Rumi's Masnavi - Like the Ethiopian (negro) who saw in the mirror that his face was ugly, et in speculum cacavit, [Like the Ethiopian (negro) who saw in the mirror that his face was ugly, and defecated upon the mirror,]

Like the Ethiopian (negro) who saw in the mirror that his face was ugly, et in speculum cacavit, [Like the Ethiopian (negro) who saw in the mirror that his face was ugly, and defecated upon the mirror,] 2490

هم‌چو آن زنگی که در آیینه دید ** روی خود را زشت و بر آیینه رید

Saying, ‘How ugly thou art! Thou art deserving only of this.’ (The mirror replies), ‘My ugliness belongs to thee, O vile blind one.

که چه زشتی لایق اینی و بس ** زشتیم آن تواست ای کور خس

Thou art putting this filth on thy ugly face: it is not on me, for I have splendour.’

این حدث بر روی زشتت می‌کنی ** نیست بر من زانک هستم روشنی

At one time thou wert seeing (in vision) thy raiment burnt; at another time thy mouth and eyes stitched up;

گاه می‌دیدی لباست سوخته ** گه دهان و چشم تو بر دوخته

Now a (rapacious) animal seeking thy blood; now thy head in the teeth of a wild beast;

گاه حیوان قاصد خونت شده ** گه سر خود را به دندان دده

Now (in thy dream thou wert) upside down in the midst of a latrine; now sunk in a fierce blood-dyed torrent; 2495

گه نگون اندر میان آبریز ** گه غریق سیل خون‌آمیز تیز

Now from this pure heaven came to thee a voice crying, ‘Thou art damned, thou art damned, damned’;

گه ندات آمد ازین چرخ نقی ** که شقیی و شقیی و شقی

Now from the mountains came to thee a voice, (saying) plainly, ‘Begone! Thou art one of the people of the left hand’;

گه ندات آمد صریحا از جبال ** که برو هستی ز اصحاب الشمال

Now from every inanimate thing was coming to thee a voice (which cried), ‘Pharaoh is fallen into Hell for evermore’;

گه ندا می‌آمدت از هر جماد ** تا ابد فرعون در دوزخ فتاد

(And thou sawest) worse things than these, which from shame I will not tell, lest thy perverted nature become hot (with anger).

زین بترها که نمی‌گویم ز شرم ** تا نگردد طبع معکوس تو گرم

I have told thee a little, O thou who wilt not accept (my warning): from a little thou mayst know that I am acquainted (with the whole). 2500

اندکی گفتم به تو ای ناپذیر ** ز اندکی دانی که هستم من خبیر

Thou wert making thyself blind and dead, that thou might’st not bethink thee of the dreams and visions.

خویشتن را کور می‌کردی و مات ** تا نیندیشی ز خواب و واقعات

How long wilt thou flee? Lo, it is come to thee in despite of thy guile-meditating perception.

چند بگریزی نک آمد پیش تو ** کوری ادراک مکراندیش تو

Explaining that the door of repentance is open.

بیان آنک در توبه بازست

Hark, do not act (so) henceforth, (but) take precaution, for through (God's) bounty the door of repentance is open.

هین مکن زین پس فراگیر احتراز ** که ز بخشایش در توبه‌ست باز

From the quarter of the West a door of repentance is open to mankind till the Resurrection.

توبه را از جانب مغرب دری ** باز باشد تا قیامت بر وری

Till the sun lifts up its head (rises) from the West, that door is open: do not avert thy face from it. 2505

تا ز مغرب بر زند سر آفتاب ** باز باشد آن در از وی رو متاب

By the mercy (of God) Paradise hath eight doors: one of those eight is the door of repentance, O son.

هست جنت را ز رحمت هشت در ** یک در توبه‌ست زان هشت ای پسر

All the others are sometimes open, sometimes shut; and never is the door of repentance but open.

آن همه گه باز باشد گه فراز ** وآن در توبه نباشد جز که باز

Come, seize the opportunity: the door is open: carry thy baggage thither at once in despite of the envious (Devil).

هین غنیمت دار در بازست زود ** رخت آنجا کش به کوری حسود

How Moses, on whom be peace, said to Pharaoh, "Accept one counsel from me and take four excellent qualities as recompense."

گفتن موسی علیه‌السلام فرعون را کی از من یک پند قبول کن و چهار فضیلت عوض بستان

Come, accept from me one thing and bring (it into practice), and then take from me four as recompense for that.”

هین ز من بپذیر یک چیز و بیار ** پس ز من بستان عوض آن را چهار

He replied, “O Moses, what is that one thing? Explain to me a little about that one thing.” 2510

گفت ای موسی کدامست آن یکی ** شرح کن با من از آن یک اندکی

“That one thing,” said he, “is that thou shouldst say publicly that there is no god but the Maker,

گفت آن یک که بگویی آشکار ** که خدایی نیست غیر کردگار

The Creator of the heavenly spheres and of the stars on high and of man and devil and genie and bird,

خالق افلاک و انجم بر علا ** مردم و دیو و پری و مرغ را

The Creator of sea and plain and mountain and desert: His sovereignty is without limit and He is without like.”

خالق دریا و دشت و کوه و تیه ** ملکت او بی‌حد و او بی‌شبیه

He (Pharaoh) said, “O Moses, what are those four things that thou wilt give me in recompense? Declare (what they are) and bring (them before me),

گفت ای موسی کدامست آن چهار ** که عوض بدهی مرا بر گو بیار