کی بود او را درین خوف و حزن ** آرزوی از قفص بیرون شدن
How, in this dread and sorrow, should it have the desire to go out of the cage?
او همی‌خواهد کزین ناخوش حصص ** صد قفص باشد بگرد این قفص
It wishes that, (to save it) from this unwelcome plucking (of its feathers), there might be a hundred cages round about this cage (in which it is confined).
عشق جالینوس برین حیات دنیا بود کی هنر او همینجا بکار می‌آید هنری نورزیده است کی در آن بازار بکار آید آنجا خود را به عوام یکسان می‌بیند
The love of (a) Galen is for this present life, for only here does his art avail; he has not practised any art that avails in yonder market: there he sees himself to be the same as the vulgar.
آنچنانک گفت جالینوس راد ** از هوای این جهان و از مراد3960
That is even as wise Galen said on account of (his) passion for this world and because of what he desired (in it)—
راضیم کز من بماند نیم جان ** که ز کون استری بینم جهان
“I am content that (only) half of my vital spirit should remain, so that I may see the world through the arse of a mule.”
گربه می‌بیند بگرد خود قطار ** مرغش آیس گشته بودست از مطار
He sees around him cats in troops: his bird has despaired of flying;
یا عدم دیدست غیر این جهان ** در عدم نادیده او حشری نهان
Or he has deemed all except this world to be non-existence and has not perceived in non-existence a hidden resurrection.
چون جنین کش می‌کشد بیرون کرم ** می‌گریزد او سپس سوی شکم
Like the embryo which (the Divine) Bounty is drawing forth: it is fleeing back towards the belly.
لطف رویش سوی مصدر می‌کند ** او مقر در پشت مادر می‌کند3965
(The Divine) Grace is turning its (the embryo's) face towards the place of exit, (while) it (the embryo) is making its abode in the mother's loins,
که اگر بیرون فتم زین شهر و کام ** ای عجب بینم بدیده این مقام
Saying, “Oh, I wonder, if I fall outside of this city and (abode of) pleasure, shall I see with my eye this dwelling-place;
یا دری بودی در آن شهر وخم ** که نظاره کردمی اندر رحم
Or would there be in that noisome city a door, so that I might gaze into the womb,
یا چو چشمه‌ی سوزنی راهم بدی ** که ز بیرونم رحم دیده شدی
Or would there be for me a path, (narrow) as the eye of a needle, so that the womb might become visible to me from outside?”
آن جنین هم غافلست از عالمی ** همچو جالینوس او نامحرمی
That embryo, too, is unaware of a world (outside): it is one unfamiliar (therewith), like Galen.
اونداند کن رطوباتی که هست ** آن مدد از عالم بیرونیست3970
It does not know that the humours which exist (in the womb) are supplied (to it) from the external world,
آنچنانک چار عنصر در جهان ** صد مدد آرد ز شهر لامکان
Even as the four elements in this world obtain a hundred supplies (means of support) from the City beyond space.
آب و دانه در قفص گر یافتست ** آن ز باغ و عرصه‌ای درتافتست
If it has found water and seeds in its cage, those have appeared (there) from a Garden and Expanse.
جانهای انبیا بینند باغ ** زین قفص در وقت نقلان و فراغ
The spirits of the prophets behold the Garden from this cage at the time of their being transported and freed (from the body);
پس ز جالینوس و عالم فارغند ** همچو ماه اندر فلکها بازغند
Hence they are free of Galen and the world: they are shining like the moon in the skies.
ور ز جالینوس این گفت افتراست ** پس جوابم بهر جالینوس نیست3975
And if this saying (as related) from Galen is a fiction, then my answer is not for Galen,
این جواب آنکس آمد کین بگفت ** که نبودستش دل پر نور جفت
(But) this is the answer to the person who said it, for the luminous heart has not been his mate.
مرغ جانش موش شد سوراخ‌جو ** چون شنید از گربگان او عرجوا
The bird, his spirit, became a mouse seeking a hole, when it heard from the cats (the cry), “Halt ye!”
زان سبب جانش وطن دید و قرار ** اندرین سوراخ دنیا موش‌وار
On that account his spirit, mouse-like, deemed its home and abode to be in this world-hole.
هم درین سوراخ بنایی گرفت ** درخور سوراخ دانایی گرفت
In this hole, too, it began to build and acquired a knowledge suitable to the hole;
پیشه‌هایی که مرورا در مزید ** کاندرین سوراخ کار آید گزید3980
It chose the trades advantageous to it, which would be of use in this hole.
زانک دل بر کند از بیرون شدن ** بسته شد راه رهیدن از بدن
Inasmuch as it turned its heart away from (relinquished the desire for) going forth, the way of deliverance from the body was barred.
عنکبوت ار طبع عنقا داشتی ** از لعابی خیمه کی افراشتی
If the spider had the nature of the ‘Anqá, how should it have reared a tent (made) of some gossamer?
گربه کرده چنگ خود اندر قفص ** نام چنگش درد و سرسام و مغص
The cat has put its claws into the cage: the name of its claws is pain and delirium and gripes.
گربه مرگست و مرض چنگال او ** می‌زند بر مرغ و پر و بال او
The cat is Death, and its claws are disease: it is striking at the bird and its plumage.
گوشه گوشه می‌جهد سوی دوا ** مرگ چون قاضیست و رنجوری گوا3985
He (the sick man) darts (like the bird) from corner to corner towards the remedy. Death is like the cadi, and the disease is the witness.
چون پیاده‌ی قاضی آمد این گواه ** که همی‌خواند ترا تا حکم گاه
This witness comes (to you), like the cadi's footman (officer), who summons you to the place of judgment.
مهلتی می‌خواهی از وی در گریز ** گر پذیرد شد و گرنه گفت خیز
You, in flight (from your doom), beg him (to grant you) a respite: if he consent, it is granted; otherwise, he says, “Arise (and go with me).”
جستن مهلت دوا و چاره‌ها ** که زنی بر خرقه‌ی تن پاره‌ها
The seeking of a respite consists in remedies and cures, that you may patch (thereby) the tattered cloak, the body.
عاقبت آید صباحی خشم‌وار ** چند باشد مهلت آخر شرم دار
At last, one morning, he comes angrily, saying, “How long will the respite be? Now, prithee, be ashamed!”
عذر خود از شه بخواه ای پرحسد ** پیش از آنک آنچنان روزی رسد3990
O envious man, ask your pardon of the King ere such a day as that arrives.
وانک در ظلمت براند بارگی ** برکند زان نور دل یکبارگی
And he who rides his horse into the darkness and altogether removes his heart from the Light
می‌گریزد از گوا و مقصدش ** کان گوا سوی قضا می‌خواندش
Is fleeing from the witness and his purpose; for that witness is calling him to judgement.
دیگر باره ملامت کردن اهل مسجد مهمان را از شب خفتن در آن مسجد
How the people of the mosque blamed the guest once more for (his intention of) sleeping in the mosque by night.
قوم گفتندش مکن جلدی برو ** تا نگردد جامه و جانت گرو
The people said to him, “Do not act with foolhardiness, depart, lest thy (bodily) vesture and thy soul become in pawn (to Death).”
آن ز دور آسان نماید به نگر ** که به آخر سخت باشد ره‌گذر
Froth afar it seems easy, (but) look well! for in the end the passage is grievous.
خویشتن آویخت بس مرد و سکست ** وقت پیچاپیچ دست‌آویز جست3995
Many a man hanged himself and broke (his neck) and at the moment of agony sought something for his hand to cling to.
پیشتر از واقعه آسان بود ** در دل مردم خیال نیک و بد
Before the battle, the fancy of good or evil is slight (makes no deep impression) in a man’s heart;
چون در آید اندرون کارزار ** آن زمان گردد بر آنکس کار زار
(But) when he enters into the fray, then to that person the matter becomes woeful.
چون نه شیری هین منه تو پای پیش ** کان اجل گرگست و جان تست میش
Since you are not a lion, beware, do not step forward, for that Doom is a wolf, and your soul is the sheep;
ور ز ابدالی و میشت شیر شد ** آمن آ که مرگ تو سرزیر شد
But if you are one of the Abdál (saints) and your sheep has become a lion, come on securely, for your death has been over-thrown.
کیست ابدال آنک او مبدل شود ** خمرش از تبدیل یزدان خل شود4000
Who is the Abdál? He that becomes transmuted, he whose wine is turned into vinegar by Divine transmutation.
لیک مستی شیرگیری وز گمان ** شیر پنداری تو خود را هین مران
But you are drunken, pot-valiant, and from (mere) opinion think yourself to be a lion: Beware, do not advance!
گفت حق ز اهل نفاق ناسدید ** باسهم ما بینهم باس شدید
God bath said of the unrighteous Hypocrites, “Their valour amongst themselves is a great valour.
در میان همدگر مردانه‌اند ** در غزا چون عورتان خانه‌اند
Amongst one another they are manly, (but) in a warlike expedition they are as the women of the house.”
گفت پیغامبر سپهدار غیوب ** لا شجاعة یا فتی قبل الحروب
The Prophet; the commander-in-chief of the things unseen, said, “There is no bravery, O youth, before the battles.”
وقت لاف غزو مستان کف کنند ** وقت جوش جنگ چون کف بی‌فنند4005
The drunken make a froth when there is talk of war, (but) when war is raging they are as unskilled (useless) as froth.
وقت ذکر غزو شمشیرش دراز ** وقت کر و فر تیغش چون پیاز
At the time when war is spoken Of, his (such a one’s) scimitar is long (drawn and extended); at the time of combat his sword is (sheathed) like an onion.
وقت اندیشه دل او زخم‌جو ** پس به یک سوزن تهی شد خیک او
At the time of premeditation his heart is eager for wounds; then (in action) his bag is emptied (of air) by a single needle.