آن فلان قبه که در وی مشهدست ** پشت او در شهر و در در فدفدست 1940
(Go to) such-and-such a domed building in which there is a martyr's shrine, with its back to the town and its gate towards the desert.
پشت با وی کن تو رو در قبله آر ** وانگهان از قوس تیری بر گذار
Turn your back to it and face the qibla (Mecca) and then let loose an arrow from your bow.
چون فکندی تیر از قوس ای سعاد ** بر کن آن موضع که تیرت اوفتاد
When you have shot the arrow from your bow, O fortunate one, dig up the place where your arrow fell.”
پس کمان سخت آورد آن فتی ** تیر پرانید در صحن فضا
Thereupon the youth fetched a strongbow and let fly an arrow into the expanse of (aerial) space,
زو تبر آورد و بیل او شاد شاد ** کند آن موضع که تیرش اوفتاد
And quickly and with great joy brought a pick-axe and mattock and dug up the spot where his arrow had fallen;
کند شد هم او و هم بیل و تبر ** خود ندید از گنج پنهانی اثر 1945
(But) both he and the mattock and pick-axe were worn out (in vain efforts), and he found not even a trace of the hidden treasure.
هم‌چنین هر روز تیر انداختی ** لیک جای گنج را نشناختی
Every day in like fashion he was shooting arrows, but never getting to know the situation of the treasure.
چونک این را پیشه کرد او بر دوام ** فجفجی در شهر افتاد و عوام
Since he made this his continual practice, a whispered rumour arose in the city and (among) the people.
فاش شدن خبر این گنج و رسیدن به گوش پادشاه
How the news of this treasure became known and reached the ears of the king.
پس خبر کردند سلطان را ازین ** آن گروهی که بدند اندر کمین
Then the party (of informers) who lay in ambush gave information of this to the king,
عرضه کردند آن سخن را زیردست ** که فلانی گنج‌نامه یافتست
And submitted the matter (to him) secretly, saying that such-and-such an one had found a treasure-scroll.
چون شنید این شخص کین با شه رسید ** جز که تسلیم و رضا چاره ندید 1950
When this person (the fakir) heard that it had come to (the knowledge of) the king, he saw no remedy but resignation and acquiescence;
پیش از آنک اشکنجه بیند زان قباد ** رقعه را آن شخص پیش او نهاد
(So), ere he should suffer (torture on) the rack by order of the Emperor, that person laid the note (of the treasure) before him,
گفت تا این رقعه را یابیده‌ام ** گنج نه و رنج بی‌حد دیده‌ام
Saying, “(Ever) since I found this scroll, I have seen no treasure but (only) infinite trouble.
خود نشد یک حبه از گنج آشکار ** لیک پیچیدم بسی من هم‌چو مار
Not even a single mite of treasure has been discovered, but I have writhed very much, like a snake.
مدت ماهی چنینم تلخ‌کام ** که زیان و سود این بر من حرام
During a (whole) month I have been in bitter distress like this, for loss or gain (accruing) from this (treasure-scroll) is forbidden to me.
بوک بختت بر کند زین کان غطا ** ای شه پیروزجنگ و دزگشا 1955
Maybe thy fortune will disclose (to thee) this mine (of riches), O king (who art) victorious in war and the conqueror of fortresses.”
مدت شش ماه و افزون پادشاه ** تیر می‌انداخت و برمی‌کند چاه
For six long months and more the king shot arrows and dug pits (where the arrows fell).
هرکجا سخته کمانی بود چست ** تیر داد انداخت و هر سو گنج جست
Wherever an energetic drawer of the strongbow was (to be found), he (the king) gave (him) arrows to shoot and searched for the treasure in every direction.
غیر تشویش و غم و طامات نی ** هم‌چو عنقا نام فاش و ذات نی
(The result was) nothing but vexation and grief and futilities: as (in the case of) the ‘Anqá, the name (of the treasure) was known to all, but the essence (reality) was non-existent.
نومید شدن آن پادشاه از یافتن آن گنج و ملول شدن او از طلب آن
How the king despaired of finding the treasure and became weary of searching for it.
چونک تعویق آمد اندر عرض و طول ** شاه شد زان گنج دل سیر و ملول
When he met with obstacles (to success) in (all) the breadth and length (of his enterprise), the king became sick at heart and weary.
دشتها را گز گز آن شه چاه کند ** رقعه را از خشم پیش او فکند 1960
(After) the king (had) dug pits in the deserts, yard by yard, he threw the scroll wrathfully before him (the fakir).
گفت گیر این رقعه کش آثار نیست ** تو بدین اولیتری کت کار نیست
“Take this scroll,” said he, “which has no (good) effects; you are the fittest (owner) for it, since you have no work.
نیست این کار کسی کش هست کار ** که بسوزد گل بگردد گرد خار
It is no use for one who has work (to do) that he should burn the rose and go about (busy himself with) the thorn.
نادر افتد اهل این ماخولیا ** منتظر که روید از آهن گیا
’Tis singular (how) the victims of this melancholy madness expect grass to grow from iron.
سخت جانی باید این فن را چو تو ** تو که داری جان سخت این را بجو
This specialty needs a man of stout heart like you: do you, who have a stout heart, search for this (treasure).
گر نیابی نبودت هرگز ملال ** ور بیابی آن به تو کردم حلال 1965
If you cannot find it, you will never weary (of seeking); and if you find it, I grant you the right of possession.”
عقل راه ناامیدی کی رود ** عشق باشد کان طرف بر سر دود
How should Reason wend the way of despair? ’Tis Love that runs on its head in that direction.
لاابالی عشق باشد نی خرد ** عقل آن جوید کز آن سودی برد
Love is reckless, not Reason: Reason seeks that from which it may get some profit.
ترک‌تاز و تن‌گداز و بی‌حیا ** در بلا چون سنگ زیر آسیا
(The lover is) fierce in onset and body-consuming and unabashed: in tribulation, like the nether millstone;
سخت‌رویی که ندارد هیچ پشت ** بهره‌جویی را درون خویش کشت
A hard-faced one that has no back: he has killed in himself the seeking of self-interest.
پاک می‌بازد نباشد مزدجو ** آنچنان که پاک می‌گیرد ز هو 1970
He gambles (everything) clean away, he seeks no reward, even as he receives (everything) clean (as a free gift) from Him (God).
می‌دهد حق هستیش بی‌علتی ** می‌سپارد باز بی‌علت فتی
God gives him his existence without any cause: the devoted (lover) yields it up again without cause;
که فتوت دادن بی علتست ** پاک‌بازی خارج هر ملتست
For devotion consists in giving without cause: gambling (one's self) clean away (pure self-sacrifice) is outside of (transcends) every religion.
زانک ملت فضل جوید یا خلاص ** پاک بازانند قربانان خاص
Forasmuch as religion seeks (Divine) grace or salvation, those who gamble (everything) clean away are (God's) chosen favourites.
نی خدا را امتحانی می‌کنند ** نی در سود و زیانی می‌زنند
Neither do they put God to any test, nor do they knock at the door of any profit or loss.
باز دادن شاه گنج‌نامه را به آن فقیر کی بگیر ما از سر این برخاستیم
How the king gave back the treasure-scroll to the fakir, saying, “Take it: we are quit of it.”
چونک رقعه‌ی گنج پر آشوب را ** شه مسلم داشت آن مکروب را 1975
When the king handed over to that grief-stricken man the treasure-scroll (which was) fraught with commotion,
گشت آمن او ز خصمان و ز نیش ** رفت و می‌پیچید در سودای خویش
He (the fakir) became secure from rivals and annoyance, (so) he went and wrapped himself in his melancholy madness.
یار کرد او عشق درداندیش را ** کلب لیسد خویش ریش خویش را
He made sad-thoughted Love his friend: a dog licks his own sore himself.
عشق را در پیچش خود یار نیست ** محرمش در ده یکی دیار نیست
Love hath none to help him in his torment: there is not in the village one inhabitant familiar with him.
نیست از عاشق کسی دیوانه‌تر ** عقل از سودای او کورست و کر
None is more mad than the lover, (yet) Reason is blind and deaf to his melancholia,
زآنک این دیوانگی عام نیست ** طب را ارشاد این احکام نیست 1980
Because this is no common madness: in these cases Medicine cannot give right guidance.
گر طبیبی را رسد زین گون جنون ** دفتر طب را فرو شوید به خون
If frenzy of this kind overtake a physician, he will wash out (obliterate) the book of Medicine with (tears of) blood.
طب جمله‌ی عقلها منقوش اوست ** روی جمله دلبران روپوش اوست
The Medicine of all intellects is (but) a picture of him (Love); the faces of all sweethearts are (but) a veil of him.
روی در روی خود آر ای عشق‌کیش ** نیست ای مفتون ترا جز خویش خویش
O votary of Love, turn thy face towards thine own face: thou hast no kinsman but thyself, O distraught one.
قبله از دل ساخت آمد در دعا ** لیس للانسان الا ما سعی
He (the fakir) made a qibla of his heart and began to pray: man hath naught but that for which he laboureth.
پیش از آن کو پاسخی بشنیده بود ** سالها اندر دعا پیچیده بود 1985
Ere he had heard any answer (to his prayer) he had (already) been engaged in praying for (many) years.
بی‌اجابت بر دعاها می‌تنید ** از کرم لبیک پنهان می‌شنید
He was always praying intently without (receiving) any (overt) response, (but) he was hearing Labbayka in secret from the (Divine) grace.