جز اشارت که ازین می‌بایدم ** که تو دادی اصل این را از عدم

(’Tis nothing) except an indication, as though to say, ‘I need this kind (of produce), the origin whereof Thou didst create from non-existence.

خوردم و دانه بیاوردم نشان ** که ازین نعمت به سوی ما کشان

I ate, and (now) I bring the seed as a token, begging Thee to send to us such bounty (as before).’

پس دعای خشک هل ای نیک‌بخت ** که فشاند دانه می‌خواهد درخت

Abandon, then, the dry (verbal) prayer, O fortunate one; for the tree demands (presupposes) the scattering of seed.

گر نداری دانه ایزد زان دعا ** بخشدت نخلی که نعم ما سعی

(But) if you have no seed, on account of that prayer God will bestow on you a palm-tree, saying, ‘How well did he labour!’

هم‌چو مریم درد بودش دانه نی ** سبز کرد آن نخل را صاحب‌فنی 1190

Like Mary: she had (heartfelt) pain, but no seed: an artful One made green that (withered) palm-tree (for her sake).

زانک وافی بود آن خاتون راد ** بی‌مرادش داد یزدان صد مراد

Because that noble Lady was loyal (to God), God gave unto her a hundred desires without desire on her part.

آن جماعت را که وافی بوده‌اند ** بر همه اصنافشان افزوده‌اند

The company who have been loyal are given superiority over all (other) sorts (of men).

گشت دریاها مسخرشان و کوه ** چار عنصر نیز بنده‌ی آن گروه

Seas and mountains are made subject to them; the four elements also are the slaves of that class.

این خود اکرامیست از بهر نشان ** تا ببینند اهل انکار آن عیان

This (miraculous power) is only a favour (conferred on them) for a sign, to the end that the disbelievers may see it plainly.

آن کرامتهای پنهانشان که آن ** در نیاید در حواس و در بیان 1195

Those hidden graces of theirs, which come not into (the perception of) the senses or into description—

کار آن دارد خود آن باشد ابد ** دایما نه منقطع نه مسترد

Those are the (real) matter: those are enduring for ever, they are neither cut off nor reclaimed.

مناجات

Prayer.

ای دهنده‌ی قوت و تمکین و ثبات ** خلق را زین بی‌ثباتی ده نجات

O Giver of (spiritual) nutriment and steadfastness and stability, give Thy creatures deliverance from this instability.

اندر آن کاری که ثابت بودنیست ** قایمی ده نفس را که منثنیست

Grant unto the soul—for it is bent (crooked)—to stand upright (to persevere with rectitude) in the work wherein it ought to be stable.

صبرشان بخش و کفه‌ی میزان گران ** وا رهانشان از فن صورتگران

Bestow patience upon them and heavy balance-scales: deliver them from the guile of impostors;

وز حسودی بازشان خر ای کریم ** تا نباشند از حسد دیو رجیم 1200

And redeem them from envy, O Gracious One, lest from envy they be devils accursed.

در نعیم فانی مال و جسد ** چون همی‌سوزند عامه از حسد

How do the vulgar burn with envy for the fleeting happiness of riches and (pleasures of) the body!

پادشاهان بین که لشکر می‌کشند ** از حسد خویشان خود را می‌کشند

Behold the kings, how they lead armies (to battle) and slay their own kinsmen because of envy.

عاشقان لعبتان پر قذر ** کرده قصد خون و جان همدگر

The lovers of filthy dolls (darlings) have sought each other's blood and life.

ویس و رامین خسرو و شیرین بخوان ** که چه کردند از حسد آن ابلهان

Read Wís and Rámín and Khusraw and Shírín: (you will see) what those fools did because of envy.

که فنا شد عاشق و معشوق نیز ** هم نه چیزند و هواشان هم نه چیز 1205

(You will see) that the lover perished and the beloved too: they are naught and their passion also is naught.

پاک الهی که عدم بر هم زند ** مر عدم را بر عدم عاشق کند

Holy is the God who brings non-existence into collision with itself and makes non-existence to be in love with non-existence.

در دل نه‌دل حسدها سر کند ** نیست را هست این چنین مضطر کند

Envies arise in the heart that is no (real) heart: thus doth Being subject not being to compulsion.

این زنانی کز همه مشفق‌تراند ** از حسد دو ضره خود را می‌خورند

These women, who are kinder than all (other creatures)—(even amongst them) two fellow-wives devour each other from envy,

تا که مردانی که خود سنگین‌دلند ** از حسد تا در کدامین منزلند

So that (you may judge) in what degree of envy are the men who indeed are stony-hearted.

گر نکردی شرع افسونی لطیف ** بر دریدی هر کسی جسم حریف 1210

If the Law had not exercised a gracious spell (over them), every one would have torn the body of his rival to pieces.