Beware, lest (the Divine) jealousy come from ambush and ye fall headlong to the bottom of the earth.”
هین مبادا غیرت آید از کمین ** سر نگون افتید در قعر زمین
They both said, “O God, Thine is the command: without Thy security (protection) where indeed is any security?”
هر دو گفتند ای خدا فرمان تراست ** بیامان تو امانی خود کجاست
They were saying this, but their hearts were throbbing (with desire)—“How should evil come from us? Good servants (of God) are we!”
این همیگفتند و دلشان میطپید ** بد کجا آید ز ما نعم العبید
The prick of desire in the two angels did not leave (them) until it sowed the seed of self-conceit.3420
خار خار دو فرشته هم نهشت ** تا که تخم خویش بینی را نکشت
Then they were saying, “O ye that are composed of the (four) elements (and are) unacquainted with the purity of the spiritual beings,
پس همیگفتند کای ارکانیان ** بیخبر از پاکی روحانیان
We will draw curtains (of light) over this (terrestrial) sky, we will come to earth and set up the canopy,
ما بر این گردون تتقها میتنیم ** بر زمین آییم و شادروان زنیم
We will deal justice and perform worship and every night we will fly up again to Heaven,
عدل توزیم و عبادت آوریم ** باز هر شب سوی گردون بر پریم
That we may become the wonder of the world, that we may establish safety and security on the earth.”
تا شویم اعجوبهی دور زمان ** تا نهیم اندر زمین امن و امان
The analogy between the state of Heaven and (that of) the earth is inexact: it has a concealed difference.3425
آن قیاس حال گردون بر زمین ** راست ناید فرق دارد در کمین
Explaining that one must keep one's own (spiritual) state and (mystical) intoxication hidden from the ignorant.
در بیان آن که حال خود و مستی خود پنهان باید داشت از جاهلان
Hearken to the words of the Sage (Hakím) who lived in seclusion, “Lay thy head in the same place where thou hast drunk the wine.”
بشنو الفاظ حکیم پردهای ** سر همانجا نه که باده خوردهای
When the drunken man has gone astray from a tavern, he becomes the children's laughing-stock and plaything.
چون که از میخانه مستی ضال شد ** تسخر و بازیچهی اطفال شد
Whatever way he goes, he is falling in the mud, (now) on this side and (now) on that side, and every fool is laughing at him.
میفتد او سو به سو بر هر رهی ** در گل و میخنددش هر ابلهی
He (goes on) like this, while the children at his heels are without knowledge of his intoxication and the taste of his wine.
او چنین و کودکان اندر پیاش ** بیخبر از مستی و ذوق میاش
All mankind are children except him that is intoxicated with God; none is grownup except him that is freed from sensual desire.3430
خلق اطفالاند جز مست خدا ** نیست بالغ جز رهیده از هوا
He (God) said, “This world is a play and pastime, and ye are children”; and God speaks truth.
گفت دنیا لعب و لهو است و شما ** کودکید و راست فرماید خدا
If you have not gone forth from (taken leave of) play, you are a child: without purity of spirit how should he (any one) be fully intelligent?
از لعب بیرون نرفتی کودکی ** بیذکات روح کی باشد ذکی
Know, O youth, that the lust in which men are indulging here (in this world) is like the sexual intercourse of children.
چون جماع طفل دان این شهوتی ** که همیرانند اینجا ای فتی
What is the child's sexual intercourse? An idle play, compared with the sexual intercourse of a Rustam and a brave champion of Islam.
آن جماع طفل چه بود بازیی ** با جماع رستمی و غازیی
The wars of mankind are like children's fights—all meaningless, pithless, and contemptible.3435
جنگ خلقان همچو جنگ کودکان ** جمله بیمعنی و بیمغز و مهان
All their fights are (fought) with wooden swords, all their purposes are (centred) in futility;
جمله با شمشیر چوبین جنگشان ** جمله در لاینفعی آهنگشان
They all are riding on a reed-cane (hobby-horse), saying, “This is our Buráq or mule that goes like Duldul.”
جملهشان گشته سواره بر نیی ** کاین براق ماست یا دلدل پیی
They are (really) carrying (their hobby-horses), but in their folly they have raised themselves on high: they have fancied themselves to be riders and carried along the road.
حاملاند و خود ز جهل افراشته ** راکب و محمول ره پنداشته
Wait till the day when those who are borne aloft by God shall pass, galloping, beyond the nine tiers (of Heaven)!
باش تا روزی که محمولان حق ** اسب تازان بگذرند از نه طبق
“The spirit and the angels shall ascend to Him”: at the ascension of the spirit Heaven shall tremble.3440
تعرج الروح إلیه و الملک ** من عروج الروح یهتز الفلک
Like children, ye all are riding on your skirts: ye have taken hold of the corner of your skirt (to serve) as a horse.