Otherwise, dizzy and dumbfounded like (Ibráhim son of) Adham, without delay they would have dashed their sovereignty to pieces.
ورنه ادهموار سرگردان و دنگ ** ملک را برهم زدندی بیدرنگ
But (this they do not inasmuch as), for the maintenance of this world, God set a seal upon their eyes and mouths,
لیک حق بهر ثبات این جهان ** مهرشان بنهاد بر چشم و دهان
To the end that throne and crown should be sweet to them, "for" (they say) "we will exact tribute from the rulers of the world."670
تا شود شیرین بریشان تخت و تاج ** که ستانیم از جهانداران خراج
If by way of tribute thou amass gold as (though it were) sand, at last it will be left behind thee as an inheritance.
از خراج ار جمع آری زر چو ریگ ** آخر آن از تو بماند مردریگ
Sovereignty and gold will not accompany thy spirit on its journey: give thy gold away, get collyrium for thy sight,
همره جانت نگردد ملک و زر ** زر بده سرمه ستان بهر نظر
In order that thou mayst see that this world is a narrow well, and that, like Joseph, thou mayst grasp that rope,
تا ببینی کین جهان چاهیست تنگ ** یوسفانه آن رسن آری به چنگ
So that, when thou comest from the well (up) to the roof, the Soul will say, “Oh, good news for met This is a youth for me.”
تا بگوید چون ز چاه آیی به بام ** جان که یا بشرای هذا لی غلام
In the well (of this world) there are optical inversions, the least (of which is) that stones appear to be gold.675
هست در چاه انعکاسات نظر ** کمترین آنک نماید سنگ زر
To children at play-time, from infirmity (of mind), those potsherds (with which they play) appear to be gold and riches.
وقت بازی کودکان را ز اختلال ** مینماید آن خزفها زر و مال
His (God’s) knowers have become alchemists, so that mines (of gold) have become worthless in their eyes.
عارفانش کیمیاگر گشتهاند ** تا که شد کانها بر ایشان نژند
How a dervish saw in dream a company of Shaykhs and begged for a daily portion of lawful food (which he should receive) without being occupied with earning (it) and being (thereby) incapacitated from devotional service; and how they directed him, and how the sour and bitter mountain-fruit became sweet to him through the bounty of those Shaykhs.
دیدن درویش جماعت مشایخ را در خواب و درخواست کردن روزی حلال بیمشغول شدن به کسب و از عبادت ماندن و ارشاد ایشان او را و میوههای تلخ و ترش کوهی بر وی شیرین شدن به داد آن مشایخ