They were not seeking from him excellence of piety; they were inquiring where lay the outward defect.
فضل طاعت را نجستندی از او ** عیب ظاهر را بجستندی که کو
Hair by hair, speck by speck, they were recognising the deceitfulness of the fleshly soul as (plainly as the difference of) the rose from parsley.
مو به مو و ذره ذره مکر نفس ** میشناسیدند چون گل از کرفس
Even the hair-splitters (the most scrupulous) of the Companions used to become distraught in spirit at the (Prophet's) admonition to them (the inquirers).370
موشکافان صحابه هم در آن ** وعظ ایشان خیره گشتندی به جان
How the Christians followed the vizier.
متابعت نصارا وزیر را
The Christians all gave their hearts to him: what (how great), indeed, is the strength of the (blind) conformity of the vulgar!
دل بدو دادند ترسایان تمام ** خود چه باشد قوت تقلید عام
They planted love of him within their breasts, they were regarding him as the vicar of Jesus.
در درون سینه مهرش کاشتند ** نایب عیساش میپنداشتند
He inwardly (in reality) was the accursed one-eyed Antichrist. O God, do Thou (hear and) answer the cry (of those in trouble) —what a good helper art Thou!
او به سر دجال یک چشم لعین ** ای خدا فریادرس نعم المعین
O God, there are myriads of snares and baits, and we are as greedy foodless birds.
صد هزاران دام و دانه ست ای خدا ** ما چو مرغان حریص بینوا
From moment to moment we are caught in a fresh snare, though we become, each one, (like) a falcon or a Símurgh.375
دمبهدم ما بستهی دام نویم ** هر یکی گر باز و سیمرغی شویم
Every moment Thou art delivering us, and again we are going to a snare, O Thou who art without want!
میرهانی هر دمی ما را و باز ** سوی دامی میرویم ای بینیاز
We are putting corn in this barn, (and then) we are losing the corn that has been garnered.
ما در این انبار گندم میکنیم ** گندم جمع آمده گم میکنیم
(Why), after all, do not we consider with intelligent mind that this damage to the corn arises from the deceitfulness of the mouse?
مینیندیشیم آخر ما به هوش ** کین خلل در گندم است از مکر موش
Since the mouse has made a hole in our barn, and our barn has been ravaged by its guile,
موش تا انبار ما حفره زده ست ** وز فنش انبار ما ویران شده ست
O soul, in the first place avert the mischief of the mouse, and then show fervour (zeal) in garnering the corn.380
اول ای جان دفع شر موش کن ** وانگهان در جمع گندم جوش کن
Hear (one) of the sayings related from the Chiefest of the Chief (the Prophet): “No prayer is complete without ‘presence’ (concentration of the mind on God).”
بشنو از اخبار آن صدر الصدور ** لا صلاة تم الا بالحضور
If there is no thievish mouse in our barn, where is the corn of forty years' works (of devotion)?
گر نه موشی دزد در انبار ماست ** گندم اعمال چل ساله کجاست
Why is the daily sincerity (of our devotions) not being stored, bit by bit, in this barn of ours?
ریزه ریزه صدق هر روزه چرا ** جمع میناید در این انبار ما
Many a star (spark) of fire shot forth from the iron (of good works), and that burning heart received (it) and drew (it) in;
بس ستارهی آتش از آهن جهید ** و ان دل سوزیده پذرفت و کشید
But in the darkness a hidden thief is laying his finger upon the stars,385
لیک در ظلمت یکی دزدی نهان ** مینهد انگشت بر استارگان
Extinguishing the stars one by one, that no lamp may shine from the (spiritual) sky.
میکشد استارگان را یک به یک ** تا که نفروزد چراغی از فلک
Though there be thousands of snares at our feet, when Thou art with us there is not any trouble.
گر هزاران دام باشد در قدم ** چون تو با مایی نباشد هیچ غم
Every night Thou freest the spirits from the body's snare, and dost erase (the impressions on) the tablets (of the mind).
هر شبی از دام تن ارواح را ** میرهانی میکنی الواح را
The spirits are set free every night from this cage, independent, neither ruling nor ruled by anyone.
میرهند ارواح هر شب زین قفس ** فارغان، نه حاکم و محکوم کس
At night prisoners are unconscious of their prison, at night governors are unconscious of their power.390