با کپی‌خویان تهتکها چه کرد ** با نبی‌رویان تنسکها چه کرد 1830
(See) what was done to the apish by their deeds of shame; (see) what was done to those of prophetic complexion by their acts of piety!
در عمارتها سگانند و عقور ** در خرابیهاست گنج عز و نور
In well-cultivated places there are curs and biting (dogs); in ruined places there is the treasure of glory and light.
گر نبودی این بزوغ اندر خسوف ** گم نکردی راه چندین فیلسوف
If this (spiritual) moonlight had not been in eclipse, so many philosophers would not have lost the (right) way.
زیرکان و عاقلان از گمرهی ** دیده بر خرطوم داغ ابلهی
Through losing their way the acute and intelligent saw the brand of foolishness on their noses.
باقی قصه‌ی فقیر روزی‌طلب بی‌واسطه‌ی کسب
The remainder of the Story of the fakir who desired (to receive) his daily bread without (having recourse to) work as a means (of earning it).
آن یکی بیچاره‌ی مفلس ز درد ** که ز بی‌چیزی هزاران زهر خورد
In his grief that wretched pauper, who suffered a thousand agonies on account of indigence,
لابه کردی در نماز و در دعا ** کای خداوند و نگهبان رعا 1835
Used to beseech (God) in prayer and invocation, crying, “O Lord and Guardian of (them that are) the shepherds (of their people),
بی ز جهدی آفریدی مر مرا ** بی فن من روزیم ده زین سرا
Thou didst create me without any exertion (on my part): give me daily bread from this mansion (the world) without contrivance (on my part).
پنج گوهر دادیم در درج سر ** پنج حس دیگری هم مستتر
Thou gavest me the five jewels in the casket of my head, and also five other occult senses.
لا یعد این داد و لا یحصی ز تو ** من کلیلم از بیانش شرم‌رو
These gifts of Thine are not to be numbered or computed; in setting them forth I am tongue-tied and shamefaced.
چونک در خلاقیم تنها توی ** کار رزاقیم تو کن مستوی
Since Thou art alone (without partner) in my creation, do Thou adjust (accordingly) the matter of providing me with daily bread.”
سالها زو این دعا بسیار شد ** عاقبت زاری او بر کار شد 1840
For years this prayer was frequently uttered by him, and at last his supplication took effect,
هم‌چو آن شخصی که روزی حلال ** از خدا می‌خواست بی‌کسب و کلال
As (in the case of) the person who used to beg God to grant him a lawful livelihood without labour and fatigue,
گاو آوردش سعادت عاقبت ** عهد داود لدنی معدلت
(Till) at length the cow brought him happiness: (’twas in) the epoch of David whose justice was divinely inspired.
این متیم نیز زاریها نمود ** هم ز میدان اجابت گو ربود
This thrall of love, too, made piteous entreaties, and he likewise carried off the ball from the field of (favourable) response.
گاه بدظن می‌شدی اندر دعا ** از پی تاخیر پاداش و جزا
(Yet) while praying he would at times become distrustful on account of the postponement of the recompense and reward;
باز ارجاء خداوند کریم ** در دلش بشار گشتی و زعیم 1845
(And then) again the gracious Lord's deferment (of his hopes) would bring a message of joy to his heart and become a surety (for their fulfilment).
چون شدی نومید در جهد از کلال ** از جناب حق شنیدی که تعال
Whenever in (the course of his) earnest supplication weariness caused him to despair, he would hear from the Presence of God (the call) “Come!”
خافضست و رافعست این کردگار ** بی ازین دو بر نیاید هیچ کار
This (Divine) Maker is He who abaseth and exalteth: without these two (attributes) no work is accomplished.
خفض ارضی بین و رفع آسمان ** بی ازین دو نیست دورانش ای فلان
Consider the lowness of the earth and the loftiness of the sky: without these two (attributes) its (the sky's) revolution is not (possible), O such-and-such.
خفض و رفع این زمین نوعی دگر ** نیم سالی شوره نیمی سبز و تر
The lowness and loftiness of this earth are of another sort: for one half of the year it is barren and for (the other) half (it is) green and fresh.
خفض و رفع روزگار با کرب ** نوع دیگر نیم روز و نیم شب 1850
The lowness and loftiness of distressful Time are of another sort: one half day and (the other) half night.
خفض و رفع این مزاج ممترج ** گاه صحت گاه رنجوری مضج
The lowness and loftiness of this blended (bodily) temperament (of ours) are now health and now sickness that causes (us) to cry out (in pain).
هم‌چنین دان جمله احوال جهان ** قحط و جدب و صلح و جنگ از افتتان
Know that even so are all the changing conditions of the world—famine and drought and peace and war—(which arise) from (Divine) probation.
این جهان با این دو پر اندر هواست ** زین دو جانها موطن خوف و رجاست
By means of these two wings this world is (kept up like a bird) in the air; by means of these twain (all) souls are habitations of fear and hope,
تا جهان لرزان بود مانند برگ ** در شمال و در سموم بعث و مرگ
To the end that the world may be (always) trembling like a leaf in the north wind and simoom of resurrection and death,
تا خم یک‌رنگی عیسی ما ** بشکند نرخ خم صدرنگ را 1855
(And) that (ultimately) the vat of the unicolority of our Jesus may destroy the value of the vat containing a hundred dyes;
کان جهان هم‌چون نمکسار آمدست ** هر چه آنجا رفت بی‌تلوین شدست
For that world (of Unity) is like a salt-mine: whatever has gone thither has become exempt from coloration (dyeing with various colours).
خاک را بین خلق رنگارنگ را ** می‌کند یک رنگ اندر گورها
Look at earth: it makes many-coloured (diverse) humankind to be (all) of one colour in their graves.
این نمکسار جسوم ظاهرست ** خود نمکسار معانی دیگرست
This is the salt-mine for visible (material) bodies, (but) in sooth the salt-mine for ideal (supersensible) things is different.
آن نمکسار معانی معنویست ** از ازل آن تا ابد اندر نویست
The salt-mine for ideal things is ideal (spiritual and real): it remains new from eternity unto everlasting.
این نوی را کهنگی ضدش بود ** آن نوی بی ضد و بی ند و عدد 1860
This (earthly) newness has oldness as its opposite, but that newness (belonging to the world of Reality) is without opposite or like or number.
آنچنان که از صقل نور مصطفی ** صد هزاران نوع ظلمت شد ضیا
’Tis (even) as by the polishing action of the Light of Mustafá (Mohammed) a hundred thousand sorts of darkness became radiant.
از جهود و مشرک و ترسا و مغ ** جملگی یک‌رنگ شد زان الپ الغ
Jew and polytheist and Christian and Magian—all were made of one colour by that Alp Ulugh (great hero).
صد هزاران سایه کوتاه و دراز ** شد یکی در نور آن خورشید راز
A hundred thousand shadows short and long became one in the light of that Sun of mystery.
نه درازی ماند نه کوته نه پهن ** گونه گونه سایه در خورشید رهن
Neither a long (shadow) remained nor a short nor a wide: shadows of every kind were given in pawn to (absorbed in) the Sun.
لیک یک‌رنگی که اندر محشرست ** بر بد و بر نیک کشف و ظاهرست 1865
But the unicolority that is (everywhere) at the Resurrection is (then) revealed and (made) manifest to the evil and the good (alike);
که معانی آن جهان صورت شود ** نقشهامان در خور خصلت شود
For in that world ideas are endued with form, and our (visible) shapes become congruous with our (moral and spiritual) qualities.
گردد آنگه فکر نقش نامه‌ها ** این بطانه روی کار جامه‌ها
The (secret) thoughts will then become (materialised in) the form of the books (recording good and evil actions): this lining will become the working surface of the garments.
این زمان سرها مثال گاو پیس ** دوک نطق اندر ملل صد رنگ ریس
During this (present) time (men's) inward beliefs are (as variegated) as a piebald cow, and in the (different) religious sects the spindle of speech is spinning (threads of) a hundred colours.
نوبت صدرنگیست و صددلی ** عالم یک رنگ کی گردد جلی
’Tis the turn (reign) of many-colouredness and many-mindedness: how should the one-coloured world become unveiled?
نوبت زنگست رومی شد نهان ** این شبست و آفتاب اندر رهان 1870
’Tis the turn (reign) of the Ethiopian; the Greek is hidden (from view): this is night, and the sun is in pawn.
نوبت گرگست و یوسف زیر چاه ** نوبت قبطست و فرعونست شاه
’Tis the turn (reign) of the wolf, and Joseph is at the bottom of the well; ’tis the turn (reign) of the Egyptians, and Pharaoh is king.
تا ز رزق بی‌دریغ خیره‌خند ** این سگان را حصه باشد روز چند
(Such is the Divine purpose), in order that for a few days these curs may have their allotted portion of the unstinted and deluding (worldly) provision.
در درون بیشه شیران منتظر ** تا شود امر تعالوا منتشر
(But) within the jungle (of this world) are lions (righteous and holy men), waiting for the command “Come!” to be spread abroad.
پس برون آیند آن شیران ز مرج ** بی‌حجابی حق نماید دخل و خرج
Then those lions will come forth from the (worldly) pasture, and God will show (unto them) their income and expenditure without any veil (disguise).
جوهر انسان بگیرد بر و بحر ** پیسه گاوان بسملان آن روز نحر 1875
The (spiritual) essence of Man will encompass land and sea, (while) the piebald cattle will be killed as victims on the Day of Slaughter.
روز نحر رستخیز سهمناک ** مومنان را عید و گاوان را هلاک
The terrible Day of Slaughter at the Resurrection is a festival for the true believers and (the hour of) destruction for the cattle.
جمله‌ی مرغان آب آن روز نحر ** هم‌چو کشتیها روان بر روی بحر
On that Day of Slaughter all the water-birds (will be) sailing along like ships on the surface of the Sea.
تا که یهلک من هلک عن بینه ** تا که ینجو من نجا واستیقنه
(This Day is ordained) to the end that they who perish may perish by a clear proof, and that they who are saved and have sure knowledge thereof may be saved (by a clear proof),
تا که بازان جانب سلطان روند ** تا که زاغان سوی گورستان روند
And that the falcons may go to the Sultan and that the crows may go to the graveyard;