His vice is hidden, (but) when he got the instrument (gained power), his snake, (coming out) from its hole, sped along the plain.
عیب او مخفیست چون آلت بیافت ** مارش از سوراخ بر صحرا شتافت
The entire plain is filled with snakes and scorpions when the ignorant man becomes king (master) of the bitter (harsh) decree.
جمله صحرا مار و کزدم پر شود ** چونک جاهل شاه حکم مر شود
The worthless person who acquires wealth and office has become the seeker of his own disgrace.
مال و منصب ناکسی که آرد به دست ** طالب رسوایی خویش او شدست
Either he behaves stingily and gives few presents, or he shows generosity and bestows (them) in the wrong place (unsuitably).1445
یا کند بخل و عطاها کم دهد ** یا سخا آرد بنا موضع نهد
He puts the king in the house (square) of the pawn: the gifts which a fool makes are like this.
شاه را در خانهی بیذق نهد ** این چنین باشد عطا که احمق دهد
When authority falls into the hands of one who has lost the (right) way, he deems it to be a high position (jáh), (but in reality) he has fallen into a pit (cháh).
حکم چون در دست گمراهی فتاد ** جاه پندارید در چاهی فتاد
He does not know the way, (yet) he acts as guide: his wicked spirit makes a world-conflagration.
راه نمیداند قلاووزی کند ** جان زشت او جهانسوزی کند
When (one who is as) a child in the Way of (spiritual) poverty assumes the part of an Elder (Director of souls), the ghoul of unblessedness seizes those who follow (him).
طفل راه فقر چون پیری گرفت ** پیروان را غول ادباری گرفت
“Come,” says he, “for I will show thee the moon”; (yet) that impure one never saw the moon.1450
که بیا تا ماه بنمایم ترا ** ماه را هرگز ندید آن بیصفا
How wilt thou show (the moon) when during (all) thy life thou hast not seen even the reflexion of the moon in the water, O half-baked dunce?
چون نمایی چون ندیدستی به عمر ** عکس مه در آب هم ای خام غمر
The foolish have become leaders, and from fear (of them) the wise have drawn their heads into the cloak.
احمقان سرور شدستند و ز بیم ** عاقلان سرها کشیده در گلیم
Commentary on "O thou that wrappest thyself."
تفسیر یا ایها المزمل
For this reason He (God) called the Prophet muzzammil (one who wraps himself), saying, “Come forth from the cloak, O thou who art fond of taking flight.
خواند مزمل نبی را زین سبب ** که برون آ از گلیم ای بوالهرب
Do not draw thy head into the cloak and do not cover thy face, for the world is a reeling body: thou art the intelligence (rational spirit).
سر مکش اندر گلیم و رو مپوش ** که جهان جسمیست سرگردان تو هوش
Hark, do not hide on account of the opprobrium of the adversary, since thou hast the resplendent candle of the Revelation.1455
هین مشو پنهان ز ننگ مدعی ** که تو داری شمع وحی شعشعی
Hark, stand up (in prayer) during the night, for thou art a candle, O prince: at night a candle stands up (and burns).
هین قم اللیل که شمعی ای همام ** شمع اندر شب بود اندر قیام
Without thy radiance, even the bright day is (dark as) night: without thy protection, the lion is captive to the hare.
بیفروغت روز روشن هم شبست ** بیپناهت شیر اسیر ارنبست
Be the captain (pilot) of the ship in this sea of (spiritual) purity, for thou art a second Noah, O Mustafá (elect one).
باش کشتیبان درین بحر صفا ** که تو نوح ثانیی ای مصطفی
An expert guide, (endowed) with understanding, is needed for every road, especially in the road (journey) on the water.
ره شناسی میبباید با لباب ** هر رهی را خاصه اندر راه آب
Arise! Look upon the waylaid caravan: everywhere a ghoul has become captain of the ship.1460
خیز بنگر کاروان رهزده ** هر طرف غولیست کشتیبان شده
Thou art the Khizr of the time and the Deliverer of every ship (in distress): do not, like (Jesus) the Spirit of God, practise solitude.
خضر وقتی غوث هر کشتی توی ** همچو روحالله مکن تنها روی
In the sight of this assembly (of people) thou art as the candle of heaven: leave off severing thyself (from them) and adopting seclusion.
پیش این جمعی چو شمع آسمان ** انقطاع و خلوت آری را بمان
’Tis not the time for seclusion: come into the assembly, O thou who art (as) the humáy, while the guidance (of souls) is like Mount Qáf.
وقت خلوت نیست اندر جمع آی ** ای هدی چون کوه قاف و تو همای
The full-moon is moving by night on the upper part of the sky: it does not cease from its journey because of the outcry of the dogs.
بدر بر صدر فلک شد شب روان ** سیر را نگذارد از بانگ سگان
The scoffers keep making an outcry, like dogs, at thy full-moon in the direction of thy high place.1465
طاعنان همچون سگان بر بدر تو ** بانگ میدارند سوی صدر تو
These dogs are deaf to the (Divine) command, ‘Be ye silent’: from folly (they are) bow-wowing at thy full-moon.
این سگان کرند از امر انصتوا ** از سفه و عوع کنان بر بدر تو