رنگ رویم را نمیبینی چو زر ** ز اندرون خود میدهد رنگم خبر
Seest thou not the colour of my face (pale) as gold? My colour indeed is giving knowledge of my inward state.
حق چو سیما را معرف خوانده است ** چشم عارف سوی سیما مانده است
Since God has called the (external) sign (aspect) informative, the eye of the gnostic has remained turned towards the sign.
رنگ و بو غماز آمد چون جرس ** از فرس آگه کند بانگ فرس
Colour and scent are significant like a bell: the neigh of a horse makes (one) acquainted with the horse.
بانگ هر چیزی رساند زو خبر ** تا بدانی بانگ خر از بانگ در
The sound made by any thing conveys knowledge of it, so that you may distinguish the bray of an ass from the creak of a door.
گفت پیغمبر به تمییز کسان ** مرء مخفی لدی طی اللسان1270
Touching the discrimination of persons (one from another), the Prophet said, ‘A man is hidden when his tongue is folded up.’
رنگ رو از حال دل دارد نشان ** رحمتم کن مهر من در دل نشان
The colour of the face indicates the state of the heart: have pity on me, implant love of me in thy heart.
رنگ روی سرخ دارد بانگ شکر ** بانگ روی زرد باشد صبر و نکر
A red complexion has the sound of (declares and expresses) thankfulness (satisfaction); the sound (signification) of a pale complexion has the sound (signification) of patience.
در من آمد آن که دست و پا برد ** رنگ رو و قوت و سیما برد
There has come upon me that which takes away hand and foot, takes away colour of face and strength and (every outward) mark;
آن که در هر چه در آید بشکند ** هر درخت از بیخ و بن او بر کند
That which shatters every thing it comes upon, tears up every tree from root and bottom;
در من آمد آن که از وی گشت مات ** آدمی و جانور جامد نبات1275
There has come upon me that by which man and animal, mineral and plant have been checkmated.
این خود اجزایند کلیات از او ** زرد کرده رنگ و فاسد کرده بو
These indeed are (only) parts, (but) wholes (too) are by him (Doom) made yellow in hue and corrupt in odour,
تا جهان گه صابر است و گه شکور ** بوستان گه حله پوشد گاه عور
So that the world is now patient, now thankful; the garden now puts on a robe (of verdure) and again is bare.
آفتابی کاو بر آید نارگون ** ساعتی دیگر شود او سر نگون
The sun, which rises fire-coloured, at another hour sinks headlong.
اختران تافته بر چار طاق ** لحظه لحظه مبتلای احتراق
Stars shining in the four quarters (of the sky) are, from time to time, afflicted with (consumed by) burning.
ماه کاو افزود ز اختر در جمال ** شد ز رنج دق او همچون خیال1280
The moon, which excels the stars in beauty, becomes like a phantom from the malady of a phthisis.
این زمین با سکون با ادب ** اندر آرد زلزلهش در لرز تب
This earth, quiet and controlled, is thrown by earthquakes into feverish tremors.
ای بسا که زین بلای مردهریگ ** گشته است اندر جهان او خرد و ریگ
Oh, from this inherited woe many a mountain in the world has become tiny fragments and (grains of) sand.
این هوا با روح آمد مقترن ** چون قضا آید وبا گشت و عفن
This air is conjoined with the (vital) spirit, (but) when the Divine destiny comes, it turns pestilential and stinking.
آب خوش کاو روح را همشیره شد ** در غدیری زرد و تلخ و تیره شد
The sweet water that was a sister (congenial) to the spirit, (after standing) in a pool, became yellow and bitter and turbid.
آتشی کاو باد دارد در بروت ** هم یکی بادی بر او خواند یموت1285
The fire that has wind in its moustache—a single puff of wind calls death upon it.
حال دریا ز اضطراب و جوش او ** فهم کن تبدیلهای هوش او
The state of the sea (is such that) from its agitation and commotion (you may) perceive the changes of its mind.
چرخ سر گردان که اندر جستجوست ** حال او چون حال فرزندان اوست
The whirling heaven, which is (ever engaged) in seeking and searching—its state is like the state of its children;
گه حضیض و گه میانه گاه اوج ** اندر او از سعد و نحسی فوج فوج
Now nadir, now middle, now zenith: therein are host on host of stars fortunate and unlucky.
از خود ای جزوی ز کلها مختلط ** فهم میکن حالت هر منبسط
From thyself, O part made up of wholes, apprehend the state of every simple (uncompounded) thing.
چون که کلیات را رنج است و درد ** جزو ایشان چون نباشد روی زرد1290
Inasmuch as wholes suffer grief and pain, how should their part not be pale-faced (sick and subject to decay)?
خاصه جزوی کاو ز اضداد است جمع ** ز آب و خاک و آتش و باد است جمع
Especially a part which is composed of contraries—of water and earth and fire and air.
این عجب نبود که میش از گرگ جست ** این عجب کاین میش دل در گرگ بست
It is no wonder that the sheep recoiled from the wolf; the wonder is that this sheep set its heart on (became friendly with) the wolf.
زندگانی آشتی ضدهاست ** مرگ آن کاندر میانشان جنگ خاست
Life is the peace (harmony) of contraries; death is the fact that war arose between them.
لطف حق این شیر را و گور را ** الف داده ست این دو ضد دور را
The grace of God has given amity to this lion and wild-ass— these two far distant contraries.
چون جهان رنجور و زندانی بود ** چه عجب رنجور اگر فانی بود1295
Since the world is sick and a prisoner, what wonder if the sick one is passing away?”
خواند بر شیر او از این رو پندها ** گفت من پس ماندهام زین بندها
From this point of view he (the hare) recited counsels to the lion. “I have lagged behind,” said he, “because of these bonds.”
پرسیدن شیر از سبب پای واپس کشیدن خرگوش
How the lion asked the reason of the hare's drawing back.
شیر گفتش تو ز اسباب مرض ** این سبب گو خاص کاین استم غرض
The lion said to him, “Amongst (all) the causes of your malady tell (me) the special cause, for this is my object.”
گفت آن شیر اندر این چه ساکن است ** اندر این قلعه ز آفات ایمن است
“That lion,” he said, “lives in this well: within this fortress he is safe from harms.”
قعر چه بگزید هر کی عاقل است ** ز آن که در خلوت صفاهای دل است
Every one who is wise chose the bottom of the well (to live in), because spiritual joys are (to be attained only) in solitude.
ظلمت چه به که ظلمتهای خلق ** سر نبرد آن کس که گیرد پای خلق1300
The darkness of the well is better than the dark shades of the world: he that followed at the heels of the world never saved his head.
گفت پیش آ زخمم او را قاهر است ** تو ببین کان شیر در چه حاضر است
“Come on,” said the lion; “my blow subdues him: see thou whether that lion is in the well at present.”
گفت من سوزیدهام ز آن آتشی ** تو مگر اندر بر خویشم کشی
The hare answered, “I am consumed with (dread of) that fieriness (wrath): perhaps thou wilt take me beside thee,
تا بپشت تو من ای کان کرم ** چشم بگشایم به چه در بنگرم
That with thy support, O mine of generosity, I may open my eyes and look into the well.”
نظر کردن شیر در چاه و دیدن عکس خود را و آن خرگوش را
How the lion looked into the well and saw the reflexion of himself and the hare.
چون که شیر اندر بر خویشش کشید ** در پناه شیر تا چه میدوید
When the lion took him to his side, under the lion's protection he began to run towards the well.
چون که در چه بنگریدند اندر آب ** اندر آب از شیر و او در تافت تاب1305
As soon as they looked at the water in the well, there shone forth in the water the light (reflected) from the lion and him (the hare).
شیر عکس خویش دید از آب تفت ** شکل شیری در برش خرگوش زفت
The lion saw his own reflexion: from the water shone the image of a lion with a plump hare at his side.
چون که خصم خویش را در آب دید ** مر و را بگذاشت و اندر چه جهید
When he beheld his adversary in the water, he left him (the hare) and sprang into the well.
در فتاد اندر چهی کاو کنده بود ** ز آن که ظلمش در سرش آینده بود
He fell into the well which he had dug, because his iniquity was coming (back) on his own head.
چاه مظلم گشت ظلم ظالمان ** این چنین گفتند جمله عالمان
The iniquity of evil-doers became (for them) a dark well: so have said all the wise.
هر که ظالمتر چهش با هولتر ** عدل فرموده ست بدتر را بتر1310
The more iniquitous one is, the more frightful is his well: (Divine) Justice has ordained worse (punishment) for worse (sin).
ای که تو از ظلم چاهی میکنی ** دان که بهر خویش دامی میکنی
O you who on account of (your) high estate are committing an act of injustice, know that you are digging a well (pit) for yourself.
گرد خود چون کرم پیله بر متن ** بهر خود چه میکنی اندازه کن
Do not weave (a cocoon) round yourself, like the silkworm. You are digging a well for yourself (to fall in): dig with moderation (not too deep).
مر ضعیفان را تو بیخصمی مدان ** از نبی ذا جاء نصر الله خوان
Deem not the weak to be without a champion: recite from the Qur’án (the words), When the help of God shall come.
گر تو پیلی خصم تو از تو رمید ** نک جزا طیرا ابابیلت رسید
If you are an elephant and your foe fled from you, lo, the retribution came upon you, birds in flocks.
گر ضعیفی در زمین خواهد امان ** غلغل افتد در سپاه آسمان1315
If any poor man on the earth beg for mercy, a loud tumult falls on (arises among) the Host of Heaven.