- 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
- شب ز زندان بیخبر زندانیان ** شب ز دولت بیخبر سلطانیان
- There is no sorrow, no thought of gain or loss, no fancy of this person or that person.
- نه غم و اندیشهی سود و زیان ** نه خیال این فلان و آن فلان
- This is the state of the ‘árif (gnostic), even without sleep: God said, (Thou wouldst deem them awake) whilst they slept. Shy not at this.
- حال عارف این بود بیخواب هم ** گفت ایزد هم رقود زین مرم
- He is asleep, day and night, to the affairs of the world, like a pen in the hand of the Lord's control.
- خفته از احوال دنیا روز و شب ** چون قلم در پنجهی تقلیب رب
- One who sees not the hand in the writing thinks (that) the act (of writing proceeds) from the pen by means of movement.
- آن که او پنجه نبیند در رقم ** فعل پندارد به جنبش از قلم
- He (God) hath shown forth some part of this state of the ‘árif, (inasmuch as) the intellect too is carried off (overtaken) by sleep of the senses. 395
- شمهای زین حال عارف وانمود ** خلق را هم خواب حسی در ربود
- Their souls are gone into the desert that is without description: their spirits and bodies are at rest;
- رفته در صحرای بیچون جانشان ** روحشان آسوده و ابدانشان
- And with a whistle thou leadest them back to the snare, leadest them all (back) to justice and to the judge.
- وز صفیری باز دام اندر کشی ** جمله را در داد و در داور کشی
- Like Isráfíl (Seraphiel), He (God) who causes the dawn to break brings them all from those lands (of spirit) into (the world of) form.
- فالق الإصباح اسرافیلوار ** جمله را در صورت آرد ز ان دیار
- He embodies the spirits divested (of body), He makes each body pregnant (laden) again (with actions and works).
- روحهای منبسط را تن کند ** هر تنی را باز آبستن کند
- He makes the steed of the souls bare of saddle: this is the inner meaning of “Sleep is the brother of Death”; 400
- اسب جانها را کند عاری ز زین ** سر النوم اخ الموت است این
- But in order that they may return in the daytime, He puts a long tether on their leg,
- لیک بهر آن که روز آیند باز ** بر نهد بر پایشان بند دراز
- So that in the daytime He may lead it back from that meadow and bring it from the pasture (to go) under the load.
- تا که روزش واکشد ز ان مرغزار ** وز چراگاه آردش در زیر بار
- Would that He had guarded this spirit as the Men of the Cave or as the Ark of Noah,
- کاش چون اصحاب کهف این روح را ** حفظ کردی یا چو کشتی نوح را
- That this mind and eye and ear might be delivered from the Flood of wakefulness and consciousness!
- تا از این طوفان بیداری و هوش ** وارهیدی این ضمیر چشم و گوش
- Oh, in the world there is many a Man of the Cave beside you, before you, at this time: 405
- ای بسی اصحاب کهف اندر جهان ** پهلوی تو پیش تو هست این زمان
- The Friend is with him, the Cave is in converse with him; but your eyes and ears are sealed, (so) what does it avail?
- غار با او یار با او در سرود ** مهر بر چشم است و بر گوشت چه سود
- Story of the Caliph's seeing Laylá.
- قصهی دیدن خلیفه لیلی را
- The Caliph said to Laylá: “Art thou she by whom Majnún was distracted and led astray?
- گفت لیلی را خلیفه کان توی ** کز تو مجنون شد پریشان و غوی