But since thou art rebellious and I am (only) taken on loan to serve thee for three or four days,
لیک چون تو یاغیی من مستعار ** می‌کنم خدمت ترا روزی سه چار
Therefore I will lay thee low, like ‘Ád, and dash away in revolt from thy army,
پس چو عادت سرنگونی‌ها دهم ** ز اسپه تو یاغیانه بر جهم
In order that thy faith in the Unseen may become firm at the moment when thy faith is (only) a source of woe.”
تا به غیب ایمان تو محکم شود ** آن زمان که ایمانت مایه‌ی غم شود
(For) at that moment, in sooth, all become believers: at that moment even the (most) headstrong run on their heads.
آن زمان خود جملگان مؤمن شوند ** آن زمان خود سرکشان بر سر دوند
At that moment they cry piteously and make humble supplication, like robbers and brigands under the gibbet.4700
آن زمان زاری کنند و افتقار ** هم‌چو دزد و راه‌زن در زیر دار
But if you become upright in (your faith in) the Unseen, you are owner of the two worlds and a magistrate (exercising sovereign authority) over yourself.
لیک گر در غیب گردی مستوی ** مالک دارین و شحنه‌ی خود توی
The abiding (spiritual) magistracy and kingship is not (something) taken on loan for two days and ailing (perishable).
شحنگی و پادشاهی مقیم ** نه دو روزه و مستعارست و سقیم
(Possessing that) you are delivered from strife and can act for yourself: you are king and at the same time beating your own drum.
رستی از بیگار و کار خود کنی ** هم تو شاه و هم تو طبل خود زنی
When the World squeezes our throats tightly, would that our gullets and mouths had eaten (only) earth!
چون گلو تنگ آورد بر ما جهان ** خاک خوردی کاشکی حلق و دهان
This mouth, indeed, has (always) been an eater of earth; but an earth that has been coloured.4705
این دهان خود خاک‌خواری آمدست ** لیک خاکی را که آن رنگین شدست