O God, I have washed my skin clean of ordure: do Thou wash this beloved (spirit) clean of worldly taints.”2220
از حدث شستم خدایا پوست را ** از حوادث تو بشو این دوست را
A certain person used to say at the time of abstersion, "O God, let me smell the sweet odour of Paradise" instead of "O God, make me one of those who repent much, and make me one of those who purify themselves," which is the (proper) form of prayer in abstersion; and he (also) used to recite the formula proper to abstersion at the time of rinsing his nose. A venerable man heard (him) and could not endure it.
شخصی به وقت استنجا می‌گفت اللهم ارحنی رائحة الجنه به جای آنک اللهم اجعلنی من التوابین واجعلنی من المتطهرین کی ورد استنجاست و ورد استنجا را به وقت استنشاق می‌گفت عزیزی بشنید و این را طاقت نداشت
A certain one said at the time of abstersion, “(O God), unite me with the scent of Paradise!”
آن یکی در وقت استنجا بگفت ** که مرا با بوی جنت دار جفت
(Thereupon) a person said, “You have used a good formula, but you have missed the (proper) hole for the prayer.
Since this prayer was the formula applicable to the nose, why have you applied the nose-formula to the arse?
این دعا چون ورد بینی بود چون ** ورد بینی را تو آوردی به کون
One free (from sensuality) gets the odour of Paradise from his nose: how should the odour of Paradise come from the rump?”
رایحه‌ی جنت ز بینی یافت حر ** رایحه‌ی جنت کم آید از دبر
O thou who hast brought humility into the presence of fools, and O thou who hast brought pride into the presence of (spiritual) kings,2225
ای تواضع برده پیش ابلهان ** وی تکبر برده تو پیش شهان
The pride shown to the base is goodly and fitting. Take heed, do not behave in the reverse manner: the reverse thereof is (the cause of) thy bondage.
آن تکبر بر خسان خوبست و چست ** هین مرو معکوس عکسش بند تست
The rose grew for the sake of the nostrils: sweet scent is the stipend of the nose, O churl.
از پی سوراخ بینی رست گل ** بو وظیفه‌ی بینی آمد ای عتل
The scent of the rose is for organs of smell, O bold man: this hole below is not the place for that scent.
بوی گل بهر مشامست ای دلیر ** جای آن بو نیست این سوراخ زیر
How should the scent of Paradise come to thee from this place? If thou requirest the (sweet) scent, seek it from its (proper) place.
کی ازین جا بوی خلد آید ترا ** بو ز موضع جو اگر باید ترا
Likewise, “love of country” is right, (but) first, O master, know (what really is) thy country.2230
هم‌چنین حب الوطن باشد درست ** تو وطن بشناس ای خواجه نخست
That sagacious fish said, “I will journey, I will withdraw my heart from their advice and counsel.”
گفت آن ماهی زیرک ره کنم ** دل ز رای و مشورتشان بر کنم
’Tis no time for counsel. Hark, journey! Like ‘Alí, sigh (the secret) into the well.
نیست وقت مشورت هین راه کن ** چون علی تو آه اندر چاه کن
Very seldom is there found a fit confidant for that sigh: go by night and let thy movement be hidden, like (that of) the night-patrol.
محرم آن آه کم‌یابست بس ** شب رو و پنهان‌روی کن چون عسس
Set out from this lake towards the sea: seek the sea and take leave of this whirlpool.
سوی دریا عزم کن زین آب‌گیر ** بحر جو و ترک این گرداب گیر
That wary (fish) made its breast o afoot (swam away) and was going from its perilous abode to the sea of light,2235
سینه را پا ساخت می‌رفت آن حذور ** از مقام با خطر تا بحر نور
Like the deer of which a dog is in pursuit and which keeps running so long as there is a single nerve in its body.
هم‌چو آهو کز پی او سگ بود ** می‌دود تا در تنش یک رگ بود
Hare’s sleep (heedlessness) with the dog in pursuit is a sin: how indeed is sleep (dwelling) in the eye of him who hath fear?
خواب خرگوش و سگ اندر پی خطاست ** خواب خود در چشم ترسنده کجاست
That fish departed and took the way to the sea: it took the far way and the vast expanse.
رفت آن ماهی ره دریا گرفت ** راه دور و پهنه‌ی پهنا گرفت
It suffered many afflictions, and in the end it went after all towards safety and welfare.
رنجها بسیار دید و عاقبت ** رفت آخر سوی امن و عافیت
It cast itself into the deep Sea whose bound no eye can reach.2240
خویشتن افکند در دریای ژرف ** که نیابد حد آن را هیچ طرف
So when the fishermen brought their net (to the lake), the half-intelligent (fish) was bitterly grieved thereat.
پس چو صیادان بیاوردند دام ** نیم‌عاقل را از آن شد تلخ کام
And said, “Alas, I have lost the opportunity: how did not I accompany that guide?
گفت اه من فوت کردم فرصه را ** چون نگشتم همره آن رهنما
He went off suddenly, but seeing that he went I ought to have gone after him in hot haste.”
ناگهان رفت او ولیکن چونک رفت ** می‌ببایستم شدن در پی بتفت
‘Tis wrong to regret the past: what is gone will not come back: to remember it is of no avail.
بر گذشته حسرت آوردن خطاست ** باز ناید رفته یاد آن هباست
Story of the captive bird which gave the (following) injunctions: do not feel sorrow for what is past, think about taking precaution for the present (need), and do not spend time in repenting.
قصه‌ی آن مرغ گرفته کی وصیت کرد کی بر گذشته پشیمانی مخور تدارک وقت اندیش و روزگار مبر در پشیمانی