آن یکی درویش ز اطراف دیار ** جانب تبریز آمد وامدار
A certain dervish, who was in debt, came from the outlying provinces to Tabríz.
نه هزارش وام بد از زر مگر ** بود در تبریز بدرالدین عمر 3015
His debts amounted to nine thousand pieces of gold. It happened that in Tabríz was (a man named) Badru’ddín ‘Umar.
محتسب بد او به دل بحر آمده ** هر سر مویش یکی حاتم‌کده
He was the Police Inspector, (but) at heart he was an ocean (of bounty): every hair's tip of him was a dwelling-place (worthy) of Hátim.
حاتم ار بودی گدای او شدی ** سر نهادی خاک پای او شدی
Hátim, had he been (alive), would have become a beggar to him and laid his head (before him) and made himself (as) the dust of his feet.
گر بدادی تشنه را بحری زلال ** در کرم شرمنده بودی زان نوال
If he had given an ocean of limpid water to a thirsty man, such was his generosity that he would be ashamed of (bestowing) that gift;
ور بکردی ذره‌ای را مشرقی ** بودی آن در همتش نالایقی
And if he had made a mote (as full of splendour as) a place of sunrise, (even) that would (seem) to his lofty aspiration (to) be an unworthy action.
بر امید او بیامد آن غریب ** کو غریبان را بدی خویش و نسیب 3020
That poor stranger came (to Tabríz) in hope of him, for to poor strangers he was always (like) a kinsman and relative.
با درش بود آن غریب آموخته ** وام بی‌حد از عطایش توخته
That poor stranger was familiar with his door and had paid innumerable debts from his bounty.
هم به پشت آن کریم او وام کرد ** که ببخششهاش واثق بود مرد
In reliance upon that generous (patron) he ran into debt, for the (poor) man was confident of (receiving) his donations.
لا ابالی گشته زو و وام‌جو ** بر امید قلزم اکرام‌خو
He had been made reckless by him (the Inspector) and eager to incur debts in hope of (being enriched by) that munificent sea.
وام‌داران روترش او شادکام ** هم‌چو گل خندان از آن روض الکرام
His creditors looked sour, while he was laughing happily, like the rose, on account of that garden (abode) of generous souls.
گرم شد پشتش ز خورشید عرب ** چه غمستش از سبال بولهب 3025
(When) his (the Moslem's) back is warmed by the Sun of the Arabs, what does he care for the moustache (vain bluster) of Bú Lahab?
چونک دارد عهد و پیوند سحاب ** کی دریغ آید ز سقایانش آب
When he has a covenant and alliance with the rain-cloud, how should he grudge water to the water-carriers?
ساحران واقف از دست خدا ** کی نهند این دست و پا را دست و پا
How should the magicians who were acquainted with God's Hand (Power) bestow (the name of) hands and feet upon these hands and feet?
روبهی که هست زان شیرانش پشت ** بشکند کله‌ی پلنگان را به مشت
The fox that is backed by those lions will break the skulls of the leopards with his fist.
آمدن جعفر رضی الله عنه به گرفتن قلعه به تنهایی و مشورت کردن ملک آن قلعه در دفع او و گفتن آن وزیر ملک را کی زنهار تسلیم کن و از جهل تهور مکن کی این مرد میدست و از حق جمعیت عظیم دارد در جان خویش الی آخره
How Ja‘far, may God be well-pleased with him, advanced alone to capture a fortress, and how the king of the fortress consulted (his vizier) as to the means of repelling him, and how the vizier said to the king, “Beware! Surrender (it) and do not be so foolhardy as to hurl thyself upon him; for this man is (Divinely) aided and possesses in his soul a great collectedness (derived) from God,” etc.
چونک جعفر رفت سوی قلعه‌ای ** قلعه پیش کام خشکش جرعه‌ای
When Ja‘far advanced against a certain fortress, the fortress (seemed) to his dry palate (to be no more than) a single gulp.
یک سواره تاخت تا قلعه بکر ** تا در قلعه ببستند از حذر 3030
Riding alone, he charged up to the fortress, so that they (the garrison) locked the fortress-gate in dread.
زهره نه کس را که پیش آید به جنگ ** اهل کشتی را چه زهره با نهنگ
No one dared to meet him in battle: what stomach have the ship's crew (to contend) with a leviathan?
روی آورد آن ملک سوی وزیر ** که چه چاره‌ست اندرین وقت ای مشیر
The king turned to his vizier, saying, “What is to be done in this crisis, Counsellor?”
گفت آنک ترک گویی کبر و فن ** پیش او آیی به شمشیر و کفن
He replied, “(The only remedy is) that you should bid farewell to pride and cunning, and come to him with sword and shroud.”
گفت آخر نه یکی مردیست فرد ** گفت منگر خوار در فردی مرد
“Why,” said the king, “is not he a single man (and) alone?” He (the vizier) replied, “Do not look with contempt on the man's loneliness.
چشم بگشا قلعه را بنگر نکو ** هم‌چو سیمابست لرزان پیش او 3035
Open your eye: look well at the fortress: it is trembling before him like quicksilver.
شسته در زین آن‌چنان محکم‌پیست ** گوییا شرقی و غربی با ویست
He sits (alone) on the saddle, (but) his nerve is just as unshaken as if an (army of the) East and West were accompanying him.
چند کس هم‌چون فدایی تاختند ** خویشتن را پیش او انداختند
Several men rushed forward, like Fidá’ís (desperate assassins), and flung themselves into combat with him.
هر یکی را او بگرزی می‌فکند ** سر نگوسار اندر اقدام سمند
He felled each of them with a blow of his mace (so that they were hurled) headlong at the feet of his steed.
داده بودش صنع حق جمعیتی ** که همی‌زد یک تنه بر امتی
God's (creative) action had bestowed on him such a collectedness that he was attacking a (whole) people single-handed.
چشم من چون دید روی آن قباد ** کثرت اعداد از چشمم فتاد 3040
When mine eye beheld the face of that (spiritual) emperor, (all) plurality vanished from my sight.”
اختران بسیار و خورشید ار یکیست ** پیش او بنیاد ایشان مندکیست
The stars are many; though the sun is one, (yet) on his appearance their foundation is demolished.
گر هزاران موش پیش آرند سر ** گربه را نه ترس باشد نه حذر
If a thousand mice put forth their heads, the cat feels no fear or apprehension of danger.
کی به پیش آیند موشان ای فلان ** نیست جمعیت درون جانشان
How should mice advance (to the attack), O such-and-such? They have no collectedness in their souls.
هست جمعیت به صورتها فشار ** جمع معنی خواه هین از کردگار
The collectedness (that consists) in outward forms is a vain thing: hark, beg from the Creator collectedness of spirit.
نیست جمعیت ز بسیاری جسم ** جسم را بر باد قایم دان چو اسم 3045
Collectedness is not the result of bodily multitude: know that body, like name, is built on (empty) air.
در دل موش ار بدی جمعیتی ** جمع گشتی چند موش از حمیتی
If there were any collectedness in the heart of the mouse, a number of mice would be collected (united) by a feeling of indignation,
بر زدندی چون فدایی حمله‌ای ** خویش را بر گربه‌ی بی‌مهله‌ای
And, rushing up like assassins, they would throw themselves on a cat without (giving her) any respite.
آن یکی چشمش بکندی از ضراب ** وان دگر گوشش دریدی هم به ناب
One would tear out her eyes in conflict (with her), while another would rip her ears with its teeth,
وان دگر سوراخ کردی پهلوش ** از جماعت گم شدی بیرون شوش
And another make a hole in her side: there would be no way of escape for her from the united party.
لیک جمعیت ندارد جان موش ** بجهد از جانش به بانگ گربه هوش 3050
But the soul of the mouse has no collectedness: at the miaul of a cat (all) its wits fly out of its soul.
خشک گردد موش زان گربه‌ی عیار ** گر بود اعداد موشان صد هزار
The mouse is paralysed by the wily cat, (even) if the numbers of the mice amount to a hundred thousand.
از رمه‌ی انبه چه غم قصاب را ** انبهی هش چه بندد خواب را
What cares the butcher for the numerous flock (of sheep)? How can abundance of consciousness prevent (the approach of) slumber?
مالک الملک است جمعیت دهد ** شیر را تا بر گله‌ی گوران جهد
He (God) is the Lord of the kingdom: He gives collectedness to the lion, so that he springs on the herd of onagers.
صد هزاران گور ده‌شاخ و دلیر ** چون عدم باشند پیش صول شیر
A hundred thousand savage and courageous onagers are as naught before the onset of the lion.
مالک الملک است بدهد ملک حسن ** یوسفی را تا بود چون ماء مزن 3055
He is the Lord of the kingdom: He gives to a Joseph the kingdom of Beauty, so that he is (lovely) as the water of white clouds.
در رخی بنهد شعاع اختری ** که شود شاهی غلام دختری
He bestows upon one face the radiance of a star, so that a king becomes the slave of a girl.
بنهد اندر روی دیگر نور خود ** که ببیند نیم‌شب هر نیک و بد
He bestows upon another face His own Light, so that at midnight it sees everything good and evil.
یوسف و موسی ز حق بردند نور ** در رخ و رخسار و در ذات الصدور
Joseph and Moses fetched light from God into their cheeks and countenances and into their inmost bosoms.
روی موسی بارقی انگیخته ** پیش رو او توبره آویخته
The face of Moses shot forth a flashing beam: he hung a veil in front of his face.
نور رویش آن‌چنان بردی بصر ** که زمرد از دو دیده‌ی مار کر 3060
The splendour of his face would have dazzled (men's) eyes as the emerald (blinds) the eyes of the deaf adder.
او ز حق در خواسته تا توبره ** گردد آن نور قوی را ساتره
He besought God that the veil might become a covering for that powerful Light.