Rumi's Masnavi - Lo, here is Paradise and the Court of safety: where, then, was that vile place of passage? ”

Lo, here is Paradise and the Court of safety: where, then, was that vile place of passage? ”

نک بهشت و بارگاه ایمنی ** پس کجا بود آن گذرگاه دنی‏

Then the angel will say, “The garden of greenery which ye saw in a certain spot as ye passed––

پس ملک گوید که آن روضه‏ی خضر ** که فلان جا دیده‏اید اندر گذر

That was Hell and the terrible place of chastisement, (but) unto you it became gardens and pleasaunces and trees.

دوزخ آن بود و سیاستگاه سخت ** بر شما شد باغ و بستان و درخت‏

Inasmuch as with this soul of hellish nature, (this) miscreant fiery one that seeks (to lead you into) temptation,

چون شما این نفس دوزخ خوی را ** آتشی گبر فتنه جوی را

Ye have striven (oft), and it hath become full of purity, and ye have quenched the fire (thereof) for God’s sake; 2560

جهدها کردید و او شد پر صفا ** نار را کشتید از بهر خدا

(Inasmuch as) the fire of lust, which was flaming, hath become the verdure of piety and the light of guidance (unto the true faith);

آتش شهوت که شعله می‏زدی ** سبزه‏ی تقوی شد و نور هدی‏

(Inasmuch as) at once the fire of anger in you hath turned to forbearance, and the darkness of ignorance in you hath turned to knowledge;

آتش خشم از شما هم حلم شد ** ظلمت جهل از شما هم علم شد

(Inasmuch as) the fire of greed in you hath turned to unselfishness, and that envy (which) was like thorns hath turned to roses;

آتش حرص از شما ایثار شد ** و آن حسد چون خار بد گلزار شد

Inasmuch as ye formerly extinguished all these fires of your own for God’s sake;

چون شما این جمله آتشهای خویش ** بهر حق کشتید جمله پیش پیش‏

And made the fiery soul like an orchard and cast in it the seed of fealty, 2565

نفس ناری را چو باغی ساختید ** اندر او تخم وفا انداختید