(And), if any one have some food of faith and a single loaf as provision for the journey (to the life hereafter),
هر که او را قوت ایمانی بود ** و ز برای زاد ره نانی بود
I may seize it, now by plot and now by guile, so that in repentance they may raise an outcry (of lamentation);
میستانم گه به مکر و گه به ریو ** تا بر آرند از پشیمانی غریو
(And in order that) sometimes I may threaten them with poverty, sometimes bind their eyes with (the spell of) tress and mole.”
گه به درویشی کنم تهدیدشان ** گه به زلف و خال بندم دیدشان
In this prison (the world) the food of faith is scarce, and that which exists is in (danger of being caught in) the noose (of destruction) through the attack of this cur.635
قوت ایمانی در این زندان کم است ** وان که هست از قصد این سگ در خم است
(If) from prayer and fasting and a hundred helplessnesses (utter self-abnegations) the food of spiritual feeling come (to any one), he (the Devil) at once carries it off.
از نماز و صوم و صد بیچارگی ** قوت ذوق آید برد یک بارگی
I seek refuge with God from His Satan: we have perished, alas, through his overweening disobedience.
أستعیذ الله من شیطانه ** قد هلکنا آه من طغیانه
He is (but) one cur, and he goes into thousands (of people): into whomsoever he goes, he (that person) becomes he (Satan).
یک سگ است و در هزاران میرود ** هر که در وی رفت او او میشود
Whoever makes you cold (damps your spiritual ardour) know that he (Satan) is in him: the Devil has become hidden beneath his skin.
هر که سردت کرد میدان کاو در اوست ** دیو پنهان گشته اندر زیر پوست
When he finds no (bodily) form, he comes into (your) fancy, in order that that fancy may lead you into woe:640
چون نیابد صورت آید در خیال ** تا کشاند آن خیالت در وبال
Now the fancy of recreation, now of the shop; now the fancy of knowledge, and now of house and home.
گه خیال فرجه و گاهی دکان ** گه خیال علم و گاهی خان و مان
Beware! say at once “God help me!” again and again, not with tongue alone but from your very soul.
هان بگو لاحولها اندر زمان ** از زبان تنها نه بلک از عین جان
The end of the story of the insolvent.
تتمه قصه مفلس
The Cadi said, “Show plainly that you are insolvent.” “Here are the prisoners,” he replied, “as thy witnesses.”
گفت قاضی مفلسی را وانما ** گفت اینک اهل زندانت گوا
“They,” said the Cadi, “are suspect, because they are fleeing from you and weeping blood (on account of your ill-treatment of them);
گفت ایشان متهم باشند چون ** میگریزند از تو میگریند خون
Also, they are suing to be delivered from you: by reason of this self-interest the testimony they give is worthless.”645
از تو میخواهند هم تا وارهند ** زین غرض باطل گواهی میدهند
All the people belonging to the court of justice said, “We bear witness both to his (moral) degeneracy and his insolvency.”
جمله اهل محکمه گفتند ما ** هم بر ادبار و بر افلاسش گوا
Every one whom the Cadi questioned about his condition said, “My lord, wash thy hands of this insolvent.”
هر که را پرسید قاضی حال او ** گفت مولا دست ازین مفلس بشو
The Cadi said, “March him round the city for all to see, (and cry), ‘This man is an insolvent and a great rogue.’
گفت قاضی کش بگردانید فاش ** گرد شهر این مفلس است و بس قلاش
Make proclamations concerning him, street by street; beat the drum (as an advertisement) of his insolvency everywhere in open view.
کو به کو او را مناداها زنید ** طبل افلاسش عیان هر جا زنید
Let no one sell to him on credit, let no one lend him a farthing.650
هیچ کس نسیه بنفروشد بدو ** قرض ندهد هیچ کس او را تسو
Whosoever may bring here a claim against him for fraud, I will not put him in prison any more.
هر که دعوی آردش اینجا به فن ** بیش زندانش نخواهم کرد من
His insolvency has been proven to me: he has nothing in his possession, (neither) money nor goods.”
پیش من افلاس او ثابت شده است ** نقد و کالا نیستش چیزی به دست
Man is in the prison of this world in order that peradventure his insolvency may be proven.
آدمی در حبس دنیا ز آن بود ** تا بود کافلاس او ثابت شود
Our God has also proclaimed in our Qur’án the insolvency of the Devil,
مفلسی دیو را یزدان ما ** هم منادی کرد در قرآن ما
Saying, “He is a swindler and insolvent and liar: do not make any partnership or do any trade with him.”655
کاو دغا و مفلس است و بد سخن ** هیچ با او شرکت و سودا مکن
And if you do so (and) bring (vain) pretexts to him, he is insolvent: how will you get profit from him?
ور کنی او را بهانه آوری ** مفلس است او صرفه از وی کی بری