Do you throw a liver with the parts next it amongst cats, and (then) seek the trace of it?
تو جگر بندی میان گربگان ** اندر اندازی و جویی ز آن نشان
One cake of bread amongst a hundred hungry people, one wasted (starved) cat before a hundred dogs?”
در میان صد گرسنه گردهای ** پیش صد سگ گربهی پژمردهای
“I suppose,” said the Súfí, “that they took it (the ass) from you by violence, (and thereby) aimed at the life of wretched me;
گفت گیرم کز تو ظلما بستدند ** قاصد خون من مسکین شدند
(And seeing this) you would not come and say to me, ‘They are taking away your ass, O poor man!’
تو نیایی و نگویی مر مرا ** که خرت را میبرند ای بینوا
So that I might buy back the ass from (the purchaser) whoever he is, or else they might divide my money (amongst themselves and return the ass to me).555
تا خر از هر که بود من واخرم ** ور نه توزیعی کنند ایشان زرم
There were a hundred ways of mending (the injury) when they (the Súfís) were present, (but) now each one is gone to a (different) clime.
صد تدارک بود چون حاضر بدند ** این زمان هر یک به اقلیمی شدند
Whom should I seize? Whom should I take to the Cadi? ’Tis from you in sooth that this judgement has come upon me.
من که را گیرم که را قاضی برم ** این قضا خود از تو آمد بر سرم
How wouldn't you come and say (to me), ‘O stranger, such a terrible outrage has occurred’?”
چون نیایی و نگویی ای غریب ** پیش آمد این چنین ظلمی مهیب
“By God,” said he, “I came several times to inform you of these doings,
گفت و الله آمدم من بارها ** تا ترا واقف کنم زین کارها
(But) you were always saying, ‘The ass is gone, O son,’ with more gusto than all (the others) who said it.560
تو همیگفتی که خر رفت ای پسر ** از همه گویندگان با ذوقتر
(So) I was (always) going back, (thinking), ‘He himself is aware; he is satisfied with this (Divine) judgement: he is a man that knows (God)’.”
باز میگشتم که او خود واقف است ** زین قضا راضی است مردی عارف است
The Súfí said, “They all were saying (it) merrily, (so) I also took delight in saying it.
گفت آن را جمله میگفتند خوش ** مر مرا هم ذوق آمد گفتنش
Blind imitation of them has brought me to ruin: two hundred curses be on that imitation!
مر مرا تقلیدشان بر باد داد ** که دو صد لعنت بر آن تقلید باد
Especially (on) imitation of such good-for-nothing rascals— the wrath of Abraham be on them that sink!
خاصه تقلید چنین بیحاصلان ** خشم ابراهیم با بر آفلان
The delight of that company (of Súfís) was casting a reflexion, and this heart of mine was becoming delighted by that reflexion.”565
عکس ذوق آن جماعت میزدی ** وین دلم ز آن عکس ذوقی میشدی
The reflexion (cast) from goodly friends is necessary until you become, without (the aid of any) reflexion, a drawer of water from the Sea.
عکس چندان باید از یاران خوش ** که شوی از بحر بیعکس آب کش
Know that the reflexion first cast is (only) imitation, (but) when it has become successive (continually recurrent) it turns into (direct) realisation (of the truth).
عکس کاول زد تو آن تقلید دان ** چون پیاپی شد شود تحقیق آن
Until it has become realisation, do not part from the friends (by whom you are guided); do not break away from the shell: the rain-drop has not (yet) become a pearl.
تا نشد تحقیق از یاران مبر ** از صدف مگسل نگشت آن قطره در
If you wish eye and understanding and hearing to be pure, tear in pieces the curtains of selfish desire,
صاف خواهی چشم و عقل و سمع را ** بر دران تو پردههای طمع را
Because the Súfí's imitation, (which arose) from desire, debarred his understanding from the light and radiance.570
ز انکه آن تقلید صوفی از طمع ** عقل او بر بست از نور و لمع
Desire for the viands and desire for that delight (shown by the Súfís) and for the samá‘ hindered his understanding from (gaining) knowledge (of what had happened).
طمع لوت و طمع آن ذوق و سماع ** مانع آمد عقل او را ز اطلاع
If desire were to arise in the mirror, that mirror would be like us in (respect of) hypocrisy.
گر طمع در آینه برخاستی ** در نفاق آن آینه چون ماستی
If the balance had desire for riches, how would the balance give a true description of the case?
گر ترازو را طمع بودی به مال ** راست کی گفتی ترازو وصف حال
Every prophet has said in sincerity to his people, “I ask not from you the wages for my message.
هر نبیی گفت با قوم از صفا ** من نخواهم مزد پیغام از شما
I am (only) a guide; God is your purchaser: God has appointed me to act as broker on both sides.575
من دلیلم حق شما را مشتری ** داد حق دلالیم هر دو سری