تا نمیرد تن به یک زخم از گزاف ** تا خورد او بیست زخم اندر مصاف
In order that his body might not die cheaply at one blow and that he might receive twenty blows in the battle.
حیفش آمد که به زخمی جان دهد ** جان ز دست صدق او آسان رهد
To him it was anguish that he should give up his soul at one blow and that his soul should escape lightly from the hand of his fortitude.
حکایت آن مجاهد کی از همیان سیم هر روز یک درم در خندق انداختی به تفاریق از بهر ستیزه‌ی حرص و آرزوی نفس و وسوسه‌ی نفس کی چون می‌اندازی به خندق باری به یک‌بار بینداز تا خلاص یابم کی الیاس احدی الراحتین او گفته کی این راحت نیز ندهم
Story of the (spiritual) warrior who every day used to take one dirhem separately from a purse containing (pieces of) silver and throw it into a ditch (full of water) for the purpose of thwarting the greed and cupidity of his fleshly soul; and how his soul tempted him, saying, “Since you are going to throw (this money) into the ditch, at least throw it away all at once, so that I may gain deliverance, for despair is one of the two (possible) reliefs”; and how he replied, “I will not give thee this relief either.”
آن یکی بودش به کف در چل درم ** هر شب افکندی یکی در آب یم 3815
A certain man had forty dirhems in his hand: every night he would throw one (of them) into the sea-water,
تا که گردد سخت بر نفس مجاز ** در تانی درد جان کندن دراز
In order that the long agony suffered in (the process of) deliberation might become grievous to the illusory soul.
با مسلمانان بکر او پیش رفت ** وقت فر او وا نگشت از خصم تفت
He (the valiant Súfí) advanced with the Moslems to attack (the infidels), (but) in the hour of retreat he did not fall back in haste before the enemy.
زخم دیگر خورد آن را هم ببست ** بیست کرت رمح و تیر از وی شکست
He was wounded again, (but) he bound up those (wounds) too: twenty times were the spears and arrows (of the enemy) broken by him.
بعد از آن قوت نماند افتاد پیش ** مقعد صدق او ز صدق عشق خویش
After that no strength remained (in him): his fell forward (and expired in) the seat of truth because his love was true.
صدق جان دادن بود هین سابقوا ** از نبی برخوان رجال صدقوا 3820
Truth consists in giving up the soul (to God). Hark, try to outstrip (the others) in the race! Recite from the Qur’án (the words) men who have been true.
این همه مردن نه مرگ صورتست ** این بدن مر روح را چون آلتست
All this dying is not the death of the (physical) form: this body is (only) like an instrument for the spirit.
ای بسا خامی که ظاهر خونش ریخت ** لیک نفس زنده آن جانب گریخت
Oh, there is many a raw (imperfect) one whose blood was shed externally, but whose living fleshly soul escaped to yonder side.
آلتش بشکست و ره‌زن زنده ماند ** نفس زنده‌ست ارچه مرکب خون فشاند
Its instrument was shattered, but the brigand was left alive: the fleshly soul is living though that on which it rode has bled to death.
اسپ کشت و راه او رفته نشد ** جز که خام و زشت و آشفته نشد
His (the rider's) horse was killed before his road was traversed: he became naught but ignorant and wicked and miserable.
If a martyr were made by every (mortal) bloodshed, an infidel killed (in battle) also would be a Bú Sa‘íd.
ای بسا نفس شهید معتمد ** مرده در دنیا چو زنده می‌رود
Oh, there is many a trusty martyred soul that has died (to self) in this world, (though) it is going about like the living.
روح ره‌زن مرد و تن که تیغ اوست ** هست باقی در کف آن غزوجوست
The brigand (animal) spirit has died, though the body, which is its sword, survives: it (the sword) is (still) in the hand of that eager warrior.
تیغ آن تیغست مرد آن مرد نیست ** لیک این صورت ترا حیران کنیست
The sword is that (same) sword, the man is not that (same) man; but this appearance (of identity) is a cause of bewilderment to you.
نفس چون مبدل شود این تیغ تن ** باشد اندر دست صنع ذوالمنن
When the soul is transformed, this sword, namely, the body, remains in the hand of (is wielded by) the action of the Beneficent (God).
آن یکی مردیست قوتش جمله درد ** این دگر مردی میان‌تی هم‌چو گرد 3830
The one (whose fleshly soul is dead) is a man whose food is entirely (Divine) love; the other is a man hollow as dust.
صفت کردن مرد غماز و نمودن صورت کنیزک مصور در کاغذ و عاشق شدن خلیفه‌ی مصر بر آن صورت و فرستادن خلیفه امیری را با سپاه گران بدر موصل و قتل و ویرانی بسیار کردن بهر این غرض
How an informer described a girl and exhibited the picture of her on paper, and how the Caliph of Egypt fell in love with it and sent an Amír with a mighty army to the gates of Mawsil (Mosul) and made great slaughter and devastation for the purpose (of obtaining the girl).
مر خلیفه‌ی مصر را غماز گفت ** که شه موصل به حوری گشت جفت
An informer said to the Caliph of Egypt, “The King of Mawsil is wedded to a houri.
یک کنیزک دارد او اندر کنار ** که به عالم نیست مانندش نگار
He holds in his arms a girl like whom there is no (other) beauty in the world.
در بیان ناید که حسنش بی‌حدست ** نقش او اینست که اندر کاغذست
She does not admit of description, for her loveliness is beyond (all) limits: here is her portrait on paper.”
نقش در کاغذ چو دید آن کیقباد ** خیره گشت و جام از دستش فتاد
When the Emperor saw the portrait on the paper, he became distraught and the cup dropped from his hand.
پهلوانی را فرستاد آن زمان ** سوی موصل با سپاه بس گران 3835
Immediately he despatched to Mawsil a captain with a very mighty army,
که اگر ندهد به تو آن ماه را ** برکن از بن آن در و درگاه را
Saying, “If he will not give up that moon (beauty) to thee, rase his court and palace to the ground;
ور دهد ترکش کن و مه را بیار ** تا کشم من بر زمین مه در کنار
But if he give her up, leave him alone and bring the moon (hither), that on the earth I may embrace the moon.”
پهلوان شد سوی موصل با حشم ** با هزاران رستم و طبل و علم
The captain set out towards Mawsil with his retinue and with thousands of heroes and drums and banners.
چون ملخها بی‌عدد بر گرد کشت ** قاصد اهلاک اهل شهر گشت
(With an army) like innumerable locusts (gathered) round the crops, he resolved to destroy the inhabitants of the city.
هر نواحی منجنیقی از نبرد ** هم‌چو کوه قاف او بر کار کرد 3840
On every side he brought into hostile action a mangonel (ballista) like Mount Qáf.
زخم تیر و سنگهای منجنیق ** تیغها در گرد چون برق از بریق
Wounds (were inflicted) by arrows and by stones from the mangonel; swords (flashed) amidst the dust, like lightning from a lightning-cloud.
هفته‌ای کرد این چنین خون‌ریز گرم ** برج سنگین سست شد چون موم نرم
During a (whole) week he wrought such carnage in hot fight: stone towers became unsteady as soft wax.
شاه موصل دید پیگار مهول ** پس فرستاد از درون پیشش رسول
The King of Mawsil saw the terrible combat: then (at last) he sent an envoy from within (the city) to him (the captain),
که چه می‌خواهی ز خون مؤمنان ** کشته می‌گردند زین حرب گران
To say, “What do you wish (to obtain) by shedding the blood of true believers? They are being killed in this grievous war.
گر مرادت ملک شهر موصلست ** بی‌چنین خون‌ریز اینت حاصلست 3845
If your object is to gain possession of the city of Mawsil, look now, it is achieved without (any more) bloodshed like this.
من روم بیرون شهر اینک در آ ** تا نگیرد خون مظلومان ترا
I will go forth from the city: here it is for you, enter in, lest the blood of the oppressed lay hold of you (and demand vengeance);
ور مرادت مال و زر و گوهرست ** این ز ملک شهر خود آسان‌ترست
And if your object is riches and gold and jewels, this is even more easy than to take possession of the city.”
ایثار کردن صاحب موصل آن کنیزک را بدین خلیفه تا خون‌ریز مسلمانان بیشتر نشود
How the lord of Mawsil surrendered the girl to the Caliph in order that there might be no more shedding of Moslem blood.
چون رسول آمد به پیش پهلوان ** داد کاغذ اندرو نقش و نشان
When the envoy came to the captain, he (the captain) gave him the paper on which the features (of the girl) were depicted,
بنگر اندر کاغذ این را طالبم ** هین بده ورنه کنون من غالبم
(Saying), “Look on the paper: this (is what) I require. Hark, give (her up), or else (I will take her by force, for) I am the conqueror.”
چون رسول آمد بگفت آن شاه نر ** صورتی کم گیر زود این را ببر 3850
On the return of the envoy, that manly King said, “Take no account of a (mere) form, lead her away at once.
من نیم در عهد ایمان بت‌پرست ** بت بر آن بت‌پرست اولیترست
I am not an idolater in the epoch of the true Faith: ’tis more fit that the idol should be in the hands of the idolater.”
چونک آوردش رسول آن پهلوان ** گشت عاشق بر جمالش آن زمان
When the envoy brought her (to him), the captain straightway fell in love with her beauty.
عشق بحری آسمان بر وی کفی ** چون زلیخا در هوای یوسفی
Love is an (infinite) ocean, on which the heavens are (but) a flake of foam: (they are distraught) like Zalíkhá in desire for a Joseph.
دور گردونها ز موج عشق دان ** گر نبودی عشق بفسردی جهان
Know that the wheeling heavens are turned by waves of Love: were it not for Love, the world would be frozen (inanimate).
کی جمادی محو گشتی در نبات ** کی فدای روح گشتی نامیات 3855
How would an inorganic thing disappear (by change) into a plant? How would vegetive things sacrifice themselves to become (endowed with) spirit?
روح کی گشتی فدای آن دمی ** کز نسیمش حامله شد مریمی
How would the spirit sacrifice itself for the sake of that Breath by the waft whereof a Mary was made pregnant?
هر یکی بر جا ترنجیدی چو یخ ** کی بدی پران و جویان چون ملخ
Each one (of them) would be (as) stiff and immovable as ice: how should they be flying and seeking like locusts?
ذره ذره عاشقان آن کمال ** می‌شتابد در علو هم‌چون نهال
Every mote is in love with that Perfection and hastening upward like a sapling.
سبح لله هست اشتابشان ** تنقیه‌ی تن می‌کنند از بهر جان
Their haste is (saying implicitly) “Glory to God!” They are purifying the body for the sake of the spirit.
پهلوان چه را چو ره پنداشته ** شوره‌اش خوش آمده حب کاشته 3860
The captain deemed (what was really) a pit to be like a (safe) road: to him the sterile soil appeared goodly, (so) he sowed seed (in it).
چون خیالی دید آن خفته به خواب ** جفت شد با آن و از وی رفت آب
Dormiens cum (aliquis) simulacrum (amatae) in somnio videret, cum eo coivit et aqua (seminis) effusa est. [When the sleeper saw an image (of her) in a dream, he coupled with it and (seminal) fluid flowed from him.]
چون برفت آن خواب و شد بیدار زود ** دید که آن لعبت به بیداری نبود
Postquam somnium abscessit et ipse extemplo experrectus est, sensit illam pupam sibi jam vigilanti coram non adesse. [When the dream departed and he woke up at once, he saw that that doll was not (present) in wakefulness.]