- They extolled him sarcastically, saying, “O great sir, in such and such a very tremendous and huge country,
- میستودندش به تسخر کای بزرگ ** در فلان اقلیم بس هول و سترگ
- In such and such a forest there is a green tree, very tall and broad, and every branch of it is big.”
- در فلان بیشه درختی هست سبز ** بس بلند و پهن و هر شاخیش گبز
- The king's envoy, who had braced his belt for the quest, was hearing a different kind of report from every one;
- قاصد شه بسته در جستن کمر ** میشنید از هر کسی نوعی خبر
- There for years he travelled much, (whilst) the king kept sending money to him.
- بس سیاحت کرد آن جا سالها ** میفرستادش شهنشه مالها
- After he had suffered much fatigue in that foreign land, at last he became too exhausted to seek (any longer). 3655
- چون بسی دید اندر آن غربت تعب ** عاجز آمد آخر الامر از طلب
- No trace of the object of pursuit was discovered: of what he wanted nothing appeared but the report.
- هیچ از مقصود اثر پیدا نشد ** ز آن غرض غیر خبر پیدا نشد
- The thread of his hope snapped, the thing he had sought became unsought in the end.
- رشتهی امید او بگسسته شد ** جستهی او عاقبت ناجسته شد
- He resolved to return to the king, (and set out) shedding tears and traversing the way.
- کرد عزم باز گشتن سوی شاه ** اشک میبارید و میبرید راه
- How the Shaykh explained the hidden meaning of the tree to the seeker who was in the bondage of formalism.
- شرح کردن شیخ سر آن درخت را با آن طالب مقلد
- There was a wise Shaykh, a noble Qutb, at the halting-place where the king's intimate fell into despair.
- بود شیخی عالمی قطبی کریم ** اندر آن منزل که آیس شد ندیم
- He (the envoy) said, “Being without hope, I will go to him, and set out on the road (again) from his threshold, 3660
- گفت من نومید پیش او روم ** ز آستان او به راه اندر شوم
- In order that his prayer (blessing) may accompany me, since I have no hope of (winning) my heart's desire.”
- تا دعای او بود همراه من ** چون که نومیدم من از دل خواه من
- With tearful eyes he went to the Shaykh: he was raining tears, like a cloud.
- رفت پیش شیخ با چشم پر آب ** اشک میبارید مانند سحاب
- “O Shaykh,” he cried, “it is the time for mercy and pity; I am in despair: now is the time for kindness.”
- گفت شیخا وقت رحم و رقت است ** ناامیدم وقت لطف این ساعت است
- He (the Shaykh) said, “Say plainly what is the cause of thy despair: what is thy object? what hast thou in view?”
- گفت وا گو کز چه نومیدیستت ** چیست مطلوب تو رو با چیستت
- He answered, “The Emperor chose me out to seek a certain branching tree, 3665
- گفت شاهنشاه کردم اختیار ** از برای جستن یک شاخسار
- For there is a tree, unique in (all) the quarters (of the world): its fruit is (of) the substance of the Water of Life.
- که درختی هست نادر در جهات ** میوهی او مایهی آب حیات
- I have sought (it) for years and seen no sign (of it) except the gibes and ridicule of these merry men.”
- سالها جستم ندیدم یک نشان ** جز که طنز و تسخر این سر خوشان
- The Shaykh laughed and said to him, “O simpleton, this is the tree of knowledge in the sage—
- شیخ خندید و بگفتش ای سلیم ** این درخت علم باشد در علیم
- Very high and very grand and very far-spreading: (it is) a Water of Life from the all-encompassing Sea (of God).
- بس بلند و بس شگرف و بس بسیط ** آب حیوانی ز دریای محیط
- Thou hast gone after the form, O ignorant man: hence thou art without fruit and produce from the bough of reality. 3670
- تو به صورت رفتهای ای بیخبر ** ز آن ز شاخ معنیی بیبار و بر
- Sometimes it is named ‘tree,’ sometimes ‘sun’; sometimes it is named ‘sea,’ sometimes ‘cloud.’
- گه درختش نام شد گه آفتاب ** گاه بحرش نام گشت و گه سحاب
- (It is) that one (thing) from which a hundred thousand effects arise: its least effects are everlasting life.
- آن یکی کش صد هزار آثار خاست ** کمترین آثار او عمر بقاست
- Although (in essence) it is single, it hath a thousand effects: innumerable names befit (may be properly applied to) that one (thing).
- گر چه فرد است او اثر دارد هزار ** این یکی را نام شاید بیشمار
- One person may be father in relation to thee; in regard to another individual he may be son.
- آن یکی شخص ترا باشد پدر ** در حق شخصی دگر باشد پسر
- In regard to another he may be wrath and a foe; in regard to another he may be graciousness and a friend. 3675
- در حق دیگر بود قهر و عدو ** در حق دیگر بود لطف و نکو