He said, “Sickness has given me this good fortune, that this Sultan has come to my side at morn,
گفت بیماری مرا این بخت داد ** کامد این سلطان بر من بامداد
So that health and well-being have accrued to me from the arrival of this King who is without retinue.2255
تا مرا صحت رسید و عاقبت ** از قدوم این شه بیحاشیت
O happy pain and sickness and fever! O blessed anguish and wakefulness in the night!
ای خجسته رنج و بیماری و تب ** ای مبارک درد و بیداری شب
Lo, in (my) old age God of His grace and bounty hath bestowed on me such a sickness and malady!
نک مرا در پیری از لطف و کرم ** حق چنین رنجوریی داد و سقم
He too hath given me pain in the back, so that every midnight I cannot help springing up quickly from sleep.
درد پشتم داد هم تا من ز خواب ** بر جهم هر نیم شب لا بد شتاب
In order that I may not slumber all night like a buffalo, God of His grace hath given me pains.
تا نخسبم جمله شب چون گاومیش ** دردها بخشید حق از لطف خویش
Through this infirmity the mercy of Kings has been aroused, and Hell’s threatening of me has been silenced.”2260
زین شکست آن رحم شاهان جوش کرد ** دوزخ از تهدید من خاموش کرد
Pain is a treasure, for there are mercies in it: the kernel becomes fresh when you scrape off the rind.
رنج گنج آمد که رحمتها در اوست ** مغز تازه شد چو بخراشید پوست
O brother, (to dwell in) a dark and cold place, to endure patiently sorrow and weakness and pain,
ای برادر موضع تاریک و سرد ** صبر کردن بر غم و سستی و درد
Is the Fountain of Life and the cup of (spiritual) intoxication, for those heights are all in lowliness.
چشمهی حیوان و جام مستی است ** کان بلندیها همه در پستی است
That Spring is implied in autumn, and that autumn is (fulfilled) in the Spring: do not flee from it.
آن بهاران مضمر است اندر خزان ** در بهار است آن خزان مگریز از آن
Be a fellow-traveller with grief, agree with desolation, seek long (lasting) life in thy death (to self).2265
همره غم باش و با وحشت بساز ** میطلب در مرگ خود عمر دراز
Do not listen to what thy fleshly soul says, that this place (of self-mortification) is bad, inasmuch as her doings are contrary (to thy spiritual advancement).
آن چه گوید نفس تو کاینجا بد است ** مشنوش چون کار او ضد آمده ست
Do thou oppose her, for such (is the) injunction (that) has come from the prophets in the world.
تو خلافش کن که از پیغمبران ** این چنین آمد وصیت در جهان
It becomes necessary to take counsel concerning things to be done, so that there may not be repentance in the end.
مشورت در کارها واجب شود ** تا پشیمانی در آخر کم بود
The community said, “With whom shall we take counsel?” The prophets answered, “With intellect, (which is) the Imám (leader).”
گفت امت مشورت با کی کنیم ** انبیا گفتند با عقل امیم
He (the questioner) said, “(But) if a child should come in, or a woman who has no clear understanding or judgement.”2270
گفت گر کودک در آید یا زنی ** کاو ندارد عقل و رای روشنی
“Take counsel with her,” said he (the prophet), “and do the contrary of what she bids (thee), and go thy way.”
گفت با او مشورت کن و انچه گفت ** تو خلاف آن کن و در راه افت
Know that your fleshly soul is woman and worse than woman, because woman is a part (of evil), but your fleshly soul is evil entire.
نفس خود را زن شناس از زن بتر ** ز انکه زن جزوی است نفست کل شر
If you take counsel with your fleshly soul, oppose that vile one (in) whatsoever she may say.
مشورت با نفس خود گر میکنی ** هر چه گوید کن خلاف آن دنی
If she bid you pray and fast-the fleshly soul is a great plotter, she will bring some plot against you to birth.
گر نماز و روزه میفرمایدت ** نفس مکار است مکری زایدت
(When you take) counsel with your fleshly soul concerning (your) actions––whatsoever she tells (you to do), the reverse of that is perfectly right.2275
مشورت با نفس خویش اندر فعال ** هر چه گوید عکس آن باشد کمال
(If) you cannot cope with her and her contumacy, go to a friend and mix with him.
بر نیایی با وی و استیز او ** رو بر یاری بگیر آمیز او
Mind gains strength from another mind: the sugar-cane is made perfect by the sugar-cane.
عقل قوت گیرد از عقل دگر ** نی شکر کامل شود از نیشکر
I have seen (wondrous) things (arising) from the deceitfulness of the fleshly soul, for by her magic she takes away the faculties of discernment.
من ز مکر نفس دیدم چیزها ** کاو برد از سحر خود تمییزها