Touching the discrimination of persons (one from another), the Prophet said, ‘A man is hidden when his tongue is folded up.’1270
گفت پیغمبر به تمییز کسان ** مرء مخفی لدی طی اللسان
The colour of the face indicates the state of the heart: have pity on me, implant love of me in thy heart.
رنگ رو از حال دل دارد نشان ** رحمتم کن مهر من در دل نشان
A red complexion has the sound of (declares and expresses) thankfulness (satisfaction); the sound (signification) of a pale complexion has the sound (signification) of patience.
رنگ روی سرخ دارد بانگ شکر ** بانگ روی زرد باشد صبر و نکر
There has come upon me that which takes away hand and foot, takes away colour of face and strength and (every outward) mark;
در من آمد آن که دست و پا برد ** رنگ رو و قوت و سیما برد
That which shatters every thing it comes upon, tears up every tree from root and bottom;
آن که در هر چه در آید بشکند ** هر درخت از بیخ و بن او بر کند
There has come upon me that by which man and animal, mineral and plant have been checkmated.1275
در من آمد آن که از وی گشت مات ** آدمی و جانور جامد نبات
These indeed are (only) parts, (but) wholes (too) are by him (Doom) made yellow in hue and corrupt in odour,
این خود اجزایند کلیات از او ** زرد کرده رنگ و فاسد کرده بو
So that the world is now patient, now thankful; the garden now puts on a robe (of verdure) and again is bare.
تا جهان گه صابر است و گه شکور ** بوستان گه حله پوشد گاه عور
The sun, which rises fire-coloured, at another hour sinks headlong.
آفتابی کاو بر آید نارگون ** ساعتی دیگر شود او سر نگون
Stars shining in the four quarters (of the sky) are, from time to time, afflicted with (consumed by) burning.
اختران تافته بر چار طاق ** لحظه لحظه مبتلای احتراق
The moon, which excels the stars in beauty, becomes like a phantom from the malady of a phthisis. 1280
ماه کاو افزود ز اختر در جمال ** شد ز رنج دق او همچون خیال
This earth, quiet and controlled, is thrown by earthquakes into feverish tremors.
این زمین با سکون با ادب ** اندر آرد زلزلهش در لرز تب
Oh, from this inherited woe many a mountain in the world has become tiny fragments and (grains of) sand.
ای بسا که زین بلای مردهریگ ** گشته است اندر جهان او خرد و ریگ
This air is conjoined with the (vital) spirit, (but) when the Divine destiny comes, it turns pestilential and stinking.
این هوا با روح آمد مقترن ** چون قضا آید وبا گشت و عفن
The sweet water that was a sister (congenial) to the spirit, (after standing) in a pool, became yellow and bitter and turbid.
آب خوش کاو روح را همشیره شد ** در غدیری زرد و تلخ و تیره شد
The fire that has wind in its moustache—a single puff of wind calls death upon it.1285
آتشی کاو باد دارد در بروت ** هم یکی بادی بر او خواند یموت
The state of the sea (is such that) from its agitation and commotion (you may) perceive the changes of its mind.
حال دریا ز اضطراب و جوش او ** فهم کن تبدیلهای هوش او
The whirling heaven, which is (ever engaged) in seeking and searching—its state is like the state of its children;
چرخ سر گردان که اندر جستجوست ** حال او چون حال فرزندان اوست
Now nadir, now middle, now zenith: therein are host on host of stars fortunate and unlucky.
گه حضیض و گه میانه گاه اوج ** اندر او از سعد و نحسی فوج فوج
From thyself, O part made up of wholes, apprehend the state of every simple (uncompounded) thing.
از خود ای جزوی ز کلها مختلط ** فهم میکن حالت هر منبسط
Inasmuch as wholes suffer grief and pain, how should their part not be pale-faced (sick and subject to decay)?1290
چون که کلیات را رنج است و درد ** جزو ایشان چون نباشد روی زرد
Especially a part which is composed of contraries—of water and earth and fire and air.
خاصه جزوی کاو ز اضداد است جمع ** ز آب و خاک و آتش و باد است جمع
It is no wonder that the sheep recoiled from the wolf; the wonder is that this sheep set its heart on (became friendly with) the wolf.
این عجب نبود که میش از گرگ جست ** این عجب کاین میش دل در گرگ بست
Life is the peace (harmony) of contraries; death is the fact that war arose between them.
زندگانی آشتی ضدهاست ** مرگ آن کاندر میانشان جنگ خاست
The grace of God has given amity to this lion and wild-ass— these two far distant contraries.
لطف حق این شیر را و گور را ** الف داده ست این دو ضد دور را