The caravaneers have begun to load, (but) your camel has disappeared from the midst (of the caravan).
آمده در بار کردن کاروان ** اشتر تو ز آن میان گشته نهان
You are running to and fro with parched lips; the caravan is (now) far away, and night is near.
میدوی این سو و آن سو خشک لب ** کاروان شد دور و نزدیک است شب
Your baggage is left on the ground, (lying) on the road of peril, (whilst) you are running about in search of the camel,2915
رخت مانده بر زمین در راه خوف ** تو پی اشتر دوان گشته به طوف
Crying, “O Moslems, who has seen a camel which this morning escaped from a stable?
کای مسلمانان که دیده ست اشتری ** جسته بیرون بامداد از آخوری
Whoever will tell (me) a clue to my camel, I will give so many dirhems as a reward (for the information).”
هر که بر گوید نشان از اشترم ** مژدگانی میدهم چندین درم
You are requesting clues from every one: every rascal is making a mock of you on this account,
باز میجویی نشان از هر کسی ** ریشخندت میکند زین هر خسی
Saying, “We saw a camel going in this direction, a reddish camel (going) towards yonder pasturage.”
کاشتری دیدیم میرفت این طرف ** اشتر سرخی به سوی آن علف
One (of them) says, “It was crop-eared,” and another says, “Its saddlecloth was embroidered.”2920
آن یکی گوید بریده گوش بود ** و آن دگر گوید جلش منقوش بود
One says, “The camel had (only) one eye,” and another says, “It (was suffering) from mange (and) had no hair.”
آن یکی گوید شتر یک چشم بود ** و آن دگر گوید ز گر بیپشم بود
For the sake of the reward every rascal, (speaking) at random, sets forth a hundred clues.
از برای مژدگانی صد نشان ** از گزافه هر خسی کرده بیان
On being perplexed amidst discordant doctrines and finding (a means of) escape and deliverance.
متردد شدن در میان مذهبهای مخالف و بیرون شو و مخلص یافتن
(This is) even as in the matter of knowledge (of God) every one describes (differently) the Unseen Object of description.
همچنان که هر کسی در معرفت ** میکند موصوف غیبی را صفت
The philosopher gives an explanation of another (a particular) kind; a scholastic theologian invalidates his statement;
فلسفی از نوع دیگر کرده شرح ** باحثی مر گفت او را کرده جرح
And some one else jeers at both of them, while another hypocritically tires himself to death (trying to prove that he has real knowledge of God).2925
و آن دگر در هر دو طعنه میزند ** و آن دگر از زرق جانی میکند
Each one (of them) gives these indications of the Way, in order that it may be supposed that they belong to that Village.
هر یک از ره این نشانها ز آن دهند ** تا گمان آید که ایشان ز آن دهاند
Know the truth to be this, (that) all these (various persons) are not in the right; nor (again) are this herd entirely astray,
این حقیقت دان نه حقاند این همه ** نی بکلی گمرهانند این رمه
Because nothing false is shown without the True: the fool bought (desired) spurious coin in the hope of (its being) gold.
ز انکه بیحق باطلی ناید پدید ** قلب را ابله به بوی زر خرید
If there were no current (genuine) coin in the world, how would it be possible to issue false coins?
گر نبودی در جهان نقدی روان ** قلبها را خرج کردن کی توان
Unless there be truth, how should there be falsehood? That falsehood receives brilliance (prestige and reputation) from truth.2930
تا نباشد راست کی باشد دروغ ** آن دروغ از راست میگیرد فروغ
They buy (desire) the wrong in hope of (its being) the right: (if) poison go into a piece of sugar, then (and then only) they eat (poison).
بر امید راست کژ را میخرند ** زهر در قندی رود آن گه خورند
If there be no savoury wheat, what shall he get who sells barley, pretending that it is wheat?
گر نباشد گندم محبوب نوش ** چه برد گندمنمای جو فروش
Do not say, then, that all these utterances are false: the false (pretenders) are a snare to the heart on the ground of (because they give) hope of truth.
پس مگو کاین جمله دمها باطلند ** باطلان بر بوی حق دام دلند
Do not say, then, that all (this) is phantasy and error: without truth phantasy exists not in the world.
پس مگو جمله خیال است و ضلال ** بیحقیقت نیست در عالم خیال
Truth is the Night of Power (which is) hidden amidst the (other) nights in order that the soul may make trial of every night.2935
حق شب قدر است در شبها نهان ** تا کند جان هر شبی را امتحان
Not all nights are (the Night of) Power, O youth, nor are all nights void of that (Night).
نه همه شبها بود قدر ای جوان ** نه همه شبها بود خالی از آن
Amongst the wearers of the dervish-cloak there is one (true) dervish: make trial, and accept him that is true.
در میان دلق پوشان یک فقیر ** امتحان کن و آن که حق است آن بگیر