آن یکی می‌گفت من پیغامبرم ** از همه پیغامبران فاضلترم
A certain man was saying, “I am a prophet: I am superior to all the prophets.”
گردنش بستند و بردندش به شاه ** کین همی گوید رسولم از اله 1120
They bound his neck and took him to the king, saying, “This man says he is a prophet sent by God.”
خلق بر وی جمع چون مور و ملخ ** که چه مکرست و چه تزویر و چه فخ
The people (were) gathered round him (thick) as ants and locusts, crying, “What deceit and imposture and trap is (this)?
گر رسول آنست که آید از عدم ** ما همه پیغامبریم و محتشم
If he that comes from (the realm of) non-existence is a prophet, we all are prophets and grand (in spiritual eminence).
ما از آنجا آمدیم اینجا غریب ** تو چرا مخصوص باشی ای ادیب
We (too) came hither as strangers from that place (realm): why shouldst thou be specially endowed (with prophecy), O accomplished one?”
نه شما چون طفل خفته آمدیت ** بی‌خبر از راه وز منزل بدیت
(He replied), “Did not ye come like a sleeping child? Ye were ignorant of the way and the destination.
از منازل خفته بگذشتید و مست ** بی‌خبر از راه و از بالا و پست 1125
Ye passed through the (different) stages asleep and intoxicated, unconscious of the way and (its) ups and downs;
ما به بیداری روان گشتیم و خوش ** از ورای پنج و شش تا پنج و شش
(But) we (prophets) set out in wakefulness and well (aware) from beyond the five (senses) and the six (directions) to (this world of) the five and six,
دیده منزلها ز اصل و از اساس ** چون قلاووز آن خبیر و ره‌شناس
Having perceived (all) the stages from the source and foundation, possessed of experience and knowing the way like (skilled) guides.”
شاه را گفتند اشکنجه‌ش بکن ** تا نگوید جنس او هیچ این سخن
They said to the king, “Put him to the rack, that a person of his sort may never (again) speak such words.”
شاه دیدش بس نزار و بس ضعیف ** که به یک سیلی بمیرد آن نحیف
The king saw that he was very thin and infirm, so that such an emaciated man would die at a single blow.
کی توان او را فشردن یا زدن ** که چو شیشه گشته است او را بدن 1130
(He thought to himself), “How is it possible to torture or beat him, since his body has become as (fragile as) a glass?
لیک با او گویم از راه خوشی ** که چرا داری تو لاف سر کشی
But I will speak to him kindly and say, ‘Why dost thou boast of (this) high estate?’
که درشتی ناید اینجا هیچ کار ** هم به نرمی سر کند از غار مار
For here harshness is of no use: ’tis by gentleness that the snake puts forth its head (is induced to come forth) from the hole.”
مردمان را دور کرد از گرد وی ** شه لطیفی بود و نرمی ورد وی
He caused the people to withdraw from around him (the claimant): the king was a gracious man, and gentleness was his way.
پس نشاندش باز پرسیدش ز جا ** که کجا داری معاش و ملتجی
Then he bade him be seated, and asked him concerning his dwelling-place, saying, “Where hast thou thy means of livelihood and refuge?”
گفت ای شه هستم از دار السلام ** آمده از ره درین دار الملام 1135
He replied, “O king, I belong to the Abode of Peace: I have come from the road (after having journeyed) to this Abode of Blame.
نه مرا خانه‌ست و نه یک همنشین ** خانه کی کردست ماهی در زمین
I have neither home nor any companion: when has a fish made its home on the earth?”
باز شه از روی لاغش گفت باز ** که چه خوردی و چه داری چاشت‌ساز
Again the king answered him, saying by way of jest, “What (food) hast thou eaten and what provision hast thou (made) for the morning meal?
اشتهی داری چه خوردی بامداد ** که چنین سرمستی و پر لاف و باد
Hast thou appetite? What didst thou eat at daybreak that thou art so intoxicated and boastful and blustering?”
گفت اگر نانم بدی خشک و طری ** کی کنیمی دعوی پیغامبری
He replied, “If I had bread, (whether) dry or moist, how should I lay claim to prophecy?
دعوی پیغامبری با این گروه ** هم‌چنان باشد که دل جستن ز کوه 1140
To claim to be a prophet amongst these people is like seeking a heart from a mountain.
کس ز کوه و سنگ عقل و دل نجست ** فهم و ضبط نکته‌ی مشکل نجست
No one (ever) sought intellect and heart from mountains and rocks: none sought (from them) understanding and apprehension of a difficult point of discourse.
هر چه گویی باز گوید که همان ** می‌کند افسوس چون مستهزیان
Whatever you say, the mountain replies the same: it makes a mock (of you) like the scoffers.
از کجا این قوم و پیغام از کجا ** از جمادی جان کرا باشد رجا
What relation exists between this folk and the (Divine) message? Who can hope for (spiritual) life from a soulless thing?
گر تو پیغام زنی آری و زر ** پیش تو بنهند جمله سیم و سر
If you bring (them) a message concerning a woman or gold, they will all lay before you their money and lives (in entire devotion)—
که فلان جا شاهدی می‌خواندت ** عاشق آمد بر تو او می‌داندت 1145
(The message), ‘A sweetheart in such and such a place invites thee (to come to her): she is in love with thee, she knows thee.’
ور تو پیغام خدا آری چو شهد ** که بیا سوی خدا ای نیک‌عهد
But if you bring (them) the honey-like message of God, ‘Come to God, O thou who hast a good covenant (with Him);
از جهان مرگ سوی برگ رو ** چون بقا ممکن بود فانی مشو
Go from the world of death towards the (eternal) provision: since everlastingness is possible, do not be perishing’—
قصد خون تو کنند و قصد سر ** نه از برای حمیت دین و هنر
They will seek (to shed) thy blood and (take) thy life, not in zeal for religion and (spiritual and moral) excellence.
سبب عداوت عام و بیگانه زیستن ایشان به اولیاء خدا کی بحقشان می‌خوانند و با آب حیات ابدی
The reason why the vulgar are at enmity with, and live in estrangement from, the saints of God who call them unto God and the Water of Life everlasting.
بلک از چفسیدگی در خان و مان ** تلخشان آید شنیدن این بیان
Nay, but on account of their sticking to house and goods ’tis bitter (hateful) to them to hear this exposition (given by the prophets).
خرقه‌ای بر ریش خر چفسید سخت ** چونک خواهی بر کنی زو لخت لخت 1150
(Suppose) a rag is stuck fast upon the donkey's sore: when you wish to tear it off, bit by bit,
جفته اندازد یقین آن خر ز درد ** حبذا آن کس کزو پرهیز کرد
The donkey, because of the pain (inflicted on him), will certainly kick: happy the man who abstained from (touching) him!—
خاصه پنجه ریش و هر جا خرقه‌ای ** بر سرش چفسیده در نم غرقه‌ای
Especially (when there are) fifty sores, and a soaked rag stuck on the top of them in every case.
خان و مان چون خرقه و این حرص‌ریش ** حرص هر که بیش باشد ریش بیش
House and goods are like the rag, and this greed (of thine) is the sore: the greater the greed, the greater the sore.
خان و مان چغد ویرانست و بس ** نشنود اوصاف بغداد و طبس
The wilderness alone is the house and goods of the owl: he (the owl) will not listen to descriptions of Baghdád and Tabas.
گر بیاید باز سلطانی ز راه ** صد خبر آرد بدین چغدان ز شاه 1155
If a royal falcon come from the road and bring to these owls a hundred reports of the King,
شرح دارالملک و باغستان و جو ** پس برو افسوس دارد صد عدو
(With) a full account of the imperial city and the orchards and the rivers—then a hundred enemies will jeer at him,
که چه باز آورد افسانه‌ی کهن ** کز گزاف و لاف می‌بافد سخن
Saying, ‘What has the falcon brought? An old story. He is weaving words of vanity and idle brag.’
کهنه ایشانند و پوسیده‌ی ابد ** ورنه آن دم کهنه را نو می‌کند
(’Tis) they (that) are old and rotten unto everlasting; otherwise (they would know that) that breath (of prophetic inspiration) makes the old new.
مردگان کهنه را جان می‌دهد ** تاج عقل و نور ایمان می‌دهد
It gives life to the old dead (spirits): it gives the crown of reason and the light of faith.
دل مدزد از دلربای روح‌بخش ** که سوارت می‌کند بر پشت رخش 1160
Do not steal thy heart away from the spirit-bestowing heart-ravisher, for he will mount thee on the back of Rakhsh.
سر مدزد از سر فراز تاج‌ده ** کو ز پای دل گشاید صد گره
Do not steal thy head away from the crown-giving one whose head is exalted, for he will untie a hundred knots from the foot of thy heart.
با کی گویم در همه ده زنده کو ** سوی آب زندگی پوینده کو
Whom shall I tell? Where in the village is any (spiritually) living one? Where is any one that runs towards the Water of Life?
تو به یک خواری گریزانی ز عشق ** تو به جز نامی چه می‌دانی ز عشق
Thou art fleeing from Love because of a single humiliation: what dost thou know of Love except the name?
عشق را صد ناز و استکبار هست ** عشق با صد ناز می‌آید به دست
Love hath a hundred disdains and prides: Love is gained by means of a hundred blandishments.
عشق چون وافیست وافی می‌خرد ** در حریف بی‌وفا می‌ننگرد 1165
Since Love is loyal, it purchases (desires) him that is loyal: it does not look at a disloyal comrade.
چون درختست آدمی و بیخ عهد ** بیخ را تیمار می‌باید به جهد
Man resembles a tree, and the root is the covenant (with God): the root must be cherished with all one's might.
عهد فاسد بیخ پوسیده بود ** وز ثمار و لطف ببریده بود
A corrupt (infirm) covenant is a rotten root and is cut off (deprived) of fruit and grace.
شاخ و برگ نخل گر چه سبز بود ** با فساد بیخ سبزی نیست سود
Although the boughs and leaves of the date-palm are green, greenness is no benefit (when conjoined) with corruption of the root;