-
بنگرید ای مردگان بی حنوط ** در سیاستگاه شهرستان لوط
- Look, O ye unembalmed dead, upon the place where the city of Lot suffered punishment!
-
پیل خود چه بود که سه مرغ پران ** کوفتند آن پیلکان را استخوان
- What is the elephant even? for three flying birds crushed the bones of those wretched elephants.
-
اضعف مرغان ابابیلست و او ** پیل را بدرید و نپذیرد رفو
- The abábíl is the weakest of birds, and (yet) it rent the elephant irreparably.
-
کیست کو نشنید آن طوفان نوح ** یا مصاف لشکر فرعون و روح 2820
- Who is there that has not heard of the Flood of Noah, or of the battle of Pharaoh's host with the Spirit?
-
روحشان بشکست و اندر آب ریخت ** ذره ذره آبشان بر میگسیخت
- The Spirit routed them and cast them pell-mell into the water: the water was shattering them to atoms.
-
کیست کو نشنید احوال ثمود ** و آنک صرصر عادیان را میربود
- Who is there that has not heard what happened to Thamúd and how the sarsar wind swept the ‘Ádites away?
-
چشم باری در چنان پیلان گشا ** که بدندی پیلکش اندر وغا
- Open thine eyes for once (and look) upon such elephants (mighty prophets), who were killers of elephants (tyrants) in war.
-
آنچنان پیلان و شاهان ظلوم ** زیر خشم دل همیشه در رجوم
- Such elephants and unjust kings as those are always in excommunication under the wrath of the (prophet's) heart.
-
تا ابد از ظلمتی در ظلمتی ** میروند و نیست غوثی رحمتی 2825
- Unto everlasting they go from a darkness to a darkness, and there is no succour, no mercy.
-
نام نیک و بد مگر نشنیدهاید ** جمله دیدند و شما نادیدهاید
- Perchance ye have not heard the name of good and evil. All have seen, and ye are seeing not.
-
دیده را نادیده میآرید لیک ** چشمتان را وا گشاید مرگ نیک
- Ye feign not to see the visible, but death will open your eyes well.
-
گیر عالم پر بود خورشید و نور ** چون روی در ظلمتی مانند گور
- Suppose the world is full of sun and light: when thou goest into a darkness like the grave,
-
بی نصیب آیی از آن نور عظیم ** بستهروزن باشی از ماه کریم
- Thou becomest without (any) share in that great light; thou art window-shut to the bounteous moon.
-
تو درون چاه رفتستی ز کاخ ** چه گنه دارد جهانهای فراخ 2830
- Thou hast gone from the belvedere into the pit: how are the spacious worlds to blame (for their being invisible to thee)?
-
جان که اندر وصف گرگی ماند او ** چون ببیند روی یوسف را بگو
- The soul that has remained in the quality of wolfishness, how should it behold the face of Joseph? Say!
-
لحن داودی به سنگ و که رسید ** گوش آن سنگین دلانش کم شنید
- The music of David reached (affected) rock and mountain, (but) the ears of those stony-hearted ones heard it not.
-
آفرین بر عقل و بر انصاف باد ** هر زمان والله اعلم بالرشاد
- Blessing ever be on reason and justice!—and God best knoweth the right way.
-
صدقوا رسلا کراما یا سبا ** صدقوا روحا سباها من سبا
- Believe noble Messengers, O Sabá! Believe a spirit made captive by Him who captured it.
-
صدقوهم هم شموس طالعه ** یومنوکم من مخازی القارعه 2835
- Believe them—they are rising suns—and they will preserve thee from the ignominies of al-Qári‘a.
-
صدقوهم هم بدور زاهره ** قبل ان یلقوکم بالساهره
- Believe them—they are shining full-moons—ere they confront thee with al- Sáhira.
-
صدقوهم هم مصابیح الدجی ** اکرموهم هم مفاتیح الرجا
- Believe them—they are the lamps of darkness; honour them— they are the keys of hope.
-
صدقوا من لیس یرجو خیرکم ** لا تضلوا لا تصدوا غیرکم
- Believe those who hope not for your bounty; do not go astray, do not turn others away (from the Truth).
-
پارسی گوییم هین تازی بهل ** هندوی آن ترک باش ای آب و گل
- Let us speak Persian: come, abandon Arabic. Be the Hindú (slave) of that Turcoman (the Divine Beloved), O (man of) water and clay.
-
هین گواهیهای شاهان بشنوید ** بگرویدند آسمانها بگروید 2840
- Hark, listen to the testimonies of the (spiritual) kings; the heavens have believed (them): believe ye!
-
معنی حزم و مثال مرد حازم
- The meaning of prudence, and a parable of the prudent man.
-
یا به حال اولینان بنگرید ** یا سوی آخر بحزمی در پرید
- Either consider what happened to the former (peoples), or fly with a (great) prudence towards the latter end.
-
حزم چه بود در دو تدبیر احتیاط ** از دو آن گیری که دورست از خباط
- What is prudence? Precaution in (the case of) two (alternative) plans: of the two you will take that one which is far from craziness.
-
آن یکی گوید درین ره هفت روز ** نیست آب و هست ریگ پایسوز
- One person may say, “On this road there is no water for seven days, and there is foot-scorching sand.”
-
آن دگر گوید دروغست این بران ** که بهر شب چشمهای بینی روان
- Another may say, “This is false: push on, for you will find a running fountain every night.”
-
حزم آن باشد که بر گیری تو آب ** تا رهی از ترس و باشی بر صواب 2845
- It is prudence that you take water (with you), so that you may be saved from dread and may be on the right (side).
-
گر بود در راه آب این را بریز ** ور نباشد وای بر مرد ستیز
- If there be water (on the road), spill this (water which you have taken with you); and if there be none, alas for the obstinate man!
-
ای خلیفهزادگان دادی کنید ** حزم بهر روز میعادی کنید
- O children of the Vicegerent (Adam), deal justly: act with prudence for the sake of the Day of Tryst (Judgement).
-
آن عدوی کز پدرتان کین کشید ** سوی زندانش ز علیین کشید
- That enemy who took vengeance upon your father and dragged him from ‘Illiyyín to prison,
-
آن شه شطرنج دل را مات کرد ** از بهشتش سخرهی آفات کرد
- And checkmated that king of the spiritual chessboard and made him, (cast out) from Paradise, a thrall to calamities—
-
چند جا بندش گرفت اندر نبرد ** تا بکشتی در فکندش رویزرد 2850
- How often in combat did he seize him by sleight, that he might wrestle with him and throw him (to the ground) in disgrace!
-
اینچنین کردست با آن پهلوان ** سست سستش منگرید ای دیگران
- Thus hath he done to that paladin (Adam): do not regard him with contempt, O ye others!
-
مادر و بابای ما را آن حسود ** تاج و پیرایه بچالاکی ربود
- That envious one nimbly snatched away our mother's and father's crown and ornament.
-
کردشان آنجا برهنه و زار و خوار ** سالها بگریست آدم زار زار
- There he made them naked and wretched and despicable: (many) years did Adam weep bitterly,
-
که ز اشک چشم او رویید نبت ** که چرا اندر جریدهی لاست ثبت
- So that (sweet) herbs grew from the tears of his eyes: (he wept, wondering) why he was inscribed in the scroll of lá (negation).
-
تو قیاسی گیر طراریش را ** که چنان سرور کند زو ریش را 2855
- Judge thou of his (the Devil's) impudent cheatery from the fact that on account of him such a prince (as Adam) rends his beard (in sorrow).
-
الحذر ای گلپرستان از شرش ** تیغ لا حولی زنید اندر سرش
- Beware, O clay-worshippers, of his malice: smite the sword of lá hawl on his head!
-
کو همیبیند شما را از کمین ** که شما او را نمیبینید هین
- For he sees you from ambush, so that ye see him not. Take care!
-
دایما صیاد ریزد دانهها ** دانه پیدا باشد و پنهان دغا
- The fowler scatters grain incessantly: the grain is visible, but the deceit is hidden.
-
هر کجا دانه بدیدی الحذر ** تا نبندد دام بر تو بال و پر
- Wherever you see the grain, beware, lest the trap confine your wings and pinions,
-
زانک مرغی کو بترک دانه کرد ** دانه از صحرای بی تزویر خورد 2860
- Because the bird that takes leave of (relinquishes) the grain (bait), eats grain from the spacious field (of Reality) that is without imposture.
-
هم بدان قانع شد و از دام جست ** هیچ دامی پر و بالش را نبست
- With that (grain) it is contented, and escapes the trap: no trap confines its wings and pinions.
-
وخامت کار آن مرغ کی ترک حزم کرد از حرص و هوا
- The banefulness of the action of the bird that abandons prudence from (motives of) greed and vain desire.
-
باز مرغی فوق دیواری نشست ** دیده سوی دانه دامی ببست
- Again, a bird settles on a wall and fastens its eyes upon the grain in a trap.
-
یک نظر او سوی صحرا میکند ** یک نظر حرصش به دانه میکشد
- Now it looks towards the open country, (while) now its greed leads it to look at the grain.
-
این نظر با آن نظر چالیش کرد ** ناگهانی از خرد خالیش کرد
- This look struggles with that look and suddenly makes it (the bird) empty of wisdom.
-
باز مرغی کان تردد را گذاشت ** زان نظر بر کند و بر صحرا گماشت 2865
- Again, a bird that has abandoned that vacillation turns its gaze away from that (grain) and fixes it upon the open fields.
-
شاد پر و بال او بخا له ** تا امام جمله آزادان شد او
- Glad (glistening) are its wings and pinions: how goodly it is, since it has become the leader of all the free.