بس که افزود آن شهنشه بختشان ** می‌نتاند که کشیدن رختشان
Inasmuch as the (Divine) Emperor increased their fortune exceedingly, no mountain can carry their merchandise.
قصه‌ی احد احد گفتن بلال در حر حجاز از محبت مصطفی علیه‌السلام در آن چاشتگاهها کی خواجه‌اش از تعصب جهودی به شاخ خارش می‌زد پیش آفتاب حجاز و از زخم خون از تن بلال برمی‌جوشید ازو احد احد می‌جست بی‌قصد او چنانک از دردمندان دیگر ناله جهد بی‌قصد زیرا از درد عشق ممتلی بود اهتمام دفع درد خار را مدخل نبود هم‌چون سحره‌ی فرعون و جرجیس و غیر هم لایعد و لا یحصی
The Story of Bilál's crying “One! One!” in the heat of the Hijáz, from his love for Mustafá (Mohammed), on whom be peace, in the forenoons when his master, (impelled) by Jewish fanaticism, used to flog him with a thorny branch under the (blazing) sun of the Hijáz; and how at (each) blow the blood spurted from Bilál's body, and (the words) “One! One!” escaped (from his lips) involuntarily, just as sobs escape involuntarily from others stricken with grief, because he was (so) full of the passion of love (that) there was no room for any care about relieving the pain of the thorns to enter (his heart). (His case was) like (that of) Pharaoh's magicians and Jirjís and others (who are) innumerable and beyond computation.
تن فدای خار می‌کرد آن بلال ** خواجه‌اش می‌زد برای گوشمال
That Bilál was devoting his body to the (scourge of) thorns: his master was flogging him by way of correction,
که چرا تو یاد احمد می‌کنی ** بنده‌ی بد منکر دین منی
Saying, “Why dost thou celebrate Ahmad (Mohammed)? Wicked slave, thou disbelievest in my religion!”
می‌زد اندر آفتابش او به خار ** او احد می‌گفت بهر افتخار 890
He was beating him in the sun with thorns (while) he (Bilál) cried vauntingly “One!”
تا که صدیق آن طرف بر می‌گذشت ** آن احد گفتن به گوش او برفت
Till (at last) those cries of “One!” reached the ears of the Siddíq (Abú Bakr), who was passing in that neighbourhood.
چشم او پر آب شد دل پر عنا ** زان احد می‌یافت بوی آشنا
His eyes became filled with tears and his heart with trouble, (for) from that “One!” he caught the scent of a loving friend (of God).
بعد از آن خلوت بدیدش پند داد ** کز جهودان خفیه می‌دار اعتقاد
Afterwards he saw him (Bilál) in private and admonished him, saying, “Keep thy belief hidden from the Jews.
عالم السرست پنهان دار کام ** گفت کردم توبه پیشت ای همام
He (God) knows (all) secrets: conceal thy desire.” He (Bilál) said, “I repent before thee, O prince.”
روز دیگر از پگه صدیق تفت ** آن طرف از بهر کاری می‌برفت 895
Early next day, (when) the Siddíq was going quickly in that district on account of some affair,
باز احد بشنید و ضرب زخم خار ** برفروزید از دلش سوز و شرار
He again heard (cries of) “One!” and (the sound of) blows inflicted by the (scourge of) thorns: flames and sparks of fire were kindled in his heart.
باز پندش داد باز او توبه کرد ** عشق آمد توبه‌ی او را بخورد
He admonished him once more, and once more he (Bilál) repented; (but) Love came and consumed his repentance.
توبه کردن زین نمط بسیار شد ** عاقبت از توبه او بیزار شد
There was much repenting of this sort, (till) at last he became quit of repentance,
فاش کرد اسپرد تن را در بلا ** کای محمد ای عدو توبه‌ها
And proclaimed (his faith) and yielded up his body to tribulation, crying, “O Mohammed, O enemy of vows of repentance,
ای تن من وی رگ من پر ز تو ** توبه را گنجا کجا باشد درو 900
O thou with whom my body and (all) my veins are filled—how should there be room therein for repentance?—
توبه را زین پس ز دل بیرون کنم ** از حیات خلد توبه چون کنم
Henceforth I will banish repentance from this heart (of mine): how should I repent of the life everlasting?”
عشق قهارست و من مقهور عشق ** چون شکر شیرین شدم از شور عشق
Love is the All-subduer, and I am subdued by Love: by Love's bitterness I have been made sweet as sugar.
برگ کاهم پیش تو ای تند باد ** من چه دانم که کجا خواهم فتاد
O fierce Wind, before Thee I am (but) a straw: how can I know where I shall fall?
گر هلالم گر بلالم می‌دوم ** مقتدی آفتابت می‌شوم
Whether I am (stout as) Bilál or (thin as) the new moon (hilál), I am running on and following the course of Thy sun.
ماه را با زفتی و زاری چه کار ** در پی خورشید پوید سایه‌وار 905
What has the moon to do with stoutness and thinness? She runs at the heels of the sun, like a shadow.
با قضا هر کو قراری می‌دهد ** ریش‌خند سبلت خود می‌کند
Any one who offers to make a settlement with (the Divine) destiny is mocking at his own moustache.
کاه‌برگی پیش باد آنگه قرار ** رستخیزی وانگهانی عزم‌کار
A straw in the face of the wind, and then (the idea of) a settlement! A Resurrection (going on), and then the resolve to act (independently)!
گربه در انبانم اندر دست عشق ** یک‌دمی بالا و یک‌دم پست عشق
In the hand of Love I am like a cat in a bag, now lifted high and now flung low by Love.
او همی‌گرداندم بر گرد سر ** نه به زیر آرام دارم نه زبر
He is whirling me round His head: I have no rest either below or aloft.
عاشقان در سیل تند افتاده‌اند ** بر قضای عشق دل بنهاده‌اند 910
The lovers (of God) have fallen into a fierce torrent: they have set their hearts on (resigned themselves to) the ordinance of Love.
هم‌چو سنگ آسیا اندر مدار ** روز و شب گردان و نالان بی‌قرار
(They are) like the millstone turning, day and night, in (continual) revolution and moaning incessantly.
گردشش بر جوی جویان شاهدست ** تا نگوید کس که آن جو راکدست
Its turning is evidence for those who seek the River, lest any one should say that the River is motionless.
گر نمی‌بینی تو جو را در کمین ** گردش دولاب گردونی ببین
If thou seest not the hidden River, see the (perpetual) turning of the celestial water-wheel.
چون قراری نیست گردون را ازو ** ای دل اختروار آرامی مجو
Since the heavens have no rest from (being moved by) Him (Love), (be) thou, O heart, like a star, (and) seek no rest.
گر زنی در شاخ دستی کی هلد ** هر کجا پیوند سازی بسکلد 915
If thou lay hold of a branch, how should He let (thee cling to it)? Wherever thou makest an attachment, He will break it.
گر نمی‌بینی تو تدویر قدر ** در عناصر جوشش و گردش نگر
If thou seest not the revolutionary action of the (Divine) decree, look at the surging and whirling (that appears) in the (four) elements;
زانک گردشهای آن خاشاک و کف ** باشد از غلیان بحر با شرف
For the whirling of the sticks and straws and foam are caused by the boiling of the noble Sea (of Love).
باد سرگردان ببین اندر خروش ** پیش امرش موج دریا بین بجوش
See the giddy wind howling; see the billows surging at His command.
آفتاب و ماه دو گاو خراس ** گرد می‌گردند و می‌دارند پاس
The sun and moon are two mill-oxen, going round and round and keeping watch (over the world).
اختران هم خانه خانه می‌دوند ** مرکب هر سعد و نحسی می‌شوند 920
The stars likewise run from house to house (in the sky) and convey every good and evil fortune.