Night cancels the business of day: behold an inanimateness (inertia) that enlightens the intellect!
باز شب منسوخ شد از نور روز ** تا جمادی سوخت ز آن آتش فروز
Again, night is cancelled by the light of day, so that the inanimateness is consumed by that fire-kindling one.
گر چه ظلمت آمد آن نوم و سبات ** نی درون ظلمت است آب حیات
Although that sleep and rest are darkness, is not the Water of Life within the darkness?
نی در آن ظلمت خردها تازه شد ** سکتهای سرمایهی آوازه شد
Did not minds become refreshed in that darkness? Did not a pause (in recitation) become the source of (increased beauty in) the voice?
که ز ضدها ضدها آمد پدید ** در سویدا روشنایی آفرید3865
For contraries are manifested by means of contraries: in the black core (of the heart) He (God) created the light (of love).
جنگ پیغمبر مدار صلح شد ** صلح این آخر زمان ز آن جنگ بد
The wars of the Prophet became the pivot (determining cause) of peace: the peace of this latter age was (produced) from those wars.
صد هزاران سر برید آن دلستان ** تا امان یابد سر اهل جهان
That heart-ravisher cut off hundreds of thousands of heads, in order that the heads of the (whole) world's people might win security.
باغبان ز آن میبرد شاخ مضر ** تا بیابد نخل قامتها و بر
The gardener lops the harmful bough, in order that the date-palm may gain (tallness of) stature and goodness.
میکند از باغ دانا آن حشیش ** تا نماید باغ و میوه خرمیش
The expert (gardener) digs up the weeds from the garden, in order that his garden and fruit may look flourishing.
میکند دندان بد را آن طبیب ** تا رهد از درد و بیماری حبیب3870
The physician extracts bad teeth, in order that the beloved (patient) may be saved from pain and sickness.
بس زیادتها درون نقصهاست ** مر شهیدان را حیات اندر فناست
Advantages, then, are (concealed) within defects: for martyrs there is life in death.
چون بریده گشت حلق رزق خوار ** یرزقون فرحین شد گوار
When the (martyr's) throat has been cut that swallowed the daily bread, (the spiritual blessings implied in the text) receiving the (Divine) bounty, rejoicing, shall be delicious (to him).
حلق حیوان چون بریده شد به عدل ** حلق انسان رست و افزون گشت فضل
When the throat of an animal is cut duly (in the manner prescribed by law), there grows (from it) the throat of man, and its excellence is increased (thereby).
حلق انسان چون ببرد هین ببین ** تا چه زاید کن قیاس آن بر این
When a (martyred) man's throat is cut, come, consider what the result will be! Judge of this (case) by the analogy of that (case).
حلق ثالث زاید و تیمار او ** شربت حق باشد و انوار او3875
A third throat will be born, and care of it will be (taken by) the sherbet of God and His lights.
حلق ببریده خورد شربت ولی ** حلق از لا رسته مرده در بلی
The throat that has been cut drinks (the Divine) sherbet, but (only) the throat that has been delivered from Nay and has died in Yea.
بس کن ای دون همت کوته بنان ** تا کیات باشد حیات جان به نان
Make an end, O pusillanimous short-fingered (infirm) one! How long will the life of thy spirit be (sustained) by bread?
ز آن نداری میوهای مانند بید ** کآبرو بردی پی نان سپید
Like the willow, thou hast no fruit, because thou hast lost thine honour for the sake of white bread.
گر ندارد صبر زین نان جان حس ** کیمیا را گیر و زر گردان تو مس
If the sensual soul cannot refrain from this bread, take the elixir and turn thy copper into gold.
جامه شویی کرد خواهی ای فلان ** رو مگردان از محلهی گازران3880
Wouldst thou wash thy garment (clean), O so-and-so, do not avert thy face from the bleachers' quarter.
گر چه نان بشکست مر روزهی ترا ** در شکسته بند پیچ و برتر آ
Although the bread has broken thy fast, cling to Him that binds what is broken, and ascend!
چون شکسته بند آمد دست او ** پس رفو باشد یقین اشکست او
Inasmuch as His hand binds what is broken, it follows that His breaking is assuredly mending.
گر تو آن را بشکنی گوید بیا ** تو درستش کن نداری دست و پا
It thou break it, He will say to thee, “Come, make it whole (again)”; and thou hast neither hand nor foot (thou art helpless).
پس شکستن حق او باشد که او ** مر شکسته گشته را داند رفو
Therefore He (alone) has the right to break, for He (alone) can mend what has been broken.
آن که داند دوخت او داند درید ** هر چه را بفروخت نیکوتر خرید3885
He that knows how to sew (together) knows how to tear (asunder); whatsoever He sells, He buys (something) better (in exchange).