گفت خوابم بتر از بیداریم ** گه خورم این سو و آن سو می‌ریم
“Somnus meus,” inquit, “pejor quam vigilia mea; hic enim edo, illic caco.” [“My sleep,” he said, “(is) worse than my wakefulness; because I eat here and I defecate there.”]
He was crying, “Woe and alas! Woe and alas!” even as the unbeliever in the depths of the tomb,
منتظر که کی شود این شب به سر ** یا برآید در گشادن بانگ در
Waiting to see when this night would come to an end, that the noise of the door in opening might rise (to his ear),
تا گریزد او چو تیری از کمان ** تا نبیند هیچ کس او را چنان 95
In order to flee like an arrow from the bow, (for fear) lest any one should see him in such a condition.
قصه بسیارست کوته می‌کنم ** باز شد آن در رهید از درد و غم
The story is long: I will shorten it. The door opened: he was delivered from grief and pain.
در حجره گشادن مصطفی علیه‌السلام بر مهمان و خود را پنهان کردن تا او خیال گشاینده را نبیند و خجل شود و گستاخ بیرون رود
How Mustafá (Mohammed) opened the door of the room for his guest and concealed himself in order that he (the guest) might not see the form of the person who opened it and be overcome with shame, but might go forth boldly.
مصطفی صبح آمد و در را گشاد ** صبح آن گمراه را او راه داد
At dawn Mustafá came and opened the door: at dawn he gave the way (means of escape) to him who had lost the way (of salvation).
در گشاد و گشت پنهان مصطفی ** تا نگردد شرمسار آن مبتلا
Mustafá opened the door and became hidden, in order that the afflicted man might not be ashamed,
تا برون آید رود گستاخ او ** تا نبیند درگشا را پشت و رو
But might come forth and walk boldly away and not see the back or face of the door-opener.
یا نهان شد در پس چیزی و یا ** از ویش پوشید دامان خدا 100
Either he became hidden behind something, or the skirt (merciful palliation) of God concealed him from him (the infidel).
صبغة الله گاه پوشیده کند ** پرده‌ی بی‌چون بر آن ناظر تند
The dye of Allah sometimes makes (a thing to be) covered and draws a mysterious veil o’er the beholder,
تا نبیند خصم را پهلوی خویش ** قدرت یزدان از آن بیشست بیش
So that he does not see the enemy at his side: the power of God is more than that, (yea), more.
مصطفی می‌دید احوال شبش ** لیک مانع بود فرمان ربش
Mustafá was seeing all that happened to him in the night, but the command of the Lord restrained him
تا که پیش از خبط بگشاید رهی ** تا نیفتد زان فضیحت در چهی
From opening a way (of escape) before the fault (was committed), so that he (the infidel) should not be cast into a pit (of grief) by the disgrace (which he had incurred).
لیک حکمت بود و امر آسمان ** تا ببیند خویشتن را او چنان 105
(Otherwise, Mustafá would have let him out in time), but it was the (Divine) wisdom and the command of Heaven that he should see himself thus (disgraced and confounded).
بس عداوتها که آن یاری بود ** بس خرابیها که معماری بود
There be many acts of enmity which are (really) friendship, many acts of destruction which are (really) restoration.
جامه خواب پر حدث را یک فضول ** قاصدا آورد در پیش رسول
A meddlesome fellow purposely brought the dirty bed-clothes to the Prophet,
که چنین کردست مهمانت ببین ** خنده‌ای زد رحمةللعالمین
Saying, “Look! Thy guest has done such a thing!” He smiled, (he who was sent as) a mercy to all created beings,
که بیار آن مطهره اینجا به پیش ** تا بشویم جمله را با دست خویش
And said, “Bring the pail here, that I may wash all (clean) with my own hand.”
هر کسی می‌جست کز بهر خدا ** جان ما و جسم ما قربان ترا 110
Every one jumped up, saying, “For God's sake (refrain)! Our souls and our bodies are a sacrifice to thee.
ما بشوییم این حدث را تو بهل ** کار دستست این نمط نه کار دل
We will wash this filth: do thou leave it alone. This kind (of affair) is hand's work, not heart's work.
ای لعمرک مر ترا حق عمر خواند ** پس خلیفه کرد و بر کرسی نشاند
O La-‘amruk, God pronounced unto thee (the word) ‘life’; then He made thee (His) Vicegerent and seated thee on the throne.
ما برای خدمت تو می‌زییم ** چون تو خدمت می‌کنی پس ما چه‌ایم
We live for thy service: as thou (thyself) art performing the service, what then are we?”
گفت آن دانم و لیک این ساعتیست ** که درین شستن بخویشم حکمتیست
He said, “I know that, but this is an (extraordinary) occasion; I have a deep reason for washing this myself.”
منتظر بودند کین قول نبیست ** تا پدید آید که این اسرار چیست 115
They waited, saying, “This is the Prophet's word,” till it should appear what these mysteries were.
او به جد می‌شست آن احداث را ** خاص ز امر حق نه تقلید و ریا
(Meanwhile) he was busily washing those filthy things, by God's command exclusively, not from blind conformity and ostentation;
که دلش می‌گفت کین را تو بشو ** که درین جا هست حکمت تو بتو
For his heart was telling him, “Do thou wash them, for herein is wisdom manifold.”
سبب رجوع کردن آن مهمان به خانه‌ی مصطفی علیه‌السلام در آن ساعت که مصطفی نهالین ملوث او را به دست خود می‌شست و خجل شدن او و جامه چاک کردن و نوحه‌ی او بر خود و بر سعادت خود
The cause of the guest's return to the house of Mustafá, on whom be peace, at the hour when Mustafá was washing his befouled bed-rug with his own hand; and how he was overcome with shame and rent his garment and made lamentation for himself and for his plight.
کافرک را هیکلی بد یادگار ** یاوه دید آن را و گشت او بی‌قرار
The wretched infidel had an amulet (which he carried) as a keepsake. He observed that it was lost, and became distracted.
گفت آن حجره که شب جا داشتم ** هیکل آنجا بی‌خبر بگذاشتم
He said, “The room in which I lodged during the night—I (must have) left the amulet there unawares.”
گر چه شرمین بود شرمش حرص برد ** حرص اژدرهاست نه چیزیست خرد 120
Though he was ashamed, greed took away his shame: greed is a dragon, it is no small thing.
از پی هیکل شتاب اندر دوید ** در وثاق مصطفی و آن را بدید
In quest of the amulet he ran hastily into the house of Mustafá and saw him,
کان یدالله آن حدث را هم به خود ** خوش همی‌شوید که دورش چشم بد
That Hand of God, cheerfully washing the filth by himself— far from him be the evil eye!
هیکلش از یاد رفت و شد پدید ** اندرو شوری گریبان را درید
The amulet vanished from his mind, and a great rapture arose in him: he tore his collar,
می‌زد او دو دست را بر رو و سر ** کله را می‌کوفت بر دیوار و در
Smiting his face and head with both hands, beating his pate against wall and door,
آنچنان که خون ز بینی و سرش ** شد روان و رحم کرد آن مهترش 125
In such a wise that blood poured from his nose and head, and the Prince (Mohammed) took pity on him.
نعره‌ها زد خلق جمع آمد برو ** گبر گویان ایهاالناس احذروا
He uttered shrieks, the people gathered round him: the infidel was crying, “O people, beware!”
می‌زد او بر سر کای بی‌عقل سر ** می‌زد او بر سینه کای بی‌نور بر
He smote his head, saying, “O head without understanding!” He smote his breast, saying, “O bosom without light!”
سجده می‌کرد او کای کل زمین ** شرمسارست از تو این جزو مهین
Prostrating himself, he cried, “O (thou who art) the whole earth, this despicable part is abashed on account of thee.
تو که کلی خاضع امر ویی ** من که جزوم ظالم و زشت و غوی
Thou, who art the whole, art submissive to His command; I, who am (but) a part, am unjust and wicked and misguided.
تو که کلی خوار و لرزانی ز حق ** من که جزوم در خلاف و در سبق 130
Thou, who art the whole, art humble and trembling in fear of God; I, who am (but) a part, am (engaged) in opposition and in rivalry.”
هر زمان می‌کرد رو بر آسمان ** که ندارم روی ای قبله‌ی جهان
At every moment he was turning his face to heaven, saying, “I have not the face (to look towards thee), O qibla of the world!”
چون ز حد بیرون بلرزید و طپید ** مصطفی‌اش در کنار خود کشید
When he had trembled and quivered beyond (all) bounds, Mustafá clasped him in his arms,
ساکنش کرد و بسی بنواختش ** دیده‌اش بگشاد و داد اشناختش
Quieted him and caressed him much and opened his (inward) eye and gave him (spiritual) knowledge.
تا نگرید ابر کی خندد چمن ** تا نگرید طفل کی جوشد لبن
Till the cloud weeps, how should the garden smile? Till the babe cries, how should the milk begin to flow?
طفل یک روزه همی‌داند طریق ** که بگریم تا رسد دایه‌ی شفیق 135
The one-day-old babe knows the way: (its instinct says), “I will cry, that the kind nurse may come.”
تو نمی‌دانی که دایه‌ی دایگان ** کم دهد بی‌گریه شیر او رایگان
Do not you know that the Nurse of (all) nurses gives no milk gratis without (your) crying?
گفت فلیبکوا کثیرا گوش دار ** تا بریزد شیر فضل کردگار
He (God) hath said, “Let them weep much.” Give ear, that the bounty of the Creator may pour forth the milk.
گریه‌ی ابرست و سوز آفتاب ** استن دنیا همین دو رشته تاب
The cloud's weeping and the sun's burning are the pillar of this world: twist these two strands (together).
گر نبودی سوز مهر و اشک ابر ** کی شدی جسم و عرض زفت و سطبر
If there were not the sun's heat and the cloud's tears, how would body (substance) and accident become big and thick?
کی بدی معمور این هر چار فصل ** گر نبودی این تف و این گریه اصل 140
How would these four seasons be flourishing unless this glow and weeping were the origin?
سوز مهر و گریه‌ی ابر جهان ** چون همی دارد جهان را خوش‌دهان
Since the burning (heat) of the sun and the weeping of the clouds in the world are keeping the world fresh and sweet,