رستم و حمزه و مخنث یک بدی ** علم و حکمت باطل و مندک بدی
Rustam and Hamza and a catamite would be (all) one; knowledge and wisdom would be annulled and utterly demolished.
علم و حکمت بهر راه و بی‌رهیست ** چون همه ره باشد آن حکمت تهیست
Knowledge and wisdom exist for the purpose of (distinguishing between) the right path and the wrong paths: when all (paths) are the right path, knowledge and wisdom are void (of meaning).
بهر این دکان طبع شوره‌آب ** هر دو عالم را روا داری خراب
Do you think it allowable that both the worlds should be ruined for the sake of this briny (foul) shop of the (sensual) nature?
من همی‌دانم که تو پاکی نه خام ** وین سالت هست از بهر عوام 1755
I know that you are pure (enlightened), not raw (foolish), and that these questions of yours are (asked) for the sake of (instructing) the vulgar.
جور دوران و هر آن رنجی که هست ** سهل‌تر از بعد حق و غفلتست
The cruelty of Time (Fortune) and every affliction that exists are lighter than farness from God and forgetfulness (of Him),
زآنک اینها بگذرند آن نگذرد ** دولت آن دارد که جان آگه برد
Because these (afflictions) will pass, (but) that (forgetfulness) will not. (Only) he that brings his spirit (to God) awake (and mindful of Him) is possessed of felicity.”
حکایت در تقریر آنک صبر در رنج کار سهل‌تر از صبر در فراق یار بود
A Story setting forth that patience in bearing worldly affliction is easier than patience in bearing separation from the Beloved.
آن یکی زن شوی خود را گفت هی ** ای مروت را به یک ره کرده طی
A certain woman said to her husband, “Hey, O you who have finished with generosity once and for all,
هیچ تیمارم نمی‌داری چرا ** تا بکی باشم درین خواری چرا
Why have you no care for me? How long shall I dwell in this abode of misery?”
گفت شو من نفقه چاره می‌کنم ** گرچه عورم دست و پایی می‌زنم 1760
The husband replied, “I am doing my best to earn money; though I am destitute, I am moving hand and foot.
نفقه و کسوه‌ست واجب ای صنم ** از منت این هر دو هست و نیست کم
O beloved, it is my duty (to provide you with) money and clothes: you get both these from me and they are not insufficient.”
آستین پیرهن بنمود زن ** بس درشت و پر وسخ بد پیرهن
The wife showed (him) the sleeve of her chemise: the chemise was very coarse and dirty.
گفت از سختی تنم را می‌خورد ** کس کسی را کسوه زین سان آورد
“It is so rough,” said she, “it eats (wounds) my body: does any one get a garment of this kind for any one?”
گفت ای زن یک سالت می‌کنم ** مرد درویشم همین آمد فنم
He said, “O wife, I will ask you one question. I am a poor man: this is all I know (how to do).
این درشتست و غلیظ و ناپسند ** لیک بندیش ای زن اندیشه‌مند 1765
This (chemise) is rough and coarse and disagreeable, but think (well), O thoughtful (anxious) wife!
این درشت و زشت‌تر یا خود طلاق ** این ترا مکروه‌تر یا خود فراق
Is this (chemise) rougher and nastier, or divorce? Is this (chemise) more odious to you, or separation?”
هم‌چنان ای خواجه‌ی تشنیع زن ** از بلا و فقر و از رنج و محن
Even so, O Khwája who art reviling on account of affliction and poverty and distress and tribulations,
لا شک این ترک هوا تلخی‌دهست ** لیک از تلخی بعد حق بهست
No doubt this renunciation of sensuality gives bitter pain, but ’tis better than the bitterness of being far from God.
گر جهاد و صوم سختست و خشن ** لیک این بهتر ز بعد ممتحن
If fighting (against the flesh) and fasting are hard and rough, yet these are better than being far from Him who inflicts tribulation.
رنج کی ماند دمی که ذوالمنن ** گویدت چونی تو ای رنجور من 1770
How should pain endure for a single moment when the Giver of favours says to thee, “How art thou, O My sick one?”
ور نگوید کت نه آن فهم و فن است ** لیک آن ذوق تو پرسش کردنست
And (even) if He say (it) not, because thou hast not the understanding and knowledge (needed) for it, yet thy inward feeling (of supplication) is (equivalent to His) inquiring (after thee).
آن ملیحان که طبیبان دل‌اند ** سوی رنجوران به پرسش مایل‌اند
Those beauteous ones who are spiritual physicians turn towards the sick to inquire (after them);
وز حذر از ننگ و از نامی کنند ** چاره‌ای سازند و پیغامی کنند
And if they be afraid of (incurring) disgrace and (loss of) reputation, they devise some means and send a message;
ورنه در دلشان بود آن مفتکر ** نیست معشوقی ز عاشق بی‌خبر
Or if not, that (care for the sick) is pondered in their hearts: no beloved is unaware (forgetful) of his lover.
ای تو جویای نوادر داستان ** هم فسانه‌ی عشق‌بازان را بخوان 1775
O thou who desirest (to hear) a wondrous tale, read the story of them that play the game of love.
بس بجوشیدی درین عهد مدید ** ترک‌جوشی هم نگشتی ای قدید
Thou hast been boiling mightily during (all) this long time, (and yet), O dried meat, thou hast not even become half-cooked.
دیده‌ای عمری تو داد و داوری ** وانگه از نادیدگان ناشی‌تری
During a (whole) life-time thou hast seen the justice and jurisdiction (of God), and then (after all) thou art more ignorant than the blind.
هر که شاگردیش کرد استاد شد ** تو سپس‌تر رفته‌ای ای کور لد
Whoever serves Him as a pupil becomes a master, (but) thou hast gone backwards, O blind fool!
خود نبود از والدینت اختبار ** هم نبودت عبرت از لیل و نهار
Verily thou hast learned nothing from thy parents, nor hast thou taken a lesson from night and day.
مثل
Parable.
عارفی پرسید از آن پیر کشیش ** که توی خواجه مسن‌تر یا که ریش 1780
A (Súfí) gnostic asked an old Christian priest, “Sire, art thou the more advanced in age, or thy beard?”
گفت نه من پیش ازو زاییده‌ام ** بی ز ریشی بس جهان را دیده‌ام
He replied, “Nay; I was born before it: I have seen much of the world without a beard.”
گفت ریشت شد سپید از حال گشت ** خوی زشت تو نگردیدست وشت
He (the Súfí) said, “Thy beard has turned white, it has changed, (but) thy evil disposition has not become good.”
او پس از تو زاد و از تو بگذرید ** تو چنین خشکی ز سودای ثرید
It (thy beard) was born after thee and (yet) it has surpassed thee: thou art so dry (vain and unprofitable) because of thy passion for tharíd.
تو بر آن رنگی که اول زاده‌ای ** یک قدم زان پیش‌تر ننهاده‌ای
Thou art (still) of the same complexion with which thou wast born: thou hast not taken one step forward.
هم‌چنان دوغی ترش در معدنی ** خود نگردی زو مخلص روغنی 1785
Still thou art (as) sour buttermilk in the churn: in sooth thou hast not extracted any oil (butter) from it.
هم خمیری خمر طینه دری ** گرچه عمری در تنور آذری
Still thou art (as) dough in the jar of clay, though thou hast been a (whole) lifetime in the fiery oven.
چون حشیشی پا به گل بر پشته‌ای ** گرچه از باد هوس سرگشته‌ای
Thou art like a herb on a hillock: (thy) foot (is fixed immovably) in the earth, though thy head is tossed (to and fro) by the wind of passion.
هم‌چو قوم موسی اندر حر تیه ** مانده‌ای بر جای چل سال ای سفیه
Like the people of Moses in the heat of the Desert, thou hast remained forty years in (the same) place, O foolish man.
می‌روی هر روز تا شب هروله ** خویش می‌بینی در اول مرحله
Daily thou marchest rapidly till nightfall and findest thyself (still) in the first stage of thy journey.
نگذری زین بعد سیصد ساله تو ** تا که داری عشق آن گوساله تو 1790
Thou wilt never traverse this three hundred years' distance so long as thou hast love for the calf.
تا خیال عجل از جانشان نرفت ** بد بریشان تیه چون گرداب زفت
Until the fancy (illusion) of the calf went out of their hearts, the Desert was to them like a blazing whirlpool.
غیر این عجلی کزو یابیده‌ای ** بی‌نهایت لطف و نعمت دیده‌ای
Besides this calf which thou hast obtained from Him (God), thou hast experienced infinite graces and bounties.
گاو طبعی زان نکوییهای زفت ** از دلت در عشق این گوساله رفت
Thou hast the nature of a cow; hence in thy love for this calf (those) mighty benefits have vanished from thy heart.
باری اکنون تو ز هر جزوت بپرس ** صد زبان دارند این اجزای خرس
Prithee now, ask each part of thee: these dumb parts have a hundred tongues
ذکر نعمتهای رزاق جهان ** که نهان شد آن در اوراق زمان 1795
To recall the bounties of the World-Provider which are hidden in the pages of Time.
روز و شب افسانه‌جویانی تو چست ** جزو جزو تو فسانه‌گوی تست
By day and night thou art eagerly seeking (to hear) stories, while each several part of thee is telling thee the story (of His bounties).
جزو جزوت تا برستست از عدم ** چند شادی دیده‌اند و چند غم
(Ever) since each several part of thee grew up from non-existence, how much joy have they experienced and how much pain!
زانک بی‌لذت نروید هیچ جزو ** بلک لاغر گردد از هی پیچ جزو
For without pleasure no part will grow; on the contrary, at every spasm (of pain) the part (affected) becomes thin (dwindles).
جزو ماند و آن خوشی از یاد رفت ** بل نرفت آن خفیه شد از پنج و هفت
The part remained (in being), but the pleasure vanished from memory; nay, it did not vanish, (though) it became concealed from the five (senses) and the seven (members of the body).
هم‌چو تابستان که از وی پنبه‌زاد ** ماند پنبه رفت تابستان ز یاد 1800
(’Tis) like summer, from which cotton is born: the cotton remains, the summer is no more remembered;
یا مثال یخ که زاید از شتا ** شد شتا پنهان و آن یخ پیش ما
Or like the ice which is born of winter: winter disappears, but the ice is with us.