قبض دل قبض عوان شد لاجرم ** گشت محسوس آن معانی زد علم
The contraction that grips the heart turns into the grip of the policeman: inevitably those ideas become sensible (materialised) and display themselves.
غصه‌ها زندان شدست و چارمیخ ** غصه بیخست و بروید شاخ بیخ
The pangs have become prison and the cross (crucifixion): the pang is (as) the root, and the root produces boughs.
بیخ پنهان بود هم شد آشکار ** قبض و بسط اندرون بیخی شمار360
The root was hidden, it is (now) revealed. Consider (your) inward contraction and expansion as a root.
چونک بیخ بد بود زودش بزن ** تا نروید زشت‌خاری در چمن
When it is a bad root, smite it quickly, so that an ugly thorn may not grow in the garden.
قبض دیدی چاره‌ی آن قبض کن ** زانک سرها جمله می‌روید ز بن
You have felt the contraction: seek a remedy for it, because all heads (excrescences) grow from the bottom (root).
بسط دیدی بسط خود را آب ده ** چون بر آید میوه با اصحاب ده
You have felt the expansion: water your expansion, and when the fruit appears, give it to your friends.
باقی قصه‌ی اهل سبا
The remainder of the Story of the people of Saba.
آن سبا ز اهل صبا بودند و خام ** کارشان کفران نعمت با کرام
Saba were folk given over to dalliance and foolish; ‘twas their practice to show ingratitude to the generous.
باشد آن کفران نعمت در مثال ** که کنی با محسن خود تو جدال365
By was of illustration, it would be ingratitude to dispute with your benefactor,
که نمی‌باید مرا این نیکوی ** من برنجم زین چه رنجم می‌شوی
Saying, “O do not want this kindness, I am annoyed by it: why art thou troubling me?
لطف کن این نیکوی را دور کن ** من نخواهم چشم زودم کور کن
Do (me) a favour, take away this kindness; I do not desire an eye: blind me at once!”
پس سبا گفتند باعد بیننا ** شیننا خیر لنا خذ زیننا
Hence the people of Saba said, “ (O Lord), put a far distance between us: our blemish is better for us, take away our adornment.
ما نمی‌خواهیم این ایوان و باغ ** نه زنان خوب و نه امن و فراغ
We do not desire these palaces and orchards, nor fair women nor that safety and ease (which we now enjoy).
شهرها نزدیک همدیگر بدست ** آن بیابانست خوش کانجا ددست370
Towns near to each other are bad; the desert, where the wild beasts are, is good.”
یطلب الانسان فی الصیف الشتا ** فاذا جاء الشتا انکر ذا
Man craves winter in summer, and when winter comes, he likes it not,
فهو لا یرضی بحال ابدا ** لا بضیق لا بعیش رغدا
For he is never content with any state (of things), neither with poverty nor with a life of plenty
قتل الانسان ما اکفره ** کلما نال هدی انکره
May Man be killed! How ungrateful he is!Whenever he obtains guidance, he spurns it.
نفس زین سانست زان شد کشتنی ** اقتلوا انفسکم گفت آن سنی
The carnal soul is of this sort, hence it ought to be killed : that Exalted One hath said, “Kill yourselves.”
خار سه سویست هر چون کش نهی ** در خلد وز زخم او تو کی جهی375
It is a triagonal thorn: however you may place it, it will pierce, and how will you escape from its stab?
آتش ترک هوا در خار زن ** دست اندر یار نیکوکار زن
Set the thorn on fire with renunciation of sensual passion, and cling to the righteous friend.
چون ز حد بردند اصحاب سبا ** که بپیش ما وبا به از صبا
When the people of Saba carried (their ingratitude) beyond bounds, saying, “In our opinion, pestilence is better than the zephyr,”
ناصحانشان در نصیحت آمدند ** از فسوق و کفر مانع می‌شدند
Their counselors began to admonish (them) and restrain (them) from impiety and ingratitude;
قصد خون ناصحان می‌داشتند ** تخم فسق و کافری می‌کاشتند
(But) they sought to take the lives of their counselors, and sowed the seed of impiety and unthankfulness.
چون قضا آید شود تنگ این جهان ** از قضا حلوا شود رنج دهان380
When the (Divine) decree comes to pass, this (whole) world becomes cramped (so that there is no escape); by the (Divine) decree sweetmeat becomes anguish to the mouth.
گفت اذا جاء القضا ضاق الفضا ** تحجب الابصار اذ جاء القضا
He ( the Prophet) said, “When the Decree comes, the (widest) expanse is narrow; when the Decree comes, the eyes are veiled.”
چشم بسته می‌شود وقت قضا ** تا نبیند چشم کحل چشم را
The eye is bandaged at the time if the Decree, so that the eye does not see the eye’s collyrium.