Their hands are perverse, their feet perverse, their eyes perverse, their love perverse, their peace perverse, their anger perverse.”
از پی تقلید و معقولات نقل ** پا نهاده بر جمال پیر عقل
For the sake of blind conformity and (for the sake of following) traditional ideas, they set their feet (trampled) on the camels of Reason, this venerable Guide.
پیر خر نی جمله گشته پیر خر ** از ریای چشم و گوش همدگر
They were not eager for a guide (pír-khar): they all had become (like) an old donkey (pír khar) from paying hypocritical observance to each other's eyes and ears.
از بهشت آورد یزدان بردگان ** تا نمایدشان سقر پروردگان
God brought the (devout) worshippers from Paradise that He might show unto them the nurslings of Hell-fire.
در معنی آن که مرج البحرين يلتقیان بينهما برزخ لا يبغیان
On the meaning of “He let the two seas go to meet one another: between them is a barrier which they do not seek (to cross).”
اهل نار و خلد را بین هم دکان ** در میانشان برزخ لا یبغیان2570
Behold the people of (destined for) the Fire and those of Paradise dwelling in the same shop, (yet) between them is a barrier which they do not seek to cross.
اهل نار و اهل نور آمیخته ** در میانشان کوه قاف انگیخته
He hath mixed the people of the Fire and the people of the Light: between them He hath reared the mountain of Qáf.
همچو در کان خاک و زر کرد اختلاط ** در میانشان صد بیابان و رباط
He hath mixed (them) like earth and gold in the mine: between them are a hundred deserts and caravanserays.
همچنان که عقد در در و شبه ** مختلط چون میهمان یک شبه
(They are) mixed even as pearls and jet beads in the necklace, (soon to be parted) like guests of a single night.
بحر را نیمیش شیرین چون شکر ** طعم شیرین رنگ روشن چون قمر
One half of the sea is sweet like sugar: the taste sweet, the colour bright as the moon.
نیم دیگر تلخ همچون زهر مار ** طمع تلخ و رنگ مظلم قیروار2575
The other half is bitter as snake's venom: the taste bitter and the colour dark as pitch.
هر دو بر هم می‌‌زنند از تحت و اوج ** بر مثال آب دریا موج موج
Both (halves) dash against one another, from beneath and from the top, wave on wave like the water of the sea.
صورت بر هم زدن از جسم تنگ ** اختلاط جانها در صلح و جنگ
The appearance of collision, (arising) from the narrow body, is (due to) the spirits' being intermingled in peace or war.
موجهای صلح بر هم می‌‌زند ** کینه‌‌ها از سینه‌‌ها بر می‌‌کند
The waves of peace dash against each other and root up hatreds from (men's) breasts.
موجهای جنگ بر شکل دگر ** مهرها را می‌‌کند زیر و زبر
In other form do the waves of war turn (men's) loves upside down (confound and destroy them).
مهر تلخان را به شیرین می‌‌کشد ** ز آن که اصل مهرها باشد رشد2580
Love is drawing the bitter ones to the sweet, because the foundation of (all) loves is righteousness.
قهر شیرین را به تلخی می‌‌برد ** تلخ با شیرین کجا اندر خورد
Wrath is carrying away the sweet one to bitterness: how should the bitter sort with (be suited to) the sweet?
تلخ و شیرین زین نظر ناید پدید ** از دریچه‌‌ی عاقبت دانند دید
The bitter and the sweet are not visible to this (ocular) sight, (but) they can be seen through the window of the latter end.
چشم آخر بین تواند دید راست ** چشم آخر بین غرور است و خطاست
The eye that sees the end (ákhir) can see truly; the eye that sees (only) the stable (ákhur) is delusion and error.
ای بسا شیرین که چون شکر بود ** لیک زهر اندر شکر مضمر بود
Oh, many the one that is sweet as sugar, but poison is concealed in the sugar.
آن که زیرک‌‌تر به بو بشناسدش ** و آن دگر چون بر لب و دندان زدش2585
He that is more sagacious (than the rest) will know it by the smell; another (only) when it touches his lips and teeth:
پس لبش ردش کند پیش از گلو ** گر چه نعره می‌‌زند شیطان کلوا
Then his lips will reject it before (it reaches) his throat, although the Devil is shouting, “Eat ye!”
و آن دگر را در گلو پیدا کند ** و آن دگر را در بدن رسوا کند
And to another it will declare (itself) in his throat, while to another it will unmask in his body;
و آن دگر را در حدث سوزش دهد ** ذوق آن زخم جگر دوزش دهد
And to another it will give burning pain in evacuation: its taste will deal him a blow that pierces his liver.
و آن دگر را بعد ایام و شهور ** و آن دگر را بعد مرگ از قعر گور
And to another (it will become manifest) after days and months; and to another after death, from the depth of the grave;
ور دهندش مهلت اندر قعر گور ** لا بد آن پیدا شود یوم النشور2590
And if he be given a respite in the depth of the grave, (then) it will inevitably become manifest on the Day of Resurrection.
هر نبات و شکری را در جهان ** مهلتی پیداست از دور زمان
Every piece of candy and sugar (desirable thing) in the world manifestly has a period granted to it from the revolution of Time.
سالها باید که اندر آفتاب ** لعل یابد رنگ و رخشانی و تاب
Years are needed in order that the ruby in (exposed to the rays of) the sun may obtain (the perfect) tint and splendour and brilliance.
باز تره در دو ماه اندر رسد ** باز تا سالی گل احمر رسد
Vegetables, again, reach maturity in two months, while the red rose comes to perfection in a year.
بهر این فرمود حق عز و جل ** سوره الانعام در ذکر اجل
For this reason the Almighty and Glorious God in the Súratu ’l-An‘ám has made mention of an appointed term (ajal).
این شنیدی مو به مویت گوش باد ** آب حیوان است خوردی نوش باد2595
You have heard this (discourse): may the whole of you, hair by hair, be an ear (to receive it)! ’Tis the Water of Life: (if) you have drunk, may it do you good!
آب حیوان خوان مخوان این را سخن ** روح نو بین در تن حرف کهن
Call it the Water of Life, call it not a discourse: behold the new spirit in the body of the old letter!
نکته‌‌ی دیگر تو بشنو ای رفیق ** همچو جان او سخت پیدا و دقیق
(Now), my friend, hearken to another saying (which is), like the soul, very clear (to mystics) and abstruse (to the rest):
در مقامی هست هم این زهر مار ** از تصاریف خدایی خوش گوار
In a certain place (spiritual degree), through Divine dispositions even this poison and snake (worldliness and sensuality) is (rendered) digestible.
در مقامی زهر و در جایی دوا ** در مقامی کفر و در جایی روا
In one place (it is) poison and in one place medicine, in one place infidelity and in one place approved.