I did an evil deed and am still repenting: I am waiting that my night may turn to day.
من بدی کردم پشیمانم هنوز ** انتظارم تا شبم آید به روز
I have become suspect amongst mankind: every man and woman lay their (evil) actions on me (at my door).
متهم گشتم میان خلق من ** فعل خود بر من نهد هر مرد و زن
The helpless wolf, though he is hungry, is suspected of being in luxury.
گرگ بیچاره اگر چه گرسنه است ** متهم باشد که او در طنطنه است
When, because of feebleness, he cannot go his way, people say it is indigestion (arising) from gross (rich and heavy) food.”
از ضعیفی چون نتاند راه رفت ** خلق گوید تخمه است از لوت زفت
How Mu‘áwiya once more pressed Iblís hard.
باز الحاح کردن معاویه ابلیس را
He said, “Nothing but the truth will save you: justice is calling you to (speak) the truth.2730
گفت غیر راستی نرهاندت ** داد سوی راستی میخواندت
Tell the truth, so that you may be delivered from my hand: cunning will not lay the dust of my war (will not induce me to leave you in peace).”
راست گو تا وارهی از چنگ من ** مکر ننشاند غبار جنگ من
He (Iblís) said, “How do you know (the difference between) falsehood and truth, O thinker of vain fancies, (you that are) filled with (idle) thoughts (about me)?”
گفت چون دانی دروغ و راست را ** ای خیالاندیش پر اندیشهها
He answered, “The Prophet has given an indication: he has laid down the touchstone (criterion) for (distinguishing) the base coin and the good.
گفت پیغمبر نشانی داده است ** قلب و نیکو را محک بنهاده است
He has said, ‘Falsehood is (the cause of) disquiet in (men's) hearts’; he has said, ‘Truth is (the cause of) a joyous tranquillity.’
گفته است الکذب ریب فی القلوب ** گفت الصدق طمانین طروب
The (troubled) heart is not comforted by lying words: water and oil kindle no light.2735
دل نیارامد ز گفتار دروغ ** آب و روغن هیچ نفروزد فروغ
(Only) in truthful speech is there comfort for the heart: truths are the bait that entraps the heart.
در حدیث راست آرام دل است ** راستیها دانهی دام دل است
Sick, surely, and ill-savoured is the heart that knows not (cannot distinguish) the taste of this and that.
دل مگر رنجور باشد بد دهان ** که نداند چاشنی این و آن
When the heart becomes whole (is healed) of pain and disease, it will recognize the flavour of falsehood and truth.
چون شود از رنج و علت دل سلیم ** طعم کذب و راست را باشد علیم
When Adam's greed for the wheat waxed great, it robbed Adam's heart of health.
حرص آدم چون سوی گندم فزود ** از دل آدم سلیمی را ربود
Then he gave ear to your lies and enticements: he was befooled and drank the killing poison.2740
پس دروغ و عشوهات را گوش کرد ** غره گشت و زهر قاتل نوش کرد
At that moment he knew not scorpion (kazhdum) from wheat (gandum): discernment flies from one that is drunken with vain desire.
کژدم از گندم ندانست آن نفس ** میپرد تمییز از مست هوس
The people are drunken with cupidity and desire: hence they are accepting your cheatery.
خلق مست آرزویند و هوا ** ز آن پذیرایند دستان ترا
Whoever has rid his nature of vain desire has (thereby) made his (spiritual) eye familiar with the secret.
هر که خود را از هوا خود باز کرد ** چشم خود را آشنای راز کرد
How a cadi complained of the calamity of (holding) the office of cadi, and how his deputy answered him.
شکایت قاضی از آفت قضا و جواب گفتن نایب او را
They installed a cadi, (and meanwhile) he wept. The deputy said, ‘O cadi, what are you weeping for?
This is not the time for you to weep and lament: it is the time for you to rejoice and receive felicitations.’2745
این نه وقت گریه و فریاد تست ** وقت شادی و مبارک باد تست
‘Ah,’ said he, ‘how shall a man without insight pronounce judgement—an ignorant man (decide) between two who know?
گفت اه چون حکم راند بیدلی ** در میان آن دو عالم جاهلی
Those two adversaries are acquainted with their own case: what should the poor cadi know of those two tangles?
آن دو خصم از واقعهی خود واقفند ** قاضی مسکین چه داند ز آن دو بند
He is ignorant and unaware of their (real) state: how should he proceed (to give judgment) concerning their lives and property?’
جاهل است و غافل است از حالشان ** چون رود در خونشان و مالشان
He (the deputy) said, ‘The litigants know (the truth of their case) and (nevertheless) are unsound (prejudiced); you are ignorant (of the facts), but you are the luminary of the whole body (of Moslems),
گفت خصمان عالمند و علتی ** جاهلی تو لیک شمع ملتی
Because you have no prejudice to interfere (with your discernment), and that freedom (from prejudice) is light to the eyes;2750
ز انکه تو علت نداری در میان ** آن فراغت هست نور دیدهگان