هست مهمان‌خانه این تن ای جوان ** هر صباحی ضیف نو آید دوان
This body, O youth, is a guest house: every morning a new guest comes running (into it).
هین مگو کین مانند اندر گردنم ** که هم اکنون باز پرد در عدم 3645
Beware, do not say, “This (guest) is a burden to me,” for presently he will fly back into non-existence.
هرچه آید از جهان غیب‌وش ** در دلت ضیفست او را دار خوش
Whatsoever comes into thy heart from the invisible world is they guest: entertain it well!
حکایت آن مهمان کی زن خداوند خانه گفت کی باران فرو گرفت و مهمان در گردن ما ماند
Story of the guest concerning whom the wife of the master of the house said, “The rain has set in, and our guest is left on our hands.”
آن یکی را بیگهان آمد قنق ** ساخت او را هم‌چو طوق اندر عنق
A guest came to a certain man at a late hour: he (the master of the house) made him (at home) like a collar on the neck.
خوان کشید او را کرامتها نمود ** آن شب اندر کوی ایشان سور بود
He brought trays of food and showed him every courtesy; on that night there was a feast in their parish.
مرد زن را گفت پنهانی سخن ** که امشب ای خاتون دو جامه خواب کن
The man spoke secretly to his wife, saying, “To-night, mistress, make two beds.”
پستر ما را بگستر سوی در ** بهر مهمان گستر آن سوی دگر 3650
Lay our bed towards the door, and lay a bed on the other side for the guest.”
گفت زن خدمت کنم شادی کنم ** سمع و طاعه ای دو چشم روشنم
The wife replied, “I will do (this) service, I shall be glad (to do it). To hear is to obey, O light of mine eyes!”
هر دو پستر گسترید و رفت زن ** سوی ختنه‌سور کرد آنجا وطن
The wife laid both the beds and (then) went off to the circumcision feast and stayed there (a long time).
ماند مهمان عزیز و شوهرش ** نقل بنهادند از خشک و ترش
The worthy guest and her husband remained (in the house): the host set before him a dessert of fruit and wine.
در سمر گفتند هر دو منتجب ** سرگذشت نیک و بد تا نیم شب
Both the excellent men related (to each other) their good and bad experiences (and sat) chatting till midnight.
بعد از آن مهمان ز خواب و از سمر ** شد در آن پستر که بد آن سوی در 3655
Afterwards the guest, being sleepy and tired of talking, went to the bed that was on the opposite side to the door.
شوهر از خجلت بدو چیزی نگفت ** که ترا این سوست ای جان جای خفت
From (a feeling of) shame (delicacy) the husband did not tell him anything or say, “My dear friend, your bed is on this side;
که برای خواب تو ای بوالکرم ** پستر آن سوی دگر افکنده‌ام
I have had the bed for you to sleep in laid over there, most noble sir.”
آن قراری که به زن او داده بود ** گشت مبدل و آن طرف مهمان غنود
(So) the arrangement which he had made with his wife was altered, and the guest lay down on the other side (of the room).
آن شب آنجا سخت باران در گرفت ** کز غلیظی ابرشان آمد شگفت
During the night it began to rain violently in that place, (and continued so long) that they were astonished at the thickness of the clouds.
زن بیامد بر گمان آنک شو ** سوی در خفتست و آن سو آن عمو 3660
(When) the wife came (home), she thought her husband was sleeping towards the door, and the uncle on the other side.
رفت عریان در لحاف آن دم عروس ** داد مهمان را به رغبت چند بوس
The wife immediately undressed and went to bed and kissed the guest fondly several times.
گفت می‌ترسیدم ای مرد کلان ** خود همان آمد همان آمد همان
“O worthy man,” said she, “I was afraid (of this), and now that very thing has happened, that very thing has happened, that very thing!
مرد مهمان را گل و باران نشاند ** بر تو چون صابون سلطانی بماند
The mud and rain have stranded thy guest (here): he is left on thy hands like Government soap.
اندرین باران و گل او کی رود ** بر سر و جان تو او تاوان شود
How can he set out in this rain and mud? He will become a tax upon thy head and soul.”
زود مهمان جست و گفت این زن بهل ** موزه دارم غم ندارم من ز گل 3665
The guest at once jumped up and said, “O woman, leave off! I have boots, I don't mind the mud.
من روان گشتم شما را خیر باد ** در سفر یک دم مبادا روح شاد
I depart. May good be with you! May your spirit during its (earthly) journey never rejoice (even) for a moment,
تا که زوتر جانب معدن رود ** کین خوشی اندر سفر ره‌زن شود
So that it may the sooner go towards its native home! for this (worldly) pleasure waylays (the traveller) on his journey.”
زن پشیمان شد از آن گفتار سرد ** چون رمید و رفت آن مهمان فرد
When the distinguished guest started up and went off, the wife was sorry for (having spoken) those unsympathetic words.
زن بسی گفتش که آخر ای امیر ** گر مزاحی کردم از طیبت مگیر
Many a time the wife said to him, “Why, O Amír, if I made a merry jest, don't take offence.”
سجده و زاری زن سودی نداشت ** رفت و ایشان را در آن حسرت گذاشت 3670
The wife's supplication and lament were of no avail: he departed and left them to grieve.
جامه ازرق کرد زان پس مرد و زن ** صورتش دیدند شمعی بی‌لگن
Afterwards the husband and wife clad themselves in blue: they deemed his (radiant) form to be a candle without a basin.
می‌شد و صحرا ز نور شمع مرد ** چون بهشت از ظلمت شب گشته فرد
He was going (on his way), and by that man's candle-light the desert was isolated, like Paradise, from the darkness of night.
کرد مهمان خانه خانه‌ی خویش را ** از غم و از خجلت این ماجرا
He (the husband) made his house a guest-house in sorrow and shame for this (calamitous) event.
در درون هر دو از راه نهان ** هر زمان گفتی خیال میهمان
In the hearts of them both, (coming) by the hidden way, the phantom of the guest was saying continually,
که منم یار خضر صد گنج و جود ** می‌فشاندم لیک روزیتان نبود 3675
“I am the friend of Khadir: I would have scattered a hundred treasures of munificence (over you), but ’twas not your appointed portion.”
تمثیل فکر هر روزینه کی اندر دل آید به مهمان نو کی از اول روز در خانه فرود آید و فضیلت مهمان‌نوازی و ناز مهمان کشیدن و تحکم و بدخویی کند به خداوند خانه
Comparing the daily thoughts that come into the heart with the new guests who from the beginning of the day alight in the house and behave with arrogance and ill-temper towards the master of the house; and concerning the merit of treating the guest with kindness and of suffering his haughty airs patiently.
هر دمی فکری چو مهمان عزیز ** آید اندر سینه‌ات هر روز نیز
Every day, too, at every moment a (different) thought comes, like an honoured guest, into thy bosom.
فکر را ای جان به جای شخص دان ** زانک شخص از فکر دارد قدر و جان
O (dear) soul, regard thought as a person, since (every) person derives his worth from thought and spirit.
فکر غم گر راه شادی می‌زند ** کارسازیهای شادی می‌کند
If the thought of sorrow is waylaying (spoiling) joy, (yet) it is making preparations for joy.
خانه می‌روبد به تندی او ز غیر ** تا در آید شادی نو ز اصل خیر
It violently sweeps thy house clear of (all) else, in order that new joy from the source of good may enter in.
می‌فشاند برگ زرد از شاخ دل ** تا بروید برگ سبز متصل 3680
It scatters the yellow leaves from the bough of the heart, in order that incessant green leaves may grow.
می‌کند بیخ سرور کهنه را ** تا خرامد ذوق نو از ما ورا
It uproots the old joy, in order that new delight may march in from the Beyond.
غم کند بیخ کژ پوسیده را ** تا نماید بیخ رو پوشیده را
Sorrow pulls up the crooked rotten (root), in order that it may disclose the root that is veiled from sight.
غم ز دل هر چه بریزد یا برد ** در عوض حقا که بهتر آورد
Whatsoever (things) sorrow may cause to be shed from the heart or may take away (from it), assuredly it will bring better in exchange,
خاصه آن را که یقینش باشد این ** که بود غم بنده‌ی اهل یقین
Especially for him who knows with certainty (intuitively) that sorrow is the servant of the possessors of (intuitive) certainty.
گر ترش‌رویی نیارد ابر و برق ** رز بسوزد از تبسمهای شرق 3685
Unless the clouds and the lightning show a frowning aspect, the vines will be burnt by the smiles of the sun.
سعد و نحس اندر دلت مهمان شود ** چون ستاره خانه خانه می‌رود
Good and ill fortune become guests in thy heart: like the star (planet), they go from house to house.
آن زمان که او مقیم برج تست ** باش هم‌چون طالعش شیرین و چست
At the time when it (the auspicious or inauspicious star) is residing in thy mansion, adapt thyself to it and be agreeable, like its ascendant,
تا که با مه چون شود او متصل ** شکر گوید از تو با سلطان دل
So that, when it rejoins the Moon, it may speak gratefully of thee to the Lord of the heart.
هفت سال ایوب با صبر و رضا ** در بلا خوش بود با ضیف خدا
Job, the (prophet who was) patient and well-pleased (with God), showed sweetness to God's guest during seven years (spent) in tribulation,
تا چو وا گردد بلای سخت‌رو ** پیش حق گوید به صدگون شکر او 3690
To the end that when the stern-visaged tribulation should turn back (on its way to God), it might give thanks to him in God's presence in a hundred fashions,
کز محبت با من محبوب کش ** رو نکرد ایوب یک لحظه ترش
Saying, “From love (of Thee) Job never for one moment looked sourly on me, the killer of that which is loved.”
از وفا و خجلت علم خدا ** بود چون شیر و عسل او با بلا
From his loyalty and his shame before God's knowledge, he (Job) was like milk and honey (in his behaviour) towards tribulation.
فکر در سینه در آید نو به نو ** خند خندان پیش او تو باز رو
(Whenever) the thought (of sorrow) comes into thy breast anew, go to meet it with smiles and laughter,