On the bank of the stream there was a high wall, and on the top of the wall a sorrowful thirsty man.
بر لب جو بود دیواری بلند ** بر سر دیوار تشنهی دردمند
The wall hindered him from (reaching) the water; he was in distress for the water, like a fish.
مانعش از آب آن دیوار بود ** از پی آب او چو ماهی زار بود
Suddenly he threw a brick into the water: the noise of the water came to his ear like spoken words,
ناگهان انداخت او خشتی در آب ** بانگ آب آمد به گوشش چون خطاب
Like words spoken by a sweet and delicious friend: the noise of the water made him drunken as (though it were) wine.1195
چون خطاب یار شیرین لذیذ ** مست کرد آن بانگ آبش چون نبیذ
From the pleasure of (hearing) the noise of the water, that sorely tried man began to hurl and tear off bricks from that place.
از صفای بانگ آب آن ممتحن ** گشت خشت انداز ز آن جا خشتکن
The water was making a noise, that is to say, (it was crying), “Hey, what is the advantage to you of this hurling a brick at me?”
آب میزد بانگ یعنی هی ترا ** فایده چه زین زدن خشتی مرا
The thirsty man said, “O water, I have two advantages: I will nowise refrain from this work.
تشنه گفت آیا مرا دو فایده است ** من از این صنعت ندارم هیچ دست
The first advantage is (my) hearing the noise of the water, which to thirsty men is (melodious) as a rebeck.
فایدهی اول سماع بانگ آب ** کاو بود مر تشنگان را چون رباب
The noise thereof has become (to me) like the noise of (the trumpet of) Isráfíl: by this (noise) life has been transferred (restored) to one (that was) dead;1200
بانگ او چون بانگ اسرافیل شد ** مرده را زین زندگی تحویل شد
Or (it is) like the noise of thunder in days of spring—from it (the thunder) the garden obtains so many (lovely) ornaments;
یا چو بانگ رعد ایام بهار ** باغ مییابد از او چندین نگار
Or like the days of alms to a poor man, or like the message of deliverance to a prisoner.
یا چو بر درویش ایام زکات ** یا چو بر محبوس پیغام نجات
’Tis like the breath of the Merciful (God) which, without mouth, comes to Mohammed from Yemen;
چون دم رحمان بود کان از یمن ** میرسد سوی محمد بیدهن
Or ’tis like the scent of Ahmad (Mohammed), the Apostle (of God), which in intercession comes to the sinner;
یا چو بوی احمد مرسل بود ** کان به عاصی در شفاعت میرسد
Or like the scent of beauteous, graceful Joseph, (which) strikes upon the soul of lean Jacob.1205
یا چو بوی یوسف خوب لطیف ** میزند بر جان یعقوب نحیف
The other advantage is that, (with) every brick I tear off this (wall), I come (nearer) to running water,
فایدهی دیگر که هر خشتی کز این ** بر کنم آیم سوی ماء معین
Since by diminution of the bricks the high wall becomes lower every time that one is removed.
کز کمی خشت دیوار بلند ** پستتر گردد به هر دفعه که کند
The lowness (destruction) of the wall becomes a means of access (to the water); separation from it is the remedy bringing about a union (with the water).”
پستی دیوار قربی میشود ** فصل او درمان وصلی میبود
The tearing away of the adhesive (firmly joined) bricks is (analogous to) prostration (in prayer): (it is) the cause of nearness (to God), for (God has said), ‘And prostrate thyself and draw near (to Me).’
سجده آمد کندن خشت لزب ** موجب قربی که و اسجد و اقترب
So long as this wall is high-necked (lofty and proud), it is an obstacle to this bowing of the head (in prayer).1210
تا که این دیوار عالی گردن است ** مانع این سر فرود آوردن است
’Tis impossible to perform the prostration on the Water of Life, until I gain deliverance from this earthly body.
سجده نتوان کرد بر آب حیات ** تا نیابم زین تن خاکی نجات
The more thirsty any one on the top of the wall is, the more quickly does he tear off the bricks and turfs.
بر سر دیوار هر کاو تشنهتر ** زودتر بر میکند خشت و مدر
The more any one is in love with the noise of the water, the bigger clods does he tear away from the barrier.
هر که عاشق تر بود بر بانگ آب ** او کلوخ زفت تر کند از حجاب
He, at the noise of the water, is filled with wine (ecstasy) up to the neck, (while) the stranger (to love) hears nothing but the sound of the splash.
او ز بانگ آب پر می تا عنق ** نشنود بیگانه جز بانگ بلق
Oh, blest is he that deems his early days an opportunity to be seized, and pays his debt—1215
ای خنک آن را که او ایام پیش ** مغتنم دارد گزارد وام خویش
In the days when he has the power, (when) he has health and strength of heart and vigour,
اندر آن ایام کش قدرت بود ** صحت و زور دل و قوت بود