رستم زال ار بود وز حمزه بیش ** هست در فرمان اسیر زال خویش
Though he (the husband) be Rustam son of Zál and greater than Hamza (in valour), as regards authority he is his old woman's (his wife's) captive.
آن که عالم مست گفتش آمدی ** کلمینی یا حمیراء میزدی
He (the Prophet), by whose words the (whole) world was intoxicated, used to cry, “Speak to me, O Humayrá!”
آب غالب شد بر آتش از نهیب ** آتشش جوشد چو باشد در حجاب
The water prevailed over (extinguished) the fire by its dread onset, (but) the fire makes it seethe when it (the water) is screened (hidden in the cauldron).
چون که دیگی حایل آید هر دو را ** نیست کرد آن آب را کردش هوا2430
When a cauldron comes between them both, it (the fire) annihilates the water and converts it into air.
ظاهرا بر زن چو آب ار غالبی ** باطنا مغلوب و زن را طالبی
If outwardly thou art dominating thy wife, like the (fire-quenching) water, (yet) inwardly thou art dominated and art seeking (the love of) thy wife.
این چنین خاصیتی در آدمی است ** مهر حیوان را کم است آن از کمی است
This is characteristic of Man (alone): to the (other) animals love is wanting, and that (want of love) arises from (their) inferiority (to Man).
در بیان این خبر که انهن یغلبن العاقل و یغلبهن الجاهل
Explanation of the Tradition, “Verily, they (women) prevail over the wise man, and the ignorant man prevails over them.”
گفت پیغمبر که زن بر عاقلان ** غالب آید سخت و بر صاحب دلان
The Prophet said that woman prevails exceedingly over the wise and intelligent,
باز بر زن جاهلان چیره شوند ** ز آن که ایشان تند و بس خیره روند
(While), on the other hand, ignorant men prevail over woman, because they are fierce and very impudent in their behaviour.
کم بودشان رقت و لطف و وداد ** ز آن که حیوانی است غالب بر نهاد2435
They lack tenderness, kindness, and affection, because animality predominates over their (human) nature.
مهر و رقت وصف انسانی بود ** خشم و شهوت وصف حیوانی بود
Love and tenderness are human qualities, anger and lust are animal qualities.
پرتو حق است آن معشوق نیست ** خالق است آن گوییا مخلوق نیست
She (woman) is a ray of God, she is not that (earthly) beloved: she is creative, you might say she is not created.
تسلیم کردن مرد خود را به آن چه التماس زن بود از طلب معیشت و آن اعتراض زن را اشارت حق دانستن: بنزد عقل هر دانندهای هست که با گردنده گردانندهای هست
How the man yielded to his wife's request that he should seek the means of livelihood, and regarded her opposition (to him) as a Divine indication. (Verse): To the mind of every knowing man it is a fact that with the revolving object there is one that causes it to revolve.
مرد ز آن گفتن پشیمان شد چنان ** کز عوانی ساعت مردن عوان
The man became as sorry for that speech (of his) as at the hour of death a tyrannical officer (is sorry) for his tyranny.
گفت خصم جان جان چون آمدم ** بر سر جان من لگدها چون زدم
He said, “How did I become the adversary of (her who is) the life of my soul? How did I bestow kicks on the head of my soul?”
چون قضا آید فرو پوشد بصر ** تا نداند عقل ما پا را ز سر2440
When the (Divine) destiny comes, it muffles the sight, so that our intellect cannot distinguish foot from head.
چون قضا بگذشت خود را میخورد ** پرده بدریده گریبان میدرد
As soon as the destiny is past, it (the intellect) devours itself (with grief): rending the veil (without regard for appearances), it tears its bosom.
مرد گفت ای زن پشیمان میشوم ** گر بدم کافر مسلمان میشوم
The man said, “O wife, I am repenting: if I have been an infidel, I will (now) become a Moslem.
من گنهکارم توام رحمی بکن ** بر مکن یک بارگیم از بیخ و بن
I am a sinner against thee: have mercy, do not dig me up all at once from root and foundation (do not bring me to utter ruin).”
کافر پیر ار پشیمان میشود ** چون که عذر آرد مسلمان میشود
If the old infidel is repenting, he becomes a Moslem when he pleads for pardon.
حضرت پر رحمت است و پر کرم ** عاشق او هم وجود و هم عدم2445
He (God) is the merciful and bountiful Lord: both existence and non-existence are in love with Him.
کفر و ایمان عاشق آن کبریا ** مس و نقره بندهی آن کیمیا
(Both) infidelity and faith are lovers of that Majesty, both copper and silver are slaves to that Elixir.
در بیان آن که موسی و فرعون هر دو مسخر مشیتاند چنان که زهر و پادزهر و ظلمات و نور و مناجات کردن فرعون به خلوت تا ناموس نشکند
Explaining that both Moses and Pharaoh are subject to the Divine Will, like poison and antidote and darkness and light, and how Pharaoh conversed in solitude with God, praying that He would not destroy his (good) reputation.
موسی و فرعون معنی را رهی ** ظاهر آن ره دارد و این بیرهی
Moses and Pharaoh were servants (worshippers) of Reality, (though) outwardly the former keeps the way (is rightly guided), while the latter has lost the way.
روز موسی پیش حق نالان شده ** نیم شب فرعون گریان آمده
In the daytime Moses was making lament (supplication) to God: at midnight Pharaoh would begin to weep,
کاین چه غل است ای خدا بر گردنم ** ور نه غل باشد که گوید من منم
Saying, “O God, what shackle is this on my neck? Were it not for the shackle, who would say ‘I am I’?
ز آن که موسی را منور کردهای ** مر مرا ز آن هم مکدر کردهای2450
By that (will) whereby Thou hast made Moses to be illumined, by that (same will) Thou hast made me to be darkened;
ز آن که موسی را تو مه رو کردهای ** ماه جانم را سیه رو کردهای
By that whereby Thou hast made Moses' face like the moon Thou hast made the moon of my soul to be black-faced (eclipsed).