راههای صعب پایان برده‌ایم ** ره بر اهل خویش آسان کرده‌ایم
We have brought the hard ways to an end; we have made the way easy for our own people.”
مکرر کردن قوم اعتراض ترجیه بر انبیا علیهم‌السلام
How the people (of Sabá) repeated their resistance to the (prophets') hope (of converting them and set themselves) against the prophets, on whom be peace.
قوم گفتند از شما سعد خودیت ** نحس مایید و ضدیت و مرتدیت
The people (of Sabá) said, “If ye bring good luck to yourselves, ye are ill-starred for us and are opposed (to us) and rejected (by us).
جان ما فارغ بد از اندیشه‌ها ** در غم افکندید ما را و عنا
Our souls were free from cares: ye have cast us into grief and trouble.
ذوق جمعیت که بود و اتفاق ** شد ز فال زشتتان صد افتراق2950
Through your evil presage the delightful concord and agreement that existed (amongst us) has been turned into a hundred separations.
طوطی نقل شکر بودیم ما ** مرغ مرگ‌اندیش گشتیم از شما
(Formerly) we were parrots eating sugar for dessert; (now) through you we have become birds that meditate on death.
هر کجا افسانه‌ی غم‌گستریست ** هر کجا آوازه‌ی مستنکریست
Wheresoever is a grief-spreading tale, wheresoever is an odious rumour,
هر کجا اندر جهان فال بذست ** هر کجا مسخی نکالی ماخذست
Wheresoever in the world is an evil presage, wheresoever is a monstrous transformation, a terrible punishment, an infliction of chastisement—
در مثال قصه و فال شماست ** در غم‌انگیزی شما را مشتهاست
(All those things) are (contained) in the parable of your story and in your evil presage: ye have an appetite for rousing grief.”
باز جواب انبیا علیهم السلام
How the prophets, on whom be peace, answered them once more.
انبیا گفتند فال زشت و بد ** از میان جانتان دارد مدد2955
The prophets said, “The foul and evil presage has its support from within your souls.
گر تو جایی خفته باشی با خطر ** اژدها در قصد تو از سوی سر
If you are asleep in a perilous place, and a dragon is approaching you from a spot close at hand,
مهربانی مر ترا آگاه کرد ** که بجه زود ار نه اژدرهات خورد
And a kindly person has made you aware (of it), saying, ‘Jump up quickly, or else the dragon will devour you’—
تو بگویی فال بد چون می‌زنی ** فال چه بر جه ببین در روشنی
If you say, ‘Why are you uttering an evil presage?’ (he will reply), ‘What (evil) presage? Jump up and see in the light of day.
از میان فال بد من خود ترا ** می‌رهانم می‌برم سوی سرا
I myself will deliver you from the midst of the evil presage and will take you home.’
چون نبی آگه کننده‌ست از نهان ** کو بدید آنچ ندید اهل جهان2960
He (such a person) is one that acquaints (you) with things hidden, like the prophet who has seen what the people of this world have not seen.
گر طبیبی گویدت غوره مخور ** که چنین رنجی بر آرد شور و شر
If a physician say to you, ‘Do not eat unripe grapes, for such an illness (as is caused by them) will produce (grave) trouble and mischief,’
تو بگویی فال بد چون می‌زنی ** پس تو ناصح را مثم می‌کنی
And if you say, ‘Why are you uttering an evil presage?’— then you are making out your sincere adviser to be culpable.
And if an astrologer say to you, ‘By no means set about such an affair to-day,’
صد ره ار بینی دروغ اختری ** یک دوباره راست آید می‌خری
Though you see the falsehood of the astrologer a hundred times, (yet if) it (the prediction) come true once or twice, you are eager to trust him.
این نجوم ما نشد هرگز خلاف ** صحتش چون ماند از تو در غلاف2965
These stars of ours are never at variance (with the truth): how does their truth remain concealed from you?
آن طبیب و آن منجم از گمان ** می‌کنند آگاه و ما خود از عیان
The physician and the astrologer inform (you) from (their own) opinion, and verily we (inform you) from clairvoyance:
دود می‌بینیم و آتش از کران ** حمله می‌آرد به سوی منکران
We behold the smoke and fire rushing from afar towards the unbelievers.
تو همی‌گویی خمش کن زین مقال ** که زیان ماست قال شوم‌فال
You are saying, ‘Be silent (and refrain) from these words, for the words of evil presage are hurtful to us.’”
ای که نصح ناصحان را نشنوی ** فال بد با تست هر جا می‌روی
O you who hearken not unto the admonition of the admonishers, the evil presage is with you wherever you go.
افعیی بر پشت تو بر می‌رود ** او ز بامی بیندش آگه کند2970
A viper is walking on your back: he (the admonisher) sees it from a roof and makes (you) aware;
گوییش خاموش غمگینم مکن ** گوید او خوش باش خود رفت آن سخن
You say to him, “Hush! do not vex me”: he says, “Be happy! Truly, the words have gone (have been spoken).”
چون زند افعی دهان بر گردنت ** تلخ گردد جمله شادی جستنت
When the viper darts its mouth at your neck, all your desire for happiness is made bitter.
پس بدو گویی همین بود ای فلان ** چون بندریدی گریبان در فغان
Then you say to him, “O so-and-so, was this all (the warning you gave me)? Why didn't you tear your collar in outcry,
یا ز بالایم تو سنگی می‌زدی ** تا مرا آن جد نمودی و بدی
Or why weren't you throwing a stone at me from above, in order that that grave calamity and misfortune might be shown to me (plainly)?”
او بگوید زآنک می‌آزرده‌ای ** تو بگویی نیک شادم کرده‌ای2975
He says, “(I refrained) because you were annoyed”; you say (ironically), “You have made me very happy!”
گفت من کردم جوامردی بپند ** تا رهانم من ترا زین خشک بند
He says, “I bestowed counsel generously, that I might deliver you from this sterile (unprofitable) bondage.
از لیمی حق آن نشناختی ** مایه‌ی ایذا و طغیان ساختی
From vileness you acknowledged no obligation for that (generosity): you made (it) a source of injury and insolence.”
این بود خوی لیمان دنی ** بد کند با تو چو نیکویی کنی
This is the nature of base villains: he (such a one) does evil to thee when thou doest good (to him).
نفس را زین صبر می‌کن منحنیش ** که لیمست و نسازد نیکویش
As for the fleshly soul, bend it double (mortify it) by means of this renunciation, for it is vile, and kindness suiteth it not.
با کریمی گر کنی احسان سزد ** مر یکی را او عوض هفصد دهد2980
If thou show beneficence to a noble man, ’tis fitting: he will give seven hundred (benefits) in exchange for every one (conferred upon him);
با لیمی چون کنی قهر و جفا ** بنده‌ای گردد ترا بس با وفا
(But be merciless to the ignoble): when thou treatest a villain with violence and cruelty, he becomes a very faithful servant to thee.
کافران کارند در نعمت جفا ** باز در دوزخ نداشان ربنا
The infidels in (their) prosperity sow (the seed of) cruelty; again (afterwards) in Hell their cry is “O Lord, (deliver us)!”
حکمت آفریدن دوزخ آن جهان و زندان این جهان تا معبد متکبران باشد کی ائتیا طوعا او کرها
The wisdom of (God's) having created Hell in the world hereafter and the prison of (tribulation in) the present world to the end that they may be places of worship for the arrogant (evil-doers): “Come ye willingly or unwillingly.”
که لیمان در جفا صافی شوند ** چون وفا بینند خود جافی شوند
For in (suffering) cruelty the vile are purified; when they receive kindness, they themselves become cruel.
مسجد طاعاتشان پس دوزخست ** پای‌بند مرغ بیگانه فخست
Therefore Hell is the mosque where they perform their devotions: a trap is the (only) fetter for a wild bird.
هست زندان صومعه‌ی دزد و لیم ** کاندرو ذاکر شود حق را مقیم2985
Prison is the cloister of the thief and villain, that there he may be constantly mindful of God.
چون عبادت بود مقصود از بشر ** شد عبادتگاه گردن‌کش سقر
Inasmuch as Divine worship was the object (in the creation) of mankind, Hellfire was made the place of worship for the rebellious.
آدمی را هست در هر کار دست ** لیک ازو مقصود این خدمت بدست
Man hath the power (of action) in everything, but this service (of God) has (ever) been the (final) object of him.
ما خلقت الجن و الانس این بخوان ** جز عبادت نیست مقصود از جهان
“I did not create the Jinn and mankind (save that they might serve Me).” Recite this (text). The (final) object of the world is naught but Divine worship.
گرچه مقصود از کتاب آن فن بود ** گر توش بالش کنی هم می‌شود
Though the (final) object of a book is the science (which it contains), (yet) if you make it a pillow (to rest on), it will become (serve as) that too;
لیک ازو مقصود این بالش نبود ** علم بود و دانش و ارشاد سود2990
But this (function of being a) pillow was not its (final) object: it (the final object) was learning and knowledge and right guidance and profit.
گر تو میخی ساختی شمشیر را ** برگزیدی بر ظفر ادبار را
If you have made the sword a tent-pin, you have preferred defeat to victory.
گرچه مقصود از بشر علم و هدیست ** لیک هر یک آدمی را معبدیست
Although the (final) object of Man is knowledge (of God) and to be rightly directed (in religion), (yet) every man hath a particular place of worship.
معبد مرد کریم اکرمته ** معبد مرد لیم اسقمته
The place where (the means whereby) the noble man worships is your treating him with kindness; the place where (the means whereby) the vile man worships is your making him sick (your maltreating him).
مر لیمان را بزن تا سر نهند ** مر کریمان را بده تا بر دهند
Smite the vile, that they may bow their heads; give to the noble, that they may yield (good) fruit.
لاجرم حق هر دو مسجد آفرید ** دوزخ آنها را و اینها را مزید2995
Necessarily God hath created a mosque for each of the twain —Hell for those, and increase (of bounty) for these.
ساخت موسی قدس در باب صغیر ** تا فرود آرند سر قوم زحیر
Moses built the Báb-i Saghír (the Small Gate) at Jerusalem, in order that the people tormented (by evil passions) might lower their heads,