(Similarly) the Prophet used to take counsel, (speaking) cryptically, and they (his companions) would answer him and (would be) without knowledge (of his real meaning).
مشورت کردی پیمبر بسته سر ** گفته ایشانش جواب و بی‌‌خبر
He would speak his opinion in a covert parable, in order that the adversary might not know foot from head.
در مثالی بسته گفتی رای را ** تا نداند خصم از سر پای را
He (the Prophet) would receive his answer from him (the adversary), while the other would not catch the smell (drift) of his question.
او جواب خویش بگرفتی از او ** وز سؤالش می‌‌نبردی غیر بو
The story of the hare's stratagem.
قصه‌‌ی مکر خرگوش
He delayed awhile in going, then he went before the lion who rends (his prey) with claws.1055
ساعتی تاخیر کرد اندر شدن ** بعد از آن شد پیش شیر پنجه زن
Because he tarried late in going, the lion was tearing up the earth and roaring.
ز آن سبب کاندر شدن او ماند دیر ** خاک را می‌‌کند و می‌‌غرید شیر
“I said,” cried the lion, “that the promise of those vile ones would be vain—vain and frail and unfulfilled.
گفت من گفتم که عهد آن خسان ** خام باشد خام و سست و نارسان
Their palaver has duped me: how long will this Time deceive me, how long?”
دمدمه‌‌ی ایشان مرا از خر فگند ** چند بفریبد مرا این دهر چند
The prince that hath no strength in his beard is left sorely in the lurch when by reason of his folly he looks neither backwards nor forwards.
سخت درماند امیر سست ریش ** چون نه پس بیند نه پیش از احمقیش
The road is smooth, and under it are pitfalls: amidst the names there is a dearth of meaning.1060
راه هموار است و زیرش دامها ** قحط معنی در میان نامها
Words and names are like pitfalls: the sweet (flattering) word is the sand for (the sand that sucks up) the water of our life.
لفظها و نامها چون دامهاست ** لفظ شیرین ریگ آب عمر ماست
The one sand whence water gushes is seldom to be found: go, seek it.
آن یکی ریگی که جوشد آب ازو ** سخت کمیاب است رو آن را بجو
He that searches after wisdom becomes a fountain of wisdom; he becomes independent of acquisition and (ways and) means.
منبع حکمت شود حکمت طلب ** فارغ آید او ز تحصیل و سبب
The guarding tablet becomes a Guarded Tablet; his understanding becomes enriched by the Spirit.
لوح حافظ لوح محفوظی شود ** عقل او از روح محظوظی شود
When his understanding has been his teacher at the beginning, after this the understanding becomes his pupil.1065
چون معلم بود عقلش ز ابتدا ** بعد از این شد عقل شاگردی و را
The understanding says, like Gabriel, “O Ahmad (Mohammed), if I take one (more) step, it will burn me;
عقل چون جبریل گوید احمدا ** گر یکی گامی نهم سوزد مرا
Do thou leave me, henceforth advance (alone): this is my limit, O sultan of the soul!”
تو مرا بگذار زین پس پیش ران ** حد من این بود ای سلطان جان
Whoever, through heedlessness, remains without thanksgiving and patience (selfcontrol), knows (no resource) but this, that he should follow in the heels of necessity (jabr).
هر که ماند از کاهلی بی‌‌شکر و صبر ** او همین داند که گیرد پای جبر
Any one who pleads necessity (as an excuse) feigns himself to be ill, with the result that the (feigned) illness brings him to the grave.
هر که جبر آورد خود رنجور کرد ** تا همان رنجوری‌‌اش در گور کرد
The Prophet said, “Illness (assumed) in jest brings (real) disease, so that he (the jester) dies like a lamp.”1070
گفت پیغمبر که رنجوری به لاغ ** رنج آرد تا بمیرد چون چراغ
What is (the meaning of) jabr? To bind up a broken (limb) or tie a severed vein.
جبر چه بود بستن اشکسته را ** یا بپیوستن رگی بگسسته را
Inasmuch as you have not broken your foot in this path, whom are you mocking? Why have you bandaged your foot?
چون در این ره پای خود نشکسته‌‌ای ** بر که می‌‌خندی چه پا را بسته‌‌ای
But as for him who broke his foot in the path of exertion, Buráq came up to him, and he mounted (and rode).
و آن که پایش در ره کوشش شکست ** در رسید او را براق و بر نشست
He was a bearer of the (true) religion, and he became one who is borne; he was an accepter of the (Divine) command, and he became accepted.
حامل دین بود او محمول شد ** قابل فرمان بد او مقبول شد
Until now, he was receiving commands from the King; henceforth he delivers the (King's) commands to the people.1075
تا کنون فرمان پذیرفتی ز شاه ** بعد از این فرمان رساند بر سپاه
Until now, the stars were influencing him; henceforth he is the ruler of the stars.
تا کنون اختر اثر کردی در او ** بعد از این باشد امیر اختر او