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
Keep watch over your hearts, O fruitless ones, in the presence of the majesty of the men of heart (saints).
دل نگه دارید ای بیحاصلان ** در حضور حضرت صاحب دلان
Before the men of body (worldings), respect is (shown) outwardly, for God is veiling the occult from them.
پیش اهل تن ادب بر ظاهر است ** که خدا ز ایشان نهان را ساتر است
Before the men of heart (saints), respect is (shown) inwardly, because their hearts have insight into the secret thoughts.3220
پیش اهل دل ادب بر باطن است ** ز انکه دلشان بر سرایر فاطن است
Thou art contrariwise: for the sake of (worldly) position thou comest with reverence before them that are blind (to spiritual things), and sittest in the vestibule;
تو بعکسی پیش کوران بهر جاه ** با حضور آیی نشینی پایگاه
(But) before the seers thou behavest disrespectfully: hence thou hast become fuel for the fire of lust.
پیش بینایان کنی ترک ادب ** نار شهوت را از آن گشتی حطب
Since thou hast not (spiritual) perception and the light of (Divine) guidance, continue to polish (cleanse and brighten) thy face for the sake of the blind!
چون نداری فطنت و نور هدی ** بهر کوران روی را میزن جلا
Before the seers, daub thy face with dirt! Act haughtily (towards them) notwithstanding such a stinking state (as thou art in)!
پیش بینایان حدث در روی مال ** ناز میکن با چنین گندیده حال
The Shaykh quickly threw his needle into the sea, and with a loud voice called for the needle.3225
شیخ سوزن زود در دریا فگند ** خواست سوزن را به آواز بلند