That Artist made the picture of us to be this: this will not be altered by talking.
نقش ما این کرد آن تصویرگر ** این نخواهد شد بگفت و گو دگر
A hundred years you may tell the pebble to become a ruby, a hundred years you may tell the old to become new;
سنگ را صد سال گویی لعل شو ** کهنه را صد سال گویی باش نو
You may tell earth to assume the qualities of water, you may tell water to become honey or milk—
خاک را گویی صفات آب گیر ** آب را گویی عسل شو یا که شیر
(’Tis all in vain): He is the Creator of the heavens and the heavenly ones, the Creator of water and earth and earthly beings.2905
خالق افلاک او و افلاکیان ** خالق آب و تراب و خاکیان
To heaven He gave its circling motion and its purity; to (the mixed) water and earth its dark appearance and its (power of) growth.
آسمان را داد دوران و صفا ** آب و گل را تیره رویی و نما
How can heaven choose turbidity? How can (the mixed) earth and water buy purity?
کی تواند آسمان دردی گزید ** کی تواند آب و گل صفوت خرید
To every one He hath allotted a certain course: how should a mountain by any effort become as a straw?”
قسمتی کردست هر یک را رهی ** کی کهی گردد بجهدی چون کهی
The answer of the prophets, on whom be peace, to the Necessitarians.
جواب انبیا علیهم السلام مر جبریان را
The prophets said, “Yes: He hath created some qualities from which it is impossible to withdraw one's self,
انبیا گفتند کاری آفرید ** وصفهایی که نتان زان سر کشید
And He hath (also) created qualities (which are only) accidental, so that a hated person becomes acceptable.2910
و آفرید او وصفهای عارضی ** که کسی مبغوض می‌گردد رضی
If you bid a stone become gold, ’tis futile; (but) if you bid copper become gold, the way (of transmuting it) exists.
سنگ را گویی که زر شو بیهده‌ست ** مس را گویی که زر شو راه هست
If you bid sand become clay, it is incapable (of doing so); (but) if you bid earth become clay, that is possible.
ریگ را گویی که گل شو عاجزست ** خاک را گویی که گل شو جایزست
He hath given (ordained to us) maladies for which there is no remedy, such as lameness, flatness of the nose, and blindness;
رنجها دادست کان را چاره نیست ** آن بمثل لنگی و فطس و عمیست
He hath given maladies for which there is a remedy, such as facial paralysis and headache.
رنجها دادست کان را چاره هست ** آن بمثل لقوه و درد سرست
These medicines He hath made for the sake of (restoring) harmony: these maladies and medicines are not in vain.2915
این دواها ساخت بهر ایتلاف ** نیست این درد و دواها از گزاف
Nay, most maladies have a cure: when you seek in earnest, it will come to hand.”
بلک اغلب رنجها را چاره هست ** چون بجد جویی بیاید آن بدست
How the infidels repeated the Necessitarian arguments.
مکرر کردن کافران حجتهای جبریانه را
The people said, “O company (of prophets), this malady of ours is not one of those that admit of cure.
قوم گفتند ای گروه این رنج ما ** نیست زان رنجی که بپذیرد دوا
For years ye uttered spells and admonitions of this kind, and by them our bondage was made sorer every moment.
سالها گفتید زین افسون و پند ** سخت‌تر می‌گشت زان هر لحظه بند
If this disease were susceptible of cure, some particle of it would at last have been removed.
گر دوا را این مرض قابل بدی ** آخر از وی ذره‌ای زایل شدی
When hepatitis occurs, water does not enter the liver: if he (the patient) should drink up the (whole) sea, it (the water) would go somewhere else;2920
سده چون شد آب ناید در جگر ** گر خورد دریا رود جایی دگر
Consequently the hands and feet become swollen: that water-drinking does not defeat the thirst.”
لاجرم آماس گیرد دست و پا ** تشنگی را نشکند آن استقا
How the prophets, on whom be peace, answered them again.
باز جواب انبیا علیهم السلام ایشان را
The prophets said, “Despair is wicked: the grace and the mercies of the Creator are infinite.
انبیا گفتند نومیدی بدست ** فضل و رحمتهای باری بی‌حدست
’Tis not proper to despair of such a Benefactor: cling to the saddle-strap of this Mercy.
از چنین محسن نشاید ناامید ** دست در فتراک این رحمت زنید
Oh, many a plight became hard in the beginning, (but) afterwards it was relieved, and the hardship passed away.
ای بسا کارا که اول صعب گشت ** بعد از آن بگشاده شد سختی گذشت
After despair there are many hopes; after darkness there are many suns.2925
بعد نومیدی بسی اومیدهاست ** از پس ظلمت بسی خورشیدهاست
I grant indeed that ye have become stony and have put locks upon your ears and hearts;
خود گرفتم که شما سنگین شدیت ** قفلها بر گوش و بر دل بر زدیت