حق بفرماید که نه از خواری اوست ** عین تاخیر عطا یاری اوست
God saith, “’Tis not that he is despicable (in My sight); (nay), the very deferment of the bounty is (for the sake of) helping him.
حاجت آوردش ز غفلت سوی من ** آن کشیدش مو کشان در کوی من
Need caused him to turn towards Me from his (former state of) forgetfulness: it dragged him by the hair into My presence.
گر بر آرم حاجتش او وا رود ** هم در آن بازیچه مستغرق شود
If I satisfy his need, he will go back and (again) become absorbed in that idle play.
گرچه می‌نالد به جان یا مستجار ** دل شکسته سینه‌خسته گو بزار 4225
Although he is (now) crying with (all) his soul, ‘O Thou whose protection is invoked,’ let him (continue to) moan with broken heart and wounded breast!
خوش همی‌آید مرا آواز او ** وآن خدایا گفتن و آن راز او
It pleases Me (to hear) his (piteous) voice and his cries of ‘O Lord’ and his secret (prayer),
وانک اندر لابه و در ماجرا ** می‌فریباند بهر نوعی مرا
And how in supplication and pleading (with Me) he would fain beguile Me with every sort (of persuasion).”
طوطیان و بلبلان را از پسند ** از خوش آوازی قفس در می‌کنند
Parrots and nightingales are put into cages because they give pleasure by their sweet song;
زاغ را و چغد را اندر قفس ** کی کنند این خود نیامد در قصص
(But) how should crows and owls be caged? This has never been recorded in story.
پیش شاهد باز چون آید دو تن ** آن یکی کمپیر و دیگر خوش‌ذقن 4230
When two persons, one of them a decrepit old man and the other a fair-chinned (youth), come to (a baker who is) an admirer of handsome boys,
هر دو نان خواهند او زوتر فطیر ** آرد و کمپیر را گوید که گیر
And both ask for bread, he will at once fetch the unleavened bread and bid the old man take it;
وآن دگر را که خوشستش قد و خد ** کی دهد نان بل به تاخیر افکند
But how should he (immediately) give bread to the other, by whose figure and cheeks (countenance) he is pleased? Nay, he will delay him
گویدش بنشین زمانی بی‌گزند ** که به خانه نان تازه می‌پزند
And say to him, “Sit down a (little) while, ’twill do (thee) no harm; for the new bread is baking in the house”;
چون رسد آن نان گرمش بعد کد ** گویدش بنشین که حلوا می‌رسد
And when, after the work (of baking is finished), the hot bread is brought to him (the youth), he (the baker) will say to him, “Sit down, for halwá (sweetmeat) is coming.”
هم برین فن داردارش می‌کند ** وز ره پنهان شکارش می‌کند 4235
In this same fashion he is always detaining him and seeking covertly to make him his prey,
که مرا کاریست با تو یک زمان ** منتظر می‌باش ای خوب جهان
Saying, “I have some (important) business to do with thee: wait a moment, O beauty of the world!”
بی‌مرادی مومنان از نیک و بد ** تو یقین می‌دان که بهر این بود
Know for sure that this is the reason why the true believers suffer disappointment (whether) in (seeking) good or (in avoiding) evil.
رجوع کردن به قصه‌ی آن شخص کی به او گنج نشان دادند به مصر و بیان تضرع او از درویشی به حضرت حق
Returning to the Story of the person who was given a clue to the treasure (buried) at Cairo, and setting forth his supplication to God on account of his poverty.
مرد میراثی چو خورد و شد فقیر ** آمد اندر یا رب و گریه و نفیر
When the man who received the inheritance had squandered it and become a pauper, he began to cry “O Lord!” and weep and lament.
خود کی کوبد این در رحمت‌نثار ** که نیابد در اجابت صد بهار
Verily, who shall knock at this Door, from which mercy is showered, without gaining in response a hundred springs (seasons of spiritual refreshment)?
خواب دید او هاتفی گفت او شنید ** که غنای تو به مصر آید پدید 4240
He dreamed that he heard a Voice from heaven saying, “Thy fortune will be found in Cairo;
رو به مصر آنجا شود کار تو راست ** کرد کدیت را قبول او مرتجاست
Go to Cairo: there thy affair will be set right. He (God) hath accepted thy humble petition: He is the (only) Object of hope.
در فلان موضع یکی گنجی است زفت ** در پی آن بایدت تا مصر رفت
In such-and-such a spot is a great treasure: thou must go to Cairo in quest of it.
بی‌درنگی هین ز بغداد ای نژند ** رو به سوی مصر و منبت‌گاه قند
Hark, O wretched man, go without any delay from Baghdád to Cairo and the home of sugar-candy.”
چون ز بغداد آمد او تا سوی مصر ** گرم شد پشتش چو دید او روی مصر
When he departed from Baghdád (and came) to Cairo, at the sight of Cairo his courage was restored,
بر امید وعده‌ی هاتف که گنج ** یابد اندر مصر بهر دفع رنج 4245
(For he was) in hope of (the fulfilment of) the promise given by the heavenly Voice that he would find in Cairo the treasure to remove his trouble—
در فلان کوی و فلان موضع دفین ** هست گنجی سخت نادر بس گزین
“In such and such a quarter and such and such a spot there is a buried treasure exceedingly rare and very choice.”
لیک نفقه‌ش بیش و کم چیزی نماند ** خواست دقی بر عوام‌الناس راند
But of money for expenses, great or small, he had nothing left; and he was about to go and beg from the common folk,
لیک شرم و همتش دامن گرفت ** خویش را در صبر افشردن گرفت
But (feelings of) shame and honour held him back, (so that) he began to plant himself firmly on fortitude.
باز نفسش از مجاعت بر طپید ** ز انتجاع و خواستن چاره ندید
(Meanwhile), however, his soul fluttered (in distress) on account of hunger: he saw no means of escape from foraging and begging.
گفت شب بیرون روم من نرم نرم ** تا ز ظلمت نایدم در کدیه شرم 4250
“At nightfall,” he said (to himself), “I will slip out very quietly, in order that I may beg in the dark without feeling ashamed.
هم‌چو شبکوکی کنم شب ذکر و بانگ ** تا رسد از بامهاام نیم دانگ
At night I will chant (litanies) and bawl like a night-mendicant, that half a dáng may come to me from the roofs.”
اندرین اندیشه بیرون شد بکوی ** واندرین فکرت همی شد سو به سوی
Thus meditating, he went out into the street, and with these thoughts (in his head) he wandered to and fro.
یک زمان مانع همی‌شد شرم و جاه ** یک زمانی جوع می‌گفتش بخواه
At one moment shame and dignity prevented him (from begging), at another moment hunger said to him, “Beg!”
پای پیش و پای پس تا ثلث شب ** که بخواهم یا بخسپم خشک‌لب
Till a third part of the night was gone, (he kept putting) one foot forward and one foot backward (hesitating and asking himself), “Shall I beg or shall I lie down to sleep with my lips dry?”
رسیدن آن شخص به مصر و شب بیرون آمدن به کوی از بهر شبکوکی و گدایی و گرفتن عسس او را و مراد اوحاصل شدن از عسس بعد از خوردن زخم بسیار و عسی ان تکرهوا شیا و هو خیر لکم و قوله تعالی سیجعل الله بعد عسر یسرا و قوله علیه‌السلام اشتدی ازمة تنفرجی و جمیع القرآن و الکتب المنزلة فی تقریر هذا
How that person arrived at Cairo and at night came out into the street to play the mendicant and beg, and how he was arrested by the night-patrol and after having been soundly beaten succeeded through him in gaining his object. “And it may be that ye loathe a thing though it is better for you”; and as God most High hath (also) said, “God will surely vouchsafe after hardship ease”; and as God most High hath said, “Lo, with hardship goeth ease”; and as he (the Prophet), on whom be peace, hath said, “O year of drought, become severe, and then thou wilt pass away.” And the whole of the Qur’án and all the Revealed Books confirm this.
ناگهانی خود عسس او را گرفت ** مشت و چوبش زد ز صفرا تا شکفت 4255
Suddenly the night-patrol seized him and, unable to restrain his anger, beat him with fist and cudgel.
اتفاقا اندر آن شب‌های تار ** دیده بد مردم ز شب‌دزدان ضرار
As it happened, the people (of the city) had suffered losses in those dark nights from (the depredations of) night-thieves.
بود شب‌های مخوف و منتحس ** پس به جد می‌جست دزدان را عسس
They were nights of alarm and disaster, and the police were searching for the thieves with all their might,
تا خلیفه گفت که ببرید دست ** هر که شب گردد وگر خویش منست
(So much so) that the Khalífa said, “Cut off the hand of any one who roams about by night, even if he is a kinsman of mine.”
بر عسس کرده ملک تهدید و بیم ** که چرا باشید بر دزدان رحیم
The king had terrified the police with threats, saying, “Why are you (so) merciful to the thieves?
عشوه‌شان را از چه رو باور کنید ** یا چرا زیشان قبول زر کنید 4260
For what reason do you believe their blarney or why do you accept gold (bribes) from them?”
رحم بر دزدان و هر منحوس‌دست ** بر ضعیفان ضربت و بی‌رحمیست
To show mercy to thieves and any sinister-handed (noxious) person is to inflict blows and have no mercy on the weak.
هین ز رنج خاص مسکل ز انتقام ** رنج او کم بین ببین تو رنج عام
Beware, from sympathy with a particular (offender) do not let him go unpunished: do not consider his sufferings, consider the sufferings of the public.
اصبع ملدوغ بر در دفع شر ** در تعدی و هلاک تن نگر
Amputate the snake-bitten finger to prevent (worse) mischief: keep in view the infection and (consequent) destruction of the (whole) body.
اتفاقا اندر آن ایام دزد ** گشته بود انبوه پخته و خام دزد
In those days, as it happened, the thieves, both expert and unskilled, had become numerous.
در چنین وقتش بدید و سخت زد ** چوب‌ها و زخمهای بی‌عدد 4265
He (the night-patrol) saw him (in the street) at such a time and gave him a sound drubbing and blows without number.
نعره و فریاد زان درویش خاست ** که مزن تا من بگویم حال راست
Shrieks and cries for mercy arose from the poor wretch: “Don't strike! let me tell the truth about it all!”
گفت اینک دادمت مهلت بگو ** تا به شب چون آمدی بیرون به کو
He replied, “Look now, I will give you time: speak, that I may learn how you came out into the streets by night.
تو نه‌ای زینجا غریب و منکری ** راستی گو تا بچه مکر اندری
You do not belong to this place, you are a stranger and unknown (to me): tell me truly what you are plotting (here).
اهل دیوان بر عسس طعنه زدند ** که چرا دزدان کنون انبه شدند
The government officials have attacked the police, asking why there is now such a great number of thieves (in the city).
انبهی از تست و از امثال تست ** وا نما یاران زشتت را نخست 4270
It is owing to you and the likes of you that they are so numerous: first disclose (the names of) your wicked associates;
ورنه کین جمله را از تو کشم ** تا شود آمن زر هر محتشم
Otherwise I will exact from you the vengeance incurred by all of them, in order that every respectable person's money may be safe.”