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.
در من آمد آن که دست و پا برد ** رنگ رو و قوت و سیما برد
There has come upon me that which takes away hand and foot, takes away colour of face and strength and (every outward) mark;
آن که در هر چه در آید بشکند ** هر درخت از بیخ و بن او بر کند
That which shatters every thing it comes upon, tears up every tree from root and bottom;
در من آمد آن که از وی گشت مات ** آدمی و جانور جامد نبات1275
There has come upon me that by which man and animal, mineral and plant have been checkmated.
این خود اجزایند کلیات از او ** زرد کرده رنگ و فاسد کرده بو
These indeed are (only) parts, (but) wholes (too) are by him (Doom) made yellow in hue and corrupt in odour,
تا جهان گه صابر است و گه شکور ** بوستان گه حله پوشد گاه عور
So that the world is now patient, now thankful; the garden now puts on a robe (of verdure) and again is bare.
آفتابی کاو بر آید نارگون ** ساعتی دیگر شود او سر نگون
The sun, which rises fire-coloured, at another hour sinks headlong.
اختران تافته بر چار طاق ** لحظه لحظه مبتلای احتراق
Stars shining in the four quarters (of the sky) are, from time to time, afflicted with (consumed by) burning.