When a part falls in love with a part, the object of its love soon goes (returns) to its own whole.
چون که جزوی عاشق جزوی شود ** زود معشوقش به کل خود رود
He (the lover of the particular) became the laughing-stock of another's slave: he became (like a man who was) drowning and clung to some one weak (and powerless to help him).
ریش گاو بندهی غیر آمد او ** غرقه شد کف در ضعیفی در زد او
He (the loved slave) possesses no authority, that he should care for him: shall he do his own master's business or his (the lover's)?
نیست حاکم تا کند تیمار او ** کار خواجهی خود کند یا کار او
The Arabic proverb, “If you commit fornication, commit it with a free woman, and if you steal, steal a pearl.”
مثل عرب إذا زنیت فازن بالحرة و إذا سرقت فاسرق الدرة
Hence (the saying), “Commit fornication with a free woman,” became proverbial; (and the words) “steal a pearl” were transferred (metaphorically) to this (meaning).2805
فازن بالحرة پی این شد مثل ** فاسرق الدرة بدین شد منتقل
The slave (the loved one) went away to his master: he (the lover) was left in misery. The scent of the rose went (back) to the rose: he remained as the thorn.
بنده سوی خواجه شد او ماند زار ** بوی گل شد سوی گل او ماند خار
He was left far from the object of his desire—his labour lost, his toil useless, his foot wounded,
او بمانده دور از مطلوب خویش ** سعی ضایع رنج باطل پای ریش
Like the hunter who catches a shadow—how should the shadow become his property?
همچو صیادی که گیرد سایهای ** سایه کی گردد و را سرمایهای
The man has grasped tightly the shadow of a bird, (while) the bird on the branch of the tree is fallen into amazement,
سایهی مرغی گرفته مرد سخت ** مرغ حیران گشته بر شاخ درخت
(Thinking), “I wonder who this crack-brained fellow is laughing at? Here's folly for you, here's a rotten cause!”2810
کاین مدمغ بر که میخندد عجب ** اینت باطل اینت پوسیده سبب
And if you say that the part is connected with the whole, (then) eat thorns: the thorn is connected with the rose.
ور تو گویی جزو پیوستهی کل است ** خار میخور خار مقرون گل است
Except from one point of view, it (the part) is not connected with the whole: otherwise, indeed, the mission of the prophets would be vain,
جز ز یک رو نیست پیوسته به کل ** ور نه خود باطل بدی بعث رسل
Inasmuch as the prophets are (sent) in order to connect (the part with the whole): how, then, should they (the prophets) connect them when they are (already) one body?
چون رسولان از پی پیوستناند ** پس چه پیوندندشان چون یک تناند
This discourse hath no end. O lad, the day is late: conclude the tale.
این سخن پایان ندارد ای غلام ** روز بیگه شد حکایت کن تمام
How the Arab delivered the gift, that is, the jug to the Caliph's servants.
سپردن عرب هدیه را یعنی سبو را به غلامان خلیفه
He presented the jug of water, he sowed the seed of homage in that (exalted) court.2815
آن سبوی آب را در پیش داشت ** تخم خدمت را در آن حضرت بکاشت
“Bear this gift,” said he, “to the Sultan, redeem the King's suitor from indigence.
گفت این هدیه بدان سلطان برید ** سایل شه را ز حاجت واخرید
’Tis sweet water and a new green jug—some of the rain-water that collected in the ditch.”
آب شیرین و سبوی سبز و نو ** ز آب بارانی که جمع آمد به گو
The officials smiled at that, but they accepted it (the jug) as (though it were precious as) life,
خنده میآمد نقیبان را از آن ** لیک پذرفتند آن را همچو جان
Because the graciousness of the good and wise King had made a mark (impressed itself) on all the courtiers.
ز آن که لطف شاه خوب با خبر ** کرده بود اندر همه ارکان اثر
The disposition of kings settles (becomes implanted) in their subjects: the green sky makes the earth verdant.2820
خوی شاهان در رعیت جا کند ** چرخ اخضر خاک را خضرا کند
Regard the king as a reservoir, his retainers as the pipes: the water runs through the pipe into the ponds (receptacles).
شه چو حوضی دان حشم چون لولهها ** آب از لوله روان در کولهها
When the water in all (the pipes) is from a pure reservoir, every single one gives sweet water, pleasant to taste;
چون که آب جمله از حوضی است پاک ** هر یکی آبی دهد خوش ذوقناک
But if the water in the reservoir is brackish and dirty, every pipe brings the same to view,
ور در آن حوض آب شور است و پلید ** هر یکی لوله همان آرد پدید
Because every pipe is connected with the reservoir. Dive, dive into (ponder deeply) the meaning of these words.
ز آن که پیوسته ست هر لوله به حوض ** خوض کن در معنی این حرف خوض
(Consider) how the imperial grace of the homeless Spirit has produced effects on the whole body;2825
لطف شاهنشاه جان بیوطن ** چون اثر کرده ست اندر کل تن
How the grace of Reason, which is of goodly nature, of goodly lineage, brings the entire body into discipline;
لطف عقل خوش نهاد خوش نسب ** چون همه تن را در آرد در ادب