When the promised hour arrived and day broke and the sun, (rising) from the east, began to burn the stars,
چون رسید آن وعدهگاه و روز شد ** آفتاب از شرق، اختر سوز شد
The king was in the belvedere, expecting to see that which had been shown mysteriously.
بود اندر منظره شه منتظر ** تا ببیند آن چه بنمودند سر
He saw a person excellent and worshipful, a sun amidst a shadow,
دید شخصی فاضلی پر مایهای ** آفتابی در میان سایهای
Coming from afar, like the new moon (in slenderness and radiance): he was nonexistent, though existent in the form of phantasy.
میرسید از دور مانند هلال ** نیست بود و هست بر شکل خیال
In the spirit phantasy is as naught, (yet) behold a world (turning) on a phantasy!70
نیست وش باشد خیال اندر روان ** تو جهانی بر خیالی بین روان
Their peace and their war (turn) on a phantasy, and their pride and their shame spring from a phantasy;
بر خیالی صلحشان و جنگشان ** وز خیالی فخرشان و ننگشان
(But) those phantasies which ensnare the saints are the reflexion of the fair ones of the garden of God.
آن خیالاتی که دام اولیاست ** عکس مه رویان بستان خداست
In the countenance of the stranger-guest was appearing that phantasy which the king beheld in his dream.
آن خیالی که شه اندر خواب دید ** در رخ مهمان همیآمد پدید
The king himself, instead of the chamberlains, went forward to meet his guest from the Invisible.
شه به جای حاجبان واپیش رفت ** پیش آن مهمان غیب خویش رفت
Both were seamen who had learned to swim, the souls of both were knit together without sewing.75
هر دو بحری آشنا آموخته ** هر دو جان بیدوختن بر دوخته
The king said, “Thou wert my Beloved (in reality), not she; but in this world deed issues from deed.
گفت معشوقم تو بوده ستی نه آن ** لیک کار از کار خیزد در جهان
O thou who art to me (as) Mustafá (Mohammed), while I am like unto ‘Umar—I will gird my loins to do thee service.”
ای مرا تو مصطفی من چون عمر ** از برای خدمتت بندم کمر
Beseeching the Lord, who is our Helper, to help us to observe self-control in all circumstances, and explaining the harmful and pernicious consequences of indiscipline.
از خداوند ولی التوفیق در خواستن توفیق رعایت ادب در همه حالها و بیان کردن وخامت ضررهای بیادبی
Let us implore God to help us to self-control: one who lacks self-control is deprived of the grace of the Lord.
از خدا جوییم توفیق ادب ** بیادب محروم گشت از لطف رب
The undisciplined man does not maltreat himself alone, but he sets the whole world on fire.
بیادب تنها نه خود را داشت بد ** بلکه آتش در همه آفاق زد
A table (of food) was coming down from heaven without buying and selling and without speaking and hearing,80
مایده از آسمان در میرسید ** بیشری و بیع و بیگفت و شنید
(When) some of the people of Moses cried disrespectfully, “Where is garlic and lentils?”
در میان قوم موسی چند کس ** بیادب گفتند کو سیر و عدس
(Straightway) the dishes (of food) and the bread from heaven were cut off: there remained for us the toil of sowing and (labouring with) mattock and scythe.
منقطع شد خوان و نان از آسمان ** ماند رنج زرع و بیل و داسمان
Again, when Jesus made intercession, God sent food and bounty (from heaven) on trays,
باز عیسی چون شفاعت کرد، حق ** خوان فرستاد و غنیمت بر طبق
But once more the insolent fellows omitted to show respect and, like beggars, snatched away the viands.
باز گستاخان ادب بگذاشتند ** چون گدایان زلهها برداشتند
(Although) Jesus entreated them, saying, “This is lasting and will not fail from off the earth.”85
لابه کرده عیسی ایشان را که این ** دایم است و کم نگردد از زمین
To show suspicion and greed at the table of Majesty is ingratitude.
بد گمانی کردن و حرص آوری ** کفر باشد پیش خوان مهتری
Because of those impudent wretches who were blinded by greed, that gate of mercy was closed upon them.
ز ان گدا رویان نادیده ز آز ** آن در رحمت بر ایشان شد فراز
On account of withholding the poor-tax no rain-clouds arise, and in consequence of fornication the plague spreads in all directions.
ابر برناید پی منع زکات ** وز زنا افتد وبا اندر جهات
Whatever befalls thee of gloom and sorrow is the result of irreverence and insolence withal.
هر چه بر تو آید از ظلمات و غم ** آن ز بیباکی و گستاخی است هم
Any one behaving with irreverence in the path of the Friend is a brigand who robs men, and he is no man.90
هر که بیباکی کند در راه دوست ** ره زن مردان شد و نامرد اوست