We also are of (God's) creatures, we have soul. Good luck (is ours) to-night: we have the guest (to entertain).”
ما هم از خلقیم و جان داریم ما ** دولت امشب میهمان داریم ما
Thereby they were sowing the seed of falsehood, for they deemed soul that which is not soul.525
تخم باطل را از آن میکاشتند ** کان که آن جان نیست جان پنداشتند
And the traveller, too, was tired by the long journey and (gladly) saw that favour and fondness (with which they regarded him).
و آن مسافر نیز از راه دراز ** خسته بود و دید آن اقبال و ناز
The Súfís, one by one, caressed him: they were playing the game of (bestowing) pleasant attentions (on him).
صوفیانش یک به یک بنواختند ** نرد خدمتهای خوش میباختند
When he saw their affection towards him, he said, “If I don't make merry to-night, when (shall I do so)?”
گفت چون میدید میلانشان به وی ** گر طرب امشب نخواهم کرد کی
They ate the viands and began the samá‘ (musical dance); the monastery was filled with smoke and dust up to the roof—
لوت خوردند و سماع آغاز کرد ** خانقه تا سقف شد پر دود و گرد
The smoke of the kitchen, the dust of (raised by) beating the feet (dancing), the tumult (caused) by longing and ecstasy of spirit.530
دود مطبخ گرد آن پا کوفتن ** ز اشتیاق و وجد جان آشوفتن
Now, waving their hands, they would beat (the ground with) their feet; now, in (religious) prostration, they would sweep the dais (with their foreheads).
گاه دست افشان قدم میکوفتند ** گه به سجده صفه را میروفتند
(Only) after long (waiting) does the Súfí gain his desire (the satisfaction of his appetite) from Fortune: for that reason the Súfí is a great eater;
دیر یابد صوفی آز از روزگار ** ز آن سبب صوفی بود بسیار خوار
Except, to be sure, the Súfí who has eaten his fill of the Light of God: he is free from the shame of beggary;
جز مگر آن صوفیی کز نور حق ** سیر خورد او فارغ است از ننگ دق