And if you are grasping at (worldly) dignities, ’tis from fear too that you are suffering agony of spirit.3685
ور تو دست اندر مناصب میزنی ** هم ز ترس است آن که جانی میکنی
Except love of the most beauteous God everything, though (outwardly) it is (pleasant like) eating sugar, is (in truth) agony of spirit.
هر چه جز عشق خدای احسن است ** گر شکر خواری است آن جان کندن است
What is agony of spirit? To advance towards death and not grasp the Water of Life.
چیست جان کندن سوی مرگ آمدن ** دست در آب حیاتی نازدن
People fix both their eyes on earth and death: they have a hundred doubts concerning the Water of Life.
خلق را دو دیده در خاک و ممات ** صد گمان دارند در آب حیات
Strive that the hundred doubts may become ninety (may decrease): go (towards God) in the night (of this world), for if you slumber, the night will go (from you).
جهد کن تا صد گمان گردد نود ** شب برو ور تو بخسبی شب رود
In the dark night seek that (shining) Day: put in front (follow) the darkness consuming Reason.3690
در شب تاریک جوی آن روز را ** پیش کن آن عقل ظلمت سوز را
In the evil-coloured night there is much good: the Water of Life is the mate of darkness.
در شب بد رنگ بس نیکی بود ** آب حیوان جفت تاریکی بود
How is it possible to lift up the head from slumber, whilst you are sowing a hundred such seeds of slothfulness?
سر ز خفتن کی توان برداشتن ** با چنین صد تخم غفلت کاشتن
Slumber is dead (unlawful) food is dead; they are friends (to each other): the merchant fell asleep and the night-thief got to work.
خواب مرده لقمهی مرده یار شد ** خواجه خفت و دزد شب بر کار شد
Do you not know who your enemies are? Those made of fire are enemies to the existence of those made of earth.
تو نمیدانی که خصمانت کیاند ** ناریان خصم وجود خاکیاند
Fire is the enemy of water and its children, even as water is an enemy to the life of fire.3695
نار خصم آب و فرزندان اوست ** همچنان که آب خصم جان اوست
Water kills fire because it is the enemy and foe of the children of water.
آب آتش را کشد زیرا که او ** خصم فرزندان آب است و عدو
To proceed, this fire is the fire of lust, wherein is the root of sin and error.
بعد از آن این نار نار شهوت است ** کاندر او اصل گناه و زلت است
The external fire may be quenched by some water, (but) the fire of lust is bringing (you) to Hell.
نار بیرونی به آبی بفسرد ** نار شهوت تا به دوزخ میبرد
The fire of lust is not allayed by water, because it has the (insatiable) nature of Hell in respect of (inflicting) torment.
نار شهوت مینیارامد به آب ** ز انکه دارد طبع دوزخ در عذاب
What is the remedy for the fire of lust? The light of the Religion: your (the Moslems') light is the (means of) extinguishing the fire of the infidels.3700
نار شهوت را چه چاره نور دین ** نورکم اطفاء نار الکافرین
What kills this fire? The Light of God. Make the light of Abraham your teacher,
چه کشد این نار را نور خدا ** نور ابراهیم را ساز اوستا
That this body of yours, which resembles wood (faggots), may be delivered from the fire of the Nimrod-like flesh (nafs).
تا ز نار نفس چون نمرود تو ** وارهد این جسم همچون عود تو
Fiery lust is not diminished by indulging it: it is diminished, without any escape (inevitably), by leaving it (ungratified).
شهوت ناری به راندن کم نشد ** او به ماندن کم شود بیهیچ بد
So long as thou art laying faggots on a fire, how will the fire be extinguished by a carrier of faggots?
تا که هیزم مینهی بر آتشی ** کی بمیرد آتش از هیزم کشی
When thou withholdest the faggots, the fire dies out, because fear of God carries (as it were) water to the fire.3705
چون که هیزم باز گیری نار مرد ** ز انکه تقوی آب سوی نار برد
How should the fire blacken the beauteous face (of a soul) which lays (on itself) rose colour (derived) from the fear of God that is in (men's) hearts?
کی سیه گردد ز آتش روی خوب ** کاو نهد گلگونه از تقوی القلوب
How a conflagration occurred in the city (Medina) in the days of ‘Umar, may God be well-pleased with him.
آتش افتادن در شهر به ایام عمر
A conflagration occurred in the time of ‘Umar: it was devouring stones as though they were dry wood.
آتشی افتاد در عهد عمر ** همچو چوب خشک میخورد او حجر
It fell upon buildings and houses, until (at last) it darted at the wings and nests of birds.
در فتاد اندر بنا و خانهها ** تا زد اندر پر مرغ و لانهها
Half the city caught fire from the flames: water was afraid of it (the fire) and amazed.
نیم شهر از شعلهها آتش گرفت ** آب میترسید از آن و میشگفت