غافلی هم حکمتست و این عمی ** تا بماند لیک تا این حد چرا
True, (this) heedlessness and this blindness is (a manifestation of) Divine Wisdom, in order that he (the heedless man) may endure; but why (be heedless) to such an extent as this?
غافلی هم حکمتست و نعمتست ** تا نپرد زود سرمایه ز دست
True, heedlessness is (a manifestation of) Divine Wisdom and Bounty, in order that (his) stock-in-trade may not suddenly fly out of (his) hand;
لیک نی چندانک ناسوری شود ** زهر جان و عقل رنجوری شود2610
But not (heedlessness) so great that it becomes an incurable sore and a poison to the spirit and intellect of one who is sick.
خود کی یابد این چنین بازار را ** که به یک گل می‌خری گلزار را
Who, really, can find bazaars like this where with a single rose thou art buying (whole) roseries;
دانه‌ای را صد درختستان عوض ** حبه‌ای را آمدت صد کان عوض
(Where) a hundred groves come (are offered) to thee in exchange for one seed, a hundred mines in exchange for one groat?
کان لله دادن آن حبه است ** تا که کان‌الله له آید به دست
Kána lilláh is the giving of that groat, in order that kána ’lláh lahú may come into (thy) hand;
زآنک این هوی ضعیف بی‌قرار ** هست شد زان هوی رب پایدار
For this weak unstable hú (personality) was brought into being by the steadfast (permanent) hú of the Lord.
هوی فانی چونک خود فا او سپرد ** گشت باقی دایم و هرگز نمرد2615
When the hú that passes away has surrendered itself to Him, it becomes everlasting and never dies.
هم‌چو قطره‌ی خایف از باد و ز خاک ** که فنا گردد بدین هر دو هلاک
(’Tis) like a drop of water (which is) afraid of wind (air) and earth; for by means of these twain it is made to pass away (and perish.
چون به اصل خود که دریا بود جست ** از تف خورشید و باد و خاک رست
When it has leaped (thrown itself) into the sea, which was its source, it is delivered from the heat of the sun and from wind and earth.
ظاهرش گم گشت در دریا و لیک ** ذات او معصوم و پا بر جا و نیک
Its outward form has disappeared in the sea, but its essence is inviolate and permanent and goodly.
هین بده ای قطره خود را بی‌ندم ** تا بیابی در بهای قطره یم
Hark, O (thou who art like a) drop, give thyself up without repenting, that in recompense for the drop thou mayst gain the Ocean.
هین بده ای قطره خود را این شرف ** در کف دریا شو آمن از تلف2620
Hark, O drop, bestow on thyself this honour, and in the hand of the Sea become safe from destruction.
خود کرا آید چنین دولت به دست ** قطره‌ای را بحری تقاضاگر شدست
Whom indeed should fortune like this befall? A Sea has become the suitor for a drop.
الله الله زود بفروش و بخر ** قطره‌ای ده بحر پر گوهر ببر
In God's name, in God's name, sell and buy at once! Give a drop, and take (in return) the Sea which is full of pearls.
الله الله هیچ تاخیری مکن ** که ز بحر لطف آمد این سخن
In God's name, in God's name, do not make any postponement, for these words (of Moses) come from the Sea of Grace.
لطف اندر لطف این گم می‌شود ** که اسفلی بر چرخ هفتم می‌شود
(All other) grace is lost (vanishes away) in (comparison with) this grace, that one of the lowest is going up to the Seventh Heaven.
هین که یک بازی فتادت بوالعجب ** هیچ طالب این نیابد در طلب2625
Hark, for a marvellous falcon has fallen to thee: no seeker will find it in (his) search.”
گفت با هامان بگویم ای ستیر ** شاه را لازم بود رای وزیر
He (Pharaoh) said, “I will tell Hámán, O veiled (modest) one: the counsel of the vizier is necessary to the king.”
گفت با هامان مگو این راز را ** کور کمپیری چه داند باز را
She said, “Do not tell Hámán this secret: what should a blind decrepit old woman know about a falcon?”
قصه‌ی باز پادشاه و کمپیر زن
Story of the king's falcon and the decrepit old woman.
باز اسپیدی به کمپیری دهی ** او ببرد ناخنش بهر بهی
(If) you give a white falcon to a decrepit old woman, she will clip its talons for the sake of (its supposed) welfare.
ناخنی که اصل کارست و شکار ** کور کمپیری ببرد کوروار
The blind old woman will blindly clip the talons which are the source of its usefulness in the chase,
که کجا بودست مادر که ترا ** ناخنان زین سان درازست ای کیا2630
Saying, “Where has thy mother been, that thy talons are so long, O prince?”
ناخن و منقار و پرش را برید ** وقت مهر این می‌کند زال پلید
She clipped its talons and beak and wings: the filthy old hag does this at the time of (at the time when she is moved by) affection.
چونک تتماجش دهد او کم خورد ** خشم گیرد مهرها را بر درد
When she gives it tutmáj, it will not eat; (then) she is enraged and tears up her feelings of affection,
که چنین تتماج پختم بهر تو ** تو تکبر می‌نمایی و عتو
Saying, “I have cooked such (fine) tutmáj for thee, and thou art showing pride and insolence.
تو سزایی در همان رنج و بلا ** نعمت و اقبال کی سازد ترا
Thou deservest to be in that trouble and affliction: how should happiness and prosperity be suitable for thee?”
آن تتماجش دهد کین را بگیر ** گر نمی‌خواهی که نوشی زان فطیر2635
She gives it the tutmáj broth, saying, “Take this, if thou dost not wish to eat of the pastry.”
آب تتماجش نگیرد طبع باز ** زال بترنجد شود خشمش دراز
The falcon's nature does not accept (rejects) tutmáj broth: the old woman frowns, and her anger is prolonged.
از غضب شربای سوزان بر سرش ** زن فرو ریزد شود کل مغفرش
In her rage the woman pours down the burning hot soup on its head: the crown of its head is made bald.
اشک از آن چشمش فرو ریزد ز سوز ** یاد آرد لطف شاه دل‌فروز
On account of the burning pain the tears pour down from its eye: it remembers the kindness of the heart-delighting king.
زان دو چشم نازنین با دلال ** که ز چهره‌ی شاد دارد صد کمال
(Tears pour) from those two charming coquettish eyes, which possess a hundred perfections (derived) from the countenance of the king.
چشم مازاغش شده پر زخم زاغ ** چشم نیک از چشم بد با درد و داغ2640
Its eye that turned not aside (ma zágh) has become full of wounds inflicted by the crow (zágh): the good eye is (smitten) with pain and anguish by the evil eye.
چشم دریا بسطتی کز بسط او ** هر دو عالم می‌نماید تار مو
(It hath) an eye with the (vast) range of the sea, (an eye) from the (immense) range whereof both the worlds appear (no bigger than) a thread of hair.
گر هزاران چرخ در چشمش رود ** هم‌چو چشمه پیش قلزم گم شود
If thousands of spheres should enter into its eye, they would vanish like a fountain before the ocean.
چشم بگذشته ازین محسوسها ** یافته از غیب‌بینی بوسها
The eye that has passed beyond these objects of sense-perception and won kisses from vision of the Unseen—
خود نمی‌یابم یکی گوشی که من ** نکته‌ای گویم از آن چشم حسن
Verily, I do not find a single ear to which I should tell a mystery concerning that beauteous eye.
می‌چکید آن آب محمود جلیل ** می‌ربودی قطره‌اش را جبرئیل2645
(If) the lauded and august water were to trickle (from that eye), Gabriel would (eagerly) carry off its drops,
تا بمالد در پر و منقال خویش ** گر دهد دستوریش آن خوب کیش
That he might rub them on his wings and beak, if that person of goodly practice give him permission.
باز گوید خشم کمپیر ار فروخت ** فر و نور و علم و صبرم را نسوخت
The falcon says, “If the anger of the old crone has blazed forth, (yet) it has not consumed my glory and splendour and self-denial and knowledge.
باز جانم باز صد صورت تند ** زخم بر ناقه نه بر صالح زند
The falcon, (which is) my spirit, will still weave a hundred forms: the blow falls on the she-camel, not on Sálih.
صالح از یک‌دم که آرد با شکوه ** صد چنان ناقه بزاید متن کوه
At a single awful breath that Sálih heaves, the back (womb) of the mountain will bring to birth a hundred such she-camels.”
دل همی گوید خموش و هوش دار ** ورنه درانید غیرت پود و تار2650
(My) heart is saying, “Be silent and observe discretion; otherwise, the (Divine) jealousy will end the warp and woof (of thy existence).”
غیرتش را هست صد حلم نهان ** ورنه سوزیدی به یک دم صد جهان
His jealousy hath a hundred hidden clemencies; else in one moment it would consume a hundred worlds.
نخوت شاهی گرفتش جای پند ** تا دل خود را ز بند پند کند
Kingly pride seized the place of (left no room for) admonition in him (Pharaoh), so that he wrenched his heart away from the bonds of admonition,
که کنم بار رای هامان مشورت ** کوست پشت ملک و قطب مقدرت
Saying, “I will take counsel with Hámán, for he is the support of the kingdom and the pivot of power.”
مصطفی را رای‌زن صدیق رب ** رای‌زن بوجهل را شد بولهب
The Lord's veracious witness was the counsellor of Mustafá (Mohammed); Bú Lahab became the counsellor of Bú Jahl.
عرق جنسیت چنانش جذب کرد ** کان نصیحتها به پیشش گشت سرد2655
The homogeneity rooted in his nature drew him (towards Hámán) so (strongly) that those admonishments (of Ásiya) became irksome to him.
جنس سوی جنس صد پره پرد ** بر خیالش بندها را بر درد
Congener flies to congener with a hundred wings and rives (all) bounds asunder in the fancy (desire) for him (who is congenial).
قصه‌ی آن زن کی طفل او بر سر ناودان غیژید و خطر افتادن بود و از علی کرم‌الله وجهه چاره جست
Story of the woman whose child crawled to the top of the water-spout and was in danger of falling; (whereupon) she besought help of ‘Alí Murtadá, may God ennoble his person.
یک زنی آمد به پیش مرتضی ** گفت شد بر ناودان طفلی مرا
A woman came to Murtadá (‘Alí) and said, “A child belonging to me has gone up on to the water-spout.