A few well-sifted almonds are better than a great many (sweet ones) mixed with bitter..4025
هست بادام کم خوش بیخته ** به ز بسیاری به تلخ آمیخته
The bitter and the sweet are one thing (alike) in respect of rattling (against each other, when poured out); the defect arises from their not being the same at heart.
تلخ و شیرین در ژغاژغ یک شی‌اند ** نقص از آن افتاد که همدل نیند
The infidel is of timorous heart, for, (judging) from opinion, he lives in doubt as to the state of that (the other) world.
گبر ترسان دل بود کو از گمان ** می‌زید در شک ز حال آن جهان
He is going along the road, (but) he does not know any stage: one blind in heart steps timidly.
When the traveller does not know the way, how does he go? He goes with (many) hesitations, while his heart is full of blood (anguish).
چون نداند ره مسافر چون رود ** با ترددها و دل پرخون رود
If anyone says (to him), “Hey! this is not the way he will o halt there and stand still in affright.4030
هرکه گویدهای این‌سو راه نیست ** او کند از بیم آنجا وقف و ایست
But if his (the traveller’s) wise heart knows the way, how should every hey and ho go into his ear?
ور بداند ره دل با هوش او ** کی رود هر های و هو در گوش او
Therefore do not journey with these camel-hearted (craven) ones, for in the hour of distress and danger they are the ones who sink;
پس مشو همراه این اشتردلان ** زانک وقت ضیق و بیمند آفلان
Then they flee and leave thee alone, though in boasting they are (powerful as) the magic of Babylon.
پس گریزند و ترا تنها هلند ** گرچه اندر لاف سحر بابلند
Beware! Do not thou request sybarites to fight; do not request peacocks to engage in the hunt and the chase.
تو ز رعنایان مجو هین کارزار ** تو ز طاوسان مجو صید و شکار
The carnal nature is a peacock: it tempts thee and talks idly, that it may remove thee from thy (spiritual) post.4035
طبع طاوسست و وسواست کند ** دم زند تا از مقامت بر کند
How Satan said to the Quraysh, “Go to war with Ahmad (Mohammed), for I will aid you and call my tribe to help”; and how, when the two battle-lines confronted each other, he fled.
گفتن شیطان قریش را کی به جنگ احمد آیید کی من یاریها کنم وقبیله‌ی خود را بیاری خوانم و وقت ملاقات صفین گریختن
As (for example) Satan became the hundred-and-first in the army (of the Quraysh) and spake beguiling words, saying, “Verily, I am a protector for you.”
همچو شیطان در سپه شد صد یکم ** خواند افسون که اننی جار لکم
When the Quraysh had assembled at his bidding, and the two armies confronted each other,
چون قریش از گفت او حاضر شدند ** هر دو لشکر در ملاقان آمدند
Satan espied a host of angels on a road beside the ranks of the Faithful.
دید شیطان از ملایک اسپهی ** سوی صف مومنان اندر رهی
(He espied) those troops that ye saw not, drawn up in ranks; and from terror his soul became (like) a fire-temple.
آن جنودا لم تروها صف زده ** گشت جان او ز بیم آتشکده
Turning on his heel, he began to retreat, saying, “I behold a marvellous host”—4040
پای خود وا پس کشیده می‌گرفت ** که همی‌بینم سپاهی من شگفت
That is, “I fear God: I have no help from Him. Get ye gone! Verily, I see what ye see not.”
ای اخاف الله ما لی منه عون ** اذهبوا انی اری ما لاترون
Hárith said, “Hey, O thou that hast the form of Suráqa, why wert not thou saying such-like words yesterday?”
گفت حارث ای سراقه شکل هین ** دی چرا تو می‌نگفتی اینچنین
He replied, “At this moment I see destruction (before me).” He (Hárith) said, “Thou seest the most puny of the Arabs.
گفت این دم من همی‌بینم حرب ** گفت می‌بینی جعاشیش عرب
Thou art seeing naught but this; but, O thou disgrace, that was the time of talk, and this is the time of battle.
می‌نبینی غیر این لیک ای تو ننگ ** آن زمان لاف بود این وقت جنگ
Yesterday thou wert saying, ‘I pledge myself that victory and Divine aid will always be yours.’4045
دی همی‌گفتی که پایندان شدم ** که بودتان فتح و نصرت دم‌بدم
Yesterday thou wert the surety for the army, O accursed one, and now thou art cowardly, good-for-nothing, and vile,
دی زعیم الجیش بودی ای لعین ** وین زمان نامرد و ناچیز و مهین
So that (after) we swallowed those (deceitful) words of thine and came (to battle), thou hast gone to the bath-stove and we have become the fuel.”
تا بخوردیم آن دم تو و آمدیم ** تو بتون رفتی و ما هیزم شدیم
When Hárith said this to Suráqa, that accursed one was enraged at his reproaches.
چونک حارث با سراقه گفت این ** از عتابش خشمگین شد آن لعین
He angrily withdrew his hand from his (Hárith's) hand, since his heart was pained by his words.
دست خود خشمین ز دست او کشید ** چون ز گفت اوش درد دل رسید