از چه نام برگ را کردی تو مرگ ** جادوی بین که نمودت مرگ برگ
Wherefore have you given the name “death” to (what is really) provision (for the spirit)? Observe the sorcery that has caused the provision (barg) to seem to you death (marg).
هر دو چشمت بست سحر صنعتش ** تا که جان را در چه آمد رغبتش
The magic of His (God's) doing has bound both your eyes, so that desire for the (worldly) pit has come over your soul.
در خیال او ز مکر کردگار ** جمله صحرا فوق چه زهرست و مار 1380
Through the contrivance of the Creator, in its (your soul's) fancy all the expanse above the pit is (full of) poison and snakes;
لاجرم چه را پناهی ساختست ** تا که مرگ او را به چاه انداختست
Consequently it has made the pit a refuge (for itself), so that (fear of) death has cast it into the pit.
اینچ گفتم از غلطهات ای عزیز ** هم برین بشنو دم عطار نیز
(Having heard) what I have said concerning your misapprehensions, O dear friend, hear also the utterance of ‘Attár on this same (subject).
قصهی سلطان محمود و غلام هندو
Story of Sultan Mahmúd and the Hindú boy.
رحمة الله علیه گفته است ** ذکر شه محمود غازی سفته است
He, God have mercy upon him, has told it: he has strung together the tale of King Mahmúd, the Ghází—
کز غزای هند پیش آن همام ** در غنیمت اوفتادش یک غلام
How, amongst the booty of his campaign in India, (there was) a boy (who) was brought into the presence of that sovereign.
پس خلیفهش کرد و بر تختش نشاند ** بر سپه بگزیدش و فرزند خواند 1385
Afterwards he made him his vicegerent and seated him on the throne and gave him preferment above (the rest of) the army and called him “son.”
طول و عرض و وصف قصه تو به تو ** در کلام آن بزرگ دین بجو
Seek the length and breadth and all particulars of the story in the discourse of that prince of the Faith.
حاصل آن کودک برین تخت نضار ** شسته پهلوی قباد شهریار
In short, the lad was seated on this throne of gold beside the King-emperor.
گریه کردی اشک میراندی بسوز ** گفت شه او را کای پیروز روز
He wept and shed tears in burning grief. The King said to him, “O thou whose day (fortune) is triumphant,
از چه گریی دولتت شد ناگوار ** فوق املاکی قرین شهریار
Wherefore shouldst thou weep? Has thy fortune become disagreeable to thee? Thou art above kings, (thou art) the familiar companion of the Emperor.
تو برین تخت و وزیران و سپاه ** پیش تختت صف زده چون نجم و ماه 1390
Thou art (seated) on this throne, while the viziers and soldiers are ranged in file before thy throne, like the stars and the moon.”
گفت کودک گریهام زانست زار ** که مرا مادر در آن شهر و دیار
The boy said, “The cause of my weeping bitterly is that in yonder city and country my mother
از توم تهدید کردی هر زمان ** بینمت در دست محمود ارسلان
Was always threatening me with thee, (saying), ‘May I see you in the hands of the lion, Mahmúd!’
پس پدر مر مادرم را در جواب ** جنگ کردی کین چه خشمست و عذاب
Then my father would wrangle with my mother (and say) in reply, ‘What wrath and torment is this (that you would inflict on him)?
مینیابی هیچ نفرینی دگر ** زین چنین نفرین مهلک سهلتر
Cannot you find any other curse lighter than this deadly curse?
سخت بیرحمی و بس سنگیندلی ** که به صد شمشیر او را قاتلی 1395
You are very pitiless and exceedingly hard-hearted, for you are (virtually) killing him with a hundred swords.’
من ز گفت هر دو حیران گشتمی ** در دل افتادی مرا بیم و غمی
I used to be dismayed by the talk of both: a (great) terror and pain would come into my heart,
تا چه دوزخخوست محمود ای عجب ** که مثل گشتست در ویل و کرب
(Thinking), ‘Oh, wonderful! What a hellish person Mahmúd must be, since he has become proverbial for woe and anguish!’
من همیلرزیدمی از بیم تو ** غافل از اکرام و از تعظیم تو
I used to tremble in fear of thee, being ignorant of thy gracious treatment and high regard.
مادرم کو تا ببیند این زمان ** مر مرا بر تخت ای شاه جهان
Where is my mother, that she might see me now (seated) on the throne, O King of the world?”
فقر آن محمود تست ای بیسعت ** طبع ازو دایم همی ترساندت 1400
(Spiritual) poverty is your Mahmúd, O man without affluence: your (sensual) nature is always making you afraid of it.
گر بدانی رحم این محمود راد ** خوش بگویی عاقبت محمود باد
If you come to know the mercifulness of this noble Mahmúd, you will cry joyously, “May the end be praised (mahmúd)!”
فقر آن محمود تست ای بیمدل ** کم شنو زین مادر طبع مضل
Poverty is your Mahmúd, O craven-hearted one: do not listen to this mother, namely, your misguiding nature.