In this prison (the world) the food of faith is scarce, and that which exists is in (danger of being caught in) the noose (of destruction) through the attack of this cur.635
قوت ایمانی در این زندان کم است ** وان که هست از قصد این سگ در خم است
(If) from prayer and fasting and a hundred helplessnesses (utter self-abnegations) the food of spiritual feeling come (to any one), he (the Devil) at once carries it off.
از نماز و صوم و صد بیچارگی ** قوت ذوق آید برد یک بارگی
I seek refuge with God from His Satan: we have perished, alas, through his overweening disobedience.
أستعیذ الله من شیطانه ** قد هلکنا آه من طغیانه
He is (but) one cur, and he goes into thousands (of people): into whomsoever he goes, he (that person) becomes he (Satan).
یک سگ است و در هزاران میرود ** هر که در وی رفت او او میشود
Whoever makes you cold (damps your spiritual ardour) know that he (Satan) is in him: the Devil has become hidden beneath his skin.
هر که سردت کرد میدان کاو در اوست ** دیو پنهان گشته اندر زیر پوست
When he finds no (bodily) form, he comes into (your) fancy, in order that that fancy may lead you into woe:640
چون نیابد صورت آید در خیال ** تا کشاند آن خیالت در وبال
Now the fancy of recreation, now of the shop; now the fancy of knowledge, and now of house and home.
گه خیال فرجه و گاهی دکان ** گه خیال علم و گاهی خان و مان
Beware! say at once “God help me!” again and again, not with tongue alone but from your very soul.
هان بگو لاحولها اندر زمان ** از زبان تنها نه بلک از عین جان
The end of the story of the insolvent.
تتمه قصه مفلس
The Cadi said, “Show plainly that you are insolvent.” “Here are the prisoners,” he replied, “as thy witnesses.”
گفت قاضی مفلسی را وانما ** گفت اینک اهل زندانت گوا
“They,” said the Cadi, “are suspect, because they are fleeing from you and weeping blood (on account of your ill-treatment of them);
گفت ایشان متهم باشند چون ** میگریزند از تو میگریند خون