O wicked fleshly soul with thy chill breath, thou hast acted disloyally to the King who answers every call for help.
دام بگزیدی ز حرص گندمی ** بر تو شد هر گندم او کزدمی
In thy greed for a grain of wheat thou hast chosen (to enter) the trap, and every grain of its wheat has become a scorpion to (sting) thee.
در سرت آمد هوای ما و من ** قید بین بر پای خود پنجاه من 4790
The vain fancy of egoism came into thy head: (now) behold a shackle weighing fifty mann on thy foot!”
نوحه می‌کرد این نمط بر جان خویش ** که چرا گشتم ضد سلطان خویش
In this fashion was he mourning for his soul, saying, “Why did I become the antagonist of my sovereign?”
آمد او با خویش و استغفار کرد ** با انابت چیز دیگر یار کرد
(Then) he came to himself and asked pardon of God, and with his repentance he combined something else.
درد کان از وحشت ایمان بود ** رحم کن کان درد بی‌درمان بود
The pain that arises from dread of losing one's faith—take pity (on him who is thus afflicted), for that is the irremediable pain.
مر بشر را خود مبا جامه‌ی درست ** چون رهید از صبر در حین صدر جست
May no human being have a perfect (new and spotless) raiment! As soon as he is delivered from enduring (poverty) he at once seeks the seat of honour.
مر بشر را پنجه و ناخن مباد ** که نه دین اندیشد آنگه نه سداد 4795
May no human being possess a fist and nails! (for) then he never thinks of devotion and righteousness.
آدمی اندر بلا کشته بهست ** نفس کافر نعمتست و گمرهست
’Tis best for a man to be killed (mortified) in tribulation: the carnal soul is an ingrate and one that has gone astray.
خطاب حق تعالی به عزرائیل علیه‌السلام کی ترا رحم بر کی بیشتر آمد ازین خلایق کی جانشان قبض کردی و جواب دادن عزرائیل حضرت را
How God addressed Azrael, saying, “Of all these creatures whose souls thou hast seized, whom didst thou pity most?” and the answer given by Azrael to the Lord.
حق به عزرائیل می‌گفت ای نقیب ** بر کی رحم آمد ترا از هر کیب
God was saying to Azrael, “O marshal, whom of all the miserable ones didst thou pity (most)?”
گفت بر جمله دلم سوزد به درد ** لیک ترسم امر را اهمال کرد
He replied, “My heart burns with grief for them all, but I am afraid to neglect the (Divine) command,
تا بگویم کاشکی یزدان مرا ** در عوض قربان کند بهر فتی
So that I should say, ‘Would that God might sacrifice me in exchange for the (generous) youth!’”
گفت بر کی بیشتر رحم آمدت ** از کی دل پر سوز و بریان‌تر شدت 4800
God asked, “For whom didst thou feel the greatest pity? On account of whom was thy heart most filled with flame and grilled?”
گفت روزی کشتیی بر موج تیز ** من شکستم ز امر تا شد ریز ریز
“One day,” said he, “by (Thy) command I wrecked a ship on the fierce waves, so that it went to pieces.
پس بگفتی قبض کن جان همه ** جز زنی و غیر طفلی زان رمه
Then Thou bad’st me take the souls of them all, except one woman and one child belonging to that company.
هر دو بر یک تخته‌ای در ماندند ** تخته را آن موج‌ها می‌راندند
The twain were left on a plank, and the plank was being driven on by the waves.
باز گفتی جان مادر قبض کن ** طفل را بگذار تنها ز امر کن
Then Thou saidst, ‘Take the mother's soul and leave the child alone in obedience to the command Be!’
چون ز مادر بسکلیدم طفل را ** خود تو می‌دانی چه تلخ آمد مرا 4805
When I parted the child from its mother, Thou thyself knowest how bitter ’twas to me.
بس بدیدم دود ماتم‌های زفت ** تلخی آن طفل از فکرم نرفت
Often have I seen sighs (heaved) in great mournings, (but) the bitter grief of that child has never gone from my recollection.”
گفت حق آن طفل را از فضل خویش ** موج را گفتم فکن در بیشه‌ایش
God said, “Of My grace I bade the waves cast that child into a forest—
بیشه‌ای پر سوسن و ریحان و گل ** پر درخت میوه‌دار خوش‌اکل
A forest abounding in lilies and sweet basils and roses, full of trees laden with fruit good to eat,
چشمه‌های آب شیرین زلال ** پروریدم طفل را با صد دلال
And fountains of sweet limpid water. I fostered the child with a hundred endearments.
صد هزاران مرغ مطرب خوش‌صدا ** اندر آن روضه فکنده صد نوا 4810
Myriads of melodious singing-birds poured forth a hundred songs in that garden.
پسترش کردم ز برگ نسترن ** کرده او را آمن از صدمه‌ی فتن
I made for him a couch of wild-rose leaves; I made him secure from the shock of afflictions.
گفته من خورشید را کو را مگز ** باد را گفته برو آهسته وز
I told the sun not to scorch him; I told the wind to blow on him gently;