مدح این آدم که نامش می‌‌برم ** قاصرم گر تا قیامت بشمرم
If until the Resurrection I reckon up the praise of this Adam whose name I am celebrating, I fall short (of what is due).
این همه دانست و چون آمد قضا ** دانش یک نهی شد بر وی خطا
All this he knew; (yet) when the Divine destiny came, he was at fault in the knowledge of a single prohibition,
کای عجب نهی از پی تحریم بود ** یا به تاویلی بد و توهیم بود1250
Wondering whether the prohibition was for the purpose of making unlawful (the thing prohibited), or whether it admitted of an interpretation and was a cause of perplexity.
در دلش تاویل چون ترجیح یافت ** طبع در حیرت سوی گندم شتافت
When (the view that it admitted of) interpretation prevailed in his mind, his nature hastened in bewilderment towards the wheat.
باغبان را خار چون در پای رفت ** دزد فرصت یافت، کالا برد تفت
When the thorn went into the foot of the gardener (Adam), the thief (Satan) found an opportunity and quickly carried off the goods.
چون ز حیرت رست باز آمد به راه ** دید برده دزد رخت از کارگاه
As soon as he escaped from bewilderment, he returned into the (right) road; (then) he saw that the thief had carried off the wares from the shop.
ربنا إنا ظلمنا گفت و آه ** یعنی آمد ظلمت و گم گشت راه
He cried, ‘O Lord, we have done wrong,’ and ‘Alas,’ that is to say, ‘darkness came and the way was lost.’
پس قضا ابری بود خورشید پوش ** شیر و اژدرها شود زو همچو موش1255
Divine destiny, then, is a cloud that covers the sun: thereby lions and dragons become as mice.
من اگر دامی نبینم گاه حکم ** من نه تنها جاهلم در راه حکم
If I (the hoopoe) do not see a snare in the hour of Divine ordainment, ’tis not I alone who am ignorant in the course of Divine ordainment.”
ای خنک آن کاو نکو کاری گرفت ** زور را بگذاشت او زاری گرفت
Oh, happy he that clave to righteousness, he (that) let (his own) strength go and took to supplication!
If the Divine destiny shrouds thee in black like night, yet the Divine destiny will take thy hand (and guide thee) at the last.
گر قضا صد بار قصد جان کند ** هم قضا جانت دهد درمان کند
If the Divine destiny a hundred times attempts thy life, yet the Divine destiny gives thee life and heals thee.
این قضا صد بار اگر راهت زند ** بر فراز چرخ خرگاهت زند1260
This Divine destiny, if a hundred times it waylays thee, (nevertheless) pitches thy tent on the top of Heaven.
از کرم دان این که می‌‌ترساندت ** تا به ملک ایمنی بنشاندت
Know that this is from the loving kindness (of God), that He terrifies thee in order that He may establish thee in the kingdom of security.
این سخن پایان ندارد گشت دیر ** گوش کن تو قصه‌‌ی خرگوش و شیر
This subject hath no end. ’Tis late. Hearken (now) to the story of the hare and the lion.
پای واپس کشیدن خرگوش از شیر چون نزدیک چاه رسید
How the hare drew back from the lion when he approached the well.
چون که نزد چاه آمد شیر دید ** کز ره آن خرگوش ماند و پا کشید
When the lion came near the well, he saw that the hare lagged on the way and stepped back.
گفت پا واپس کشیدی تو چرا ** پای را واپس مکش پیش اندر آ
He said, “Why have you stepped back? Do not step back, come on!”
گفت کو پایم که دست و پای رفت ** جان من لرزید و دل از جای رفت1265
The hare said, “Where is my (power to move a) foot? for (both) hand and foot are gone. My soul trembles and my heart (courage) has fled.
رنگ رویم را نمی‌‌بینی چو زر ** ز اندرون خود می‌‌دهد رنگم خبر
Seest thou not the colour of my face (pale) as gold? My colour indeed is giving knowledge of my inward state.
حق چو سیما را معرف خوانده است ** چشم عارف سوی سیما مانده است
Since God has called the (external) sign (aspect) informative, the eye of the gnostic has remained turned towards the sign.
رنگ و بو غماز آمد چون جرس ** از فرس آگه کند بانگ فرس
Colour and scent are significant like a bell: the neigh of a horse makes (one) acquainted with the horse.
بانگ هر چیزی رساند زو خبر ** تا بدانی بانگ خر از بانگ در
The sound made by any thing conveys knowledge of it, so that you may distinguish the bray of an ass from the creak of a door.
گفت پیغمبر به تمییز کسان ** مرء مخفی لدی طی اللسان1270
Touching the discrimination of persons (one from another), the Prophet said, ‘A man is hidden when his tongue is folded up.’
رنگ رو از حال دل دارد نشان ** رحمتم کن مهر من در دل نشان
The colour of the face indicates the state of the heart: have pity on me, implant love of me in thy heart.
رنگ روی سرخ دارد بانگ شکر ** بانگ روی زرد باشد صبر و نکر
A red complexion has the sound of (declares and expresses) thankfulness (satisfaction); the sound (signification) of a pale complexion has the sound (signification) of patience.