Didst not thou say?—‘He that leads a blind man on the (right) way gains a hundred recompenses and rewards from God.
نه تو گفتی قاید اعمی به راه ** صد ثواب و اجر یابد از اله
Whoever leads a blind man forty steps is pardoned and will find salvation.’
هر که او چل گام کوری را کشد ** گشت آمرزیده و یابد رشد
Do thou, therefore, lead away from this impermanent world the multitude of the blind, file on file.1470
پس بکش تو زین جهان بی‌قرار ** جوق کوران را قطار اندر قطار
This is the business of a guide: thou art the Guide, thou art the joy for (dispelling) the sorrow of the last (period of) time.
کار هادی این بود تو هادیی ** ماتم آخر زمان را شادیی
Hark, O Imám of the God-fearing, cause these thinkers of vain fancies to go (onward) till (they attain unto) certainty.
هین روان کن ای امام المتقین ** این خیال‌اندیشگان را تا یقین
Whoever hath his heart in pawn (devoted) to plotting against thee, I will smite his neck: do thou advance joyously.
هر که در مکر تو دارد دل گرو ** گردنش را من زنم تو شاد رو
I will lay (more) blindnesses on the top of his blindness: he will deem it sugar, and I will (really) give him poison.
بر سر کوریش کوریها نهم ** او شکر پندارد و زهرش دهم
(All) intellects have been kindled by My light; (all) plots have been learned from My plotting.1475
عقلها از نور من افروختند ** مکرها از مکر من آموختند
What indeed is the Turcoman's tent of black felt before the feet of the male (fierce) elephants of this world?
چیست خود آلاجق آن ترکمان ** پیش پای نره پیلان جهان
Before My sarsar wind what in sooth is that lamp of his (contrivance), O My greatest prophet?
آن چراغ او به پیش صرصرم ** خود چه باشد ای مهین پیغامبرم
Do thou arise and blow on the terrible trumpet, that thousands of the dead may spring up from the earth.
خیز در دم تو بصور سهمناک ** تا هزاران مرده بر روید ز خاک
Since thou art the upright-rising Isráfíl (Seraphiel) of the time, make a resurrection ere the Resurrection.
چون تو اسرافیل وقتی راست‌خیز ** رستخیزی ساز پیش از رستخیز
O beloved, if any one say, ‘Where is the Resurrection?’ show thyself, saying, ‘Behold, I am the Resurrection.1480
هر که گوید کو قیامت ای صنم ** خویش بنما که قیامت نک منم
Look, O questioner who art stricken with tribulation, (and see) that from this resurrection a hundred worlds have grown!’
در نگر ای سایل محنت‌زده ** زین قیامت صد جهان افزون شده
And if he (the scoffer) be not fit for this praise (of Me) and humble supplication, then, O (spiritual) Sultan, the (proper) reply to a fool is silence.
ور نباشد اهل این ذکر و قنوت ** پس جواب الاحمق ای سلطان سکوت
From God's Heaven silence comes in reply when, O (dear) soul, the prayer is unanswered.”
ز آسمان حق سکوت آید جواب ** چون بود جانا دعا نامستجاب
Oh, alas, ’tis harvest-time, but by our (ill) fortune the day has become late.
ای دریغا وقت خرمنگاه شد ** لیک روز از بخت ما بیگاه شد
Time is pressing, and the amplitude of this (subject of) discussion (is such that) a perpetual life will be (too) restricted for it.1485
وقت تنگست و فراخی این کلام ** تنگ می‌آید برو عمر دوام
To dart the lance in these narrow lanes brings to disgrace those who dart the lance.
نیزه‌بازی اندرین کوه‌های تنگ ** نیزه‌بازان را همی آرد به تنگ
The time is narrow (limited), and the mind and understanding of the vulgar is narrower a hundredfold than the time, O youth.
وقت تنگ و خاطر و فهم عوام ** تنگ‌تر صد ره ز وقت است ای غلام
Inasmuch as silence is the (proper) reply to the fool, how art thou thus prolonging the discourse?
چون جواب احمق آمد خامشی ** این درازی در سخن چون می‌کشی
(Because) He (God), from the perfection of His mercy and the waves of His bounty, bestows rain and moisture on every barren soil.
از کمال رحمت و موج کرم ** می‌دهد هر شوره را باران و نم
Showing that (the proverb), "Omission to reply is a reply," confirms the saying that silence is the (proper) reply to the fool. The explanation of both these (sayings) is (contained) in the story which will now be related.
در بیان آنک ترک الجواب جواب مقرر این سخن کی جواب الاحمق سکوت شرح این هر دو درین قصه است کی گفته می‌آید
There was a king: he had a slave; he (the slave) was one whose reason was dead and whose lust was alive.1490
بود شاهی بود او را بنده‌ای ** مرده عقلی بود و شهوت‌زنده‌ای
He would neglect the niceties of service to him (the king): he was thinking evil and deeming (it) good.
خرده‌های خدمتش بگذاشتی ** بد سگالیدی نکو پنداشتی
The monarch said, “Reduce his allowance, and if he wrangle strike his name off the roll.”
گفت شاهنشه جرااش کم کنید ** ور بجنگد نامش از خط بر زنید