- Notwithstanding all (this), sit down and talk on a few topics, that I may well see the form of your mind.”
- با همه بنشین دو سه دستان بگو ** تا ببینم صورت عقلت نکو
- Then he sent that keen-witted one away to do (his behest): (he sent him) to a bathhouse, saying, “Go, scrub yourself.”
- آن ذکی را پس فرستاد او به کار ** سوی حمامی که رو خود را بخار
- And to this other one he said, “Good! you are a clever lad: in truth you are a hundred slaves, not one.
- وین دگر را گفت خه تو زیرکی ** صد غلامی در حقیقت نه یکی
- You are not such as your fellow-servant declared: that envious one would (fain) have made me cold to (disgusted with) you, 875
- آن نهای که خواجهتاش تو نمود ** از تو ما را سرد میکرد آن حسود
- (For) he said that you are thievish and dishonest and ill-behaved, immoral and infamous and so forth.”
- گفت او دزد و کژ است و کژنشین ** حیز و نامرد و چنان است و چنین
- The slave said, “He (my fellow-servant) has always been veracious; I have not seen any one so truthful as he is.
- گفت پیوسته بده ست او راست گو ** راست گویی من ندیده ستم چو او
- Veracity is inborn in his nature; whatever he says, I do not say it is void (of truth).
- راست گویی در نهادش خلقتی است ** هر چه گوید من نگویم تهمتی است
- I deem not that good-minded one malicious: I (rather) suspect my own person.
- کژ ندانم آن نکو اندیش را ** متهم دارم وجود خویش را
- Maybe, he sees in me faults I do not see in myself, O King.” 880
- باشد او در من ببیند عیبها ** من نبینم در وجود خود شها
- Any one saw his own faults before (seeing those of others) —how should he be unconcerned with correcting himself?
- هر کسی گر عیب خود دیدی ز پیش ** کی بدی فارغ خود از اصلاح خویش
- These people (of the world) take no heed of themselves, O father: consequently they blame one another.
- غافلند این خلق از خود ای پدر ** لاجرم گویند عیب همدگر
- O idolater (dualist), (if) I do not behold my own face (reality), I behold thy face and thou beholdest mine.
- من نبینم روی خود را ای شمن ** من ببینم روی تو تو روی من
- He that beholds his own face (reality)—his light is greater than the light of the creatures (of God).
- آن کسی که او ببیند روی خویش ** نور او از نور خلقان است بیش
- Though he die, his sight is everlasting, because his sight is the sight of the Creator. 885
- گر بمیرد دید او باقی بود ** ز انکه دیدش دید خلاقی بود
- That light by which he sensibly beholds his own face (reality) before him, is not the light of sense.
- نور حسی نبود آن نوری که او ** روی خود محسوس بیند پیش رو
- The King said, “Now tell his (your fellow-servant's) faults, just as he spoke of yours,
- گفت اکنون عیبهای او بگو ** آن چنان که گفت او از عیب تو
- That I may know whether you are solicitous for me and a (good) house-steward of my property and business.”
- تا بدانم که تو غم خوار منی ** کدخدای ملکت و کار منی
- He replied, “O King, I will tell his faults, though he is to me a pleasing fellow-servant.
- گفت ای شه من بگویم عیبهاش ** گر چه هست او مر مرا خوش خواجهتاش
- His faults are affection and loyalty and humanity; his faults are sincerity and keen wittedness and cordial comradeship. 890
- عیب او مهر و وفا و مردمی ** عیب او صدق و ذکا و هم دمی
- His least fault is generosity and bounty—the generosity that even gives up life.”
- کمترین عیبش جوانمردی و داد ** آن جوانمردی که جان را هم بداد
- God has brought to view myriads of lives (in return for the life given up): what generosity would there be (in him) that saw not those?
- صد هزاران جان خدا کرده پدید ** چه جوانمردی بود کان را ندید
- And if he saw them, how should he grudge his life? How should he become so grieved for the sake of one life?
- ور بدیدی کی به جان بخلش بدی ** بهر یک جان کی چنین غمگین شدی
- On the river-bank, water is grudged by him (alone) that is blind to the stream of water.
- بر لب جو بخل آب آن را بود ** کاو ز جوی آب نابینا بود
- The Prophet said, “Whosoever knows for sure his recompense on the day of Resurrection— 895
- گفت پیغمبر که هر که از یقین ** داند او پاداش خود در یوم دین
- That his compensation will be ten for one—at every moment a different (act of) munificence will issue from him.”
- که یکی را ده عوض میآیدش ** هر زمان جودی دگرگون زایدش