پشه‌‌ای نمرود را با نیم پر ** می‌‌شکافد بی‌‌محابا درز سر
A single gnat with half a wing cleaves intrepidly the suture of Nimrod's skull.
حال آن کاو قول دشمن را شنود ** بین جزای آن که شد یار حسود1190
Behold the state of him who hearkened to the words of his enemy, and the retribution of him who became the friend of the envious one—
حال فرعونی که هامان را شنود ** حال نمرودی که شیطان را شنود
The state of a Pharaoh who hearkened to Haman, and the state of a Nimrod who hearkened to Satan.
دشمن ار چه دوستانه گویدت ** دام دان گر چه ز دانه گویدت
Albeit the enemy speak to thee in friendly wise, know (his words to be) the snare, though he speak to thee of the grain (bait).
گر ترا قندی دهد آن زهر دان ** گر به تن لطفی کند آن قهر دان
If he give thee some candy, regard it as poison; if he do a kindness to thy body, regard it as cruelty.
چون قضا آید نبینی غیر پوست ** دشمنان را باز نشناسی ز دوست
When the (Divine) destiny comes to pass, you see naught but the skin (outward appearance): you do not distinguish enemies from friends.
چون چنین شد ابتهال آغاز کن ** ناله و تسبیح و روزه ساز کن1195
Since the case is thus, begin humble supplication; set about lamenting and glorifying (God) and fasting.
ناله می‌‌کن کای تو علام الغیوب ** زیر سنگ مکر بد ما را مکوب
Lament continually, crying, “O Thou who well knowest the hidden things, do not crush us beneath the stone of evil contrivance.
گر سگی کردیم ای شیر آفرین ** شیر را مگمار بر ما زین کمین
O Creator of the lion, if we have wrought currishness, do not set the lion (to spring) on us from this covert.
آب خوش را صورت آتش مده ** اندر آتش صورت آبی منه
Do not give to sweet water the form of fire, do not put upon fire the form of water.
از شراب قهر چون مستی دهی ** نیستها را صورت هستی دهی
When Thou makest (us) drunken with the wine of Thy wrath, Thou givest to things non-existent the form of existence.”
چیست مستی بند چشم از دید چشم ** تا نماید سنگ گوهر پشم یشم1200
What is (this) drunkenness? That which binds (prevents) the eye from (true) eyesight, so that a (common) stone appears a jewel, and wool (pashm) a jasper (yashm).
چیست مستی حسها مبدل شدن ** چوب گز اندر نظر صندل شدن
What is (this) drunkenness? The perversion of the senses, the change of tamarisk-wood into sandal-wood in the (perverted) sight.
قصه‌‌ی هدهد و سلیمان در بیان آن که چون قضا آید چشمهای روشن بسته شود
Story of the hoopoe and Solomon, showing that when the Divine destiny comes to pass, clear eyes are sealed.
چون سلیمان را سراپرده زدند ** جمله مرغانش به خدمت آمدند
When the tent-pavilion was pitched for Solomon, all the birds came to pay him obeisance.
هم زبان و محرم خود یافتند ** پیش او یک یک به جان بشتافتند
They found (him) speaking the same tongue (as themselves) and familiar with them: one by one they sped with (eager) soul into his presence.
جمله مرغان ترک کرده جیک جیک ** با سلیمان گشته افصح من اخیک
All the birds, having ceased from twittering, (in converse) with Solomon became more distinct (spoke more articulately) than your own brother.
هم زبانی خویشی و پیوندی است ** مرد با نامحرمان چون بندی است1205
To speak the same tongue is a kinship and affinity: a man, (when he is) with those in whom he cannot confide, is like a prisoner in chains.
ای بسا هندو و ترک هم زبان ** ای بسا دو ترک چون بیگانگان
Oh, many are the Indians and Turks that speak the same tongue; oh, many the pair of Turks that are as strangers (to each other).
پس زبان محرمی خود دیگر است ** هم دلی از هم زبانی بهتر است
Therefore the tongue of mutual understanding is different indeed: to be one in heart is better than to be one in tongue.
غیر نطق و غیر ایما و سجل ** صد هزاران ترجمان خیزد ز دل
Without speech and without sign or scroll, hundreds of thousands of interpreters arise from the heart.
جمله مرغان هر یکی اسرار خود ** از هنر وز دانش و از کار خود
The birds, all and each, their secrets of skill and knowledge and practice
با سلیمان یک به یک وامی‌‌نمود ** از برای عرضه خود را می‌‌ستود1210
Were revealing, one by one, to Solomon, and were praising themselves by way of submitting a request (for his consideration),
از تکبر نی و از هستی خویش ** بهر آن تا ره دهد او را به پیش
Not from pride and self-conceit, (but) in order that he might give them access to him.
چون بباید برده‌‌ای را خواجه‌‌ای ** عرضه دارد از هنر دیباجه‌‌ای
When a captive wants a lord (to buy him as a slave), he offers a preface (summary account) of his talent;
چون که دارد از خریداریش ننگ ** خود کند بیمار و کر و شل و لنگ
(But) when he is ashamed (disgusted) at his buying him, he makes himself out to be sick and deaf and palsied and lame.
نوبت هدهد رسید و پیشه‌‌اش ** و آن بیان صنعت و اندیشه‌‌اش
The turn came for the hoopoe and his craft and the explanation of his skill and thoughtfulness.
گفت ای شه یک هنر کان کهتر است ** باز گویم گفت کوته بهتر است1215
“O king,” said he, “I will declare (only) one talent, which is an inferior one; ’tis better to speak briefly.”
گفت بر گو تا کدام است آن هنر ** گفت من آن گه که باشم اوج بر
“Tell on,” said Solomon; “let me hear what talent that is.” The hoopoe said, “At the time when I am at the zenith,
بنگرم از اوج با چشم یقین ** من ببینم آب در قعر زمین
I gaze from the zenith with the eye of certainty and I see the water at the bottom of the earth,
تا کجایست و چه عمق استش چه رنگ ** از چه می‌‌جوشد ز خاکی یا ز سنگ
So that (I know) where it is and what is its depth; what its colour is, whence it gushes forth—from clay or from rock.
ای سلیمان بهر لشکرگاه را ** در سفر می‌‌دار این آگاه را
O Solomon, for the sake of thine army's camping-place keep this wise one (beside thee) on thy expeditions.”
پس سلیمان گفت ای نیکو رفیق ** در بیابانهای بی‌‌آب عمیق1220
Then said Solomon, “O good companion in waterless far-stretching wastes!”
طعنه‌‌ی زاغ در دعوی هدهد
How the crow impugned the claim of the hoopoe.
زاغ چون بشنود آمد از حسد ** با سلیمان گفت کاو کژ گفت و بد
When the crow heard (this), from envy he came and said to Solomon, “He has spoken false and ill.
از ادب نبود به پیش شه مقال ** خاصه خود لاف دروغین و محال
It is not respectful to speak in the king's presence, in particular (to utter) lying and absurd self-praise.
گر مر او را این نظر بودی مدام ** چون ندیدی زیر مشتی خاک دام
If he had always had this (keen) sight, how would not he have seen the snare beneath a handful of earth?
چون گرفتار آمدی در دام او ** چون قفس اندر شدی ناکام او
How would he have been caught in the snare? How would he have gone into the cage willy-nilly?”
پس سلیمان گفت ای هدهد رواست ** کز تو در اول قدح این درد خاست1225
Then Solomon said: “O hoopoe, is it right that these dregs have risen from thee at the first cup?
چون نمایی مستی ای خورده تو دوغ ** پیش من لافی زنی آن گه دروغ
O thou who hast drunk buttermilk, how dost thou pretend intoxication and brag in my presence and tell lies besides?”
جواب گفتن هدهد طعنه‌‌ی زاغ را
The hoopoe's answer to the attack of the crow.
گفت ای شه بر من عور گدای ** قول دشمن مشنو از بهر خدای
He said, “O king, for God's sake do not listen to the enemy's words against me, bare beggar as I am.
گر به بطلان است دعوی کردنم ** من نهادم سر ببر این گردنم
If my claim is (made) with falsehood, I lay my head (before thee): sever this neck of mine.
زاغ کاو حکم قضا را منکر است ** گر هزاران عقل دارد کافر است
The crow, who disbelieves in the (absolute) authority of the Divine destiny, is an infidel, though he have thousands of wits.
در تو تا کافی بود از کافران ** جای گند و شهوتی چون کاف ران1230
Whilst there is in you a single k (derived) from the káfirán (infidels), you are the seat of stench and lust, velut rima femoris. [Whilst there is in you a single k (derived) from the káfirán (infidels), you are the seat of stench and lust, like the slit (vulva) between the thighs (of a woman).]
من ببینم دام را اندر هوا ** گر نپوشد چشم عقلم را قضا
I see the snare (when I am) in the air, if the Divine destiny do not muffle the eye of my intelligence.
چون قضا آید شود دانش به خواب ** مه سیه گردد بگیرد آفتاب
When the Divine destiny comes, wisdom goes to sleep, the moon becomes black, the sun is stopped (from shining).
از قضا این تعبیه کی نادر است ** از قضا دان کاو قضا را منکر است
How is this disposal (of things) by the Divine destiny (to be called) singular? Know that it is by the Divine destiny that he (the infidel) disbelieves in the Divine destiny.
قصه‌‌ی آدم علیه السلام و بستن قضا نظر او را از مراعات صریح نهی و ترک تاویل
The story of Adam, on whom be peace, and how the Divine destiny sealed up his sight so that he failed to observe the plain meaning of the prohibition and to refrain from interpreting it.
بو البشر کاو علم الاسما بگ است ** صد هزاران علمش اندر هر رگ است
The father of mankind, who is the lord of He (God) taught (Adam) the Names, hath hundreds of thousands of sciences in every vein.
اسم هر چیزی چنان کان چیز هست ** تا به پایان جان او را داد دست1235
To his soul accrued (knowledge of) the name of every thing, even as that thing exists (in its real nature) unto the end (of the world).
هر لقب کاو داد آن مبدل نشد ** آن که چستش خواند او کاهل نشد
No title that he gave became changed: that one whom he called ‘brisk’ did not become ‘lazy.’
هر که آخر مومن است اول بدید ** هر که آخر کافر او را شد پدید
Whoso is (to be) a believer at the last, he saw at the first; whoso is (to be) an infidel at the last, to him it became manifest.
اسم هر چیزی تو از دانا شنو ** سر رمز علم الاسما شنو
Do thou hear the name of every thing from the knower: hear the inmost meaning of the mystery of He taught the Names.