If I call it, it will not come to my hands; and if I leave it, I am afraid it will fall to the ground.
گرش می‌خوانم نمی‌آید به دست ** ور هلم ترسم که افتد او به پست
It is not intelligent, that it should apprehend, like us, if I say, ‘Come to me (and escape) from the danger.’
نیست عاقل تا که دریابد چون ما ** گر بگویم کز خطر سوی من آ
Moreover, it does not understand signs made by the hand; or if it should understand, it will not hearken: this too is bad (useless).2660
هم اشارت را نمی‌داند به دست ** ور بداند نشنود این هم به دست
Many times have I shown to it the milk and the teat, (but) it always turns its eyes and face away from me.
بس نمودم شیر و پستان را بدو ** او همی گرداند از من چشم و رو
For God's sake—(since) ye, O noble ones, are those who give succour in this world and that (other) world—
از برای حق شمایید ای مهان ** دستگیر این جهان و آن جهان
Quickly apply the remedy, for my heart is trembling lest I be torn painfully from the fruit of my heart.”
زود درمان کن که می‌لرزد دلم ** که بدرد از میوه‌ی دل بسکلم
He (‘Alí) said, “Take another child up to the roof, in order that the boy may see his congener,
گفت طفلی را بر آور هم به بام ** تا ببیند جنس خود را آن غلام
And come nimbly from the water-spout to his congener: congener is ever in love with congener.”2665
سوی جنس آید سبک زان ناودان ** جنس بر جنس است عاشق جاودان
The woman did so, and when her child saw its congener, it turned its face towards it with delight
زن چنان کرد و چو دید آن طفل او ** جنس خود خوش خوش بدو ورد آورد
And came from the ridge of the water-spout to the roof: know that a congener attracts every congener.
سوی بام آمد ز متن ناودان ** جاذب هر جنس را هم جنس دان
The child came crawling along to the (other) child: it was saved from falling to (the ground) below.
غژغژان آمد به سوی طفل طفل ** وا رهید او از فتادن سوی سفل
The prophets are of humankind for this reason, that they (humankind), through the homogeneity (of the prophets with them), may be saved from the water-spout.
زان بود جنس بشر پیغامبران ** تا بجنسیت رهند از ناودان
Therefore he (the Prophet) called himself a man like you, that ye might come to your congener and might not become lost;2670
پس بشر فرمود خود را مثلکم ** تا به جنس آیید و کم گردید گم
For homogeneity is a wondrous attractor: wheresoever there is a seeker, his congener is attracting him.
زانک جنسیت عجایب جاذبیست ** جاذبش جنسست هر جا طالبیست
Jesus and Idrís ascended to heaven, since they were homogeneous with the angels.
عیسی و ادریس بر گردون شدند ** با ملایک چونک هم‌جنس آمدند
Again, Hárút and Márút were homogeneous with the body: hence they descended from on high.
باز آن هاروت و ماروت از بلند ** جنس تن بودند زان زیر آمدند
The infidels have become homogeneous with Satan: their spirits have become disciples of the devils.
کافران هم جنس شیطان آمده ** جانشان شاگرد شیطانان شده
They have learned a hundred thousand evil dispositions; they have sewn up the eyes of intellect and heart.2675
صد هزاران خوی بد آموخته ** دیده‌های عقل و دل بر دوخته
Their least ugly disposition is envy—that envy which smote the neck of (destroyed) Iblís.
کمترین خوشان به زشتی آن حسد ** آن حسد که گردن ابلیس زد
From those curs they have learned hatred and envy, for he (Satan) does not wish the kingdom everlasting (to be granted) to (God's) creatures.
زان سگان آموخته حقد و حسد ** که نخواهد خلق را ملک ابد
When he sees, on left or right, any one perfect, colic comes to him and pain arises (in him) from envy,
هر کرا دید او کمال از چپ و راست ** از حسد قولنجش آمد درد خاست
Because every miserable wretch whose stack has been burnt is unwilling that any one's candle should be lighted.
زآنک هر بدبخت خرمن‌سوخته ** می‌نخواهد شمع کس افروخته
Hark, bring to hand (acquire) some (degree of) perfection, in order that thou too mayst not be aggrieved by the perfection of others.2680
هین کمالی دست آور تا تو هم ** از کمال دیگران نفتی به غم
Beg of God the removal of this envy, that God may deliver thee from the body,
از خدا می‌خواه دفع این حسد ** تا خدایت وا رهاند از جسد
And bestow on thee an inward occupation, from which thou wilt not become disengaged (so as to turn thy attention) outwards.
مر ترا مشغولیی بخشد درون ** که نپردازی از آن سوی برون