ترک استثنا مرادم قسوتی است ** نی همین گفتن که عارض حالتی است
I mean (a case in which) omission of the saving clause is (due to) a hardness of heart; not the mere saying of these words, for that is a superficial circumstance.
ای بسا ناورده استثنا به گفت ** جان او با جان استثناست جفت50
How many a one has not pronounced the saving clause, and yet his soul is in harmony with the soul of it!
هر چه کردند از علاج و از دوا ** گشت رنج افزون و حاجت ناروا
The more cures and remedies they applied, the more did the illness increase, and the need was not fulfilled.
آن کنیزک از مرض چون موی شد ** چشم شه از اشک خون چون جوی شد
The sick girl became (thin) as a hair, (while) the eyes of the king flowed with tears of blood, like a river.
از قضا سرکنگبین صفرا فزود ** روغن بادام خشکی مینمود
By Divine destiny, oxymel increased the bile, and oil of almonds was producing dryness.
از هلیله قبض شد اطلاق رفت ** آب آتش را مدد شد همچو نفت
From (giving) myrobalan constipation resulted, relaxation ceased; and water fed the flames, like naphtha.
ظاهر شدن عجز حکیمان از معالجهی کنیزک و روی آوردن پادشاه به درگاه خدا و در خواب دیدن او ولی را
How it became manifest that the physicians were unable to cure the handmaiden, and how the king turned his face towards God and dreamed of a holy man.
شه چو عجز آن حکیمان را بدید ** پا برهنه جانب مسجد دوید55
When the king saw the powerlessness of those physicians, he ran bare-footed to the mosque.
رفت در مسجد سوی محراب شد ** سجده گاه از اشک شه پر آب شد
He entered the mosque and advanced to the mihráb (to pray): the prayer-carpet was bathed in the king's tears.
چون به خویش آمد ز غرقاب فنا ** خوش زبان بگشاد در مدح و ثنا
On coming to himself out of the flood of ecstasy (faná) he opened his lips in goodly praise and prayer,
کای کمینه بخششت ملک جهان ** من چه گویم چون تو میدانی نهان
Saying, “O Thou whose least gift is the empire of the world, what shall I say, in as much as Thou knowest the hidden thing?
ای همیشه حاجت ما را پناه ** بار دیگر ما غلط کردیم راه
O Thou with whom we always take refuge in our need, once again we have missed the way.
لیک گفتی گر چه میدانم سرت ** زود هم پیدا کنش بر ظاهرت60
But Thou hast said, ‘Albeit I know thy secret, nevertheless declare it forthwith in thine outward act.’”
چون بر آورد از میان جان خروش ** اندر آمد بحر بخشایش به جوش
When from the depths of his soul he raised a cry (of supplication), the sea of Bounty began to surge.
در میان گریه خوابش در ربود ** دید در خواب او که پیری رو نمود
Slumber overtook him in the midst of weeping: he dreamed that an old man appeared
And said, “Good tidings, O king! Thy prayers are granted. If to-morrow a stranger come for thee, he is from me.
چون که آید او حکیمی حاذق است ** صادقش دان که امین و صادق است
When he comes, he is a skilled physician: deem him veracious, for he is trusty and true.
در علاجش سحر مطلق را ببین ** در مزاجش قدرت حق را ببین65
In his remedy behold absolute magic, in his temperament behold the might of God!”
چون رسید آن وعدهگاه و روز شد ** آفتاب از شرق، اختر سوز شد
When the promised hour arrived and day broke and the sun, (rising) from the east, began to burn the stars,
بود اندر منظره شه منتظر ** تا ببیند آن چه بنمودند سر
The king was in the belvedere, expecting to see that which had been shown mysteriously.
دید شخصی فاضلی پر مایهای ** آفتابی در میان سایهای
He saw a person excellent and worshipful, a sun amidst a shadow,
میرسید از دور مانند هلال ** نیست بود و هست بر شکل خیال
Coming from afar, like the new moon (in slenderness and radiance): he was nonexistent, though existent in the form of phantasy.
نیست وش باشد خیال اندر روان ** تو جهانی بر خیالی بین روان70
In the spirit phantasy is as naught, (yet) behold a world (turning) on a phantasy!
بر خیالی صلحشان و جنگشان ** وز خیالی فخرشان و ننگشان
Their peace and their war (turn) on a phantasy, and their pride and their shame spring from a phantasy;
آن خیالاتی که دام اولیاست ** عکس مه رویان بستان خداست
(But) those phantasies which ensnare the saints are the reflexion of the fair ones of the garden of God.
آن خیالی که شه اندر خواب دید ** در رخ مهمان همیآمد پدید
In the countenance of the stranger-guest was appearing that phantasy which the king beheld in his dream.
شه به جای حاجبان واپیش رفت ** پیش آن مهمان غیب خویش رفت
The king himself, instead of the chamberlains, went forward to meet his guest from the Invisible.
هر دو بحری آشنا آموخته ** هر دو جان بیدوختن بر دوخته75
Both were seamen who had learned to swim, the souls of both were knit together without sewing.
گفت معشوقم تو بوده ستی نه آن ** لیک کار از کار خیزد در جهان
The king said, “Thou wert my Beloved (in reality), not she; but in this world deed issues from deed.
ای مرا تو مصطفی من چون عمر ** از برای خدمتت بندم کمر
O thou who art to me (as) Mustafá (Mohammed), while I am like unto ‘Umar—I will gird my loins to do thee service.”
از خداوند ولی التوفیق در خواستن توفیق رعایت ادب در همه حالها و بیان کردن وخامت ضررهای بیادبی
Beseeching the Lord, who is our Helper, to help us to observe self-control in all circumstances, and explaining the harmful and pernicious consequences of indiscipline.
از خدا جوییم توفیق ادب ** بیادب محروم گشت از لطف رب
Let us implore God to help us to self-control: one who lacks self-control is deprived of the grace of the Lord.
بیادب تنها نه خود را داشت بد ** بلکه آتش در همه آفاق زد
The undisciplined man does not maltreat himself alone, but he sets the whole world on fire.
مایده از آسمان در میرسید ** بیشری و بیع و بیگفت و شنید80
A table (of food) was coming down from heaven without buying and selling and without speaking and hearing,
در میان قوم موسی چند کس ** بیادب گفتند کو سیر و عدس
(When) some of the people of Moses cried disrespectfully, “Where is garlic and lentils?”
منقطع شد خوان و نان از آسمان ** ماند رنج زرع و بیل و داسمان
(Straightway) the dishes (of food) and the bread from heaven were cut off: there remained for us the toil of sowing and (labouring with) mattock and scythe.
باز عیسی چون شفاعت کرد، حق ** خوان فرستاد و غنیمت بر طبق
Again, when Jesus made intercession, God sent food and bounty (from heaven) on trays,
باز گستاخان ادب بگذاشتند ** چون گدایان زلهها برداشتند
But once more the insolent fellows omitted to show respect and, like beggars, snatched away the viands.
لابه کرده عیسی ایشان را که این ** دایم است و کم نگردد از زمین85
(Although) Jesus entreated them, saying, “This is lasting and will not fail from off the earth.”
بد گمانی کردن و حرص آوری ** کفر باشد پیش خوان مهتری
To show suspicion and greed at the table of Majesty is ingratitude.
ز ان گدا رویان نادیده ز آز ** آن در رحمت بر ایشان شد فراز
Because of those impudent wretches who were blinded by greed, that gate of mercy was closed upon them.
ابر برناید پی منع زکات ** وز زنا افتد وبا اندر جهات
On account of withholding the poor-tax no rain-clouds arise, and in consequence of fornication the plague spreads in all directions.
هر چه بر تو آید از ظلمات و غم ** آن ز بیباکی و گستاخی است هم
Whatever befalls thee of gloom and sorrow is the result of irreverence and insolence withal.
هر که بیباکی کند در راه دوست ** ره زن مردان شد و نامرد اوست90
Any one behaving with irreverence in the path of the Friend is a brigand who robs men, and he is no man.
از ادب پر نور گشته است این فلک ** وز ادب معصوم و پاک آمد ملک
Through discipline this Heaven has been filled with light, and through discipline the angels became immaculate and holy.
بد ز گستاخی کسوف آفتاب ** شد عزازیلی ز جرات رد باب
By reason of irreverence the sun was eclipsed, and insolence caused an ‘Azázíl to be turned back from the door.
ملاقات پادشاه با آن ولی که در خوابش نمودند
The meeting of the king with the saint whose coming had been shown to him in a dream.
دست بگشاد و کنارانش گرفت ** همچو عشق اندر دل و جانش گرفت
He (the king) opened his hands and clasped him to his breast and received him, like love, into his heart and soul,
دست و پیشانیش بوسیدن گرفت ** وز مقام و راه پرسیدن گرفت
And began to kiss his hand and brow and inquire concerning his home and journey.
پرس پرسان میکشیدش تا به صدر ** گفت گنجی یافتم آخر به صبر95
(So) with many a question he led him to the dais. “At last,” said he, “I have found a treasure by being patient.”
گفت ای نور حق و دفع حرج ** معنی الصبر مفتاح الفرج
He said (also), “O light of God and defence against trouble, (O thou who art) the meaning of ‘Patience is the key of joy’!
ای لقای تو جواب هر سؤال ** مشکل از تو حل شود بیقیل و قال
O thou whose countenance is the answer to every question, by thee hard knots are loosed without discussion.
ترجمانی هر چه ما را در دل است ** دست گیری هر که پایش در گل است
Thou interpretest all that is in our hearts, thou givest a helping hand to every one whose foot is in the mire.