چرخ را چرخ اندر آرد در زمن ** چون بخواند در دماغش نیم فن
He causes the (celestial) sphere to revolve immediately when He chants half of a cunning spell in its brain.
عقل کو عقل دگر را سخره کرد ** مهره زو دارد ویست استاد نرد
The mind which dominates another mind has (obtains) the dice (of victory) from Him: He is the Master-player.
چند سیلی بر سرش زد گفت گیر ** در کشید از بیم سیلی آن زحیر
He (the cup-bearer) gave him (the jurist) several cuffs on the head, saying, “Take (the cup)!” The tormented man drained it in dread of (receiving further) blows.
مست گشت و شاد و خندان شد چو باغ ** در ندیمی و مضاحک رفت و لاغ 3940
He became tipsy and merry and smiling (gay) as a garden: he began to act like a boon-companion and tell ridiculous stories and make jokes.
شیرگیر و خوش شد انگشتک بزد ** سوی مبرز رفت تا میزک کند
He became pot-valiant and jolly and snapped his fingers: in latrinam ivit ut mingeret. [He became pot-valiant and jolly and snapped his fingers: he went to the latrine in order to urinate.]
یک کنیزک بود در مبرز چو ماه ** سخت زیبا و ز قرناقان شاه
Erat in latrina puella lunae similis, venustissima, una de regis ancillis. [A maiden as (lovely as) the (full) moon was in the latrine, very beautiful and one of the maidservants of the king.]
چون بدید او را دهانش باز ماند ** عقل رفت و تن ستم‌پرداز ماند
When he espied her, his mouth gaped in amazement, his reason fled and his body was ready for violence.
عمرها بوده عزب مشتاق و مست ** بر کنیزک در زمان در زد دو دست
Per aeva coelebs vixerat: extemplo cupidine et furore accensus puellae manus injecit. [He had been a bachelor (for) ages: passionate and drunk (with lust), he immediately grabbed the maidservant (with his) two hands.]
بس طپید آن دختر و نعره فراشت ** بر نیامد با وی و سودی نداشت 3945
Valde trepidavit puella et clamorem sustulit: ei non poterat resistere, operam perdidit. [The maiden trembled greatly and raised a clamor: she could not oppose him and (her resistance) had no benefit.]
زن به دست مرد در وقت لقا ** چون خمیر آمد به دست نانبا
Femina viro in manus tempore congressus tradita is like dough in the hands of a baker. [A woman in the hands of a man at the moment of (such an) encounter is like dough in the hands of a baker.]
بسرشد گاهیش نرم و گه درشت ** زو بر آرد چاق چاقی زیر مشت
He kneads it now gently, now roughly, and makes it groan under (the thumps of) his fist;
گاه پهنش واکشد بر تخته‌ای ** درهمش آرد گهی یک لخته‌ای
Now he draws it out flat on a board (rolling-pin), now for a bit he rolls it up;
گاه در وی ریزد آب و گه نمک ** از تنور و آتشش سازد محک
Now he pours water on it and now salt: he puts it to the ordeal of oven and fire.
این چنین پیچند مطلوب و طلوب ** اندرین لعبند مغلوب و غلوب 3950
Thus are the sought and the seeker intertwined: (both) the conquered and the conqueror are (engaged) in this sport.
این لعب تنها نه شو را با زنست ** هر عشیق و عاشقی را این فنست
This sport is not between husband and wife only: this is the practice of everything that is loved and loves.
از قدیم و حادث و عین و عرض ** پیچشی چون ویس و رامین مفترض
A mutual embracing, like (that of) Wís and Rámín, is obligatory (Divinely ordained) between eternal and non-eternal and between substance and accident;
لیک لعب هر یکی رنگی دگر ** پیچش هر یک ز فرهنگی دگر
But the sport is of a different character in each case: the embracing is for a different reason in each instance.
شوی و زن را گفته شد بهر مثال ** که مکن ای شوی زن را بد گسیل
This is said as a parable for husband and wife, meaning, “O husband, do not dismiss thy wife unkindly.
آن شب گردک نه ینگا دست او ** خوش امانت داد اندر دست تو 3955
On thy wedding-night did not the bridesmaid place her (the wife's) hand in thy hand as a goodly trust?
کانچ با او تو کنی ای معتمد ** از بد و نیکی خدا با تو کند
For the evil or good which thou doest unto her, O man worthy of confidence, God will do (the same) unto thee.”
حاصل این‌جا این فقیه از بی‌خودی ** نه عفیفی ماندش و نه زاهدی
To resume, on this occasion this jurist was so beside himself that neither continence nor asceticism remained to him.
آن فقیه افتاد بر آن حورزاد ** آتش او اندر آن پنبه فتاد
The jurist threw himself on the nymph: his fire caught hold of her cotton.
جان به جان پیوست و قالب‌ها چخید ** چون دو مرغ سربریده می‌طپید
Anima cum anima conjuncta est, corpora mutuo amplexu implicata tanquam duae aves abscissis capitibus tremebant. [Soul was joined to soul and (their) bodies strove (in mutual embrace), trembling like two decapitated birds.]
چه سقایه چه ملک چه ارسلان ** چه حیا چه دین چه بیم و خوف جان 3960
What (to them) was the wine-party or the king or Arslán (the Turkish slave)? What (to them) was modesty or religion or fear and dread of (losing) their lives?
چشمشان افتاده اندر عین و غین ** نه حسن پیداست این‌جا نه حسین
Their eyes were contorted like (the letters) ‘ayn and ghayn: here neither Hasan nor Husayn is seen distinctly.
شد دراز و کو طریق بازگشت ** انتظار شاه هم از حد گذشت
It (the jurist's absence) became protracted, and how could he return (to the party)? The king's expectancy too passed beyond (all) bounds.
شاه آمد تا ببیند واقعه ** دید آن‌جا زلزله‌ی القارعه
The king came to see what had happened: he beheld there (what resembled) the commotion (on the Day) of Calamity.
آن فقیه از بیم برجست و برفت ** سوی مجلس جام را بربود تفت
The jurist sprang up in terror and fled to the banquet-hall and hastily seized the wine-cup.
شه چون دوزخ پر شرار و پر نکال ** تشنه‌ی خون دو جفت بدفعال 3965
The king, full of fire and fury like Hell, was thirsting for the blood of the guilty pair.
چون فقیهش دید رخ پر خشم و قهر ** تلخ و خونی گشته هم‌چون جام زهر
When the jurist saw his enraged and wrathful countenance, which had become bitter and murderous as a cup of poison,
بانگ زد بر ساقیش که ای گرم‌دار ** چه نشستی خیره ده در طبعش آر
He shouted to his cup-bearer, “O solicitous (attendant), why do you sit (there) dumbfounded? Give (him wine) and put him in good humour!”
خنده آمد شاه را گفت ای کیا ** آمدم با طبع آن دختر ترا
The king laughed and said, “O sir, I am restored to my good humour: the girl is thine.
پادشاهم کار من عدلست و داد ** زان خورم که یار را جودم بداد
I am the king: my business is (to show) justice and bounty: I drink of that which my munificence bestowed on my friend.
آنچ آن را من ننوشم هم‌چو نوش ** کی دهم در خورد یار و خویش و توش 3970
How should I give friend and kinsman for food and drink what I (myself) would not (eat and) drink as (gladly as) honey?
زان خورانم من غلامان را که من ** می‌خورم بر خوان خاص خویشتن
I let my pages eat and drink of that which I eat and drink at my own private table.
زان خورانم بندگان را از طعام ** که خورم من خود ز پخته یا ز خام
I give my slaves the same food, cooked or raw, as I eat myself.
من چو پوشم از خز و اطلس لباس ** زان بپوشانم حشم را نه پلاس
When I put on a robe of silk or satin, I clothe my retainers in the same (fabric), not in coarse woollen garments.
شرم دارم از نبی ذو فنون ** البسوهم گفت مما تلبسون
I feel reverence for the all-accomplished Prophet, who said, ‘Clothe them in that wherewith ye clothe yourselves.’
مصطفی کرد این وصیت با بنون ** اطعموا الاذناب مما تاکلون 3975
Mustafá (Mohammed) gave his (spiritual) sons this injunction —Feed your dependents with what ye eat (yourselves).’”
دیگران را بس به طبع آورده‌ای ** در صبوری چست و راغب کرده‌ای
You have often restored others to a good disposition: you have made them ready and willing to show fortitude.
هم به طبع‌آور بمردی خویش را ** پیشوا کن عقل صبراندیش را
(Now) manfully restore yourself too to (that) disposition: take the reason that meditates on fortitude as your guide.
چون قلاووزی صبرت پر شود ** جان به اوج عرش و کرسی بر شود
When the guidance of fortitude becomes a wing for you, your spirit will soar to the zenith of the (Divine) Throne and Footstool.
مصطفی بین که چو صبرش شد براق ** بر کشانیدش به بالای طباق
See, when fortitude became a Buráq for him, how it carried Mustafá (Mohammed) up to the top of the (celestial) spheres.
روان گشتن شاه‌زادگان بعد از تمام بحث و ماجرا به جانب ولایت چین سوی معشوق و مقصود تا به قدر امکان به مقصود نزدیک‌تر باشند اگر چه راه وصل مسدودست به قدر امکان نزدیک‌تر شدن محمودست الی آخره
How, after full discussion and debate, the princes set out for the province of China towards their beloved and the object (of their desire), in order that they might be as near as possible to that object; (for) although the way to union is barred, ’tis praiseworthy to approach as near as is possible.
این بگفتند و روان گشتند زود ** هر چه بود ای یار من آن لحظه بود 3980
They said this and immediately set out: O my friend, everything that was (to be gained) was (gained) at that moment.
صبر بگزیدند و صدیقین شدند ** بعد از آن سوی بلاد چین شدند
They chose fortitude (as their guide) and became true witnesses; then they set off towards the land of China.
والدین و ملک را بگذاشتند ** راه معشوق نهان بر داشتند
They left their parents and kingdom, they took the way to the hidden beloved.
هم‌چو ابراهیم ادهم از سریر ** عشقشان بی‌پا و سر کرد و فقیر
Like Ibráhím son of Adham, Love (banished them) from the throne (and) made them footless and headless and destitute.
یا چو ابراهیم مرسل سرخوشی ** خویش را افکند اندر آتشی
Either, like Abraham who was sent (as a prophet), one intoxicated (with love) cast himself into a fire,
یا چو اسمعیل صبار مجید ** پیش عشق و خنجرش حلقی کشید 3985
Or, like the much-enduring and glorious Ismá‘íl (Ishmael), offered a throat to Love and his dagger.
حکایت امرء القیس کی پادشاه عرب بود و به صورت عظیم به جمال بود یوسف وقت خود بود و زنان عرب چون زلیخا مرده‌ی او و او شاعر طبع قفا نبک من ذکری حبیب و منزل چون همه زنان او را به جان می‌جستند ای عجب غزل او و ناله‌ی او بهر چه بود مگر دانست کی این‌ها همه تمثال صورتی‌اند کی بر تخته‌های خاک نقش کرده‌اند عاقبت این امرء القیس را حالی پیدا شد کی نیم‌شب از ملک و فرزند گریخت و خود را در دلقی پنهان کرد و از آن اقلیم به اقلیم دیگر رفت در طلب آن کس کی از اقلیم منزه است یختص برحمته من یشاء الی آخره
Story of Imra’u ’l-Qays, who was the king of the Arabs and exceedingly handsome: he was the Joseph of his time, and the Arab women were desperately in love with him, like Zalíkhá (with Joseph). He had the poetic genius (and composed the ode beginning)— “Halt, let us weep in memory of a beloved and a dwelling-place.” Since all the women desired him with (heart and) soul, one may well wonder what was the object of his love-songs and lamentations. Surely he knew that all these (beauteous forms) are copies of a (unique) picture which have been drawn (by the Artist) on frames of earth. At last there came to this Imra’u ’l-Qays such a (spiritual) experience that in the middle of the night he fled from his kingdom and children and concealed himself in the garb of a dervish and wandered from that clime to another clime in search of Him who transcends all climes: “He chooseth for His mercy whom He will”; and so forth.
امرء القیس از ممالک خشک‌لب ** هم کشیدش عشق از خطه‌ی عرب
Imra’u ’l-Qays was weary of his empire: Love carried him away from the country of the Arabs,