Although a thief has put on a (fine) robe, how should he whose hand is cut off take your hand (lend you a helping hand)?
گر چه دزدی حلهای پوشیده است ** دست تو چون گیرد آن ببریده دست
When at nightfall he (the insolvent) came down from the camel, the Kurd said to him, “My abode is far (from here) and a long way off.
چون شبانه از شتر آمد به زیر ** کرد گفتش منزلم دور است و دیر
You have ridden on my camel since early morning: I (will) let the barley go, (but I will not take) less than the cost of (some) straw.”
بر نشستی اشترم را از پگاه ** جو رها کردم کم از اخراج کاه
"What, then," he rejoined, "have we been doing until now? Where are your wits? Is nobody at home?
گفت تا اکنون چه میکردیم پس ** هوش تو کو، نیست اندر خانه کس
The (sound of the) drum (giving notice) of my insolvency reached the Seventh Heaven, and you have not heard the bad news!675
طبل افلاسم به چرخ سابعه ** رفت و تو نشنیدهای بد واقعه
Your ear has been filled with foolish hope; (such) hope, then, makes (one) deaf (and) blind, my lad.”
گوش تو پر بوده است از طمع خام ** پس طمع کر میکند کور ای غلام
Even clods and stones heard this advertisement—“he is insolvent, he is insolvent, this scoundrel.”
تا کلوخ و سنگ بشنید این بیان ** مفلس است و مفلس است این قلتبان
They (the criers) said it till nightfall, and it made no impression on the owner of the camel, because he was full of (idle) hope, full.
تا به شب گفتند و در صاحب شتر ** بر نزد کاو از طمع پر بود پر
God's seal lies upon the hearing and sight: within the veils is many a form and many a sound.
هست بر سمع و بصر مهر خدا ** در حجب بس صورت است و بس صدا
He communicates to the eye that which He wills of beauty and of perfection and of amorous looks;680
آن چه او خواهد رساند آن به چشم ** از جمال و از کمال و از کرشم
And He communicates to the ear that which He wills of music and glad tidings and cries (of rapture).
و انچه او خواهد رساند آن به گوش ** از سماع و از بشارت وز خروش
The world is full of remedies, but you have no remedy till God opens a window for you.
کون پر چاره ست و هیچت چاره نی ** تا که نگشاید خدایت روزنی
Though you are unaware of that (remedy) just now, God will make it plain in the hour of need.
گر چه تو هستی کنون غافل از آن ** وقت حاجت حق کند آن را عیان
The Prophet said that the glorious God has created a remedy for every pain;
گفت پیغمبر که یزدان مجید ** از پی هر درد درمان آفرید
But of that remedy for your pain you will not see (even) the colour or scent without His command.685
لیک ز آن درمان نبینی رنگ و بو ** بهر درد خویش بیفرمان او
Come, O you that seek the remedy, set your eye on non-spatiality, as the eye of one (about to be) killed (turns) towards the spirit.
چشم را ای چاره جو در لامکان ** هین بنه چون چشم کشته سوی جان
This (spatial) world has been produced from that which is without spatial relations, for the world has received (the relation of) place from placelessness.
این جهان از بیجهت پیدا شده ست ** که ز بیجایی جهان را جا شده ست
Turn back from existence towards non-existence, (if) you seek the Lord and belong to the Lord.
باز گرد از هست سوی نیستی ** طالب ربی و ربانیستی
This non-existence is the place of income: do not flee from it; this existence of more and less is the place of expenditure.
جای دخل است این عدم از وی مرم ** جای خرج است این وجود بیش و کم
Since God's workshop is non-existence, in the world of (phenomenal) existence who is (to be found) except the idle?690
کارگاه صنع حق چون نیستی است ** پس برون کارگه بیقیمتی است
Put into our heart subtle words which may move Thee to mercy, O Gracious One!
یاد ده ما را سخنهای دقیق ** که ترا رحم آورد آن ای رفیق
From Thee (come) both the prayer and the answer; from Thee safety, from Thee also dread.
هم دعا از تو اجابت هم ز تو ** ایمنی از تو مهابت هم ز تو
If we have spoken faultily, do Thou correct it: Thou art the Corrector, O Thou (who art the) Sultan of speech.
گر خطا گفتیم اصلاحش تو کن ** مصلحی تو ای تو سلطان سخن
Thou hast the alchemy whereby Thou mayst transmute it, and though it be a river of blood, mayst make it a Nile.
کیمیا داری که تبدیلش کنی ** گر چه جوی خون بود نیلش کنی
Such alchemical operations are Thy work, such elixirs are Thy secrets.695
این چنین میناگریها کار تست ** این چنین اکسیرها اسرار تست