Where is the horse that you said would die? You are (like) a blind man who tells of the stars and you are deprived of truth.”
گفت او را آن خروس با خبر ** که سقط شد اسپ او جای دگر
That knowing cock said to him, “His horse died in another place.
اسپ را بفروخت و جست او از زیان ** آن زیان انداخت او بر دیگران
He sold the horse and escaped from loss: he cast the loss upon others;
لیک فردا استرش گردد سقط ** مر سگان را باشد آن نعمت فقط3320
But to-morrow his mule will die: that will be good fortune for the dogs, (so say) no more.”
زود استر را فروشید آن حریص ** یافت از غم وز زیان آن دم محیص
The covetous man immediately sold the mule and at that instant obtained deliverance from grief and loss.
روز ثالث گفت سگ با آن خروس ** ای امیر کاذبان با طبل و کوس
On the third day the dog said to the cock, “O prince of liars with your drums and kettledrums!”
گفت او بفروخت استر را شتاب ** گفت فردایش غلام آید مصاب
He (the cock) said, “He sold the mule in haste, (but),” said he, “to-morrow his slave will be stricken down,
چون غلام او بمیرد نانها ** بر سگ و خواهنده ریزند اقربا
And when his slave dies, the next of kin will scatter pieces of bread upon the dogs and beggars.”
این شنید و آن غلامش را فروخت ** رست از خسران و رخ را بر فروخت3325
He (the master) heard this and sold his slave: he was saved from loss and his face was lit up (with joy).
شکرها می‌کرد و شادیها که من ** رستم از سه واقعه اندر زمن
He was giving thanks and making merry, saying, “I have been saved from three calamities in the world.
تا زبان مرغ و سگ آموختم ** دیده‌ی س القضا را دوختم
Since I learned the language of the fowl and the dog I have pierced the eye of evil destiny.”
روز دیگر آن سگ محروم گفت ** کای خروس ژاژخا کو طاق و جفت
Next day the disappointed dog said, “O drivelling cock, where are the sundries (you promised me)?
خجل گشتن خروس پیش سگ به سبب دروغ شدن در آن سه وعده
[How the cock became abashed before the dog on account of being false in those three promises.]
چند چند آخر دروغ و مکر تو ** خود نپرد جز دروغ از وکر تو
How long, pray, how long (will) your falsehood and deceit (continue)? Truly, nothing but falsehood flies out of your nest.”
گفت حاشا از من و از جنس من ** که بگردیم از دروغی ممتحن3330
He said, “Far be it from me and from my kind that we should become afflicted with falsehood.
ما خروسان چون مذن راست‌گوی ** هم رقیب آفتاب و وقت‌جوی
We cocks are veracious like the muezzin: we are observers of the sun as well as seekers of the (right) time.
پاسبان آفتابیم از درون ** گر کنی بالای ما طشتی نگون
We are watchers of the sun inwardly, though you may turn a basin upside down over us.”
پاسبان آفتابند اولیا ** در بشر واقف ز اسرار خدا
The watchers of the Sun (of Reality) are the saints: in the flesh (they are) acquainted with the Divine mysteries.
اصل ما را حق پی بانگ نماز ** داد هدیه آدمی را در جهاز
“God gave our family as a gift to Man to call (him) to the ritual prayer (and) in preparation (for that purpose).
گر بناهنگام سهوی‌مان رود ** در اذان آن مقتل ما می‌شود3335
If a mistake be committed by us in (giving) the call to prayer at the wrong time, it will become the cause of our being killed.
گفت ناهنگام حی عل فلاح ** خون ما را می‌کند خوار و مباح
To say at the wrong time ‘Come to welfare’ will make our blood of no account and licit (liable to be shed with impunity).”
آنک معصوم آمد و پاک از غلط ** آن خروس جان وحی آمد فقط
’Tis only the (spiritual) cock, the Soul of (Divine) inspiration, that is protected (by God from sin) and purged of error.
آن غلامش مرد پیش مشتری ** شد زیان مشتری آن یکسری
His (the master's) slave died in the house of the purchaser: that was the purchaser's loss entirely.
او گریزانید مالش را ولیک ** خون خود را ریخت اندر یاب نیک
He saved his money, but he shed his own blood. Understand (this) well!
یک زیان دفع زیانها می‌شدی ** جسم و مال ماست جانها را فدا3340
One loss would have prevented (many) losses: our bodies and money are the ransom for our souls.
پیش شاهان در سیاست‌گستری ** می‌دهی تو مال و سر را می‌خری
In the presence of kings, in (the hour of their) dispensing punishment, you offer money and purchase your head (life):
اعجمی چون گشته‌ای اندر قضا ** می‌گریزانی ز داور مال را
How (then) have you become, in (the case of Divine) destiny, (like) a churl— withholding your money from the (Supreme) Judge?
خبر کردن خروس از مرگ خواجه
How the cock foretold the death of the Khwája.
لیک فردا خواهد او مردن یقین ** گاو خواهد کشت وارث در حنین
“But to-morrow he will certainly die: his heir, in mourning (for him), will slaughter a cow.
صاحب خانه بخواهد مرد رفت ** روز فردا نک رسیدت لوت زفت
The owner of the house will die (and) depart (from this world): lo, to-morrow a great deal of food will reach you.
پاره‌های نان و لالنگ و طعام ** در میان کوی یابد خاص و عام3345
High and low will get pieces of bread and dainty morsels and viands in the midst of the street.
گاو قربانی و نانهای تنک ** بر سگان و سایلان ریزد سبک
(The flesh of) the sacrificed cow and thin loaves of bread will be scattered quickly over the dogs and the beggars.”
مرگ اسپ و استر و مرگ غلام ** بد قضا گردان این مغرور خام
The death of the horse and mule and the death of the slave were bringing round the doom of this foolish deluded man.
از زیان مال و درد آن گریخت ** مال افزون کرد و خون خویش ریخت
He fled (escaped) from the loss of wealth and from grief thereat: he increased his wealth and shed his own blood.
این ریاضتهای درویشان چراست ** کان بلا بر تن بقای جانهاست
These austerities of dervishes—what are they for? (The reason is) that that tribulation (imposed) on the body is (in effect) the everlasting life of spirits.
تا بقای خود نیابد سالکی ** چون کند تن را سقیم و هالکی3350
Unless a (mystic) traveller gains the everlasting life of his (spiritual) self, how should he make his body a sick and perishing (thing)?
دست کی جنبد به ایثار و عمل ** تا نبیند داده را جانش بدل
How should he move his hand to (acts of) altruism and (devotional) work unless he sees (the salvation of) his soul in exchange for what is given (by him)?
آنک بدهد بی امید سودها ** آن خدایست آن خدایست آن خدا
That one who gives without expectation of (any) gains—that one is God, is God, is God,
یا ولی حق که خوی حق گرفت ** نور گشت و تابش مطلق گرفت
Or the friend of God (the saint), who has assumed the nature of God and has become luminous and has received the Absolute Radiance;
کو غنی است و جز او جمله فقیر ** کی فقیری بی عوض گوید که گیر
For He is rich, while all except Him are poor: how should a poor man say “Take” without compensation?
تا نبیند کودکی که سیب هست ** او پیاز گنده را ندهد ز دست3355
Till a child sees that the apple is there, it will not give up from its hand the stinking onion.
این همه بازار بهر این غرض ** بر دکانها شسته بر بوی عوض
All these market-folk, for the sake of this (worldly) object, are seated on the benches (in the shops) in the hope of (receiving) compensation:
صد متاع خوب عرضه می‌کنند ** واندرون دل عوضها می‌تنند
They offer a hundred fine articles of merchandise, and within their hearts they are intent on compensations.
یک سلامی نشنوی ای مرد دین ** که نگیرد آخرت آن آستین
O man of the (true) Religion, you will not hear a single salaam (blessing) whereof the end will not pluck your sleeve (and demand something of you).