سالها او را به بانگی بنده‌ای ** در چنین ظلمت نمد افکنده‌ای
(For many) years, you are a slave to him because of a cry: you have laid down the blanket (have lain down to rest) in such darkness as this!
هیبت بانگ شیاطین خلق را ** بند کردست و گرفته حلق را
Dread of the cry of the devils has bound the people and taken hold of their throats,
تا چنان نومید شد جانشان ز نور ** که روان کافران ز اهل قبور
Till their souls have become as hopeless of the Light as the spirits of the infidels who dwell in the tombs.
این شکوه بانگ آن ملعون بود ** هیبت بانگ خدایی چون بود
Such is the terror of the cry of that accursed one: how (great) must be the dread of the Divine cry!
هیبت بازست بر کبک نجیب ** مر مگس را نیست زان هیبت نصیب4340
Dread of the falcon is (falling) upon the noble partridge: the fly hath no portion of that dread,
زانک نبود باز صیاد مگس ** عنکبوتان می مگس گیرند و بس
Because the falcon is not a hunter of flies: only spiders catch flies.
عنکبوت دیو بر چون تو ذباب ** کر و فر دارد نه بر کبک و عقاب
The spider, (which is) the Devil, hath dominion over flies like you, not over the partridge and the eagle.
بانگ دیوان گله‌بان اشقیاست ** بانگ سلطان پاسبان اولیاست
The cry of the devils is the drover of the damned; the cry of the Lord is the guardian of the (blessed) saints,
تا نیامیزد بدین دو بانگ دور ** قطره‌ای از بحر خوش با بحر شور
To the end that, by reason of these two cries (being) far distant (from each other), not a drop of the sweet sea may mingle with the briny sea.
رسیدن بانگ طلسمی نیم‌شب مهمان مسجد را
How the talismanic cry came at midnight to (the ears of) the guest in the mosque.
بشنو اکنون قصه‌ی آن بانگ سخت ** که نرفت از جا بدان آن نیکبخت4345
Now hear the tale of the terrible cry, by which that good-fortuned man was not dismayed.
گفت چون ترسم چو هست این طبل عید ** تا دهل ترسد که زخم او را رسید
He said, “How should I fear? for this is the drum of the Festival. Let the drum fear, since blows belong to it.
ای دهلهای تهی بی قلوب ** قسمتان از عید جان شد زخم چوب
O empty drums without hearts, your share in the festival of the spirit is (naught but) blows of the (drum-)stick.
شد قیامت عید و بی‌دینان دهل ** ما چو اهل عید خندان همچو گل
The Resurrection is the Festival, and the irreligious are the drum: we, like the festive folk, are laughing as the rose.”
بشنو اکنون این دهل چون بانگ زد ** دیگ دولتبا چگونه می‌پزد
Now hear how, when this drum boomed, he (the guest) cooks the pot containing the broth of felicity.
چونک بشنود آن دهل آن مرد دید ** گفت چون ترسد دلم از طبل عید4350
When that man of insight heard the drum, he said, “How should my heart be afraid of the drum of the Festival?”
گفت با خود هین ملرزان دل کزین ** مرد جان بددلان بی‌یقین
He said to himself, “Beware, do not let thy heart tremble, for (only) the souls of the faint-hearted who lack faith have died at this (noise of the drum).
وقت آن آمد که حیدروار من ** ملک گیرم یا بپردازم بدن
The time has come for me, like Haydar (‘Alí), to seize a kingdom, or to quit the body.”
بر جهید و بانگ بر زد کای کیا ** حاضرم اینک اگر مردی بیا
He sprang up and shouted, “O prince, lo, here am I: if thou art a man, come on!”
در زمان بشکست ز آواز آن طلسم ** زر همی‌ریزید هر سو قسم قسم
At his voice that talisman instantly was shattered: the gold poured down, diverse sorts, in every direction.
ریخت چند این زر که ترسید آن پسر ** تا نگیرد زر ز پری راه در4355
So much gold poured down that the youth feared lest, from its abundance, it might block the doorway.
بعد از آن برخاست آن شیر عتید ** تا سحرگه زر به بیرون می‌کشید
Afterwards that ready lion (valiant man) rose up, and till dawn he was carrying out the gold
دفن می‌کرد و همی آمد بزر ** با جوال و توبره بار دگر
And burying it and coming (back) to it once more with sack and bag.
گنجها بنهاد آن جانباز از آن ** کوری ترسانی واپس خزان
That self-devoting one laid by (great) stores thereof, to the confusion of (in despite of) the timidity of the backsliders.
این زر ظاهر بخاطر آمدست ** در دل هر کور دور زرپرست
(The thought that) this (is) external (material) gold has occurred to the mind of every blind, God-forsaken gold-worshipper.
کودکان اسفالها را بشکنند ** نام زر بنهند و در دامن کنند4360
(Similarly) children break potsherds, give the name of gold (to the fragments), and put them in their skirts.
اندر آن بازی چو گویی نام زر ** آن کند در خاطر کودک گذر
When in that game you mention the name of gold, (the idea of) that (potsherd) crosses the child's mind.
بل زر مضروب ضرب ایزدی ** کو نگردد کاسد آمد سرمدی
Nay, (’tis) the gold stamped with the Divine stamp, (the gold) which does not become obsolete, (but) is everlasting;
آن زری کین زر از آن زر تاب یافت ** گوهر و تابندگی و آب یافت
The gold from which this (worldly) gold gained lustre and derived sheen and splendour and brilliance;
آن زری که دل ازو گردد غنی ** غالب آید بر قمر در روشنی
The gold whereby the heart is made rich: it surpasses the moon in brightness.
شمع بود آن مسجد و پروانه او ** خویشتن در باخت آن پروانه‌خو4365
That mosque was the candle, and he (the guest) was the moth: that man of moth-like nature gambled himself away (sacrificed himself).
پر بسوخت او را ولیکن ساختش ** بس مبارک آمد آن انداختش
It burnt his wings, but it complied with him (granted his desire): his throwing (himself into the flame) was very blessed.
همچو موسی بود آن مسعودبخت ** کاتشی دید او به سوی آن درخت
That man of happy fortune was like Moses who beheld a fire in the direction of the tree.
چون عنایتها برو موفور بود ** نار می‌پنداشت و خود آن نور بود
Since the (Divine) favours were plenteously bestowed on him, he (only) fancied it was fire, and really it was the Light.
مرد حق را چون ببینی ای پسر ** تو گمان داری برو نار بشر
O son, when you see a man of God, you suppose (that you see) in him the fire of human nature.
تو ز خود می‌آیی و آن در تو است ** نار و خار ظن باطل این سو است4370
You are coming (to that conclusion) from yourself, and that (human nature) is in you (not in him): the fire and thorns of vain opinion are in this quarter.
او درخت موسی است و پر ضیا ** نور خوان نارش مخوان باری بیا
He is the tree of Moses and filled with radiance: come, now, call him the Light, do not call him fire.
نه فطام این جهان ناری نمود ** سالکان رفتند و آن خود نور بود
Did not the weaning from this world seem (as) a fire? The pilgrims went (on their way), and that (weaning) was really the Light.
پس بدان که شمع دین بر می‌شود ** این نه همچون شمع آتشها بود
Know, then, that the Candle of Religion is always mounting (shining more and more): this is not like the candle of flames.
این نماید نور و سوزد یار را ** و آن بصورت نار و گل زوار را
This (flaming candle) seems to be Light, (but) it burns its friend, while that (Candle of Religion) is fire in appearance, but is (delicious as) roses to (its) visitors.
این چو سازنده ولی سوزنده‌ای ** و آن گه وصلت دل افروزنده‌ای4375
The former is like a complaisant (friend), but it is a burner, while that (other) is an illuminator of the heart at the moment of union.
شکل شعله‌ی نور پاک سازوار ** حاضران را نور و دوران را چو نار
To those present (with God) the appearance of the spark of pure and worthy Light is luminous, while to those far (from God) it is like fire.
ملاقات آن عاشق با صدر جهان
The meeting of the lover with the Sadr-i Jahán.
آن بخاری نیز خود بر شمع زد ** گشته بود از عشقش آسان آن کبد
The man of Bukhárá also cast himself upon candle: because of his passion that suffering had become easy to him.
آه سوزانش سوی گردون شده ** در دل صدر جهان مهر آمده
His burning sighs went up to heaven: kindness (for him) came into the heart of the Sadr-i Jahán,
گفته با خود در سحرگه کای احد ** حال آن آواره‌ی ما چون بود
(Who) said, (communing) with himself at dawn, “O (Thou who art) One, how fareth that distraught wanderer of Ours?
او گناهی کرد و ما دیدیم لیک ** رحمت ما را نمی‌دانست نیک4380
He committed a sin, and We saw (it), but he was not well acquainted with Our mercy.
خاطر مجرم ز ما ترسان شود ** لیک صد اومید در ترسش بود
The sinner’s heart becomes afraid of Us, but in his fear there are a hundred hopes.
من بترسانم وقیح یاوه را ** آنک ترسد من چه ترسانم ورا
I frighten the impudent man who has lost the (right) way: why should I frighten him who is afraid?
بهر دیگ سرد آذر می‌رود ** نه بدان کز جوش از سر می‌رود
Fire is used for the cold pot, not for that (pot) which is boiling over.
آمنان را من بترسانم به علم ** خایفان را ترس بردارم به حلم
I frighten the unafraid by (My) knowledge; I take away the fear of the afraid by (My) clemency.
پاره‌دوزم پاره در موضع نهم ** هر کسی را شربت اندر خور دهم4385
I am a patcher: I put the patch in (its proper) place; I give drink to every one in due measure.”