“Make a better investigation,” he replied; “it is night, and at night material objects are screened from the beholder.
شب غلط بنماید و مبدل بسی ** دید صایب شب ندارد هر کسی
Night causes many a thing to appear wrong and changed (from its proper aspect): not every one has the (power of) seeing correctly by night.
هم شب و هم ابر و هم باران ژرف ** این سه تاریکی غلط آرد شگرف660
(Now there is) both night and clouds and heavy rain withal: these three darknesses produce great error.”
گفت آن بر من چو روز روشنست ** می‌شناسم باد خرکره‌ی منست
He said, “To me ’tis as (manifest as) bright day: I know (it), it is the wind of my ass-colt.
در میان بیست باد آن باد را ** می‌شناسم چون مسافر زاد را
Amongst twenty winds I know that wind as the traveller (knows) his provisions for the journey.”
خواجه بر جست و بیامد ناشکفت ** روستایی را گریبانش گرفت
The Khwája sprang up, and losing patience he seized the countryman by his collar,
کابله طرار شید آورده‌ای ** بنگ و افیون هر دو با هم خورده‌ای
Crying, “O fool and cutpurse, thou hast shown hypocrisy: thou hast eaten both beng and opium together.
در سه تاریکی شناسی باد خر ** چون ندانی مر مرا ای خیره‌سر665
Amidst three darknesses thou knowest the wind of the ass: how dost not thou know me, O giddy-head?
آنک داند نیمشب گوساله را ** چون نداند همره ده‌ساله را
He that knows a colt at midnight, how should he not know his own ten years' comrade?”
خویشتن را عارف و واله کنی ** خاک در چشم مروت می‌زنی
Thou art feigning to be a gnostic and distraught (with love of God): thou art throwing dust in the eyes of generosity,
که مرا از خویش هم آگاه نیست ** در دلم گنجای جز الله نیست
Saying, “I have no consciousness even of myself: in my heart there is no room for aught but God.
آنچ دی خوردم از آنم یاد نیست ** این دل از غیر تحیر شاد نیست
I have no recollection of what I ate yesterday: this heart takes joy in nothing except bewilderment.
عاقل و مجنون حقم یاد آر ** در چنین بی‌خویشیم معذور دار670
I am sane and maddened by God: remember (this), and (since I am) in such a state of selflessness, hold me excusable.
آنک مرداری خورد یعنی نبید ** شرع او را سوی معذوران کشید
He that eats carrion, that is to say, (drinks) date-wine—the (religious) Law enrols him amongst those who are excused.
مست و بنگی را طلاق و بیع نیست ** همچو طفلست او معاف و معتقیست
The drunkard and eater of beng has not (the right of) divorce or barter; he is even as a child: he is a person absolved and emancipated.
مستیی کید ز بوی شاه فرد ** صد خم می در سر و مغز آن نکرد
The intoxication that arises from the scent of the unique King—a hundred vats of wine never wrought that (intoxication) in head and brain.
پس برو تکلیف چون باشد روا ** اسب ساقط گشت و شد بی دست و پا
To him (the God-intoxicated man), then, how should the obligation (to keep the Law) be applicable? The horse is fallen (out of account) and has become unable to move.
بار کی نهد در جهان خرکره را ** درس کی دهد پارسی بومره را675
Who in the world would lay a load upon the ass-colt? Who would give lessons in Persian to Bú Murra?
بار بر گیرند چون آمد عرج ** گفت حق لیس علی الاعمی حرج
When lameness comes, the load is taken off: God hath said,It is no sin in the blind.
سوی خود اعمی شدم از حق بصیر ** پس معافم از قلیل و از کثیر
I have become blind in regard to myself, seeing by (the grace of) God: therefore I am absolved from the small (obligation) and from the great.”
لاف درویشی زنی و بی‌خودی ** های هوی مستیان ایزدی
Thou braggest of thy dervishhood and selflessness, (thou utterest) the wailful cries of those intoxicated with God,
که زمین را من ندانم ز آسمان ** امتحانت کرد غیرت امتحان
Saying, “I know not earth from heaven.” The (Divine) jealousy hath tried thee, tried thee (and found thee wanting).