They have regarded that Gazelle as being shepherdless, they have regarded that Captive as (one who may be taken) cost-free,230
بی‌شبان دانسته‌اند آن ظبی را ** رایگان دانسته‌اند آن سبی را
Till (suddenly) an arrow from the glance (of Divine jealousy) comes (descends) upon the heart, (as though) to say, ‘I am the Keeper: do not look wantonly.
تا ز غمزه تیر آمد بر جگر ** که منم حارس گزافه کم نگر
How am I meaner than a lamb, meaner than a kid, that there should not be a keeper behind me?
کی کم از بره کم از بزغاله‌ام ** که نباشد حارس از دنباله‌ام
I have a Keeper whom it beseems to hold dominion: He knoweth the wind that blows upon me.
حارسی دارم که ملکش می‌سزد ** داند او بادی که آن بر من وزد
Whether that wind was cold or hot, that Knowing One is not unaware, is not absent, O infirm man.
سرد بود آن باد یا گرم آن علیم ** نیست غافل نیست غایب ای سقیم
The appetitive soul is deaf and blind to God: I with my heart was seeing thy blindness from afar.235
نفس شهوانی ز حق کرست و کور ** من به دل کوریت می‌دیدم ز دور
For eight years I did not inquire after thee at all, because I saw thee (to be) full of ignorance, fold on fold.
هشت سالت زان نپرسیدم به هیچ ** که پرت دیدم ز جهل پیچ پیچ
Why, indeed, should I inquire after one who is in t he bath-stove (of lust), and say (to him) ‘How art thou?’ when he is (plunged) headlong (in sensuality)?
خود چه پرسم آنک او باشد بتون ** که تو چونی چون بود او سرنگون
Comparison of this world to a bath-stove and of piety to the bath.
مثال دنیا چون گولخن و تقوی چون حمام
The lust of this world is like the bath-stove by which the bath, piety, is (made) resplendent;
شهوت دنیا مثال گلخنست ** که ازو حمام تقوی روشنست
But the pious man's portion from this stove is (naught but) purity, because he is in the hot-bath and in cleanliness.
لیک قسم متقی زین تون صفاست ** زانک در گرمابه است و در نقاست