آفتاب لطف حق بر هر چه تافت ** از سگ و از اسپ فر کهف یافت
Whatsoever the sun of God's grace shines upon, whether it be dog or horse, gains (is endowed with) the glory of the Cave;
تاب لطفش را تو یکسان هم مدان ** سنگ را و لعل را داد او نشان
Yet deem not the radiance of His grace to be uniform: it has given a sign (distinctive character) to the pebble and the ruby.
لعل را زان هست گنج مقتبس ** سنگ را گرمی و تابانی و بس
From that (radiance) the ruby has a borrowed treasure, (while) the pebble has only heat and brightness.
آنک بر دیوار افتد آفتاب ** آن‌چنان نبود کز آب و اضطراب
(The radiance of) the sun falling on a wall is not the same as (when it is reflected) from water and quivering movement.
چون دمی حیران شد از وی شاه فرد ** روی خود سوی عماد الملک کرد 3455
After the peerless king had been astounded by (gazing at) it (the horse) for a moment, he turned his face to the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk,
کای اچی بس خوب اسپی نیست این ** از بهشتست این مگر نه از زمین
Saying, “O vizier, is not this an exceedingly beautiful horse? Surely it belongs to Paradise, not to the earth.”
پس عماد الملک گفتش ای خدیو ** چون فرشته گردد از میل تو دیو
Thereupon the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk said to him, “O emperor, a demon is made angelic by thy (fond) inclination.
در نظر آنچ آوری گردید نیک ** بس گش و رعناست این مرکب ولیک
That on which thou lookest (fondly) becomes (appears good (to thee). This steed is very handsome and graceful, and yet
هست ناقص آن سر اندر پیکرش ** چون سر گاوست گویی آن سرش
The head is a blemish in its (elegant) form: you might say that its head is like the head of an ox.”
در دل خوارمشه این دم کار کرد ** اسپ را در منظر شه خوار کرد 3460
These words worked on the heart of the Khwárizmsháh and caused the horse to be cheap in the king's sight.
چون غرض دلاله گشت و واصفی ** از سه گز کرباس یابی یوسفی
When prejudice becomes a go-between and describer (of beauty), you may get (buy) a Joseph for three ells of linen.
چونک هنگام فراق جان شود ** دیو دلال در ایمان شود
When the hour arrives for the spirit's parting (from the body), the Devil becomes a broker (depreciator) of the pearl of Faith,
پس فروشد ابله ایمان را شتاب ** اندر آن تنگی به یک ابریق آب
And then in that (moment of) sore distress the fool hastily sells his faith for a jug of water;
وان خیالی باشد و ابریق نی ** قصد آن دلال جز تخریق نی
But ’tis a (mere) phantom and not (really) a jug: the aim of the broker (the Devil) is naught but trickery.
این زمان که تو صحیح و فربهی ** صدق را بهر خیالی می‌دهی 3465
At this (present) time, when you are healthy and fat, you are giving up the Truth for a phantom.
می‌فروشی هر زمانی در کان ** هم‌چو طفلی می‌ستانی گردگان
You are constantly selling the pearls of the (spiritual) mine and taking walnuts (in exchange), like a child;
پس در آن رنجوری روز اجل ** نیست نادر گر بود اینت عمل
Therefore it is no wonder if you act in this (same) way in the (mortal) sickness of your day of doom (death).
در خیالت صورتی جوشیده‌ای ** هم‌چو جوزی وقت دق پوسیده‌ای
You have concocted an idea (a vain notion) in your fancy: when you are rattled (tested) like a walnut, you are (proved to be) rotten.
هست از آغاز چون بدر آن خیال ** لیک آخر می‌شود هم‌چون هلال
In the beginning that phantom resembles the full-moon, but in the end it will become like the new-moon.
گر تو اول بنگری چون آخرش ** فارغ آیی از فریب فاترش 3470
If you regard its first (state) as being (really) like its last (state), you will be quit of its feeble deception.
جوز پوسیده‌ست دنیا ای امین ** امتحانش کم کن از دورش ببین
This world is a rotten walnut: O man of trust, do not make trial of it, (but) behold it from afar.
شاه دید آن اسپ را با چشم حال ** وآن عمادالملک با چشم مل
The king viewed the horse with regard to the present, while the ‘Imádu ’l- Mulk (viewed it) with regard to the future.
چشم شه دو گز همی دید از لغز ** چشم آن پایان‌نگر پنجاه گز
The king's eye, because of (its) distortion, saw (only) two ells, (but) the eye of him who regarded the end saw fifty ells.
آن چه سرمه‌ست آنک یزدان می‌کشد ** کز پس صد پرده بیند جان رشد
What a (wondrous) collyrium is that which God applies (to the spiritual eye), so that the spirit discerns the truth behind a hundred curtains!
چشم مهتر چون به آخر بود جفت ** پس بدان دیده جهان را جیفه گفت 3475
Since the Chief's (the Prophet's) eye was ever fixed on the end, by reason of (seeing with) that eye he called the world a carcase.
زین یکی ذمش که بشنود او وحسپ ** پس فسرد اندر دل شه مهر اسپ
On hearing only this single (word of) blame from him (the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk), the love (that was) in the king's heart for the horse became chilled.
چشم خود بگذاشت و چشم او گزید ** هوش خود بگذاشت و قول او شنید
He abandoned his own eye and preferred his (the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk's) eye: he abandoned his own intelligence and hearkened to his (the other's) words.
این بهانه بود و آن دیان فرد ** از نیاز آن در دل شه سرد کرد
This (speech of the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk) was (only) the pretext, and (in reality) at (his) entreaty the unique Judge caused it (the horse) to be cold (despicable) in the king's heart.
در ببست از حسن او پیش بصر ** آن سخن بد در میان چون بانگ در
He (God) shut the door on its beauty (made its beauty invisible) to the eye (of the king): those words (of the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk) intervened (between the king's eye and the horse) like the sound of the door.
پرده کرد آن نکته را بر چشم شه ** که از آن پرده نماید مه سیه 3480
He (God) made that cryptic saying a veil over the king's eye, a veil through which the moon appears to be black.
پاک بنایی که بر سازد حصون ** در جهان غیب از گفت و فسون
Pure (transcendent) is the Builder who in the unseen world constructs castles of speech and beguiling talk.
بانگ در دان گفت را از قصر راز ** تا که بانگ وا شدست این یا فراز
Know that speech is the sound of the door (coming) from the palace of mystery: consider whether it is the sound of opening or shutting.
بانگ در محسوس و در از حس برون ** تبصرون این بانگ و در لا تبصرون
The sound of the door is perceptible, but the door (itself) is beyond perception: ye see (are aware of) this sound, but the door ye see not.
چنگ حکمت چونک خوش‌آواز شد ** تا چه در از روض جنت باز شد
When the harp of wisdom breaks into melody, (bethink yourself) what door of the Garden of Paradise has been opened.
بانگ گفت بد چو دروا می‌شود ** از سقر تا خود چه در وا می‌شود 3485
When the sound of evil speech becomes loud, (bethink yourself) what door of Hell is being opened.
بانگ در بشنو چو دوری از درش ** ای خنک او را که وا شد منظرش
Since you are far from its door, hearken to the sound of the door: oh, blest is he whose eye has been opened (so that he can recognise the wicked).
چون تو می‌بینی که نیکی می‌کنی ** بر حیات و راحتی بر می‌زنی
When you are aware of doing a good action, you obtain a (feeling of spiritual) life and joy;
چونک تقصیر و فسادی می‌رود ** آن حیات و ذوق پنهان می‌شود
And when a fault and evil deed issues (from you), that (feeling of) life and rapture disappears.
دید خود مگذار از دید خسان ** که به مردارت کشند این کرکسان
Do not abandon your own eye (judgement) from regard for the vile, for these vultures will lead you to the carcase.
چشم چون نرگس فروبندی که چی ** هین عصاام کش که کورم ای اچی 3490
You close your narcissus-like eye, saying, “What (is it)? Hey, sir, take my stick (and show me the way), for I am blind”;
وان عصاکش که گزیدی در سفر ** خود ببینی باشد از تو کورتر
But if you would only look, (you would see that) the guide whom you have chosen for the journey is (even) blinder than you.
دست کورانه به حبل الله زن ** جز بر امر و نهی یزدانی متن
Grasp in a blind man's fashion the rope of Allah: do not cling to aught but the Divine commandments and prohibitions.
چیست حبل‌الله رها کردن هوا ** کین هوا شد صرصری مر عاد را
What is the rope of Allah? To renounce self-will, for this self-will was a roaring wind (of destruction) to (the people of) ‘Ád.
خلق در زندان نشسته از هواست ** مرغ را پرها ببسته از هواست
’Tis from self-will that folk are sitting in gaol, ’tis from self-will that the (trapped) bird's wings are tied.
ماهی اندر تابه‌ی گرم از هواست ** رفته از مستوریان شرم از هواست 3495
’Tis from self-will that the fish is (cooked) in a hot pan, ’tis from self-will that shame (bashfulness) is gone from the modest.
خشم شحنه شعله‌ی نار از هواست ** چارمیخ و هیبت دار از هواست
The anger of the police magistrate is a fiery spark from self-will; crucifixion and the awfulness of the gallows are (the consequence) of self-will.
شحنه‌ی اجسام دیدی بر زمین ** شحنه‌ی احکام جان را هم ببین
You have seen the magistrate (who carries out the punishment) of bodies on the earth: (now) see also the magistrate who executes judgements against the soul.
روح را در غیب خود اشکنجه‌هاست ** لیک تا نجهی شکنجه در خفاست
Verily tortures are inflicted on the soul in the world invisible, but until you escape (from self-will) the torture is concealed (from view).
چون رهیدی بینی اشکنجه و دمار ** زانک ضد از ضد گردد آشکار
When you are freed you will behold the torture and perdition (of the soul), because contrary is made manifest by contrary.
آنک در چه زاد و در آب سیاه ** او چه داند لطف دشت و رنج چاه 3500
He that was born in the well (of the material world) and the black water, how should he know the pleasantness of the open country and (distinguish it from) the pain of (being in) the well?