قلعه را چون آب آید از برون ** در زمان امن باشد بر فزون 3600
When (the supply of) water comes to a fortress from outside, it is more than enough in times of peace;
چونک دشمن گرد آن حلقه کند ** تا که اندر خونشان غرقه کند
(But) when the enemy forms a ring round that (fortress), in order that he may drown them (the garrison) in blood,
آب بیرون را ببرند آن سپاه ** تا نباشد قلعه را زانها پناه
The (hostile) troops cut off the outside water, that (the defenders of) the fortress may have no refuge from them.
آن زمان یک چاه شوری از درون ** به ز صد جیحون شیرین از برون
At that time a briny well inside (the walls) is better than a hundred sweet rivers outside.
قاطع الاسباب و لشکرهای مرگ ** هم‌چو دی آید به قطع شاخ و برگ
The Cutter of cords (Death) and the armies of Death come, like December, to cut the boughs and leaves (of the body),
در جهان نبود مددشان از بهار ** جز مگر در جان بهار روی یار 3605
(And then) there is no succour for them in the world from Spring, except perchance the Spring of the Beloved's face in the soul.
زان لقب شد خاک را دار الغرور ** کو کشد پا را سپس یوم العبور
The Earth is entitled “the Abode of delusion” because she draws back her foot (and deserts you) on the day of passage.
پیش از آن بر راست و بر چپ می‌دوید ** که بچینم درد تو چیزی نچید
Before that (time) she was running right and left, saying, “I will take away thy sorrow”; but she never took anything away.
او بگفتی مر ترا وقت غمان ** دور از تو رنج و ده که در میان
In the hour of anxieties she would say to you, “May pain be far from thee, and (may) ten mountains (stand) between (pain and thee)!”
چون سپاه رنج آمد بست دم ** خود نمی‌گوید ترا من دیده‌ام
When the army of Pain arrives, she holds her breath: she will not even say, “I have seen (and been acquainted with) thee.”
حق پی شیطان بدین سان زد مثل ** که ترا در رزم آرد با حیل 3610
God made a parable concerning the Devil on this wise: “He leads you into battle by his cunning tricks,
که ترا یاری دهم من با توم ** در خطرها پیش تو من می‌دوم
Saying, ‘I will give thee help, I am beside thee, I will run before thee in the perils (of war);
اسپرت باشم گه تیر خدنگ ** مخلص تو باشم اندر وقت تنگ
I will be thy shield amidst the arrows of khadang wood, I will be thy refuge in the hour of distress;
جان فدای تو کنم در انتعاش ** رستمی شیری هلا مردانه باش
I will sacrifice my life for thee in raising thee to thy feet. Thou art a Rustam, a lion: come on, be manful!’”
سوی کفرش آورد زین عشوه‌ها ** آن جوال خدعه و مکر و دها
By means of these wiles that bag of deceit and cunning and craft leads him (whom he makes his dupe) to infidelity.
چون قدم بنهاد در خندق فتاد ** او به قاهاقاه خنده لب گشاد 3615
As soon as he sets foot (therein) and falls into the moat (of fire), he (the Devil) opens his lips with a loud ha, ha.
هی بیا من طمعها دارم ز تو ** گویدش رو رو که بیزارم ز تو
(The dupe cries), “Hey, come! I have hopes of thee.” He (the Devil) says, “Begone, begone, for I am quit of thee.
تو نترسیدی ز عدل کردگار ** من همی‌ترسم دو دست از من بدار
Thou didst not fear the justice of the Creator, (but) I fear (it): keep thy hands off me!”
گفت حق خود او جدا شد از بهی ** تو بدین تزویرها هم کی رهی
(Then) God says (to the Devil), “He (thy dupe), indeed, is parted from felicity, and how shouldst thou be saved by these hypocrisies?”
فاعل و مفعول در روز شمار ** روسیاهند و حریف سنگسار
On the Day of Reckoning et faciens et pathicus infames sunt lapidationisque consortes. [On the Day of Reckoning (both) the active and passive (homosexuals) will be shamed-faced and partners in (being punished by) stoning.]
ره‌زده و ره‌زن یقین در حکم و داد ** در چه بعدند و در بس المهاد 3620
Assuredly, by the decree and just dispensation (of God), (both) the waylaid and the waylayer are in the pit of farness (from God) and in an evil resting-place.
گول را و غول را کو را فریفت ** از خلاص و فوز می‌باید شکیفت
(Both) the fool and the ghoul who deceived him must ever endure to be deprived of salvation and felicity.
هم خر و خرگیر اینجا در گلند ** غافلند اینجا و آنجا آفلند
Both the ass and he that caught the ass are (stuck) in the mud here: here (in this world) they are forgetful of (God) and there (in the next world) they are sunk (in woe)—
جز کسانی را که وا گردند از آن ** در بهار فضل آیند از خزان
(All) except those who turn back from that (deception) and come (forth) from the autumn (of sensuality) into the springtide of (Divine) grace,
توبه آرند و خدا توبه‌پذیر ** امر او گیرند و او نعم الامیر
And who repent, for God is ready to accept repentance, and cleave to His command, for a goodly Commander is He!
چون بر آرند از پشیمانی حنین ** عرش لرزد از انین المذنبین 3625
When, (moved) by sorrow, they raise a piteous cry, the highest Heaven trembles at the moaning of the sinners.
آن‌چنان لرزد که مادر بر ولد ** دستشان گیرد به بالا می‌کشد
It trembles even as a mother for her child: it takes them by the hand and draws them upward,
کای خداتان وا خریده از غرور ** نک ریاض فضل و نک رب غفور
Saying, “O ye whom God hath redeemed from delusion, behold the gardens of (Divine) grace and behold the forgiving Lord!
بعد ازینتان برگ و رزق جاودان ** از هوای حق بود نه از ناودان
Henceforth ye have everlasting provision and sustenance from God's air, not from the gutter (on the roof).”
چونک دریا بر وسایط رشک کرد ** تشنه چون ماهی به ترک مشک کرد
Inasmuch as the Sea is jealous of intermediaries, he that is thirsty as a fish takes leave of the water-skin.
روان شدن شه‌زادگان در ممالک پدر بعد از وداع کردن ایشان شاه را و اعادت کردن شاه وقت وداع وصیت را الی آخره
How the princes, having bidden the King farewell, set out on a journey through their father's empire, and how the King repeated his injunctions at the moment of farewell.
عزم ره کردند آن هر سه پسر ** سوی املاک پدر رسم سفر 3630
The (King's) three sons set out, in the fashion of (men equipped for) travel, to (visit) their father's (distant) possessions,
در طواف شهرها و قلعه‌هاش ** از پی تدبیر دیوان و معاش
And to make a tour of his cities and fortresses for the purpose of regulating the administrative and economic conditions.
دست‌بوس شاه کردند و وداع ** پس بدیشان گفت آن شاه مطاع
They kissed the King's hand and bade him farewell; then the King, (who is) obeyed (by all), said to them:
هر کجاتان دل کشد عازم شوید ** فی امان الله دست افشان روید
“Direct your course whithersoever your heart (inclination) may lead you, go (your way) under the protection of God, waving your hands (dancing joyously).
غیر آن یک قلعه نامش هش‌ربا ** تنگ آرد بر کله‌داران قبا
(Go anywhere) except to one fortress, the name of which is ‘the robber of reason’: it makes the coat tight for wearers of the tiara.
الله الله زان دز ذات الصور ** دور باشید و بترسید از خطر 3635
For God's sake, for God's sake, keep far away from that castle adorned with pictures, and beware of the peril!
رو و پشت برجهاش و سقف و پست ** جمله تمثال و نگار و صورتست
The front and back of its towers and its roof and floor are all (covered with) images and decorations and pictures,
هم‌چو آن حجره‌ی زلیخا پر صور ** تا کند یوسف بناکامش نظر
Like the chamber of Zalíkhá (which she made) full of pictures in order that Joseph should look upon her willy-nilly.
چونک یوسف سوی او می‌ننگرید ** خانه را پر نقش خود کرد آن مکید
Since Joseph would not look at her, she cunningly filled the room with portraits of herself,
تا به هر سو که نگرد آن خوش‌عذار ** روی او را بیند او بی‌اختیار
So that, wherever the fair-cheeked (youth) looked, he might see her face without having the power to choose.
بهر دیده‌روشنان یزدان فرد ** شش جهت را مظهر آیات کرد 3640
The peerless God hath made (all) the six directions a theatre for the display of His signs to the clairvoyant,
تا بهر حیوان و نامی که نگزند ** از ریاض حسن ربانی چرند
In order that, whatever animal or plant they look upon, they may feed on the meadows of Divine Beauty.
بهر این فرمود با آن اسپه او ** حیث ولیتم فثم وجهه
Hence He said unto the company (of mystics), ‘Wheresoever ye turn, His Face is there.
از قدح‌گر در عطش آبی خورید ** در درون آب حق را ناظرید
If in thirst ye drink some water from a cup, ye are beholding God within the water.’
آنک عاشق نیست او در آب در ** صورت صورت خود بیند ای صاحب‌بصر
He that is not a lover (of God) sees in the water his own image, O man of insight;
صورت عاشق چو فانی شد درو ** پس در آب اکنون کرا بیند بگو 3645
(But) since the lover's image has disappeared in Him (the Beloved), whom now should he behold in the water? Tell (me that)!
حسن حق بینند اندر روی حور ** هم‌چو مه در آب از صنع غیور
Through the working of the Jealous One, they (the mystics) behold the beauty of God in the faces of the houris, like the moon (reflected) in water.
غیرتش بر عاشقی و صادقیست ** غیرتش بر دیو و بر استور نیست
His jealousy is (directed) against a lover and sincere (adorer); His jealousy is not (directed) against a (human) devil and beast;
دیو اگر عاشق شود هم گوی برد ** جبرئیلی گشت و آن دیوی بمرد
(But) if the devil become a lover (of God), he has carried off the palm: he has become a Gabriel and his devilish nature is dead.
اسلم الشیطان آنجا شد پدید ** که یزیدی شد ز فضلش بایزید
(The meaning of) ‘the Devil became a true believer’ is made manifest on the occasion when by His (God's) grace a Yazíd becomes a Báyazíd.