ملک بر بسته چنان باشد ضعیف ** ملک بر رسته چنین باشد شریف
The kingship that has been tied on (artificially) is weak like that; the kingship that has grown up (naturally) is august like this.
نیزه‌ها را گر ندیدی با قضیب ** نامشان بین نام او بین این نجیب
If thou didst not see the lances together with the wand, (yet) consider the names of them (the Amírs) and consider the name of him (Mohammed), O noble one!
نامشان را سیل تیز مرگ برد ** نام او و دولت تیزش نمرد 2800
Their names the rapid torrent of death has borne away; his name and his puissant fortune are not dead.
پنج نوبت می‌زنندش بر دوام ** هم‌چنین هر روز تا روز قیام
For him the drum is always beaten five times (daily): on this wise every day till the Day of Resurrection.
گر ترا عقلست کردم لطفها ** ور خری آورده‌ام خر را عصا
“If thou hast intelligence, (thou wilt see that) I have done kindnesses; and if thou art an ass, I have brought the rod for the ass.
آنچنان زین آخرت بیرون کنم ** کز عصا گوش و سرت پر خون کنم
I will turn thee out of this stable in such wise that I will make thy ears and head bloody with (blows of) the rod.
اندرین آخر خران و مردمان ** می‌نیابند از جفای تو امان
In this stable asses and men are getting no quarter from thy oppression.
نک عصا آورده‌ام بهر ادب ** هر خری را کو نباشد مستحب 2805
Lo, I have brought the rod, for correction's sake, for every ass that is not approved.
اژدهایی می‌شود در قهر تو ** که اژدهایی گشته‌ای در فعل و خو
It will become a dragon in subduing thee, for thou hast become a dragon in (thy) deeds and disposition.
اژدهای کوهیی تو بی‌امان ** لیک بنگر اژدهای آسمان
Thou art a mountain-dragon without mercy; but look at the dragon of Heaven!
این عصا از دوزخ آمد چاشنی ** که هلا بگریز اندر روشنی
This rod comes as a taste (sample) from Hell, saying, ‘Ho! take refuge in the Light;
ورنه در مانی تو در دندان من ** مخلصت نبود ز در بندان من
Else thou wilt be left helpless in my teeth: there will be no escape for thee through my passes.’
این عصایی بود این دم اژدهاست ** تا نگویی دوزخ یزدان کجاست 2810
This was a rod; it is now a dragon, to the end that thou mayst not say, ‘Where is God's Hell?’”
در بیان آنک شناسای قدرت حق نپرسد کی بهشت و دوزخ کجاست
Explaining that one who knows the power of God will not ask, "Where are Paradise and Hell?"
هر کجا خدا دوزخ کند ** اوج را بر مرغ دام و فخ کند
God makes Hell to be wheresoever He will: He makes the zenith to be a snare and trap for the bird.
هم ز دندانت برآید دردها ** تا بگویی دوزخست و اژدها
Likewise from thy teeth arise pangs of pain, to the end that thou mayst say, “‘Tis Hell and the dragon.”
یا کند آب دهانت را عسل ** که بگویی که بهشتست و حلل
Or He makes the water of thy mouth to be (sweet as) honey, that thou mayst say, “’Tis Paradise and the robes (of Paradise).”
از بن دندان برویاند شکر ** تا بدانی قوت حکم قدر
He makes sugar to grow from the roots of the teeth, that thou mayst know the power of the ordinance of the (Divine) decree.
پس به دندان بی‌گناهان را مگز ** فکر کن از ضربت نامحترز 2815
Do not, then, bite the innocent with thy teeth: bethink thee of the stroke that is not to be guarded against.
نیل را بر قبطیان حق خون کند ** سبطیان را از بلا محصون کند
God makes the Nile to be blood for the Egyptians; He makes the Israelites safe from calamity,
تا بدانی پیش حق تمییز هست ** در میان هوشیار راه و مست
That thou mayst know that with God there is discrimination between the sober (traveller) on the Way and the intoxicated.
نیل تمییز از خدا آموختست ** که گشاد آن را و این را سخت بست
The Nile has learned from God to discriminate, for it opened (the door) for these (Israelites) and shut fast (the door) against those (Egyptians).
لطف او عاقل کند مر نیل را ** قهر او ابله کند قابیل را
His grace makes the Nile intelligent; His wrath makes Cain foolish.
در جمادات از کرم عقل آفرید ** عقل از عاقل به قهر خود برید 2820
He, from kindness, created intelligence in lifeless things; He, because of His wrath, cut off intelligence from the intelligent one.
در جماد از لطف عقلی شد پدید ** وز نکال از عاقلان دانش رمید
By (His) grace an intelligence appeared in lifeless matter, and through (His) chastisement knowledge fled from the intelligent.
عقل چون باران به امر آنجا بریخت ** عقل این سو خشم حق دید و گریخت
There, by (His) command the rain-like intelligence poured down; here, intelligence saw God's anger and took to flight.