- “By God,” he replied, “O chief of the Arabs, in my whole property there is not the means of (buying) food for the night.
- گفت و الله نیست یا وجه العرب ** در همه ملکم وجوه قوت شب
- I run about with bare feet and naked body. If any one will give me a loaf of bread—thither I go.
- پا برهنه تن برهنه میدوم ** هر که نانی میدهد آن جا روم
- From this wisdom and learning and excellence (of mind) I have got nothing but phantasy and headache.” 3195
- مر مرا زین حکمت و فضل و هنر ** نیست حاصل جز خیال و درد سر
- Then the Arab said to him, “Begone far from my side, so that your ill-luck may not rain upon me.
- پس عرب گفتش که شو دور از برم ** تا نبارد شومی تو بر سرم
- Take far away from me that unlucky wisdom of yours: your speech is unlucky for (all) the people of the time.
- دور بر آن حکمت شومت ز من ** نطق تو شرم است بر اهل زمن
- Either go you in that direction, and I will run in this direction; or if your way be forwards, I will go back.
- یا تو آن سو رو من این سو میدوم ** ور ترا ره پیش من واپس روم
- One sack of wheat and the other of sand is better for me than these vain contrivings.
- یک جوالم گندم و دیگر ز ریگ ** به بود زین حیلههای مردهریگ
- My foolishness is a very blessed foolishness, for my heart is well furnished (with spiritual graces) and my soul is devout.” 3200
- احمقیام بس مبارک احمقی است ** که دلم با برگ و جانم متقی است
- If thou desire that misery should vanish (from thee), endeavour that wisdom should vanish from thee—
- گر تو خواهی کت شقاوت کم شود ** جهد کن تا از تو حکمت کم شود
- The wisdom which is born of (human) nature and phantasy, the wisdom which lacks the overflowing grace of the Light of the Glorious (God).
- حکمتی کز طبع زاید وز خیال ** حکمتی بیفیض نور ذو الجلال
- The wisdom of this world brings increase of supposition and doubt; the wisdom of the Religion bears (one) above the sky.
- حکمت دنیا فزاید ظن و شک ** حکمت دینی برد فوق فلک
- The ingenious rascals of (this) latter time have aggrandised themselves over the ancients;
- زوبعان زیرک آخر زمان ** بر فزوده خویش بر پیشینیان
- The (apt) learners of cunning have burnt (consumed) their hearts (in study) and have learned feints and tricks; 3205
- حیله آموزان جگرها سوخته ** فعلها و مکرها آموخته
- They have thrown to the winds patience and altruism and self-sacrifice and generosity—(qualities) which are the elixir of (spiritual) profit.
- صبر و ایثار و سخای نفس و جود ** باد داده کان بود اکسیر سود
- The (right) thought is that which opens a way: the (right) way is that on which a (spiritual) king advances.
- فکر آن باشد که بگشاید رهی ** راه آن باشد که پیش آید شهی
- The (true) king is he that goes into the presence of the King, and is not made king by treasuries and armies;
- شاه آن باشد که از خود شه بود ** نه به مخزنها و لشکر شه شود
- So that his kingship remains unto everlasting, like the glory of the empire of the Mohammedan Religion.
- تا بماند شاهی او سرمدی ** همچو عز ملک دین احمدی
- The miracles of Ibráhím son of Adham on the seashore.
- کرامات ابراهیم ادهم بر لب دریا
- Thus, it is related of Ibráhím son of Adham that after a journey he sat down (to rest) by the edge of the sea. 3210
- هم ز ابراهیم ادهم آمده ست ** کاو ز راهی بر لب دریا نشست
- (Whilst) that spiritual king was stitching his mantle, an Amír suddenly came to that spot.
- دلق خود میدوخت آن سلطان جان ** یک امیری آمد آن جا ناگهان
- That Amír had been one of the Shaykh's servants; he recognized the Shaykh and at once bowed low.
- آن امیر از بندگان شیخ بود ** شیخ را بشناخت سجده کرد زود
- He was astounded at the Shaykh and at his dervish garb— (for) his nature and outward guise had become transformed—
- خیره شد در شیخ و اندر دلق او ** شکل دیگر گشته خلق و خلق او
- (Marvelling) that he gave up such a grand kingdom, and chose that very pettifogging (spiritual) poverty;
- کاو رها کرد آن چنان ملک شگرف ** بر گزید آن فقر بس باریک حرف
- (And why) he renounced the sovereignty of the Seven Climes, and plies the needle on his dervish-cloak, like a beggar. 3215
- ترک کرد او ملک هفت اقلیم را ** میزند بر دلق سوزن چون گدا
- The Shaykh became aware of his thought: a Shaykh is as the lion, and (people's) hearts are his jungle.
- شخ واقف گشت از اندیشهاش ** شیخ چون شیر است و دلها بیشهاش
- He is entering, like hope and fear, into (their) hearts: not hid from him are the secrets of the world.
- چون رجا و خوف در دلها روان ** نیست مخفی بر وی اسرار جهان