And said to the Shaykh, “Demand justice for our souls from this Súfí, O Guide!”
شیخ را گفتند داد جان ما ** تو از این صوفی بجو ای پیشوا
He said, “Why, what is the complaint, O Súfís?” He (their spokesman) replied, “This Súfí has three annoying habits:
گفت آخر چه گله ست ای صوفیان ** گفت این صوفی سه خو دارد گران
In speech he is garrulous as a bell; in eating he eats more than twenty persons;
در سخن بسیار گو همچون جرس ** در خورش افزون خورد از بیست کس
And if he sleep, he is like the Men of the Cave.” (Thus) did the Súfís march to war (against him) before the Shaykh.3510
ور بخسبد هست چون اصحاب کهف ** صوفیان کردند پیش شیخ زحف
The Shaykh turned his face towards that dervish, saying, “In every case that exists, take the middle (course).
شیخ رو آورد سوی آن فقیر ** که ز هر حالی که هست اوساط گیر
(It is stated) in Tradition that the best things are the mean (those between the two extremes): the (four) humours are beneficial through being in equipoise.
در خبر خیر الأمور أوساطها ** نافع آمد ز اعتدال أخلاطها
If by accident (any) one humour become excessive, disease appears in the human body.
گر یکی خلطی فزون شد از عرض ** در تن مردم پدید آید مرض
Do not exceed in (any) quality him that is thy yoke-fellow, for that will assuredly bring about separation (between you) in the end.
بر قرین خویش مفزا در صفت ** کان فراق آرد یقین در عاقبت
The speech of Moses was in measure, but even so it exceeded the words of his good friend.3515
نطق موسی بد بر اندازه و لیک ** هم فزون آمد ز گفت یار نیک
That excess resulted in (his) opposing Khadir; and he (Khadir) said, ‘Go, thou art one that talks too much: this is a (cause of) separation (between us).’
آن فزونی با خضر آمد شقاق ** گفت رو تو مکثری هذا فراق