Children weep piteously at cupping, for they know not the secret of the matter;
از حجامت کودکان گریند زار ** که نمیدانند ایشان سر کار
(But) a man, in sooth, gives the cupper gold and fondles the blood-drinking lancet.
مرد خود زر میدهد حجام را ** مینوازد نیش خون آشام را
The porter runs to the heavy load: he snatches the load from others.
میدود حمال زی بار گران ** میرباید بار را از دیگران
Behold the struggle of the porters for the load! Such is the endeavour of him that sees (the truth of) things,1835
جنگ حمالان برای بار بین ** این چنین است اجتهاد کار بین
Inasmuch as burdens are the foundation of ease, and bitter things, too, are the forerunners of enjoyment.
چون گرانیها اساس راحت است ** تلخها هم پیشوای نعمت است
Paradise is compassed about with the things we dislike (to do); the fires (of Hell) are compassed about with our lusts.
حفت الجنة بمکروهاتنا ** حفت النیران من شهواتنا
The seed (source) of the substance of your fire (of torment) is the fresh bough (of lust); (but) he that is burned by the fire (of renunciation) is the comrade of Kawthar.
تخم مایهی آتشت شاخ تر است ** سوختهی آتش قرین کوثر است
Whosoever is the comrade of affliction in prison—that is the retribution for a mouthful (of unlawful food) and a lust.
هر که در زندان قرین محنتی است ** آن جزای لقمهای و شهوتی است
Whosoever is the comrade of a high fortune in a palace— that is the reward for some battle-field and sore trial.1840
هر که در قصری قرین دولتی است ** آن جزای کارزار و محنتی است
Whomsoever you have seen unrivalled in (his store of) gold and silver—know that he has been patient in earning.
هر که را دیدی به زر و سیم فرد ** دان که اندر کسب کردن صبر کرد
When the (spiritual) eye has become piercing, he (the owner) sees without causes. You who are in (the bondage of) sense-perception, pay you heed to causes!
بیسبب بیند چو دیده شد گذار ** تو که در حسی سبب را گوش دار
He whose spirit is beyond (the world of) natural properties— to him belongs the position of power to rive (the chain of) causes.
آن که بیرون از طبایع جان اوست ** منصب خرق سببها آن اوست
The (spiritual) eye regards the fountain of the miracles of the prophets as (being) without cause, not as (arising) from water and herbage.
بیسبب بیند نه از آب و گیا ** چشم چشمهی معجزات انبیا
These causes are (linked together) like the physician and the sick: these causes are like the lamp and the wick.1845
این سبب همچون طبیب است و علیل ** این سبب همچون چراغ است و فتیل
Twist a new wick for your night-lamp, (but) know that the lamp of the sun transcends these things.