
چه رئیسی جست خواهیم از شما ** که ریاستمان فزونست از سما
What dominion shall we crave from you? for our dominion is greater than the sky.”
چه شرف یابد ز کشتی بحر در ** خاصه کشتیی ز سرگین گشته پر
What glory should the sea of pearls acquire from the ship— especially a ship that has been filled with dung?
ای دریغ آن دیده‌ی کور و کبود ** آفتابی اندرو ذره نمود
Oh, alas for that eye blind and blear! Therein a sun seemed as (insignificant as) a mote.
ز آدمی که بود بی مثل و ندید ** دیده ابلیس جز طینی ندید
In an Adam who was without like or equal the eye of Iblís discerned naught but a piece of clay.
چشم دیوانه بهارش دی نمود ** زان طرف جنبید کو را خانه بود2760
The devilish eye showed (saw) his (Adam's) spring as winter: it moved in the direction where its (original) home was.
ای بسا دولت که آید گاه گاه ** پیش بی‌دولت بگردد او ز راه
Oh, many a fortune that comes now and then to the unfortunate one, and he turns away (from it)!
ای بسا معشوق کاید ناشناخت ** پیش بدبختی نداند عشق باخت
Oh, many a beloved who comes unbeknown to an ill-starred one, and he knows not how to make love!
این غلط‌ده دیده را حرمان ماست ** وین مقلب قلب را س القضاست
This that misleads the eye is our (original) damnation, and this that turns the heart (from seeing the truth) is (our) evil destiny.
چون بت سنگین شما را قبله شد ** لعنت و کوری شما را ظله شد
Since to you the idol of stone has become an object of adoration, the curse (of God) and blindness have o’ershadowed you.
چون بشاید سنگتان انباز حق ** چون نشاید عقل و جان همراز حق2765
When your stone is a fitting partner for God, how are not intellect and spirit fitting confidants of God?
پشه‌ی مرده هما را شد شریک ** چون نشاید زنده همراز ملیک
The dead gnat has become the consort of the humá: how (then) is the living one not fit to be the confidant of the King?
یا مگر مرده تراشیده‌ی شماست ** پشه‌ی زنده تراشیده‌ی خداست
Or, maybe, (’tis because) the dead one is fashioned by you, (whereas) the living gnat is fashioned by God.
عاشق خویشید و صنعت‌کرد خویش ** دم ماران را سر مارست کیش
Ye are in love with yourselves and the thing manufactured by yourselves: to serpents' tails the serpent's head is a law.
نه در آن دم دولتی و نعمتی ** نه در آن سر راحتی و لذتی
In that tail there is no fortune or happiness; in that head there is no pleasure or delight.
گرد سر گردان بود آن دم مار ** لایق‌اند و درخورند آن هر دو یار2770
That serpent's tail is circling around the head: both those friends are fit and suited (to each other).
آنچنان گوید حکیم غزنوی ** در الهی‌نامه گر خوش بشنوی
So says the Sage of Ghazna in the Iláhí-náma, if thou wilt hearken well—
کم فضولی کن تو در حکم قدر ** درخور آمد شخص خر با گوش خر
“Do not behave as a (presumptuous) meddler in the decree of (Divine) fore-ordainment: the ass's shape is suited to the ass's ear.”
شد مناسب عضوها و ابدانها ** شد مناسب وصفها با جانها
Limbs and bodies are congruous; qualities are congruous with souls.
وصف هر جانی تناسب باشدش ** بی گمان با جان که حق بتراشدش
Unquestionably the quality of every soul has congruity with the soul; for God fashions it (accordingly).
چون صفت با جان قرین کردست او ** پس مناسب دانش همچون چشم و رو2775
Inasmuch as He hath joined the quality to the soul, know that it (the quality) is congruous, like eyes and face.
شد مناسب وصفها در خوب و زشت ** شد مناسب حرفها که حق نبشت
The (good and evil) qualities are congruous in the good and evil (souls): congruous are the letters that God hath written.
دیده و دل هست بین اصبعین ** چون قلم در دست کاتب ای حسین
The eye and the heart are between two fingers like a pen in the hand of the writer, O Husayn.
اصبع لطفست و قهر و در میان ** کلک دل با قبض و بسطی زین بنان
(These) are the fingers of Grace and Wrath, and between them the pen, the heart, is in a state of distress or ease (caused) by these fingers.
ای قلم بنگر گر اجلالیستی ** که میان اصبعین کیستی
O pen, if thou art one that (duly) magnifies (God), consider whose two fingers thou art between.
جمله قصد و جنبشت زین اصبعست ** فرق تو بر چار راه مجمعست2780
All thy volition and movement are (controlled) by this finger: thy head (point) is on the crossways of the assembly-place.
این حروف حالهات از نسخ اوست ** عزم و فسخت هم ز عزم و فسخ اوست
These letters (symbolising) thy (diverse) states are of His inditing: thy forming a purpose and changing it is just from His forming a purpose and changing it.
جز نیاز و جز تضرع راه نیست ** زین تقلب هر قلم آگاه نیست
There is no way but supplication and self-abasement: not every pen is conscious of this subjection to (Divine) control.
این قلم داند ولی بر قدر خود ** قدر خود پیدا کند در نیک و بد
The pen knows this (control), but (only) according to its (fore-ordained) measure: it manifests its measure (of knowledge) in good and evil (actions).
آنچ در خرگوش و پیل آویختند ** تا ازل را با حیل آمیختند
(As regards) that (apologue) which they attached to the hare and the elephant, so that they confused (the dispensation of) eternity with (mere) tricks,
بیان آنک هر کس را نرسد مثل آوردن خاصه در کار الهی
[Explaining that it is not seemly for every one to adduce parables, especially concerning Divine actions.]
کی رسدتان این مثلها ساختن ** سوی آن درگاه پاک انداختن2785
How is it seemly for you to make these similitudes and cast them at (apply them to) that holy Court?
آن مثل آوردن آن حضرتست ** که بعلم سر و جهر او آیتست
That use of similitudes belongs to the Lord, for He is the (sole) authority for the knowledge of the hidden and the manifest.
تو چه دانی سر چیزی تا تو کل ** یا به زلفی یا به رخ آری مثل
What dost thou know of the hidden nature of anything, that thou, baldpate, shouldst use a lock of hair or a cheek as similitudes?
موسیی آن را عصا دید و نبود ** اژدها بد سر او لب می‌گشود
A Moses deemed that (wood) a rod, but it was not (a rod): it was a dragon: its hidden nature was opening its lips (revealing itself).
چون چنان شاهی نداند سر چوب ** تو چه دانی سر این دام و حبوب
Inasmuch as such a (spiritual) king knows not the hidden nature of wood, how shouldst thou know the hidden nature of this snare and bait?
چون غلط شد چشم موسی در مثل ** چون کند موشی فضولی مدخل2790
Since the eye of Moses was at fault in the similitude, how should a meddling mouse find an entrance (to perception of the truth)?
آن مثالت را چو اژدرها کند ** تا به پاسخ جزو جزوت بر کند
He (God) will make that comparison of thine a dragon, that in answer it may tear thee to pieces.
این مثال آورد ابلیس لعین ** تا که شد ملعون حق تا یوم دین
The accursed Iblís used this (kind of) comparison, so that he fell under God's curse till the Day of Judgement.
این مثال آورد قارون از لجاج ** تا فرو شد در زمین با تخت و تاج
Qárún (Korah) from contumacy used this (kind of) comparison, so that he sank down into the earth with his throne and diadem.
این مثالت را چو زاغ و بوم دان ** که ازیشان پست شد صد خاندان
Know that this comparison of thine is like crows and owls by which a hundred households are laid low.
مثلها زدن قوم نوح باستهزا در زمان کشتی ساختن
How the people of Noah uttered similitudes derisively at the time of his building the Ark
نوح اندر بادیه کشتی بساخت ** صد مثل‌گو از پی تسخیر بتاخت2795
Noah built an Ark in the desert : a hundred speakers of parables ran up to ridicule (him).
در بیابانی که چاه آب نیست ** می‌کند کشتی چه نادان و ابلهیست
He is making a ship (Ark) in the desert where no well of water exists: what an ignorant fool he is!"
آن یکی می‌گفت ای کشتی بتاز ** و آن یکی می‌گفت پرش هم بساز
One was saying, "O ship, run!" while another said, "Make wings for it too ! "
او همی‌گفت این به فرمان خداست ** این بچربکها نخواهد گشت کاست
He (Noah) said, "This is by the command of God: this will not be defeated by jeers."
حکایت آن دزد کی پرسیدند چه می‌کنی نیم‌شب در بن این دیوار گفت دهل می‌زنم
Story of the thief who was asked, “What are you doing at the bottom of this wall at midnight?” and replied, “I am beating a drum.”