Who are they indeed? for the moon is split when I plant my foot on the battlefield.
خود کیند ایشان که مه گردد شکاف ** چونک من پا بفشرم اندر مصاف
At the time when ye were free and powerful, I was seeing you bound (in chains), like this.
آنگهی کزاد بودیت و مکین ** مر شما را بسته میدیدم چنین
O thou that pridest thyself on thy possessions and household, in the view of the intelligent thou art (as) the camel on the water-spout.
ای بنازیده به ملک و خاندان ** نزد عاقل اشتری بر ناودان
(Ever) since the bowl, (which is) the bodily form, fell from the roof, there has rolled before my (inward) eye (the reality denoted by the words) ‘Everything that is (destined) to come shall come.’4540
نقش تن را تا فتاد از بام طشت ** پیش چشمم کل آت آت گشت
I look on the unripe grape, and I see the wine clearly; I look on nonentity, and I see the entity clearly.
بنگرم در غوره می بینم عیان ** بنگرم در نیست شی بینم عیان
I look on the inmost consciousness, and I see a universe hidden, (with) Adam and Eve not (yet) arisen from the world.
بنگرم سر عالمی بینم نهان ** آدم و حوا نرسته از جهان
You I have seen, fettered and overthrown and abject, at the time (when mankind were assembled in the shape) of ants (on the Day) of Alast.
مر شما را وقت ذرات الست ** دیدهام پا بسته و منکوس و پست
That which I had (already) known was not increased by the coming into existence of the pillarless heaven.
از حدوث آسمان بی عمد ** آنچ دانسته بدم افزون نشد
I have ever seen you (fallen) headlong, ere I grew from the water and the clay.4545
من شما را سرنگون میدیدهام ** پیش از آن کز آب و گل بالیدهام
I did not see (anything) new, that I should rejoice thereat: I used to see this (same thing) during your former prosperity.
نو ندیدم تا کنم شادی بدان ** این همیدیدم در آن اقبالتان
Bound in (the chains of) invisible Wrath—and then what (a fearful) Wrath!— ye were eating sugar wherein poison was contained.
بستهی قهر خفی وانگه چه قهر ** قند میخوردید و در وی درج زهر
If thy enemy delight in eating such a poisonous sugar, what envy of him would come to thee?
این چنین قندی پر از زهر ار عدو ** خوش بنوشد چت حسد آید برو
Ye were eating that poison with glee, (while) Death had secretly laid hold of both your ears.
با نشاط آن زهر میکردید نوش ** مرگتان خفیه گرفته هر دو گوش
I did not make war for the sake of gaining victory and conquering the world,4550
من نمیکردم غزا از بهر آن ** تا ظفر یابم فرو گیرم جهان
For this world is a carcase and carrion and vile: how should I be covetous of such carrion as this?
کین جهان جیفهست و مردار و رخیص ** بر چنین مردار چون باشم حریص
I am not a dog that I should tear off the top-knot of the dead; I am (like) Jesus: I come to make him (the dead) living.
سگ نیم تا پرچم مرده کنم ** عیسیام آیم که تا زندهش کنم
I was cleaving the battle-ranks for the purpose that I might deliver you from destruction.
زان همیکردم صفوف جنگ چاک ** تا رهانم مر شما را از هلاک
I do not cut men's throats in order that power and glory and followers may be mine,
زان نمیبرم گلوهای بشر ** تا مرا باشد کر و فر و حشر
(But) I cut some throats in order that a (whole) world (of people) may obtain deliverance from those throats,4555
زان همیبرم گلویی چند تا ** زان گلوها عالمی یابد رها
For ye in your ignorance make a habit of rushing thus, like moths, at the fire,
که شما پروانهوار از جهل خویش ** پیش آتش میکنید این حمله کیش
(While) I, (furiously) as a drunken man, drive you away with both hands (to save you) from falling into the fire.
من همیرانم شما را همچو مست ** از در افتادن در آتش با دو دست
That which ye deemed victories for yourselves—(thereby) ye were sowing the seed of your damnation.
آنک خود را فتحها پنداشتید ** تخم منحوسی خود میکاشتید
Ye were calling one another most earnestly (to fight against me), (and by doing so) ye were riding your horses towards the dragon.
یکدگر را جد جد میخواندید ** سوی اژدرها فرس میراندید
Ye were overpowering (me), whilst in the very act of overpowering ye yourselves were being overpowered by the lion (which is) Time.”4560
قهر میکردید و اندر عین قهر ** خود شما مقهور قهر شیر دهر
Showing that the rebellious sinner in the very act of overpowering is overpowered, and in the very moment of victory is made captive.
بیان آنک طاغی در عین قاهری مقهورست و در عین منصوری ماسور
The robber overpowered (murdered) the merchant and carried off the gold: he was just engaged in that (business), (when) the magistrate arrived.
دزد قهرخواجه کرد و زر کشید ** او بدان مشغول خود والی رسید