واحد کالالف کی بود آن ولی ** بلک صد قرنست آن عبدالعلی
Who is a single one like a thousand? That Saint. Nay, that Servant of the High (God) is (equivalent to) a hundred generations.
خم که از دریا درو راهی شود ** پیش او جیحونها زانو زند
The great rivers kneel (in homage) before the jar into which there comes a channel from the sea,
خاصه این دریا که دریاها همه ** چون شنیدند این مثال و دمدمه
Especially this Sea (of Reality); for all the (other) seas, when they heard this (imperial) mandate and (mighty) tumult—
شد دهانشان تلخ ازین شرم و خجل ** که قرین شد نام اعظم با اقل 25
Their mouths became bitter with shame and confusion because the Greatest Name had been joined with the least.
در قران این جهان با آن جهان ** این جهان از شرم می‌گردد جهان
At the conjunction of this world with yonder world this world is recoiling in shame.
این عبارت تنگ و قاصر رتبتست ** ورنه خس را با اخص چه نسبتست
This (manner of) expression is narrow (inadequate) and deficient, for what resemblance exists between the vile and the most elect?
زاغ در رز نعره‌ی زاغان زند ** بلبل از آواز خوش کی کم کند
(If) the crow caws in the orchard, (yet) how should the nightingale cease its sweet song?
پس خریدارست هر یک را جدا ** اندرین بازار یفعل ما یشا
Every one, then, has his separate customer in this bazaar of He doeth what He pleases.
نقل خارستان غذای آتش است ** بوی گل قوت دماغ سرخوش است 30
The dessert provided by the thornbrake is nutriment (fuel) for the fire; the scent of the rose is food for the intoxicated brain.
گر پلیدی پیش ما رسوا بود ** خوک و سگ را شکر و حلوا بود
If filth is disgraceful in our opinion, (yet) it is sugar and sweetmeat to the pig and the dog.
گر پلیدان این پلیدیها کنند ** آبها بر پاک کردن می‌تنند
If the filthy ones commit these foulnesses, (yet) the (pure) waters are intent on purification.
گرچه ماران زهرافشان می‌کنند ** ورچه تلخان‌مان پریشان می‌کنند
Though the snakes are scattering venom and though the sour people are making us distressed,
نحلها بر کو و کندو و شجر ** می‌نهند از شهد انبار شکر
(Yet) in mountain and hive and tree the bees are depositing a sugar-store of honey.
زهرها هرچند زهری می‌کنند ** زود تریاقاتشان بر می‌کنند 35
However much the venoms show venomousness, the antidotes quickly root them out.
این جهان جنگست کل چون بنگری ** ذره با ذره چو دین با کافری
When you consider, this world is all at strife, mote with mote, as religion (is in conflict) with infidelity.
آن یکی ذره همی پرد به چپ ** وآن دگر سوی یمین اندر طلب
One mote is flying to the left, and another to the right in search.
ذره‌ای بالا و آن دیگر نگون ** جنگ فعلیشان ببین اندر رکون
One mote (flies) up and another down: in their inclination (movement) behold actual strife.
جنگ فعلی هست از جنگ نهان ** زین تخالف آن تخالف را بدان
The actual strife is the result of the hidden strife: know that that discord springs from this discord.
ذره‌ای کان محو شد در آفتاب ** جنگ او بیرون شد از وصف و حساب 40
The strife of the mote that has been effaced in the sun is beyond description and calculation.
چون ز ذره محو شد نفس و نفس ** جنگش اکنون جنگ خورشیدست بس
Since the (individual) soul and breath have been effaced from the mote, its strife now is only the strife of the sun,
رفت از وی جنبش طبع و سکون ** از چه از انا الیه راجعون
(Its) natural movement and rest have gone from it—by what (means)? By means of Verily unto Him we are returning.
ما به بحر تو ز خود راجع شدیم ** وز رضاع اصل مسترضع شدیم
We have returned from ourselves to Thy sea and have sucked from the source that suckled us.
در فروغ راه ای مانده ز غول ** لاف کم زن از اصول ای بی‌اصول
O thou who, on account of the ghoul, hast remained in the derivatives (unessentials) of the Way, do not boast of (possessing) the fundamental principles (thereof), O unprincipled man.
جنگ ما و صلح ما در نور عین ** نیست از ما هست بین اصبعین 45
Our war and our peace is in the light of the Essence: ’tis not from us, ’tis between the two fingers (of God).
جنگ طبعی جنگ فعلی جنگ قول ** در میان جزوها حربیست هول
War of nature, war of action, war of speech—there is a terrible conflict amongst the parts (of the universe).
این جهان زن جنگ قایم می‌بود ** در عناصر در نگر تا حل شود
This world is maintained by means of this war: consider the elements, in order that it (the difficulty) may be solved.
چار عنصر چار استون قویست ** که بدیشان سقف دنیا مستویست
The four elements are four strong pillars by which the roof of the present world is (kept) upright.
هر ستونی اشکننده‌ی آن دگر ** استن آب اشکننده‌ی آن شرر
Each pillar is a destroyer of the other: the pillar (known as) water is a destroyer of the flames (of fire).
پس بنای خلق بر اضداد بود ** لاجرم ما جنگییم از ضر و سود 50
Hence the edifice of creation is (based) upon contraries; consequently we are at war for weal and woe.
هست احوالم خلاف همدگر ** هر یکی با هم مخالف در اثر
My states (of mind and body) are mutually opposed: each one is mutually opposite in its effect.
چونک هر دم راه خود را می‌زنم ** با دگر کس سازگاری چون کنم
Since I am incessantly waylaying (struggling with) myself, how should I act in harmony with another?
موج لشکرهای احوالم ببین ** هر یکی با دیگری در جنگ و کین
Behold the surging armies of my “states,” each at war and strife with another.
می‌نگر در خود چنین جنگ گران ** پس چه مشغولی به جنگ دیگران
Contemplate the same grievous war in thyself: why, then, art thou engaged in warring with others?
یا مگر زین جنگ حقت وا خرد ** در جهان صلح یک رنگت برد 55
Or (is it because thou hast no means of escape) unless God shall redeem thee from this war and bring thee into the unicoloured world of peace?
آن جهان جز باقی و آباد نیست ** زانک آن ترکیب از اضداد نیست
That world is naught but everlasting and flourishing, because it is not composed of contraries.
این تفانی از ضد آید ضد را ** چون نباشد ضد نبود جز بقا
This reciprocal destruction is inflicted by (every) contrary on its contrary: when there is no contrary, there is naught but everlastingness.
نفی ضد کرد از بهشت آن بی‌نظیر ** که نباشد شمس و ضدش زمهریر
He (God) who hath no like banished contraries from Paradise, saying, “Neither sun nor its contrary, intense cold, shall be there.”
هست بی‌رنگی اصول رنگها ** صلحها باشد اصول جنگها
Colourlessness is the origin of colours, peaces are the origins of wars.
آن جهانست اصل این پرغم وثاق ** وصل باشد اصل هر هجر و فراق 60
That world is the origin of this dolorous abode, union is the origin of every parting and separation.
این مخالف از چه‌ایم ای خواجه ما ** واز چه زاید وحدت این اعداد را
Wherefore, sire, are we thus in opposition, and wherefore does unity give birth to these numbers?
زانک ما فرعیم و چار اضداد اصل ** خوی خود در فرع کرد ایجاد اصل
Because we are the branch and the four elements are the stock: in the branch the stock has brought its own nature into existence.
گوهر جان چون ورای فصلهاست ** خوی او این نیست خوی کبریاست
(But) since the substance, (which is) the spirit, is beyond ramifications, its nature is not this (plurality); it is the nature of (the Divine) Majesty.
جنگها بین کان اصول صلحهاست ** چون نبی که جنگ او بهر خداست
Perceive that wars which are the origins of peaces are like (the war of) the Prophet whose war is for God's sake.
غالبست و چیر در هر دو جهان ** شرح این غالب نگنجد در دهان 65
He is victorious and mighty in both worlds: the description of this victor is not contained in the mouth.
آب جیحون را اگر نتوان کشید ** هم ز قدر تشنگی نتوان برید
Still, if it is impossible to drain (drink) the Oxus, one cannot deny one's self as much (water) as will slake thirst.
گر شدی عطشان بحر معنوی ** فرجه‌ای کن در جزیره‌ی مثنوی
If you are thirsting for the spiritual Ocean, make a breach in the island of the Mathnawí.
فرجه کن چندانک اندر هر نفس ** مثنوی را معنوی بینی و بس
Make such a great breach that at every moment you will see the Mathnawi to be only spiritual.
باد که را ز آب جو چون وا کند ** آب یک‌رنگی خود پیدا کند
When the wind sweeps away the straw from the (surface of) the river-water, the water displays its unicolouredness.
شاخهای تازه‌ی مرجان ببین ** میوه‌های رسته ز آب جان ببین 70
Behold the fresh branches of coral, behold the fruits grown from the water of the spirit!
چون ز حرف و صوت و دم یکتا شود ** آن همه بگذارد و دریا شود
When it (the Mathnawí) is made single (and denuded) of words and sounds and breaths, it leaves all that (behind) and becomes the (spiritual) Ocean.