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.
مرحبا یا مجتبی یا مرتضی ** إن تغب جاء القضاء ضاق الفضا
Welcome, O chosen one, O approved one! If thou vanish, Destiny will come (upon us) and the wide room will be straitened.
أنت مولی القوم من لا یشتهی ** قد ردی کلا لئن لم ینته100
Thou art the protector of the people. He that desires (thee) not hath gone to perdition. Nay, verily, if he do not refrain…!”
بردن پادشاه آن طبیب را بر سر بیمار تا حال او را ببیند
How the king led the physician to the bedside of the sick girl, that he might see her condition.
چون گذشت آن مجلس و خوان کرم ** دست او بگرفت و برد اندر حرم
When that meeting and bounteous (spiritual) repast was over, he took his hand and conducted him to the harem.
قصهی رنجور و رنجوری بخواند ** بعد از آن در پیش رنجورش نشاند
He rehearsed the tale of the invalid and her illness, and then seated him beside the sick (girl).
رنگ رو و نبض و قاروره بدید ** هم علاماتش هم اسبابش شنید
The physician observed the colour of her face, (felt) her pulse, and (inspected) her urine; he heard both the symptoms and the (secondary) causes of her malady.
گفت هر دارو که ایشان کردهاند ** آن عمارت نیست ویران کردهاند
He said, “None of the remedies which they have applied builds up (health): they (the false physicians) have wrought destruction.
بیخبر بودند از حال درون ** أستعیذ الله مما یفترون105
They were ignorant of the inward state. I seek refuge with God from that which they invent.”
دید رنج و کشف شد بر وی نهفت ** لیک پنهان کرد و با سلطان نگفت
He saw the pain, and the secret became open to him, but he concealed it and did not tell the king.
رنجش از صفرا و از سودا نبود ** بوی هر هیزم پدید آید ز دود
Her pain was not from yellow or black bile: the smell of every firewood appears from the smoke.
دید از زاریش کو زار دل است ** تن خوش است و او گرفتار دل است
From her sore grief he perceived that she was heart-sore; well in body, but stricken in heart.
عاشقی پیداست از زاری دل ** نیست بیماری چو بیماری دل
Being in love is made manifest by soreness of heart: there is no sickness like heartsickness.
علت عاشق ز علتها جداست ** عشق اصطرلاب اسرار خداست110
The lover's ailment is separate from all other ailments: love is the astrolabe of the mysteries of God.
عاشقی گر زین سر و گر ز ان سر است ** عاقبت ما را بدان سر رهبر است
Whether love be from this (earthly) side or from that (heavenly) side, in the end it leads us yonder.
هر چه گویم عشق را شرح و بیان ** چون به عشق آیم خجل گردم از آن
Whatsoever I say in exposition and explanation of Love, when I come to Love (itself) I am ashamed of that (explanation).
گر چه تفسیر زبان روشنگر است ** لیک عشق بیزبان روشنتر است
Although the commentary of the tongue makes (all) clear, yet tongueless love is clearer.
چون قلم اندر نوشتن میشتافت ** چون به عشق آمد قلم بر خود شکافت
Whilst the pen was making haste in writing, it split upon itself as soon as it came to Love.
عقل در شرحش چو خر در گل بخفت ** شرح عشق و عاشقی هم عشق گفت115
In expounding it (Love), the intellect lay down (helplessly) like an ass in the mire: it was Love (alone) that uttered the explanation of love and loverhood.
آفتاب آمد دلیل آفتاب ** گر دلیلت باید از وی رو متاب
The proof of the sun is the sun (himself): if thou require the proof, do not avert thy face from him!
از وی ار سایه نشانی میدهد ** شمس هر دم نور جانی میدهد
If the shadow gives an indication of him, the sun (himself) gives spiritual light every moment.
سایه خواب آرد ترا همچون سمر ** چون بر آید شمس انشق القمر
The shadow, like chat in the night-hours, brings sleep to thee; when the sun rises the moon is cloven asunder.