- How oft, how oft, have we spoken gently to our stony hearts, and they would not accept the counsel!
- آن دل چون سنگ را ما چند چند ** نرم گفتیم و نمیپذرفت پند
- For a bad wound the vein gets (requires) a bad (severe) remedy: the teeth of the dog are suitable for the donkey's head.
- ریش بد را داروی بد یافت رگ ** مر سر خر را سزد دندان سگ
- The wicked women to the wicked men is wisdom: the ugly is the mate and fitting (consort) for the ugly.
- الخبیثات الخبیثین حکمت است ** زشت را هم زشت جفت و بابت است
- Whatever, then, you wish to mate with, go, become absorbed by it, and assume its shape and qualities. 3605
- پس تو هر جفتی که میخواهی برو ** محو و هم شکل و صفات او بشو
- If you wish for the light, make yourself ready to receive the light; if you wish to be far (from God), become self-conceited and far;
- نور خواهی مستعد نور شو ** دور خواهی خویش بین و دور شو
- And if you wish (to find) a way out of this ruined prison, do not turn your head away from the Beloved, but bow in worship and draw nigh.
- ور رهی خواهی ازین سجن خرب ** سر مکش از دوست و اسجد و اقترب
- The remainder of the story of Zayd (and what he said) in answer to the Prophet, on whom be peace.
- بقیهی قصهی زید در جواب رسول علیه السلام
- This discourse hath no end. “Arise, O Zayd, and tie a shackle on the Buráq (steed) of thy rational spirit.
- این سخن پایان ندارد خیز زید ** بر براق ناطقه بر بند قید
- Since the rational spirit exposes faults, it is rending the curtains of concealment.
- ناطقه چون فاضح آمد عیب را ** میدراند پردههای غیب را
- Concealment is desired by God for awhile. Drive away this drummer, bar the road! 3610
- غیب مطلوب حق آمد چند گاه ** این دهلزن را بران بر بند راه
- Do not gallop, draw rein, ’tis better it (thy spirit) should be veiled; ’tis better that every one should be gladdened by his own fancy.
- تک مران در کش عنان مستور به ** هر کس از پندار خود مسرور به
- God is wishing that even His despairing ones should not avert their faces (refrain) from this worship (of Him).
- حق همیخواهد که نومیدان او ** زین عبادت هم نگردانند رو
- Even on the ground of a hope they become ennobled: for a few days (a short time) they are running at its stirrup (following Divine worship).
- هم به اومیدی مشرف میشوند ** چند روزی در رکابش میدوند
- He wishes that that mercy should shine upon all, on the evil and the good, because of the universality of His mercy.
- خواهد آن رحمت بتابد بر همه ** بر بد و نیک از عموم مرحمه
- God is wishing that every prince and captive should be hopeful and fearful and afraid. 3615
- حق همیخواهد که هر میر و اسیر ** با رجا و خوف باشند و حذیر
- This hope and fear are in the veil (separating the seen from the unseen), that they may be fostered behind this veil.
- این رجا و خوف در پرده بود ** تا پس این پرده پرورده شود
- When thou hast rent the veil, where are fear and hope? The might and majesty belonging to the Unseen are divulged.
- چون دریدی پرده کو خوف و رجا ** غیب را شد کر و فری بر ملا
- A young man on the bank of a river thought (to himself), “Our fisherman (here) is Solomon.
- بر لب جو برد ظنی یک فتا ** که سلیمان است ماهیگیر ما
- (But) if this is he, why is he alone and disguised? And if not, why has he the aspect of Solomon?”
- گر وی است این از چه فرد است و خفی است ** ور نه سیمای سلیمانیش چیست
- Thus thinking, he remained in two minds until Solomon (once more) became king and absolute ruler. 3620
- اندر این اندیشه میبود او دو دل ** تا سلیمان گشت شاه و مستقل
- The demon departed and fled from his (Solomon's) kingdom and throne: the sword of his fortune shed that devil's blood.
- دیو رفت از ملک و تخت او گریخت ** تیغ بختش خون آن شیطان بریخت
- He put the ring upon his finger, the hosts of demons and peris assembled.
- کرد در انگشت خود انگشتری ** جمع آمد لشکر دیو و پری
- The men came to look, amongst them he who had the fancy (that the fisherman was Solomon in disguise).
- آمدند از بهر نظاره رجال ** در میانشان آن که بد صاحب خیال
- When he saw the ring on his finger, his perplexity and doubt vanished all at once.
- چون در انگشتش بدید انگشتری ** رفت اندیشه و تحری یک سری
- Imagination occurs (only) at the time when that (object of desire) is hidden: this searching is after the unseen. 3625
- وهم آن گاه است کان پوشیده است ** این تحری از پی نادیده است
- Whilst he was absent, fancy waxed strong in his breast: as soon as he was present, his fancy departed.
- شد خیال غایب اندر سینه زفت ** چون که حاضر شد خیال او برفت