کرم کو زادست در سرگین ابد ** می‌نگرداند به عنبر خوی خود
The worm that has been born in dung will nevermore change its evil nature by means of ambergris.
چون نزد بر وی نثار رش نور ** او همه جسمست بی‌دل چون قشور
Since the largesse of sprinkled light did not strike upon him (the wicked man), he is wholly body, without heart (spirit), like (empty) husks.
ور ز رش نور حق قسمیش داد ** هم‌چو رسم مصر سرگین مرغ‌زاد
And if God gave him a portion of the sprinkled light, the dung hatched a bird, as is the custom in Egypt— so
لیک نه مرغ خسیس خانگی ** بلک مرغ دانش و فرزانگی300
But not the cheap domestic fowl; nay, but the bird of know ledge and wisdom.
تو بدان مانی کز آن نوری تهی ** زآنک بینی بر پلیدی می‌نهی
“Thou resemblest that (wicked man) for thou art devoid of that light, inasmuch as thou art putting thy nose to filth.
از فراقت زرد شد رخسار و رو ** برگ زردی میوه‌ی ناپخته تو
Because of being parted (from me) thy cheeks and face have become yellow (pale): thou art (a tree with) yellow leaves and unripened fruit,
دیگ ز آتش شد سیاه و دودفام ** گوشت از سختی چنین ماندست خام
The pot was blackened by the fire and became like smoke in colour, (but) the meat, on account of (its) hardness, has remained so raw as this!
هشت سالت جوش دادم در فراق ** کم نشد یک ذره خامیت و نفاق
Eight years have I boiled, thee in separation (from me): thy rawness and hypocrisy have not become less by a single mote.
غوره‌ی تو سنگ بسته کز سقام ** غوره‌ها اکنون مویزند و تو خام305
Thy young grape is indurated; for through sickness the (other) young grapes are now raisins, while thou art (still) immature.”
عذر خواستن آن عاشق از گناه خویش به تلبیس و روی پوش و فهم کردن معشوق آن را نیز
How the lover begged to be excused for his sin, (but) with duplicity and dissimulation; and how the beloved perceived that also.
گفت عاشق امتحان کردم مگیر ** تا ببینم تو حریفی یا ستیر
The lover said, “I made the trial—do not take offence—that I might see whether thou art a hetaera or a modest woman. [The lover said, “I made the trial—do not take offence—that I might see whether thou art a courtesan or a modest woman.]
من همی دانستمت بی‌امتحان ** لیک کی باشد خبر هم‌چون عیان
I was knowing (it) without the trial, but how should hearing be the same as seeing?
آفتابی نام تو مشهور و فاش ** چه زیانست ار بکردم ابتلاش
Thou art (like) the sun: thy name is renowned and known to all: what harm is there if I have tested it?
تو منی من خویشتن را امتحان ** می‌کنم هر روز در سود و زیان
Thou art I: every day I am making trial of myself in profit and loss (good and evil).
انبیا را امتحان کرده عدات ** تا شده ظاهر ازیشان معجزات310
The prophets were put to the trial by their enemies, with the result that miracles were displayed by them.
امتحان چشم خود کردم به نور ** ای که چشم بد ز چشمان تو دور
I made trial of my own eye with light, O thou from whose eyes may the evil eye be far!
این جهان هم‌چون خرابست و تو گنج ** گر تفحص کردم از گنجت مرنج
This world is as the ruin, and thou the treasure (buried there): if I have made investigation concerning thy treasure, be not aggrieved.
زان چنین بی‌خردگی کردم گزاف ** تا زنم با دشمنان هر بار لاف
I recklessly committed such an indiscretion, that I may always boast (of thy virtue) to (thy) enemies;
تا زبانم چون ترا نامی نهد ** چشم ازین دیده گواهیها دهد
So that, when my tongue bestows a name on thee, my eye may give testimonies of this which I have seen.
گر شدم در راه حرمت راه‌زن ** آمدم ای مه به شمشیر و کفن315
If I have sought to rob thee of thy honour I come, O Moon (of beauty), with sword and winding-sheet.
جز به دست خود مبرم پا و سر ** که ازین دستم نه از دست دگر
Do not cut off my feet and head save with thine own hand, for I belong to this hand, not to another hand.
از جدایی باز می‌رانی سخن ** هر چه خواهی کن ولیکن این مکن
Thou art talking again of separation: do whatsoever thou wilt, but do not this!”
در سخن آباد این دم راه شد ** گفت امکان نیست چون بیگاه شد
The way is now made (open for entering) into the realm of Discourse (Exposition); (but) ‘tis impossible to speak (on the subject), since there is no time (to do so at present).
پوستها گفتیم و مغز آمد دفین ** گر بمانیم این نماند همچنین
We have told the husks (externals), but the kernel (the inner meaning) is buried; if we remain (alive), this will not remain (concealed) as it is now.
رد کردن معشوقه عذر عاشق را و تلبیس او را در روی او مالیدن
How the beloved rejected the excuses of the lover and rubbed his duplicity into him.
در جوابش بر گشاد آن یار لب ** کز سوی ما روز سوی تست شب320
The loved one opened her lips to answer him, saying, “On my side it is day, and on thy side it is night.
حیله‌های تیره اندر داوری ** پیش بینایان چرا می‌آوری
Why in contention dost thou bring forward dark evasions be fore those who see (the truth plainly)?
هر چه در دل داری از مکر و رموز ** پیش ما رسواست و پیدا هم‌چو روز
To us, all the deceit and dissimulations that thou hast in thy heart are manifest and clear as day.
گر بپوشیمش ز بنده‌پروری ** تو چرا بی‌رویی از حد می‌بری
If we, in kindness to our servant, cover it up, why dost thou carry shamelessness beyond the limit?
از پدر آموز که آدم در گناه ** خوش فرود آمد به سوی پایگاه
Learn from thy Father; for in (the hour of) sin Adam came down willingly to the vestibule
چون بدید آن عالم الاسرار را ** بر دو پا استاد استغفار را325
When he beheld that Knower of secrets, he stood up on his feet to ask forgiveness.
بر سر خاکستر انده نشست ** از بهانه شاخ تا شاخی نجست
He seated himself on the ashes of contrition: he did not jump from one branch of idle pleading to another
ربنا انا ظلمنا گفت و بس ** چونک جانداران بدید از پیش و پس
He said only, ‘O Lord, verily we have done wrong,’ when he saw the (angelic) life-guards in front and behind.
دید جانداران پنهان هم‌چو جان ** دورباش هر یکی تا آسمان
He saw the life-guards who are invisible, as the spirit is—each one’s mace (reaching) to the sky—-
که هلا پیش سلیمان مور باش ** تا بنشکافد ترا این دورباش
Saying, ‘Hola! be (as) the ant before Solomon, lest this mace cleave thee asunder.
جز مقام راستی یک دم مه‌ایست ** هیچ لالا مرد را چون چشم نیست330
Do not for one moment stand (anywhere) but in the place of truth: a man hath no guardian like the (seeing) eye.
کور اگر از پند پالوده شود ** هر دمی او باز آلوده شود
(Even) if the blind man be purified by admonition, he continually becomes polluted again.
آدما تو نیستی کور از نظر ** لیک اذا جاء القضا عمی البصر
O Adam, thou art not blind of vision, but when the Divine destiny comes, the sight becomes blind.’”
عمرها باید به نادر گاه‌گاه ** تا که بینا از قضا افتد به چاه
Lifetimes are needed—(so) rarely and occasionally (does it happen)—for the seeing man to fall by destiny into the pit.
کور را خود این قضا همراه اوست ** که مرورا اوفتادن طبع و خوست
As regards the blind man, this destiny in sooth is his companion on the way; for ‘tis his nature and disposition to fall.
در حدث افتد نداند بوی چیست ** از منست این بوی یا ز آلودگیست335
He falls into the filth and does not know what the smell is; (he asks himself), “Is this smell from me or from (my) being polluted?”
ور کسی بر وی کند مشکی نثار ** هم ز خود داند نه از احسان یار
And likewise, if any one sprinkle some musk over him, he thinks it (comes) from himself and not from the kindness of his friend.
پس دو چشم روشن ای صاحب‌نظر ** مر ترا صد مادرست و صد پدر
Therefore to you, O man of vision, two clear eyes are (as) a hundred mothers and a hundred fathers;
خاصه چشم دل آن هفتاد توست ** وین دو چشم حس خوشه‌چین اوست
Especially the eye of the heart (the spiritual eye), which is seventy-fold and of which these two sensible eyes are (only) the gleaners.
ای دریغا ره‌زنان بنشسته‌اند ** صد گره زیر زبانم بسته‌اند
Oh, alas, the highwaymen are seated (and lying in wait for me): they have tied a hundred knots beneath my tongue.
پای‌بسته چون رود خوش راهوار ** بس گران بندیست این معذور دار340
How should the smooth-paced horse move well, when his leg is tied? This is a very heavy chain: hold me excused!