گر به مظروفش نظر داری شهی ** ور به ظرفش بنگری تو گم‌رهی
If you keep your eye fixed on its contents, you are a (spiritual) king; but if you regard its vessel, you are misguided.
لفظ را ماننده‌ی این جسم دان ** معنیش را در درون مانند جان
Know that words resemble this body and that their inward meaning resembles the soul.
دیده‌ی تن دایما تن‌بین بود ** دیده‌ی جان جان پر فن بین بود
The bodily eye is always seeing the body; the spiritual eye sees the artful (elusive) soul.
پس ز نقش لفظهای مثنوی ** صورتی ضالست و هادی معنوی 655
Therefore the man of appearance is misled by the form of the expressions used in the Mathnawí, while they guide the man of reality (to the Truth).
در نبی فرمود کین قرآن ز دل ** هادی بعضی و بعضی را مضل
He (God) hath said in the Qur’án, “This Qur’án with all its heart leads some aright and others astray.”
الله الله چونک عارف گفت می ** پیش عارف کی بود معدوم شی
God, God! When the gnostic speaks of “wine,” how in the gnostic's eyes should the (materially) non-existent be a (material) thing?
فهم تو چون باده‌ی شیطان بود ** کی ترا وهم می رحمان بود
Since your understanding is (only of) the Devil's wine, how should you have any conception of the wine of the Merciful (God)?
این دو انبازند مطرب با شراب ** این بدان و آن بدین آرد شتاب
These twain—the minstrel and the wine—are partners: this one quickly leads to that, and that one to this.
پر خماران از دم مطرب چرند ** مطربانشان سوی میخانه برند 660
They that are full of crop-sickness feed on the song of the minstrel: the minstrels bring them to the tavern.
آن سر میدان و این پایان اوست ** دل شده چون گوی در چوگان اوست
That one (the minstrel) is the beginning of the (lover's) course, and this (tavern) is the end thereof: the witless (lover) is like a ball in (the sway of) his polo-bat.
در سر آنچ هست گوش آنجا رود ** در سر ار صفراست آن سودا شود
The ear goes (inclines) to that which is in the head: if there is yellow bile in the head, it becomes black bile.
بعد از آن این دو به بیهوشی روند ** والد و مولود آنجا یک شوند
Afterwards, these twain (the minstrel and the lover) pass into unconsciousness: there the begetter and the begotten become one.
چونک کردند آشتی شادی و درد ** مطربان را ترک ما بیدار کرد
When joy and sorrow made peace (with each other), our Turk awakened the minstrels.
مطرب آغازید بیتی خوابناک ** که انلنی الکاس یا من لا اراک 665
The minstrel began (to sing) a slumberous verse—“Hand me the cup, O Thou whom I see not.
انت وجهی لا عجب ان لا اراه ** غایة القرب حجاب الاشتباه
Thou art my face: no wonder that I see it not: extreme proximity is a mystifying veil.
انت عقلی لا عجب ان لم ارک ** من وفور الالتباس المشتبک
Thou art my reason: no wonder if I see Thee not, on account of the abundance of the intricate perplexities (of thought).
جت اقرب انت من حبل الورید ** کم اقل یا یا نداء للبعید
Thou hast come nearer to me than my neck-artery: how long shall I say ‘Oh’? ‘Oh’ is a call to one who is far off.
بل اغالطهم انادی فی القفار ** کی اکتم من معی مومن اغار
Nay, but I dissemble with them when I call (to Him) in the deserts, in order that I may conceal Him who is beside me from those who excite my jealousy.”
در آمدن ضریر در خانه‌ی مصطفی علیه‌السلام و گریختن عایشه رضی الله عنها از پیش ضریر و گفتن رسول علیه‌السلام کی چه می‌گریزی او ترا نمی‌بیند و جواب دادن عایشه رضی الله عنها رسول را صلی الله علیه و سلم
How a blind man entered the house of Mustafá (Mohammed), on whom be peace, and how ‘Á’isha, may God be pleased with her, fled from the presence of the blind man, and how the Prophet, on whom be peace, asked, “Why art thou running away? He cannot see thee”; and the answer given by ‘Á’isha, may God be pleased with her, to the Prophet—God bless and save him!
اندر آمد پیش پیغامبر ضریر ** کای نوابخش تنور هر خمیر 670
A blind man came into the presence of the Prophet, saying, “O thou who suppliest fuel to every oven of dough,
ای تو میر آب و من مستسقیم ** مستغاث المستغاث ای ساقیم
O thou who art the lord of the Water (of Life), while I am suffering from dropsy—help, help, O giver of drink to me!”
چون در آمد آن ضریر از در شتاب ** عایشه بگریخت بهر احتجاب
When the blind man came in hastily by the door, ‘Á’isha ran away to conceal herself (from him),
زانک واقف بود آن خاتون پاک ** از غیوری رسول رشکناک
Because that chaste lady was aware of the resentfulness of the jealous Prophet.
هر که زیباتر بود رشکش فزون ** زانک رشک از ناز خیزد یا بنون
The more beautiful any one is, the greater his jealousy, for jealousy arises from (the possession of) loveliness, O sons.
گنده‌پیران شوی را قما دهند ** چونک از زشتی و پیری آگهند 675
Since foul hags are aware of their ugliness and old age, they let their husbands take a concubine.
چون جمال احمدی در هر دو کون ** کی بدست ای فر یزدانیش عون
When has there (ever) been in the two worlds a beauty like that of Ahmad (Mohammed)? Oh, may the Divine Glory aid him!
نازهای هر دو کون او را رسد ** غیرت آن خورشید صدتو را رسد
To him belong (all) the charms of both worlds: it beseems that hundredfold Sun to be jealous,
که در افکندم به کیوان گوی را ** در کشید ای اختران هم روی را
Saying, “I have thrown my (resplendent) orb over Saturn: beware, O stars, and cover your faces!
در شعاع بی‌نظیرم لا شوید ** ورنه پیش نور نم رسوا شوید
Be naughted in my incomparable radiance; else ye will be put to shame before my light.
از کرم من هر شبی غایب شوم ** کی روم الا نمایم که روم 680
For kindness' sake, I disappear every night; (but) how should I depart? I only make a show of departing,
تا شما بی من شبی خفاش‌وار ** پر زنان پرید گرد این مطار
That for a night ye may fly without me like bats, flapping your wings, around this flying-place;
هم‌چو طاووسان پری عرضه کنید ** باز مست و سرکش و معجب شوید
And that, like peacocks, ye may display a (gorgeous) wing, and then become intoxicated and haughty and self-conceited.
ننگرید آن پای خود را زشت‌ساز ** هم‌چو چارق کو بود شمع ایاز
Look at your uncouth feet, like the rustic shoon that were (as) a candle to Ayáz.
رو نمایم صبح بهر گوشمال ** تا نگردید از منی ز اهل شمال
At dawn I show my face to reprimand you, lest from egoism ye become (included) among the people of the left hand.”
ترک آن کن که درازست آن سخن ** نهی کردست از درازی امر کن 685
Leave that (topic), for that topic is lengthy: (he who is the final cause of) the command “Be!” hath forbidden lengthiness.
امتحان کردن مصطفی علیه‌السلام عایشه را رضی الله عنها کی چه پنهان می‌شوی پنهان مشو که اعمی ترا نمی‌بیند تا پدید آید کی عایشه رضی الله عنها از ضمیر مصطفی علیه السلام واقف هست یا خود مقلد گفت ظاهرست
How Mustafá (Mohammed), on whom be peace, made trial of ‘Á’isha, may God be pleased with her, and said, “Why art thou hiding? Do not hide, for the blind man cannot see thee,” in order that it might appear whether ‘Á’isha was acquainted with the secret thoughts of Mustafá, on whom be peace, or whether she was (merely) one who would follow his expressed wishes.
گفت پیغامبر برای امتحان ** او نمی‌بیند ترا کم شو نهان
The Prophet said by way of trial, “He cannot see thee: do not hide.”
کرد اشارت عایشه با دستها ** او نبیند من همی‌بینم ورا
‘Á’isha made a sign with her hands (as though to say), “(If) he does not see (me), yet I see him.”
غیرت عقل است بر خوبی روح ** پر ز تشبیهات و تمثیل این نصوح
Reason's jealousy of the beauty of the Spirit is (the cause of) this sincere admonition being full of similitudes and allegories.
با چنین پنهانیی کین روح راست ** عقل بر وی این چنین رشکین چراست
Notwithstanding that this Spirit is so hidden, why is Reason so jealous of Him?
از که پنهان می‌کنی ای رشک‌خو ** آنک پوشیدست نورش روی او 690
O jealous one, from whom art thou hiding Him whose face is concealed by His light?
می‌رود بی‌روی‌پوش این آفتاب ** فرط نور اوست رویش را نقاب
This Sun goes with face uncovered: His face is veiled by the excess of His light.
از که پنهان می‌کنی ای رشک‌ور ** که آفتاب از وی نمی‌بیند اثر
From whom art thou hiding Him, O jealous one? The sun (itself) cannot see a trace of Him.
رشک از آن افزون‌ترست اندر تنم ** کز خودش خواهم که هم پنهان کنم
(Reason says), “The jealousy in my body is (all) the greater because I desire to hide Him even from myself.
ز آتش رشک گران آهنگ من ** با دو چشم و گوش خود در جنگ من
On account of the fire of fell jealousy I am at war with my own eyes and ears.”
چون چنین رشکیستت ای جان و دل ** پس دهان بر بند و گفتن را بهل 695
Since thou hast such a (mighty) jealousy, O my soul and heart, close thy mouth and leave off speaking.
ترسم ار خامش کنم آن آفتاب ** از سوی دیگر بدراند حجاب
(Reason says), “If I keep silence, I fear that that Sun will rend the veil and (display Himself) from another quarter.”
در خموشی گفت ما اظهر شود ** که ز منع آن میل افزون‌تر شود
In (keeping) silence our (inward) speaking (of Him) is (only) made more evident, since the desire (for manifestation) is increased by suppression.
گر بغرد بحر غره‌ش کف شود ** جوش احببت بان اعرف شود
If the Sea roar, its roaring turns to foam and becomes the surge of “I desired to be known.”
حرف گفتن بستن آن روزنست ** عین اظهار سخن پوشیدنست
To utter words (concerning Him) is to shut the window (through which He reveals Himself): the very act of expression is the concealment (of Him).
بلبلانه نعره زن در روی گل ** تا کنی مشغولشان از بوی گل 700
Sing, like nightingales, in the presence of the Rose, in order that you may divert them from the scent of the Rose,
تا به قل مغشول گردد گوششان ** سوی روی گل نپرد هوششان
So that their ears will be engaged in (listening to) the song, and their attention will not fly to the face of the Rose.