Afterwards that man of sweet discourse opened his mouth (to speak) on the difficult matter of his wife's disbelief,
بعد از آن در مشکل انکار زن ** بر گشاد آن خوش‌سراینده دهن
Saying, “My long-suffering is not from (the motive of) sensual desire; that (suspicion) is a vain fancy of your carnal soul: do not take that standpoint.
کان تحمل از هوای نفس نیست ** آن خیال نفس تست آنجا مه‌ایست
Unless my patience had endured the burden of (supporting) my wife, how should the fierce lion have endured the labour of (carrying) me?
گرنه صبرم می‌کشیدی بار زن ** کی کشیدی شیر نر بیگار من
I am (like) Bactrian camels, (speeding) in advance (of the caravan), intoxicated and beside myself under the panniers of God.
اشتران بختییم اندر سبق ** مست و بی‌خود زیر محملهای حق
I am not half-raw (imperfect) in (fulfilling) the (Divine) order and command, that I should take any thought of revilement by the public.2140
من نیم در امر و فرمان نیم‌خام ** تا بیندیشم من از تشنیع عام
My public and my private (object) is His command: my spirit is running on its face in search of Him.
عام ما و خاص ما فرمان اوست ** جان ما بر رو دوان جویان اوست
My being single or wedded is not on account of sensual desire: my spirit is like a die in the hand of God.
فردی ما جفتی ما نه از هواست ** جان ما چون مهره در دست خداست
I endure the disdain of that foolish (woman) and a hundred like her, neither from love of colour nor passion for scent.
ناز آن ابله کشیم و صد چو او ** نه ز عشق رنگ و نه سودای بو
This much, indeed, is (only) the lesson learned by my disciples; (but) unto what place (attains) the forward and backward movement of my battle!
این قدر خود درس شاگردان ماست ** کر و فر ملحمه‌ی ما تا کجاست
Unto what place? Unto the place where Place (itself) finds no admittance, and where nothing exists save the lightning-flash of the Moon of Allah.2145
تا کجا آنجا که جا را راه نیست ** جز سنابرق مه الله نیست