What is patch-sewing? The drinking of water and the eating of bread: thou art applying these patches to the heavy cloak.
پارهدوزی چیست خورد آب و نان ** میزنی این پاره بر دلق گران
This cloak, thy body, is always being torn, and thou art patching it by this eating and drinking of thine.
هر زمان میدرد این دلق تنت ** پاره بر وی میزنی زین خوردنت
O thou who art of the progeny of the fortunate King, come to thyself, be ashamed of this patch-sewing.2555
ای ز نسل پادشاه کامیار ** با خود آ زین پارهدوزی ننگ دار
Tear a patch (piece) from off this shop-floor, in order that two mines (of treasure) may lift up their head (emerge into view) before thee,
پارهای بر کن ازین قعر دکان ** تا برآرد سر به پیش تو دو کان
Ere this lease of the hired house come to an end without thy having gained any profit from it.
پیش از آن کین مهلت خانهی کری ** آخر آید تو نخورده زو بری
Then the owner of the shop will turn thee out and will demolish this shop for the sake of the (hidden) mine,
پس ترا بیرون کند صاحب دکان ** وین دکان را بر کند از روی کان
(While) thou at one moment wilt beat thy head in remorse, and at another tear thy foolish beard,
تو ز حسرت گاه بر سر میزنی ** گاه ریش خام خود بر میکنی
Saying, “Alas, this shop was mine, (but) I was blind and got no profit from this place of abode.2560
کای دریغا آن من بود این دکان ** کور بودم بر نخوردم زین مکان
Alas, the wind swept our existence away: (the text) O sorrow for the servants of God is come (true) unto everlasting.
ای دریغا بود ما را برد باد ** تا ابد یا حسرتا شد للعباد
[How Man is deluded by the sagacity and imaginations of his (carnal) nature and does not seek knowledge of the Unseen, which is the knowledge possessed by the prophets.]
غره شدن آدمی به ذکاوت و تصویرات طبع خویشتن و طلب ناکردن علم غیب کی علم انبیاست
I saw (beautiful) pictures and paintings in the house: I was without self-control in (my) love of the house.
دیدم اندر خانه من نقش و نگار ** بودم اندر عشق خانه بیقرار
I was unaware of any hidden treasure; otherwise, the axe would have been (as) the pomander in my hand.
بودم از گنج نهانی بیخبر ** ورنه دستنبوی من بودی تبر
Ah, if I had given the axe its due, I should now have given a quittance to (should have been quit of) grief.
آه گر داد تبر را دادمی ** این زمان غم را تبرا دادمی
I was casting my eye on the picture and falling idly in love (with it), like children.”2565
چشم را بر نقش میانداختم ** همچو طفلان عشقها میباختم
That fortunate Sage, then, has said well, “Thou art a child: the house is full of pictures and paintings.”
پس نکو گفت آن حکیم کامیار ** که تو طفلی خانه پر نقش و نگار
In the Iláhí-náma he gave many an injunction, saying, “Raise the dust from (utterly demolish) thine own household.”
در الهینامه بس اندرز کرد ** که بر آر دودمان خویش گرد
(Pharaoh said), “Enough, O Moses! Tell (me) the third promise, for my heart has become lost (distraught) from the agitation caused by (eagerness to hear) it.”
بس کن ای موسی بگو وعدهی سوم ** که دل من ز اضطرابش گشت گم
Moses said, “This third (promise) is a twofold empire—(an empire) appertaining to the two worlds (temporal and spiritual), free from adversary and enemy;
گفت موسی آن سوم ملک دوتو ** دو جهانی خالص از خصم و عدو
Greater than the empire of which thou art now in possession; for that was (whilst thou wert) at war (with God), and this (will be whilst thou art) at peace (with Him).2570
بیشتر زان ملک که اکنون داشتی ** کان بد اندر جنگ و این در آشتی
He who bestows on thee, (whilst thou art) at war, such an empire as this— consider how (bounteously) He will lay the table for thee (when thou art) at peace.
آنک در جنگت چنان ملکی دهد ** بنگر اندر صلح خوانت چون نهد
That (Divine) bounty which gave thee those (goodly) things in thy unrighteousness—consider what will be (its) care (for thee) in thy faithfulness.”
آن کرم که اندر جفا آنهات داد ** در وفا بنگر چه باشد افتقاد
“O Moses,” said he, “what is the fourth (promise)? Quickly declare (it): my patience is gone and my desire has waxed great.”
گفت ای موسی چهارم چیست زود ** بازگو صبرم شد و حرصم فزود
He said, “The fourth is that thou wilt remain (ever) young, (with) hair (black) like pitch and cheeks (pink) like the arghawán (flower of the Judas-tree).
گفت چارم آنک مانی تو جوان ** موی همچون قیر و رخ چون ارغوان
To us (prophets) colour and perfume are very worthless, but thou art low, (so) we have made our words low.2575
رنگ و بو در پیش ما بس کاسدست ** لیک تو پستی سخن کردیم پست
Boasting of colour and perfume and dwelling-place is a joy and deception (only) to children.
افتخار از رنگ و بو و از مکان ** هست شادی و فریب کودکان
[Explanation of the Tradition, "Speak ye unto men according to the measure of their understandings, not according to the measure of your understandings, so that God and His messenger may not be given the lie."]
بیان این خبر کی کلموا الناس علی قدر عقولهم لا علی قدر عقولکم حتی لا یکذبوا الله و رسوله
Since my business happens to be with a child, I must accordingly speak the language suited to children,
چونک با کودک سر و کارم فتاد ** هم زبان کودکان باید گشاد