Give (me) the scales which I am asking for; don't make yourself out to be deaf, don't jump in every direction.”
من ترازویی که می‌خواهم بده ** خویشتن را کر مکن هر سو مجه
He (the goldsmith) said, “I heard what you said, I am not deaf; you must not think that I am nonsensical.
گفت بشنیدم سخن کر نیستم ** تا نپنداری که بی معنیستم
I heard this (request), but you are a shaky old man: your hand is trembling and your body is not erect;
این شنیدم لیک پیری مرتعش ** دست لرزان جسم تو نا منتعش
And moreover that gold of yours consists of little tiny filings: your hand trembles, so the fragments of gold will drop (from it);1630
وان زر تو هم قراضه‌ی خرد مرد ** دست لرزد پس بریزد زر خرد
Then you will say, ‘Sir, fetch a broom, that I may look in the dust for my gold.’
پس بگویی خواجه جاروبی بیار ** تا بجویم زر خود را در غبار
When you sweep (with the broom), you will gather dust (along with the gold); you will say to me, ‘I want the sieve, O gallant man.’
چون بروبی خاک را جمع آوری ** گوییم غلبیر خواهم ای جری
I from the beginning discerned the end complete. Go from here to some other place, and farewell!”
من ز اول دیدم آخر را تمام ** جای دیگر رو ازینجا والسلام
The rest of the Story of the ascetic of the mountain who had made a vow that he would not pluck any mountain fruit from the trees or shake the trees or tell any one to shake them, either plainly or in veiled terms, and that he would only eat what the wind might cause to fall from the trees.
بقیه‌ی قصه‌ی آن زاهد کوهی کی نذر کرده بود کی میوه‌ی کوهی از درخت باز نکنم و درخت نفشانم و کسی را نگویم صریح و کنایت کی بیفشان آن خورم کی باد افکنده باشد از درخت
On that mountain were trees and fruits; there were many mountain-pears- (they were) numberless.
اندر آن که بود اشجار و ثمار ** بس مرودی کوهی آنجا بی‌شمار
The dervish said, “O Lord, I make a covenant with Thee (that) I will not pluck any of these during the time (of my life).1635
گفت آن درویش یا رب با تو من ** عهد کردم زین نچینم در زمن
I will not pluck from the raised-up (lofty) tress (aught) but the fruit that the wind has caused to fall.”
جز از آن میوه که باد انداختش ** من نچینم از درخت منتعش
For a while he kept his vow faithfully: (he kept it) till the tribulations of Destiny came on.
مدتی بر نذر خود بودش وفا ** تا در آمد امتحانات قضا
On this account He (God) hath commanded, saying, “Make the exception: attach (the words) ‘if God will’ to your promise.
زین سبب فرمود استثنا کنید ** گر خدا خواهد به پیمان بر زنید
Every instant I give to the heart a different desire, every moment I lay upon the heart a different brand.
هر زمان دل را دگر میلی دهم ** هرنفس بر دل دگر داغی نهم
At every dawn I have a new employment: nothing turns aside from that (course) which I have willed.”1640
کل اصباح لنا شان جدید ** کل شیء عن مرادی لا یحید
It has come down in the Traditions (of the Prophet) that the heart is like a feather in a desert, the captive of a violent blast.
در حدیث آمد که دل همچون پریست ** در بیابانی اسیر صرصریست
The wind drives the feather recklessly in every direction, now left, now right, with a hundred diversities.
باد پر را هر طرف راند گزاف ** گه چپ و گه راست با صد اختلاف
In another Tradition (the Prophet said), “Deem this heart to be as water boiling in a cauldron from (the heat of) fire.”
در حدیث دیگر این دل دان چنان ** کب جوشان ز آتش اندر قازغان
At every time the heart has a different resolution: that (resolution) is not (derived) from it, but from a certain place.
هر زمان دل را دگر رایی بود ** آن نه از وی لیک از جایی بود
Why, then, will you trust in the heart’s resolution and make a covenant, that in the end you should be shamed?1645
پس چرا آمن شوی بر رای دل ** عهد بندی تا شوی آخر خجل
This too is from the effect of the(Divine) ordinance and decree, (that) you see the pit and cannot take precaution.
این هم از تاثیر حکمست و قدر ** چاه می‌بیینی و نتوانی حذر
‘Tis no wonder, indeed, for the flying bird not to see the snare (and so) fall into destruction;
نیست خود ازمرغ پران این عجب ** که نبیند دام و افتد در عطب
The wonder is that it should see both the snare and the net-pin and fall (into the snare) willy-nilly.
این عجب که دام بیند هم وتد ** گر بخواهد ور نخواهد می‌فتد
(With) eye open and ear open and the snare in front, it is flying towards a snare with its own wings.
چشم باز و گوش باز و دام پیش ** سوی دامی می‌پرد با پر خویش
A comparison (showing that) the bonds and snares of Destiny, though outwardly invisible, are manifest in their effects.
تشبیه بند و دام قضا به صورت پنهان به اثر پیدا
You may see a nobleman’s son in a tattered cloak, bareheaded, fallen into affliction.1650
بینی اندر دلق مهتر زاده‌ای ** سر برهنه در بلا افتاده‌ای
(He is) consumed with passion for some ne’er-do-well, (he has) sold his furniture and properties.
در هوای نابکاری سوخته ** اقمشه و املاک خود بفروخته