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.

اختران چرخ گر دورند هی ** وین حواست کاهل‌اند و سست‌پی

Hark, though the stars of heaven are far away and thy senses are (too) dull and slack (to apprehend their motions),

اختران چشم و گوش و هوش ما ** شب کجااند و به بیداری کجا

(Yet ask thyself) where are our stars—eye, ear, and mind—at night, and where (are they) when we are awake?

گاه در سعد و وصال و دلخوشی ** گاه در نحس فراق و بیهشی

Now (they are) in good luck and union and happiness; now in ill-luck and separation and insensibility.

ماه گردون چون درین گردیدنست ** گاه تاریک و زمانی روشنست

Since the moon of heaven is (engaged) in making this circuit, she is sometimes dark and sometimes bright.

گه بهار و صیف هم‌چون شهد و شیر ** گه سیاستگاه برف و زمهریر 925

Sometimes ’tis spring and summer, (delicious) as honey and milk; sometimes (the world is) a place of punishment by snow and piercing cold.

چونک کلیات پیش او چو گوست ** سخره و سجده کن چوگان اوست

Seeing that before Him (God) universals are like a ball, subject (to Him) and prostrating themselves before His bat,

تو که یک جزوی دلا زین صدهزار ** چون نباشی پیش حکمش بی‌قرار

How shouldst thou, O heart, which art (but) one of these hundred thousand particulars, not be in restless movement at His decree?

چون ستوری باش در حکم امیر ** گه در آخر حبس گاهی در مسیر

Be at the disposal of the Prince, like a horse (or mule), now confined in the stable, now going (on the road).

چونک بر میخت ببندد بسته باش ** چونک بگشاید برو بر جسته باش

When He fastens thee to a peg, be fastened (quiet and submissive); when He looses thee, go, be exultant (prance and bound).

آفتاب اندر فلک کژ می‌جهد ** در سیه‌روزی خسوفش می‌دهد 930

(But keep on the right road, for when) the sun in heaven jumps crookedly, He causes it to be eclipsed in black disgrace,

کز ذنب پرهیز کن هین هوش‌دار ** تا نگردی تو سیه‌رو دیگ‌وار

Saying, “Avoid the (Dragon's) Tail: hark, take heed, lest thou become black of face like a cooking-pot.”

ابر را هم تازیانه‌ی آتشین ** می‌زنندش کانچنان رو نه چنین

The cloud, too, is lashed with a whip of fire, (as through to say), “Go that way, do not go this way!

بر فلان وادی ببار این سو مبار ** گوشمالش می‌دهد که گوش دار

Rain upon such and such a valley, do not rain in this quarter”: He reprimands it, saying, “Give ear!

عقل تو از آفتابی بیش نیست ** اندر آن فکری که نهی آمد مه‌ایست

Thy reason is not superior to a sun: do not stay in (dally with) a thought that has been forbidden.

کژ منه ای عقل تو هم گام خویش ** تا نیاید آن خسوف رو به پیش 935

O Reason, do not thou too step crookedly, lest that eclipse of (the bright) face befall (thee).

چون گنه کمتر بود نیم آفتاب ** منکسف بینی و نیمی نورتاب

When (thy) sin is less, thou wilt see half the sun eclipsed and half radiant,

که به قدر جرم می‌گیرم ترا ** این بود تقریر در داد و جزا

For I punish thee in proportion to thy sin: this is the principle laid down for justice and retribution.

خواه نیک و خواه بد فاش و ستیر ** بر همه اشیا سمیعیم و بصیر

Whether (thou art) good or bad or open or secret, I am He that overheareth and overseeth all things.”

زین گذر کن ای پدر نوروز شد ** خلق از خلاق خوش پدفوز شد

Leave this topic, O father: New Year's Day is come: the creatures have had their mouths made sweet by the Creator.

باز آمد آب جان در جوی ما ** باز آمد شاه ما در کوی ما 940

The spiritual Water (of Life) has returned into our river-bed, our King has returned into our street.

می‌خرامد بخت و دامن می‌کشد ** نوبت توبه شکستن می‌زند

Fortune is strutting and (proudly) trailing her skirt and beating the drums (as a signal) to break vows of repentance.

توبه را بار دگر سیلاب برد ** فرصت آمد پاسبان را خواب برد

Once more the flood-water has swept repentance away: the opportunity has arrived, the watchman is overcome by sleep.