This discourse hath no end. That dervish, through hunger, became feeble and his body a prisoner.
این سخن پایان ندارد آن فقیر ** از مجاعت شد زبون و تن اسیر
How the dervish who had made the vow was reduced (by hunger) to plucking the pears from the tree, and how God’s chastisement came (upon him) without delay.
مضطرب شدن فقیر نذر کرده بکندن امرود از درخت و گوشمال حق رسیدن بی مهلت
For five days the wind did not cause a single pear to drop, and on account of the fire (pangs) of hunger his patience was fleeing (deserting him).
پنج روز آن باد امرودی نریخت ** ز آتش جوعش صبوری می‌گریخت
He espied several pears on a bough, (but) once more he acted with patience and restrained himself.
بر سر شاخی مرودی چند دید ** باز صبری کرد و خود را وا کشید
The wind came and lowered the end of the bough and caused his carnal nature to prevail for the eating of that (fruit).
باد آمد شاخ را سر زیر کرد ** طبع را بر خوردن آن چیر کرد
Hunger and weakness and the strength of pull and (the might of) Destiny made the ascetic unfaithful to his vow.1675
جوع و ضعف و قوت جذب و قضا ** کرد زاهد را ز نذرش بی‌وفا
When he had plucked fruit from the pear-tree, he became frail (false) in his vow and promise.
At the same instant God’s chastisement arrived: it opened his eye and pulled his ear.
هم درآن دم گوشمال حق رسید ** چشم او بگشاد و گوش او کشید
How the Shaykh was suspected of being in company with thieves and had his hand cut off.
متهم کردن آن شیخ را با دزدان وبریدن دستش را
In that place there were twenty thieves and more, dividing the things they had stolen.
بیست از دزدان بدند آنجا و بیش ** بخش می‌کردند مسروقات خویش
The perfect had been apprised by an informer: the prefect’s men quickly fell upon them.
شحنه را غماز آگه کرده بود ** مردم شحنه بر افتادند زود
He (the officer in charge) cut off on the spot the left feet and right hands of them all, and a great hubbub arose.1680
هم بدان‌جا پای چپ و دست راست ** جمله را ببرید و غوغایی بخاست
The ascetic’s hand too was cut off by mistake; he (the officer) was about to make his foot also fall (to the ground),
دست زاهد هم بریده شد غلط ** پاش را می‌خواست هم کردن سقط
(When), just in time, a very elect cavalier came up and shouted at the officer, “Look out, O dog!
در زمان آمد سواری بس گزین ** بانگ بر زد بر عوان کای سگ ببین
This is such-and-such a Shaykh, (one) of the Abdál (exalted saints) of God: why have you severed his hand?”
این فلان شیخست از ابدال خدا ** دست او را تو چرا کردی جدا
The officer rent his garment and went speedily to the prefect and gave him the information at once.
آن عوان بدرید جامه تیز رفت ** پیش شحنه داد آگاهیش تفت
The prefect came bare-footed, begging pardon. “I did not know,” he said; “God will bear me witness.1685
شحنه آمد پا برهنه عذرخواه ** که ندانستم خدا بر من گواه
Pray now absolve me from this foul deed, O generous man and chief of the (destined) inhabitants of Paradise!”
هین بحل کن مر مرا زین کار زشت ** ای کریم و سرور اهل بهشت
He (the Shaykh) said, “I know the cause of this (wound inflicted by the) knife: I recognise my sin.
گفت می‌دانم سبب این نیش را ** می‌شناسم من گناه خویش را
I violated the sanctity of His oaths: therefore His judgement (sentence) took my right hand away.
من شکستم حرمت ایمان او ** پس یمینم برد دادستان او
I broke my covenant and knew ‘twas evil (to break it), so that (in consequence of my breaking it) that ill-omened audacity reached (recoiled upon) my hand.
من شکستم عهد و دانستم بدست ** تا رسید آن شومی جرات بدست
May my hand and my foot and brain and skin be offered in sacrifice, O governer, to the decree of the Beloved!1690
دست ما و پای ما و مغز و پوست ** باد ای والی فدای حکم دوست
‘Twas my (destined) lot. I absolve thee from this. Thou didst not know: thou hast no guilt (to answer for).
قسم من بود این ترا کردم حلال ** تو ندانستی ترا نبود وبال
And He that knew, He is the One whose command is (every-where) carried into execution: where is the power of struggling with God?”
و آنک او دانست او فرمان‌رواست ** با خدا سامان پیچیدن کجاست
Oh, many the bird flying in search of grain whose gullet was cut by its gullet (greediness)!
ای بسا مرغی پریده دانه‌جو ** که بریده حلق او هم حلق او
Oh, many the bird that, through its belly (appetite) and pangs of hunger, was made captive in a cage on the edge of a terrace!
ای بسا مرغی ز معده وز مغص ** بر کنار بام محبوس قفص
Oh, many the fish that, because of its gullet’s greed, was caught by a hook in water hard to reach!1695
ای بسا ماهی در آب دوردست ** گشته از حرص گلو ماخوذ شست