از چه پس بی‌پاسخست این نقش نیک ** که نمی‌گوید سلامم را علیک
Wherefore is this goodly image (so) very irresponsive that it does not say ‘alayk (on thee be peace!) in reply to my salaam?
می‌نجنباند سر و سبلت ز جود ** پاس آنک کردمش من صد سجود
It does not nod its head and moustache generously in regard for my having made a hundred prostrations before it.”
حق اگر چه سر نجنباند برون ** پاس آن ذوقی دهد در اندرون
God, though He does not nod the head outwardly, (yet) in regard for that (worship of Him) bestows an inward delight,
که دو صد جنبیدن سر ارزد آن ** سر چنین جنباند آخر عقل و جان3485
Which is worth two hundred noddings of the head: in this fashion, after all, do Intellect and Spirit nod the head.
عقل را خدمت کنی در اجتهاد ** پاس عقل آنست که افزاید رشاد
(If) thou serve Intellect in earnest, the regard of Intellect (for thee) is (shown by this), that it increases (thy) righteousness.
حق نجنباند به ظاهر سر ترا ** لیک سازد بر سران سرور ترا
God does not nod the head to thee outwardly, but He makes thee a prince over the princes (of the world).
مر ترا چیزی دهد یزدان نهان ** که سجود تو کنند اهل جهان
To thee God gives secretly something (of such power) that the people of the world bow down before thee,
آنچنان که داد سنگی را هنر ** تا عزیز خلق شد یعنی که زر
Just as He gave to a stone such virtue that it was honoured by His creatures: that is to say, (it became) gold.
قطره‌ی آبی بیابد لطف حق ** گوهری گردد برد از زر سبق3490
(If) a drop of water gain the favour of God, it becomes a pearl and bears away the palm from gold.
جسم خاکست و چو حق تابیش داد ** در جهان‌گیری چو مه شد اوستاد
The body is earth; and when God gave it a spark (of His Light) it became adept, like the moon, in taking possession of the world.
هین طلسمست این و نقش مرده است ** احمقان را چشمش از ره برده است
Beware! this (worldly empire) is a talisman and a dead image: its eye hath led the foolish astray from the (right) path.
می‌نماید او که چشمی می‌زند ** ابلهان سازیده‌اند او را سند
It appears to wink: the foolish have made it their support (have put their trust in it).
در خواستن قبطی دعای خیر و هدایت از سبطی و دعا کردن سبطی قبطی را به خیر و مستجاب شدن از اکرم الاکرمین وارحم الراحمین
How the Egyptian besought blessing and guidance from the Israelite, and how the Israelite prayed for the Egyptian and received a favourable answer to his prayer from the Most Gracious and Merciful (God).
گفت قبطی تو دعایی کن که من ** از سیاهی دل ندارم آن دهن
The Egyptian said, “Do thou offer a prayer (for me), since from blackness of heart I have not the mouth (fit for offering an acceptable prayer),
که بود که قفل این دل وا شود ** زشت را در بزم خوبان جا شود3495
For it may be that the lock of this heart will be opened and that a place will be (granted) to this ugly one at the banquet of the beauteous.
مسخی از تو صاحب خوبی شود ** یا بلیسی باز کروبی شود
Through thee the deformed may become endowed with beauty, or an Iblís may again become one of the Cherubim;
یا بفر دست مریم بوی مشک ** یابد و تری و میوه شاخ خشک
Or, by the august influence of Mary's hand, the withered bough may acquire the fragrance of musk and freshness and fruit.”
سبطی آن دم در سجود افتاد و گفت ** کای خدای عالم جهر و نهفت
Thereupon the Israelite fell to worship and said, “O God who knowest the manifest and the hidden,
جز تو پیش کی بر آرد بنده دست ** هم دعا و هم اجابت از توست
To whom but Thee should Thy servant lift his hand? Both the prayer and the answer (to prayer) are from Thee.
هم ز اول تو دهی میل دعا ** تو دهی آخر دعاها را جزا3500
Thou at first givest the desire for prayer, and Thou at last givest likewise the recompense for prayers.
اول و آخر توی ما در میان ** هیچ هیچی که نیاید در بیان
Thou art the First and the Last: we between are nothing, a nothing that does not come into (admit of) expression.”
این چنین می‌گفت تا افتاد طشت ** از سر بام و دلش بیهوش گشت
He was speaking in this wise, till he fell into ecstasy and his heart became senseless.
باز آمد او به هوش اندر دعا ** لیس للانسان الا ما سعی
(Whilst engaged) in prayer, he came back to his senses (and witnessed the effect of his prayer): Man shall have nothing but what he hath wrought.
در دعا بود او که ناگه نعره‌ای ** از دل قبطی بجست و غره‌ای
He was (still) praying when suddenly a loud cry and roar burst from the heart of the Egyptian,
که هلا بشتاب و ایمان عرضه کن ** تا ببرم زود زنار کهن3505
(Who exclaimed), “Come, make haste and submit (the profession of) the Faith (for my acceptance), that I may quickly cut the old girdle (of unbelief).
آتشی در جان من انداختند ** مر بلیسی را به جان بنواختند
They have cast a fire into my heart, they have shown affection with (all) their soul for an Iblís (like me).
دوستی تو و از تو ناشکفت ** حمدلله عاقبت دستم گرفت
Praise be to God! Thy friendship and (my) not being able to do without thee have succoured me at last.
کیمیایی بود صحبتهای تو ** کم مباد از خانه‌ی دل پای تو
My consortings with thee were (as) an elixir: may thy foot never disappear from the house of my heart!
تو یکی شاخی بدی از نخل خلد ** چون گرفتم او مرا تا خلد برد
Thou wert a bough of the palm-tree of Paradise: when I grasped it, it bore me to Paradise.
سیل بود آنک تنم را در ربود ** برد سیلم تا لب دریای جود3510
That which carried away my body was a torrent: the torrent bore me to the brink of the Sea of Bounty.
من به بوی آب رفتم سوی سیل ** بحر دیدم در گرفتم کیل کیل
I went towards the torrent in hope of (obtaining) water: I beheld the Sea and took pearls, bushel on bushel.”
طاس آوردش که اکنون آب‌گیر ** گفت رو شد آبها پیشم حقیر
He (the Israelite) brought the cup to him, saying, “Now take the water!” “Go,” he replied; “(all) waters have become despicable in my sight.
شربتی خوردم ز الله اشتری ** تا به محشر تشنگی ناید مرا
I have drunk such a draught from God hath purchased that no thirst will come to me till the Congregation (at the Last Judgement).
آنک جوی و چشمه‌ها را آب داد ** چشمه‌ای در اندرون من گشاد
He who gave water to the rivers and fountains hath opened a fountain within me.
این جگر که بود گرم و آب‌خوار ** گشت پیش همت او آب خوار3515
This heart, which was hot and water-drinking—to its high aspiration water has become vile.
کاف کافی آمد او بهر عباد ** صدق وعده‌ی کهیعص
He (God), for the sake of His servants, became (symbolised by) the (letter) káf of Káfí (All-sufficing), (in token of) the truth of the promise of Káf, Há, Yá, ‘Ayn, Sád.
کافیم بدهم ترا من جمله خیر ** بی‌سبب بی‌واسطه‌ی یاری غیر
(God saith), ‘I am All-sufficing: I will give thee all good, without (the intervention of) a secondary cause, without the mediation of another's aid.