The coats of rust have began to eat his iron (mirror): the rust has begun to lessen its sheen.
آهنش را زنگها خوردن گرفت ** گوهرش را زنگ کم کردن گرفت
When you write upon white paper, that writing may be read at sight.
چون نویسی کاغذ اسپید بر ** آن نبشته خوانده آید در نظر
When you write script over that which has been (already) written, it is not understood: the reading of it will be erroneous;
چون نویسی بر سر بنوشته خط ** فهم ناید خواندنش گردد غلط
For that (second) blackness has fallen (been made) upon blackness; (hence) both scripts have become obscure and have given no meaning.
کان سیاهی بر سیاهی اوفتاد ** هر دو خط شد کور و معنیی نداد
And if you write a third time on the top of it, then you make it black as a soul full of wickedness.3385
ور سوم باره نویسی بر سرش ** پس سیه کردی چو جان کافرش
What help is there, then, but (to take) refuge with (God) the Helper? Despair is copper, and the elixir for it is (God's) regard.
پس چه چاره جز پناه چارهگر ** ناامیدی مس و اکسیرش نظر
Lay your despairs before Him, that ye may escape from irremediable pain.
ناامیدیها به پیش او نهید ** تا ز درد بیدوا بیرون جهید
When Shu‘ayb had told him these deep sayings, at that breath of the spirit roses blossomed in his heart.
چون شعیب این نکتهها با او بگفت ** ز آن دم جان در دل او گل شکفت
His soul hearkened to the inspiration from Heaven; he said, (however), “If He hath punished me, where is the sign?”
جان او بشنید وحی آسمان ** گفت اگر بگرفت ما را کو نشان
He (Shu‘ayb) cried, “O Lord, he rebuts me, he seeks the sign of that punishment.”3390
گفت یا رب دفع من میگوید او ** آن گرفتن را نشان میجوید او
He (God) said, “I am the Coverer (of sins): I will not tell his secrets, (I will give) but one indication for the sake of trying him.
گفت ستارم نگویم رازهاش ** جز یکی رمز از برای ابتلاش
One sign of My punishing him is this, that he has (to his credit) pious acts of fasting and orison
یک نشان آن که میگیرم و را ** آن که طاعت دارد از صوم و دعا
And ritual prayer and almsgiving et cetera, but he has not one atom of spiritual savour.
و ز نماز و از زکات و غیر آن ** لیک یک ذره ندارد ذوق جان
He performs high acts and deeds of devotion, but he has not one atom of (spiritual) relish.
میکند طاعات و افعال سنی ** لیک یک ذره ندارد چاشنی
His devotions are good (in form), but the spirit is not good: the walnuts are many, but there is no kernel therein.”3395
طاعتش نغز است و معنی نغز نی ** جوزها بسیار و در وی مغز نی
Spiritual savour is required, in order that devotions may yield fruit: a kernel is required, in order that the berry may produce a tree.
ذوق باید تا دهد طاعات بر ** مغز باید تا دهد دانه شجر
How shall a berry without kernel become a sapling? The soulless form is naught but phantasy.
دانهی بیمغز کی گردد نهال ** صورت بیجان نباشد جز خیال
Remainder of the story of the stranger’s reviling the Shaykh.
بقیهی قصهی طعنه زدن آن مرد بیگانه در شیخ
That malign wretch was gabbling silly nonsense about the Shaykh: the perverted intellect is always squinting (envious).
آن خبیث از شیخ میلایید ژاژ ** کژنگر باشد همیشه عقل کاژ
(He said), “I saw him amidst a company (of revellers): he is one denuded and destitute of piety.
که منش دیدم میان مجلسی ** او ز تقوی عاری است و مفلسی
And if you do not believe it, arise (and go) to-night, that you may see plainly your Shaykh’s depravity.”3400
ور که باور نیستت خیز امشبان ** تا ببینی فسق شیخت را عیان
At night he took him to a window and said, “Behold a (fine) debauch and merry-making!
شب ببردش بر سر یک روزنی ** گفت بنگر فسق و عشرت کردنی
Behold such hypocrisy by day and profligacy by night!––in the daytime (he is) like Mustafá (Mohammed), at night (like) Bú Lahab.
بنگر آن سالوس روز و فسق شب ** روز همچون مصطفی شب بو لهب
By day his name has become ‘Abdullah (the servant of God); by night––God save us! And (see), the wine-cup in his hand!”
روز عبد الله او را گشته نام ** شب نعوذ بالله و در دست جام
He (the disciple) saw a full glass in the Shaykh’s hand. “O Shaykh,” said he, “is there a tumour even in thee?
دید شیشه در کف آن پیر پر ** گفت شیخا مر ترا هم هست غر
Nonne dicebas?— ‘In vini poculo mingit Diabolus festinans lente’.” [Did you not say, ‘The Devil pees into the wine cup quickly (but) without hurry?’]3405
تو نمیگفتی که در جام شراب ** دیو میمیزد شتابان ناشتاب