The sleeper dreams of the sore pangs of thirst, (whilst) the water is nearer unto him than the neck-vein.
خفته می‌بیند عطشهای شدید ** آب اقرب منه من حبل الورید
Story of the ascetic who, notwithstanding his destitution and numerous family, was rejoicing and laughing in a year of drought whilst the people were dying of hunger. They said to him, "What is the occasion for joy? It is an occasion for a hundred mournings." "For me at any rate ’tis not (so)," he replied.
حکایت آن زاهد کی در سال قحط شاد و خندان بود با مفلسی و بسیاری عیان و خلق می‌مردند از گرسنگی گفتندش چه هنگام شادیست کی هنگام صد تعزیت است گفت مرا باری نیست
Even as (for example) that ascetic was laughing in a year of drought, while all (his) folk were weeping.
هم‌چنان کن زاهد اندر سال قحط ** بود او خندان و گریان جمله رهط
So they said to him, “What is the occasion for laughter, (when) the drought has uprooted (destroyed) the true believers?
پس بگفتندش چه جای خنده است ** قحط بیخ مومنان بر کنده است
The (Divine) mercy hath closed its eyes to us: the plain is burnt by the fierce sun.
رحمت از ما چشم خود بر دوختست ** ز آفتاب تیز صحرا سوختست
Crops and vineyards and vines are standing black: there is no moisture in the earth, neither up nor down.3245
کشت و باغ و رز سیه استاده است ** در زمین نم نیست نه بالا نه پست
The people are dying from this drought and torment by tens and hundreds like fish far from the water.
خل می‌میرند زین قحط و عذاب ** ده ده و صد صد چو ماهی دور از آب
Thou art taking no pity on the Moslems; (yet) the true believers are kinsmen and one body (of) fat and flesh.
بر مسلمانان نمی‌آری تو رحم ** مومنان خویشند و یک تن شحم و لحم
The pain of one part of the body is the pain of all (its parts), whether it be the hour of peace or war.”
رنج یک جزوی ز تن رنج همه‌ست ** گر دم صلحست یا خود ملحمه‌ست
He (the ascetic) replied, “In your eyes this is a drought, (but) to my eye this earth is like Paradise.
گفت در چشم شما قحطست این ** پیش چشمم چون بهشتست این زمین
I am beholding in every desert and everywhere ears of corn in abundance, reaching up to the waist;3250
من همی‌بینم بهر دشت و مکان ** خوشه‌ها انبه رسیده تا میان