How oft hath thy limping been turned into a smooth (easy) gait, how oft hath thy soul been made void of grief and pain!
چند آن لنگی تو رهوار شد ** چند جانت بی غم و آزار شد
O heedless one, tie a string to thy foot, that thou mayst not become lost to (unconscious of) thyself even, O sluggard!
ای مغفل رشته‌ای بر پای بند ** تا ز خود هم گم نگردی ای لوند
Thy ingratitude and forgetfulness did not call to mind thy (former) drinking of honey.310
ناسپاسی و فراموشی تو ** یاد ناورد آن عسل‌نوشی تو
Necessarily, that way (by which spiritual blessings were conveyed) became barred to thee, since the hearts of the “men of heart” were made sore by thee.
لاجرم آن راه بر تو بسته شد ** چون دل اهل دل از تو خسته شد
Quickly overtake them and ask pardon of God; weep lamentably like a cloud,
زودشان در یاب و استغفار کن ** همچو ابری گریه‌های زار کن
In order that their rose-garden may open its blossoms to thee, and that the ripe fruits may burst and reveal themselves.
تا گلستانشان سوی تو بشکفد ** میوه‌های پخته بر خود وا کفد
Pace round that same door: do not be less than a dog, if thou hast become (associated as) a fellow-servant with the dog of the Cave,
هم بر آن در گرد کم از سگ مباش ** با سگ کهف ار شدستی خواجه‌تاش
Because even dogs admonish dogs, saying, “Fix thy heart on thy first home,315
چون سگان هم مر سگان را ناصح‌اند ** که دل اندر خانه‌ی اول ببند
Hold fast to the first door where thou didst eat bones, and fulfil thy obligation: do not leave that (debt unpaid).”
آن در اول که خوردی استخوان ** سخت گیر و حق گزار آن را ممان
They keep biting him (the strange dog), that from a sense of duty he may go thither and be prospered by his first abode.
می‌گزندش تا ز ادب آنجا رود ** وز مقام اولین مفلح شود
They bite him, saying, “O naughty dog, begone! Do not become an enemy to thy benefactor.
می‌گزندش کای سگ طاغی برو ** با ولی نعمتت یاغی مشو
Be attached, like the door-ring, to that same door; keep watch and be nimble and ready to spring.
بر همان در همچو حلقه بسته باش ** پاسبان و چابک و برجسته باش
Do not be the type of our breaking faith, do not recklessly make (our) disloyalty notorious.320
صورت نقض وفای ما مباش ** بی‌وفایی را مکن بیهوده فاش
Since fidelity is the badge by which the dogs are known, begone and do not bring opprobrium and ill-fame upon the dogs.”
مر سگان را چون وفا آمد شعار ** رو سگان را ننگ و بدنامی میار
Inasmuch as unfaithfulness has (always) been a disgrace (even) to dogs, how shouldst thou deem it right to show unfaithfulness?
بی‌وفایی چون سگان را عار بود ** بی‌وفایی چون روا داری نمود
The high God hath boasted of faithfulness: He hath said, “Who but I am most faithful in keeping a promise?”
حق تعالی فخر آورد از وفا ** گفت من اوفی بعهد غیرنا
Know that faithfulness (to others when it is accompanied) with rejection of God is unfaithfulness: no one hath precedence over (hath a prior claim to) God's rights.
بی‌وفایی دان وفا با رد حق ** بر حقوق حق ندارد کس سبق
Thy mother's right (only) arose after that Bounteous One had made her indebted (to Him) for thy embryo.325
حق مادر بعد از آن شد کان کریم ** کرد او را از جنین تو غریم
He bestowed on thee a form within her body, He gave ease to her during pregnancy and accustomed her (to the burden).
صورتی کردت درون جسم او ** داد در حملش ورا آرام و خو
She deemed thee as a part joined (to herself); His providence separated (from her) that which was joined.
همچو جزو متصل دید او ترا ** متصل را کرد تدبیرش جدا
God hath prepared thousands of artifices and contrivances, so that thy mother hath thrown (her) love upon thee.
حق هزاران صنعت و فن ساختست ** تا که مادر بر تو مهر انداختست
Therefore God's right is prior to (that of) the mother: whoever does not recognise that right is an ass.
پس حق حق سابق از مادر بود ** هر که آن حق را نداند خر بود