One of those parrots trembled exceedingly, fell, and died, and its breath stopped.
طوطیی ز آن طوطیان لرزید بس ** اوفتاد و مرد و بگسستش نفس
The merchant repented of having told the news, and said, “I have gone about to destroy the creature.1590
شد پشیمان خواجه از گفت خبر ** گفت رفتم در هلاک جانور
This one, surely, is kin to that little parrot (of mine): they must have been two bodies and one spirit.
این مگر خویش است با آن طوطیک ** این مگر دو جسم بود و روح یک
Why did I do this? Why did I give the message? I have consumed the poor creature by this raw (foolish) speech.”
این چرا کردم چرا دادم پیام ** سوختم بی‌‌چاره را زین گفت خام
This tongue is like stone and is also like iron, and that which springs from the tongue is like fire.
این زبان چون سنگ و هم آهن‌‌وش است ** و آن چه بجهد از زبان چون آتش است
Do not vainly strike stone and iron against each other, now for the sake of relating (a story), now for the sake of boasting,
سنگ و آهن را مزن بر هم گزاف ** گه ز روی نقل و گاه از روی لاف
Because it is dark, and on every side are fields of cotton: how should sparks be amongst cotton?1595
ز آن که تاریک است و هر سو پنبه زار ** در میان پنبه چون باشد شرار
Iniquitous are those persons who shut their eyes and by such (vain) words set a whole world ablaze.
ظالم آن قومی که چشمان دوختند ** ز آن سخنها عالمی را سوختند
A single word lays waste a (whole) world, turns dead foxes into lions.
عالمی را یک سخن ویران کند ** روبهان مرده را شیران کند
Spirits in their original nature have the (life-giving) breath of Jesus, (but while they remain embodied) at one time they are (like) the wound, and another time (like) the plaster.
جانها در اصل خود عیسی دمند ** یک زمان زخمند و گاهی مرهمند
If the (bodily) screen were removed from the spirits, the speech of every spirit would be like (the breath of) the Messiah.
گر حجاب از جانها برخاستی ** گفت هر جانی مسیح آساستی
If you wish to utter words like sugar, refrain from concupiscence and do not eat this sweetmeat (the desires of the flesh).1600
گر سخن خواهی که گویی چون شکر ** صبر کن از حرص و این حلوا مخور
Self-control is the thing desired by the intelligent; sweetmeat is what children long for.
هر که صبر آورد گردون بر رود ** هر که حلوا خورد واپس‌‌تر رود
Commentary on the saying of Farídu’ddín ‘Attár, -may God sanctify his spirit- “Thou art a sensualist: O heedless one, drink blood (mortify thyself) amidst the dust (of thy bodily existence), For if the spiritualist drink a poison, it will be (to him as) an antidote.”
تفسیر قول فرید الدین عطار قدس الله روحه: تو صاحب نفسی ای غافل میان خاک خون می‌‌خور که صاحب دل اگر زهری خورد آن انگبین باشد
It does not harm the spiritualist (saint) though he drink deadly poison for all to see,
صاحب دل را ندارد آن زیان ** گر خورد او زهر قاتل را عیان
Because he has attained to (spiritual) health and has been set free from (the need for) abstinence, (while) the poor seeker (of God) is (still) in the (state of) fever.
ز آن که صحت یافت و از پرهیز رست ** طالب مسکین میان تب در است
The Prophet said, "O seeker of the (Divine) allowance (bounty), do not contend with anyone who is sought.".1605
گفت پیغمبر که ای مرد جری ** هان مکن با هیچ مطلوبی مری
In thee is a Nimrod: do not go into the fire. If thou wish to go in, first become Abraham!
در تو نمرودی است آتش در مرو ** رفت خواهی اول ابراهیم شو
When thou art neither a swimmer nor a seaman, do not cast thyself (into the sea) from a (feeling of) self-conceit.
چون نه‌‌ای سباح و نه دریاییی ** در میفکن خویش از خود راییی
He (the saint) brings red roses from the fire, from losses he brings gain to the surface.
او ز آتش ورد احمر آورد ** از زیانها سود بر سر آورد
If a perfect man (saint) take earth, it becomes gold; if an imperfect one has carried away gold, it becomes ashes.
کاملی گر خاک گیرد زر شود ** ناقص ار زر برد خاکستر شود
Since that righteous man is accepted of God, his hand in (all) things is the hand of God.1610
چون قبول حق بود آن مرد راست ** دست او در کارها دست خداست
The hand of the imperfect man is the hand of Devil and demon, because he is in the trap of imposition and guile.
دست ناقص دست شیطان است و دیو ** ز آن که اندر دام تکلیف است و ریو
If ignorance come to him (the perfect man), it becomes knowledge, (but) the knowledge that goes into the disbelieving man becomes ignorance.
جهل آید پیش او دانش شود ** جهل شد علمی که در ناقص رود
Whatever an ill man takes becomes illness, (but) if a perfect man takes infidelity, it becomes religion.