Since it would have become broken-hearted on account of its (evil) state, it would have seen before it Him who mends them that are broken.1685
چون شکستهدل شدی از حال خویش ** جابر اشکستگان دیدی به پیش
(When) it saw the end and became broken (contrite), it was at once bandaged by the Bone-setter.
عاقبت را دید و او اشکسته شد ** از شکستهبند در دم بسته شد
The (Divine) grace impelled the pieces of copper towards the elixir; the gilt (coin) remained deprived of (Divine) bounty.
فضل مسها را سوی اکسیر راند ** آن زراندود از کرم محروم ماند
O gilt one, do not make pretensions: recognise that thy purchaser will not (always) remain so blind.
ای زراندوده مکن دعوی ببین ** که نماند مشتریت اعمی چنین
The light of the place of congregation (at the Last Judgement) will cause their (the purchasers') eyes to see and will expose thy blindfolding (of them).
نور محشر چشمشان بینا کند ** چشم بندی ترا رسوا کند
Look at those who have seen the end: they are the amazement of souls and the envy of the eye.1690
بنگر آنها را که آخر دیدهاند ** حسرت جانها و رشک دیدهاند
Look at those who have seen (only) the present: their inmost self is corrupt; they are radically decapitated (cut off from the Truth).
بنگر آنها را که حالی دیدهاند ** سر فاسد ز اصل سر ببریدهاند
To the seer of the present, who is in ignorance and doubt, both the true dawn and the false dawn are one (and the same).
پیش حالیبین که در جهلست و شک ** صبح صادق صبح کاذب هر دو یک
The false dawn has given a hundred thousand caravans to the wind of destruction, O youth.
صبح کاذب صد هزاران کاروان ** داد بر باد هلاکت ای جوان
There is no genuine money that has not a deceptive counterfeit: alas for the soul that does not possess the touchstone and scissors!
نیست نقدی کش غلطانداز نیست ** وای آن جان کش محک و گاز نیست
Warning the pretender to shun pretension and enjoining him to follow (the true guide).
زجر مدعی از دعوی و امر کردن او را به متابعت
Bú Musaylim said, “I myself am Ahmad (Mohammed): I have cunningly confounded the religion of Ahmad.”1695
بو مسیلم گفت خود من احمدم ** دین احمد را به فن برهم زدم
Say to Bú Musaylim, “Do not behave with insolence: be not deluded by the beginning, regard the end.
بو مسیلم را بگو کم کن بطر ** غرهی اول مشو آخر نگر
Do not act thus as a guide from (with the motive of) greed for amassing (wealth and power): follow behind, in order that the Candle (the true guide) may go in front (of thee).”
این قلاوزی مکن از حرص جمع ** پسروی کن تا رود در پیش شمع
The Candle, like the moon, shows (clearly) the (traveller's) destination, and whether in this direction there is the grain (of spiritual welfare) or the place for the snare (of perdition).
شمع مقصد را نماید همچو ماه ** کین طرف دانهست یا خود دامگاه
Whether thou wilt or not, (so long as thou art) with the Lantern the form of falcon and the form of crow become visible (to thee).
گر بخواهی ور نخواهی با چراغ ** دیده گردد نقش باز و نقش زاغ
Otherwise, (beware, for) these crows have lit (the lantern of) fraud: they have learned the cry of the white falcons.1700
ورنه این زاغان دغل افروختند ** بانگ بازان سپید آموختند
If a man learn the cry of the hoopoe, (yet) where is the mystery of the hoopoe and the message from Sabá?
بانگ هدهد گر بیاموزد فتی ** راز هدهد کو و پیغام سبا
Know (distinguish) the natural cry from the artificial one, (know) the crown of kings from the crown (crest) of hoopoes.
بانگ بر رسته ز بر بسته بدان ** تاج شاهان را ز تاج هدهدان
These shameless persons have attached to their tongues the speech of dervishes and the deep sayings of gnostics.
حرف درویشان و نکتهی عارفان ** بستهاند این بیحیایان بر زبان
Every destruction of an olden people that there was—(it was) because they deemed sandal-wood to be (common) wood.
هر هلاک امت پیشین که بود ** زانک چندل را گمان بردند عود
They had the discernment that should make that (difference) evident, but greed and cupidity make (men) blind and deaf.1705
بودشان تمییز کان مظهر کند ** لیک حرص و آز کور و کر کند
The blindness of the (physically) blind is not far from (the Divine) mercy; ’tis the blindness of greed that is inexcusable.
کوری کوران ز رحمت دور نیست ** کوری حرص است که آن معذور نیست
Crucifixion (tribulation) inflicted by the King (God) is not far from mercy; the crucifixion (torment) of envy is not forgiven (by God).
چارمیخ شه ز رحمت دور نی ** چار میخ حاسدی مغفور نی
O fish, regard the end; do not regard the hook: evil appetite has bandaged (blindfolded) thine eye that sees the end.
ماهیا آخر نگر بنگر بشست ** بدگلویی چشم آخربینت بست
See the beginning and the end with both eyes: beware, do not be one-eyed like the accursed Iblís.
با دو دیده اول و آخر ببین ** هین مباش اعور چو ابلیس لعین