Rumi's Masnavi - The Creator of the heavenly spheres and of the stars on high and of man and devil and genie and bird,

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

That perchance, by the favour of that goodly promise, the crucifixion (torment) of my unbelief may be assuaged. 2515

تا بود کز لطف آن وعده‌ی حسن ** سست گردد چارمیخ کفر من

Perchance the lock of my hundred maunds' weight of unbelief may be opened by those fair and desirable promises.

بوک زان خوش وعده‌های مغتنم ** برگشاید قفل کفر صد منم

Perchance, by the effect of the river of honey, this poison of hatred may be turned into honey in my body;

بوک از تاثیر جوی انگبین ** شهد گردد در تنم این زهر کین

Or by the reflexion of the river of that pure milk, (my) captive intelligence may be nourished for a moment;

یا ز عکس جوی آن پاکیزه شیر ** پرورش یابد دمی عقل اسیر

Or perchance, by the reflexion of those rivers of wine, I may be intoxicated and obtain a scent of the delight of (obedience to) the (Divine) command;

یا بود کز عکس آن جوهای خمر ** مست گردم بو برم از ذوق امر

Or perchance, by the favour of those rivers of water, my barren devastated body may gain refreshment— 2520

یا بود کز لطف آن جوهای آب ** تازگی یابد تن شوره‌ی خراب

Some verdure may appear on my barren soil, my thorn-brake may become the Garden of (everlasting) abode;

شوره‌ام را سبزه‌ای پیدا شود ** خارزارم جنت ماوی شود

Perchance, by the reflexion of Paradise and the four rivers, my spirit, through God's befriending (it), may become a seeker of the Friend,

بوک از عکس بهشت و چار جو ** جان شود از یاری حق یارجو

In the same fashion as from the reflexion of Hell I have become fire and am steeped in the wrath of God.

آنچنان که از عکس دوزخ گشته‌ام ** آتش و در قهر حق آغشته‌ام

At one moment, from the reflexion of the snake of Hell I have become (engaged in) dropping poison, like a snake, on those who shall dwell in Paradise;

گه ز عکس مار دوزخ هم‌چو مار ** گشته‌ام بر اهل جنت زهربار

At another time, from the reflexion of the boiling of the hot water (of Hell), the water of my oppression has made the people (like) rotten bones. 2525

گه ز عکس جوشش آب حمیم ** آب ظلمم کرده خلقان را رمیم

From the reflexion of the zamharír (intense cold of Hell) I am (as) the zamharír; or from the reflexion of the sa‘ír (flames of Hell) I am as the sa‘ír.

من ز عکس زمهریرم زمهریر ** یا ز عکس آن سعیرم چون سعیر

I am now the Hell of the poor and oppressed: woe to him whom I suddenly find subject (to me)!”

دوزخ درویش و مظلومم کنون ** وای آنک یابمش ناگه زبون

How Moses, on whom be peace, explained those four excellent qualities (which should be bestowed) as a reward for Pharaoh's coming into the Faith.

شرح کردن موسی علیه‌السلام آن چهار فضیلت را جهت پای مزد ایمان فرعون

Moses said, "The first of those four will be constant health for thy body:

گفت موسی که اولین آن چهار ** صحتی باشد تنت را پایدار

These maladies that are described in (books of) Medicine will be far from thy body, O estimable one.

این علل‌هایی که در طب گفته‌اند ** دور باشد از تنت ای ارجمند

Secondly, thou wilt have a long life, for death will be cautious of (attacking) thy life; 2530

ثانیا باشد ترا عمر دراز ** که اجل دارد ز عمرت احتراز

And after a life uniform (in happiness) this will not be (the sequel, namely) that thou wilt go forth from the world against thy will;

وین نباشد بعد عمر مستوی ** که بناکام از جهان بیرون روی

Nay, but (thou wilt go) desiring death as the sucking babe (desires milk), not on account of the pain that holds thee captive.

بلک خواهان اجل چون طفل شیر ** نه ز رنجی که ترا دارد اسیر

Thou wilt be seeking death, but not from painful infirmity; nay, thou wilt see the treasure in the ruin of the house (of the body).

مرگ‌جو باشی ولی نه از عجز رنج ** بلک بینی در خراب خانه گنج

Therefore with thine own hand thou wilt take a pick-axe and smite upon the house without any care;

پس به دست خویش گیری تیشه‌ای ** می‌زنی بر خانه بی‌اندیشه‌ای

For thou wilt deem the house to be the barrier to the treasure, and this single grain to be the obstacle to a hundred corn-stacks. 2535

که حجاب گنج بینی خانه را ** مانع صد خرمن این یک دانه را

This grain, then, thou wilt cast into the fire and adopt the (only) profession that is worthy of a man.”

پس در آتش افکنی این دانه را ** پیش گیری پیشه‌ی مردانه را