He saw a bountiful Court, (where) the needy had spread their nets;
دید درگاهی پر از انعامها ** اهل حاجت گستریده دامها
Everywhere, moment by moment, some petitioner gained (and carried away) from that Court a donation and robe of honour:
دم به دم هر سوی صاحب حاجتی ** یافته ز آن در عطا و خلعتی
’Twas like sun and rain, nay, like Paradise, for infidel and true believer and good folk and bad.
بهر گبر و مومن و زیبا و زشت ** همچو خورشید و مطر نی چون بهشت
He beheld some people arrayed (with favour) in the sight (of the Caliph), and others who had risen to their feet (and were) waiting (to receive his commands).2740
دید قومی در نظر آراسته ** قوم دیگر منتظر برخاسته
High and low, from Solomon to the ant, they (all) had become quickened with life, like the world at the blast of the trumpet (on the Day of Resurrection).
خاص و عامه از سلیمان تا به مور ** زنده گشته چون جهان از نفخ صور
The followers of Form were woven (entangled) in pearls, the followers of Reality had found the Sea of Reality.
اهل صورت در جواهر بافته ** اهل معنی بحر معنی یافته
Those without aspiration—how aspiring had they become! and those of high aspiration—to what felicity had they attained!
آن که بیهمت چه با همت شده ** و آن که با همت چه با نعمت شده
Showing that, as the beggar is in love with bounty and in love with the bountiful giver, so the bounty of the bountiful giver is in love with the beggar: if the beggar have the greater patience, the bountiful giver will come to his door; and if the bountiful giver have the greater patience, the beggar will come to his door; but the beggar's patience is a virtue in the beggar, while the patience of the bountiful giver is in him a defect.
در بیان آن که چنان که گدا عاشق کرم است و عاشق کریم، کرم کریم هم عاشق گداست اگر گدا را صبر بیش بود کریم بر در او آید و اگر کریم را صبر بیش بود گدا بر در او آید اما صبر گدا کمال گداست و صبر کریم نقصان اوست
A loud call was coming (to his ears): “Come, O seeker! Bounty is in need of beggars: (it is needy) like a beggar.
بانگ میآمد که ای طالب بیا ** جود محتاج گدایان چون گدا
Bounty is seeking the beggars and the poor, just as fair ones who seek a clear mirror.2745
The face of the fair is made beautiful by the mirror, the face of Beneficence is made visible by the beggar.
روی خوبان ز آینه زیبا شود ** روی احسان از گدا پیدا شود
Therefore on this account God said in the Súra Wa’d-Duhá, “O Mohammed, do not shout at (and drive away) the beggar.”
پس از این فرمود حق در و الضحی ** بانگ کم زن ای محمد بر گدا
Inasmuch as the beggar is the mirror of Bounty, take care! Breath is hurtful to the face of the mirror.
چون گدا آیینهی جود است هان ** دم بود بر روی آیینه زیان
In the one case, his (the giver's) bounty makes the beggar manifest (causes him to beg), while in the other case he (the giver), (without being asked), bestows on the beggars more (than they need).
آن یکی جودش گدا آرد پدید ** و آن دگر بخشد گدایان را مزید
Beggars, then, are the evidentiary sign of God's bounty, and they that are with God are (united with) the Absolute Bounty;2750
پس گدایان آیت جود حقاند ** و آن که با حقند جود مطلقاند
And every one except those two (types of beggar) is truly a dead man: he is not at this door (the Divine Court), he is (lifeless as) a picture (embroidered) on a curtain.
و آن که جز این دوست او خود مردهای است ** او بر این در نیست نقش پردهای است
The difference between one that is poor for (desirous of) God and thirsting for Him and one that is poor of (destitute of) God and thirsting for what is other than He.
فرق میان آن که درویش است به خدا و تشنهی خدا و میان آن که درویش است از خدا و تشنهی غیر است
He (that seeks other than God) is the (mere) picture of a dervish, he is not worthy of bread (Divine bounty): do not throw a bone to the picture of a dog!
نقش درویش است او نی اهل نان ** نقش سگ را تو مینداز استخوان
He wants a morsel of food, he does not want God: do not set dishes before a lifeless picture!
فقر لقمه دارد او نی فقر حق ** پیش نقش مردهای کم نه طبق
The dervish that wants bread is a land-fish: (he has) the form of a fish, but (he is) fleeing from the sea.
ماهی خاکی بود درویش نان ** شکل ماهی لیک از دریا رمان
He is a domestic fowl, not the Símurgh of the air: he swallows sweet morsels (of food), he does not eat from God.2755
مرغ خانه ست او نه سیمرغ هوا ** لوت نوشد او ننوشد از خدا
He loves God for the sake of gain: his soul is not in love with (God's) excellence and beauty.
عاشق حق است او بهر نوال ** نیست جانش عاشق حسن و جمال
If he conceives that he is in love with the Essence (of God), conception of the (Divine) names and attributes is not the Essence.
گر توهم میکند او عشق ذات ** ذات نبود وهم اسما و صفات
Conception is created; it has been begotten: God is not begotten, He is lam yúlad.
وهم مخلوق است و مولود آمده ست ** حق نزاییده ست او لم یولد است
How should he that is in love with his own imagination and conception be one of them that love the Lord of bounties?
عاشق تصویر و وهم خویشتن ** کی بود از عاشقان ذو المنن
If the lover of that (false) conception be sincere, that metaphor (unreal judgement) will lead him to the reality.2760
عاشق آن وهم اگر صادق بود ** آن مجاز او حقیقت کش شود
The exposition of this saying demands a commentary, but I am afraid of senile (feeble) minds.
شرح میخواهد بیان این سخن ** لیک میترسم ز افهام کهن