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
What is the (cause of the) part’s keeping aloof from its whole? What is (the cause of) all this mixture with (that which is) diverse?
جزو را از کل خود پرهیز چیست ** با مخالف این همه آمیز چیست
Behold how the genus hath become species in the process (of differentiation): behold how the unseen things have become visible in (their) escape (from occultation).
جنس را بین نوع گشته در روش ** غیبها بین گشته عین از پرتوش
So long as thou wouldst fain be wheedled like a woman, O man without wisdom, (thou wilt remain imperfect): how wilt thou be helped by lies and wheedling?
تا چون زن عشوه خری ای بیخرد ** از دروغ و عشوه کی یابی مدد
Thou art taking flattery and sweet words and cajolement and putting them, like a woman, in thy bosom.
چاپلوس و لفظ شیرین و فریب ** میستانی مینهی چون زر به جیب
For thee the revilings and blows of the (spiritual) kings would be better than the praise of the unrighteous.2585
مر ترا دشنام و سیلی شهان ** بهتر آید از ثنای گمرهان
Swallow the slaps of the (spiritual) kings, do not swallow the honey of the rabble, to the end that through the fortune of (those) personages thou mayst (thyself) become a personage;
صفع شاهان خور مخور شهد خسان ** تا کسی گردی ز اقبال کسان
Because from them come felicity and robes of honour and felicity: under the shelter of the spirit, body becomes soul.
ز آنک از ایشان خلعت و دولت رسد ** در پناه روح جان گردد جسد
Wherever thou seest one (that is) naked and destitute, know that he hath fled from the (spiritual) master,
هر کجا بینی برهنه و بینوا ** دان که او بگریخته ست از اوستا
In order that he may become such as his heart desires––that blind, wicked, worthless heart of him.
تا چنان گردد که میخواهد دلش ** آن دل کور بد بیحاصلش
If he had become such as his master desired, he would have graced himself and his kindred.2590
گر چنان گشتی که استا خواستی ** خویش را و خویش را آراستی
Whoever in the world flees from his master is fleeing from felicity. Know this (for sure)!
هر که از استا گریزد در جهان ** او ز دولت میگریزد این بدان
Thou hast learned a trade to earn a livelihood for the body: (now) set thy hand to a religious (spiritual) trade.
In this world thou hast become clothed and rich: when thou comest forth from here, how wilt thou do?
در جهان پوشیده گشتی و غنی ** چون برون آیی از اینجا چون کنی
Learn such a trade that hereafter the earning of God’s forgiveness may come in as revenue (to thee).
پیشهای آموز کاندر آخرت ** اندر آید دخل کسب مغفرت
Yonder world is a city full of trafficking and earning: think not that the earnings here (in this world) are a sufficiency.2595
آن جهان شهری است پر بازار و کسب ** تا نپنداری که کسب اینجاست حسب
The high God hath said that beside those (the next world’s) earnings these earnings in the (present) world are (but) children’s play––
حق تعالی گفت کاین کسب جهان ** پیش آن کسب است لعب کودکان
As a child that embraces another child modo coitum facientis contactum facit; [As a child that embraces another child touches (the other) like an (adult) copulater.]
همچو آن طفلی که بر طفلی تند ** شکل صحبت کن مساسی میکند
(Or as) children at play set up a shop, (but) it is of no use (to them) except as a pastime.
کودکان سازند در بازی دکان ** سود نبود جز که تعبیر زبان