How should thankfulness grow from possessions and riches? Thankfulness grows from tribulation and sickness.
شکر کی روید ز املاک و نعم ** شکر می‌روید ز بلوی و سقم
Story of the Súfí's being enamoured of the empty food-wallet.
قصه عشق صوفی بر سفره‌ی تهی
One day a Súfí espied a food-wallet (hanging) on a nail: he began to whirl and rend his garments,
صوفیی بر میخ روزی سفره دید ** چرخ می‌زد جامه‌ها را می‌درید
Crying, “Lo, the food of the foodless! Lo, the remedy for famines and pangs (of hunger)!”3015
بانگ می‌زد نک نوای بی‌نوا ** قحطها و دردها را نک دوا
When his smoke and tumult (his ecstasy) waxed great, every one that was a Súfí joined him (imitated his behaviour).
چونک دود و شور او بسیار شد ** هر که صوفی بود با او یار شد
They were shouting and shrieking: several were becoming intoxicated and beside themselves.
کخ‌کخی و های و هویی می‌زدند ** تای چندی مست و بی‌خود می‌شدند
An idle busybody said to the Súfí, “What is the matter? (Only) a food-wallet hung (on a nail), and it is empty of bread!”
بوالفضولی گفت صوفی را که چیست ** سفره‌ای آویخته وز نان تهیست
He (the Súfí) said, “Begone, begone! Thou art a (mere) form without spirit: do thou seek existence (not non-existence), for thou art no lover.”
گفت رو رو نقش بی‌معنیستی ** تو بجو هستی که عاشق نیستی
The lover's food is love of the bread, without (the existence of) the bread: no one that is sincere (in his love) is in thrall to existence.3020
عشق نان بی نان غذای عاشق است ** بند هستی نیست هر کو صادقست
Lovers have naught to do with existence: lovers have the interest without (having) the capital.
عاشقان را کار نبود با وجود ** عاشقان را هست بی سرمایه سود
They have no wings, and (yet) they fly round the world; they have no hands, and (yet) they carry off the ball from the polo-field.
بال نه و گرد عالم می‌پرند ** دست نه و گو ز میدان می‌برند
That dervish who scented (perceived) Reality used to weave baskets though his hand had been cut off.
آن فقیری کو ز معنی بوی یافت ** دست ببریده همی زنبیل بافت
Lovers have pitched their tents in non-existence: they are of one colour (quality) and one essence, like non-existence.
عاشقان اندر عدم خیمه زدند ** چون عدم یک‌رنگ و نفس واحدند
How should the sucking babe know the taste of viands? To the Jinní scent is meat and drink.3025
شیرخواره کی شناسد ذوق لوت ** مر پری را بوی باشد لوت و پوت
How shall a human being scent (perceive) his (the Jinní's) scent, inasmuch as his (the man's) nature is contrary to his (the Jinní's) nature?
آدمی کی بو برد از بوی او ** چونک خوی اوست ضد خوی او
That scent-inhaling Jinní gains from the scent (a great delight): thou wilt not gain that (delight) from a hundred maunds of sweet dainties.
یابد از بو آن پری بوی‌کش ** تو نیابی آن ز صد من لوت خوش
To the Copt the water of the Nile is blood; to the goodly Israelite it is water.
پیش قبطی خون بود آن آب نیل ** آب باشد پیش سبطی جمیل
By the Israelites the sea is (made) a highway; by the ruffian Pharaoh it is (made) a drowning-place.
جاده باشد بحر ز اسرائیلیان ** غرقه گه باشد ز فرعون عوان
How Jacob, on whom be peace, was privileged to taste the cup of God from the face of Joseph, and inhale the scent of God from the scent of Joseph; and the exclusion of his (Joseph's) brethren and others from both these (privileges).
مخصوص بودن یعقوب علیه السلام به چشیدن جام حق از روی یوسف و کشیدن بوی حق از بوی یوسف و حرمان برادران و غیر هم ازین هر دو
That which Jacob experienced from (beholding) the face of Joseph was peculiar to him: when did that (delight) come to his (Joseph's) brethren?3030
آنچ یعقوب از رخ یوسف بدید ** خاص او بد آن به اخوان کی رسید
This one (Jacob), from love of him (Joseph), puts himself in the pit, while that one (Joseph's brother) digs a pit for him (Joseph) in hatred.
این ز عشقش خویش در چه می‌کند ** و آن بکین از بهر او چه می‌کند
In the sight of this one (Joseph's brother) his (Joseph's) food-wallet is empty of bread; in the sight of Jacob it is full, for he is desiring eagerly.
سفره‌ی او پیش این از نان تهیست ** پیش یعقوبست پر کو مشتهیست
None with face unwashed beholds the faces of the houris: he (the Prophet) said, “There is no ritual prayer without the ablution.”
روی ناشسته نبیند روی حور ** لا صلوة گفت الا بالطهور
Love is the meat and drink of souls; hunger, from this point of view, is the food of souls.
عشق باشد لوت و پوت جانها ** جوع ازین رویست قوت جانها
Jacob had hunger for Joseph; (hence) the smell of the bread was reaching him from afar.3035
جوع یوسف بود آن یعقوب را ** بوی نانش می‌رسید از دور جا
He that took the shirt (of Joseph) was hastening (on his way) and was not perceiving the scent of Joseph's shirt,
آنک بستد پیرهن را می‌شتافت ** بوی پیراهان یوسف می‌نیافت