- Oh, I am the elephant whose blood was shed by the blow of the mahout for the sake of the bone (ivory).
- ای من آن پیلی که زخم پیل بان ** ریخت خونم از برای استخوان
- He who hath slain me for that which is other than I, does not he know that my blood sleepeth not (will not rest unavenged)?
- آن که کشتستم پی مادون من ** مینداند که نخسبد خون من
- To-day it lies on me and to-morrow it lies on him: when does the blood of one such as I am go to waste like this?
- بر من است امروز و فردا بر وی است ** خون چون من کس چنین ضایع کی است
- Although the wall casts a long shadow, (yet at last) the shadow turns back again towards it.
- گر چه دیوار افکند سایهی دراز ** باز گردد سوی او آن سایه باز
- This world is the mountain, and our action the shout: the echo of the shouts comes (back) to us.” 215
- این جهان کوه است و فعل ما ندا ** سوی ما آید نداها را صدا
- He said this and at the (same) moment went under the earth (gave up the ghost). The handmaiden was purged of love and pain,
- این بگفت و رفت در دم زیر خاک ** آن کنیزک شد ز عشق و رنج پاک
- Because love of the dead is not enduring, because the dead one is never coming (back) to us;
- ز انکه عشق مردگان پاینده نیست ** ز انکه مرده سوی ما آینده نیست
- (But) love of the living is every moment fresher than a bud in the spirit and in the sight.
- عشق زنده در روان و در بصر ** هر دمی باشد ز غنچه تازهتر
- Choose the love of that Living One who is everlasting, who gives thee to drink of the wine that increases life.
- عشق آن زنده گزین کاو باقی است ** کز شراب جان فزایت ساقی است
- Choose the love of Him from whose love all the prophets gained power and glory. 220
- عشق آن بگزین که جمله انبیا ** یافتند از عشق او کار و کیا
- Do not say, “We have no admission to that King.” Dealings with the generous are not difficult.
- تو مگو ما را بدان شه بار نیست ** با کریمان کارها دشوار نیست
- Setting forth how the slaying and poisoning of the goldsmith was (prompted) by Divine suggestion, not by sensual desire and wicked meditation.
- بیان آن که کشتن و زهر دادن مرد زرگر به اشارت الهی بود نه به هوای نفس و تامل فاسد
- The slaying of that man by the hand of the physician was not (done) on account of hope or fear.
- کشتن آن مرد بر دست حکیم ** نی پی اومید بود و نی ز بیم
- He did not slay him to humour the king, (he did not slay him) until the Divine command and inspiration came.
- او نکشتش از برای طبع شاه ** تا نیامد امر و الهام اله
- As for the boy whose throat was cut by Khadir, the vulgar do not comprehend the mystery thereof.
- آن پسر را کش خضر ببرید حلق ** سر آن را درنیابد عام خلق
- He that receives from God inspiration and answer (to his prayer), whatsoever he may command is the essence of right. 225
- آن که از حق یابد او وحی و جواب ** هر چه فرماید بود عین صواب
- If one who bestows (spiritual) life should slay, it is allowable: he is the (Divine) vicegerent, and his hand is the hand of God.
- آن که جان بخشد اگر بکشد رواست ** نایب است و دست او دست خداست
- Like Ismá‘íl (Ishmael), lay your head before him; gladly and laughingly give up your soul before his dagger,
- همچو اسماعیل پیشش سر بنه ** شاد و خندان پیش تیغش جان بده
- In order that your soul may remain laughing unto eternity, like the pure soul of Ahmad (Mohammed) with the One (God).
- تا بماند جانت خندان تا ابد ** همچو جان پاک احمد با احد
- Lovers drain the cup of (spiritual) life at the moment when the fair ones slay them with their own hand.
- عاشقان جام فرح آن گه کشند ** که به دست خویش خوبانشان کشند
- The king did not commit that bloodshed because of lust: cease from thinking evil and disputing. 230
- شاه آن خون از پی شهوت نکرد ** تو رها کن بد گمانی و نبرد
- You thought that he committed a foul crime, (but) in (the state of) purity how should the sublimation leave (any) alloy (behind)?
- تو گمان بردی که کرد آلودگی ** در صفا غش کی هلد پالودگی
- The purpose of this (severe) discipline and this rough treatment is that the furnace may extract the dross from the silver.
- بهر آن است این ریاضت وین جفا ** تا بر آرد کوره از نقره جفا
- The testing of good and bad is in order that the gold may boil and bring the scum to the top.
- بهر آن است امتحان نیک و بد ** تا بجوشد بر سر آرد زر زبد
- If his act were not the inspiration of God, he would have been a dog that rends (its prey), not a king.
- گر نبودی کارش الهام اله ** او سگی بودی دراننده نه شاه
- He was unstained by lust and covetousness and passion: (what) he did (was) good, but good that wore the aspect of evil. 235
- پاک بود از شهوت و حرص و هوا ** نیک کرد او لیک نیک بد نما