An old man said to a doctor, “I am in torment because of my brain.”
گفت پیری مر طبیبی را که من ** در زحیرم از دماغ خویشتن
The doctor replied, “That weakness of brain is from age.” Said the old man, “There are spots of darkness on my eyes.”
گفت از پیری است آن ضعف دماغ ** گفت بر چشمم ز ظلمت هست داغ
“It is from age, O ancient Shaykh,” said the doctor. “Awful pain comes in my back,” said he.3090
گفت از پیری است ای شیخ قدیم ** گفت پشتم درد میآید عظیم
“It is from age, O emaciated Shaykh” said the doctor. “Whatever I eat,” said he, “is not digested.”
گفت از پیری است ای شیخ نزار ** گفت هر چه میخورم نبود گوار
The doctor replied, “Weakness of stomach also is (the result) of age.” Said he, “When I breathe, respiration is hard for me.”
گفت ضعف معده هم از پیری است ** گفت وقت دم مرا دم گیری است
“Yes,” he said, “it is asthma*; when old age arrives, two hundred diseases come on.”
گفت آری انقطاع دم بود ** چون رسد پیری دو صد علت شود
“O fool,” he exclaimed, “you have stuck at this: this is all that you have learned of medicine.
گفت ای احمق بر این بر دوختی ** از طبیبی تو همین آموختی
O crack-brained man, your intellect has not given you this knowledge, that God hath appointed a remedy for every pain.3095
ای مدمغ عقلت این دانش نداد ** که خدا هر رنج را درمان نهاد
You, stupid ass, from poorness of ability have remained (fallen) on the ground for want of a sufficient foothold.”
تو خر احمق ز اندک مایگی ** بر زمین ماندی ز کوتهپایگی
Then the doctor said to him, “O sexagenarian, this anger and this choler are also from old age.
پس طبیبش گفت ای عمر تو شصت ** این غضب وین خشم هم از پیری است
Since all the functions and parts (of your body) are atrophied, your self-control and patience have become weak.”
چون همه اوصاف و اجزا شد نحیف ** خویشتنداری و صبرت شد ضعیف
He (an old man) cannot endure two words, he cries out thereat; he cannot retain one draught, he vomits (it)—
بر نتابد دو سخن زو هی کند ** تاب یک جرعه ندارد قی کند
Except, to be sure, the Ancient (Pír) that is drunken with God, and in whose inward being there is “a goodly life.”3100
جز مگر پیری که از حق است مست ** در درون او حیات طیبه است
Outwardly he is old, but within he is young. What thing, verily, is he? He is the saint and the prophet.
از برون پیر است و در باطن صبی ** خود چه چیز است آن ولی و آن نبی
If they are not manifest to the good and the evil (alike), what is this envy which the worthless bear against them?
گر نه پیدایند پیش نیک و بد ** چیست با ایشان خسان را این حسد
And if they do not know them with certain knowledge, what is this hatred and hatching of plots and enmity?
ور نمیدانندشان علم الیقین ** چیست این بغض و حیل سازی و کین
And (again), if they know the retribution (which shall take place) at the Resurrection and rising from the dead, how should they dash themselves against a sharp sword?
ور نمیدانند بعث و رستخیز ** چون زنندی خویش بر شمشیر تیز
He (the prophet or saint) smiles upon you, (but) do not deem him to be such (as he appears): in his inward consciousness are hidden a hundred Resurrections.3105
بر تو میخندد مبین او را چنان ** صد قیامت در درون استش نهان
Hell and Paradise are entirely parts of him: he is beyond any thought that you may conceive (of him).
دوزخ و جنت همه اجزای اوست ** هر چه اندیشی تو او بالای اوست
All that you may think of is liable to pass away; he that comes not into thought is God.
هر چه اندیشی پذیرای فناست ** آن که در اندیشه ناید آن خداست
Wherefore (then do they behave with) presumption at the door of this house, if they know who is within the house?
بر در این خانه گستاخی ز چیست ** گر همیدانند کاندر خانه کیست
Fools venerate the mosque and exert themselves in maltreating them that have the heart (in which God dwells).
ابلهان تعظیم مسجد میکنند ** در جفای اهل دل جد میکنند
That (mosque) is phenomenal, this (heart) is real, O asses! The (true) mosque is naught but the hearts of the (spiritual) captains.3110
آن مجاز است این حقیقت ای خران ** نیست مسجد جز درون سروران
The mosque that is the inward (consciousness) of the saints is the place of worship for all: God is there.
مسجدی کان اندرون اولیاست ** سجدهگاه جمله است آن جا خداست
Until the heart of the man of God was grieved, never did God put any generation to shame.
تا دل مرد خدا نامد به درد ** هیچ قومی را خدا رسوا نکرد