Rumi's Masnavi - Lo, here is Paradise and the Court of safety: where, then, was that vile place of passage? ”

Lo, here is Paradise and the Court of safety: where, then, was that vile place of passage? ”

نک بهشت و بارگاه ایمنی ** پس کجا بود آن گذرگاه دنی‏

Then the angel will say, “The garden of greenery which ye saw in a certain spot as ye passed––

پس ملک گوید که آن روضه‏ی خضر ** که فلان جا دیده‏اید اندر گذر

That was Hell and the terrible place of chastisement, (but) unto you it became gardens and pleasaunces and trees.

دوزخ آن بود و سیاستگاه سخت ** بر شما شد باغ و بستان و درخت‏

Inasmuch as with this soul of hellish nature, (this) miscreant fiery one that seeks (to lead you into) temptation,

چون شما این نفس دوزخ خوی را ** آتشی گبر فتنه جوی را

Ye have striven (oft), and it hath become full of purity, and ye have quenched the fire (thereof) for God’s sake; 2560

جهدها کردید و او شد پر صفا ** نار را کشتید از بهر خدا

(Inasmuch as) the fire of lust, which was flaming, hath become the verdure of piety and the light of guidance (unto the true faith);

آتش شهوت که شعله می‏زدی ** سبزه‏ی تقوی شد و نور هدی‏

(Inasmuch as) at once the fire of anger in you hath turned to forbearance, and the darkness of ignorance in you hath turned to knowledge;

آتش خشم از شما هم حلم شد ** ظلمت جهل از شما هم علم شد

(Inasmuch as) the fire of greed in you hath turned to unselfishness, and that envy (which) was like thorns hath turned to roses;

آتش حرص از شما ایثار شد ** و آن حسد چون خار بد گلزار شد

Inasmuch as ye formerly extinguished all these fires of your own for God’s sake;

چون شما این جمله آتشهای خویش ** بهر حق کشتید جمله پیش پیش‏

And made the fiery soul like an orchard and cast in it the seed of fealty, 2565

نفس ناری را چو باغی ساختید ** اندر او تخم وفا انداختید

(Whilst) therein the nightingales of commemoration and glorification of God (were) singing sweetly in the garden by the river-side;

بلبلان ذکر و تسبیح اندر او ** خوش سرایان در چمن بر طرف جو

(Inasmuch as) ye have answered the call of God and have brought water into the blazing hell of your soul––

داعی حق را اجابت کرده‏اید ** در جحیم نفس آب آورده‏اید

Our Hell also in regard to you hath become greenery and roses and plenty and riches.”

دوزخ ما نیز در حق شما ** سبزه گشت و گلشن و برگ و نوا

What is the requital for well-doing, O son? Kindness and well-doing and valued recompense.

چیست احسان را مکافات ای پسر ** لطف و احسان و ثواب معتبر

“Did not ye say, ‘We are devoted (to God) - we are passing away before the attributes of Everlastingness? 2570

نی شما گفتید ما قربانی‏ایم ** پیش اوصاف بقا ما فانی‏ایم‏

We, whether we be cunning (sane) or mad, are intoxicated with that Cupbearer and that cup.

ما اگر قلاش و گر دیوانه‏ایم ** مست آن ساقی و آن پیمانه‏ایم‏

We lay our heads (submissively) upon His writ and mandate; we give our sweet lives in pawn (to Him).

بر خط و فرمان او سر می‏نهیم ** جان شیرین را گروگان می‏دهیم‏

So long as the thought of the Friend is in our inmost hearts, (all) our work is to serve (Him) and yield up our lives.’”

تا خیال دوست در اسرار ماست ** چاکری و جان سپاری کار ماست‏

Wheresoever the candle of tribulation hath been lighted, hundreds of thousands of loving souls are burnt.

هر کجا شمع بلا افروختند ** صد هزاران جان عاشق سوختند

Those lovers that are within the house (and nigh unto Him) are (as) moths to the candle of the face of the Friend. 2575

عاشقانی کز درون خانه‏اند ** شمع روی یار را پروانه‏اند

O heart, go where they are bright toward thee and are as a coat of mail to thee against afflictions,

ای دل آن جا رو که با تو روشن‏اند ** وز بلاها مر ترا چون جوشن‏اند

And give thee a place within their souls, that they may fill thee with wine, like a cup.

ز آن میان جان ترا جا می‏کنند ** تا ترا پر باده چون جامی کنند

Take thy abode within their souls: O radiant full-moon, make thy home in the sky!

در میان جان ایشان خانه گیر ** در فلک خانه کن ای بدر منیر

Like Mercury, they will open the book of the heart, that they may reveal mysteries unto thee.

چون عطارد دفتر دل واکنند ** تا که بر تو سرها پیدا کنند

Stay beside thy kinsfolk––how art thou roaming abroad? Cleave to the perfect Moon if thou art a piece of the moon. 2580

پیش خویشان باش چون آواره‏ای ** بر مه کامل زن ار مه پاره‏ای‏