Thou hast become ‘not’; (now) take up thy abode beside ‘except.’ This is wonderful, that thou art both a prisoner and a prince.
لا شدی پهلوی الا خانهگیر ** این عجب که هم اسیری هم امیر
Thou didst not give what thou gavest: the king gave it. He alone is. God best knoweth the right course.”
آنچ دادی تو ندای شاه داد ** اوست بس الله اعلم بالرشاد
And the boon-companion who had been delivered from the stroke of calamity was offended with this intercessor and drew back from (his former) fealty.2950
وآن ندیم رسته از زخم و بلا ** زین شفیع آزرد و برگشت از ولا
He cut off all (relations of) friendship with that sincere man, and turned his face to the wall in order that he might not give (him) the salaam.
دوستی ببرید زان مخلص تمام ** رو به حایط کرد تا نارد سلام
He became estranged from his intercessor; in astonishment at this the people began to talk,
زین شفیع خویشتن بیگانه شد ** زین تعجب خلق در افسانه شد
Saying, “(If) he is not mad, how did he cut off friendly relations with the person who redeemed his life?
که نه مجنونست یاری چون برید ** از کسی که جان او را وا خرید
He (the intercessor) redeemed (saved) him from beheading at that moment: he (the culprit) ought to have become the dust of his (the intercessor's) shoe.
وا خریدش آن دم از گردن زدن ** خاک نعل پاش بایستی شدن
He has gone the reverse way and has taken (the course of) renouncing (his friend): he has taken to cherishing enmity against a beloved like this.”2955
بازگونه رفت و بیزاری گرفت ** با چنین دلدار کینداری گرفت
Then a certain mentor reproached him, saying, “Why are you acting so unjustly towards a loyal friend?
پس ملامت کرد او را مصلحی ** کیین جفا چون میکنی با ناصحی
That elect beloved redeemed your life and saved you from beheading at that moment.
جان تو بخرید آن دلدار خاص ** آن دم از گردن زدن کردت خلاص
If he had done evil (towards you), you ought not to have turned away (from him; but) that praiseworthy friend was especially your benefactor.”
گر بدی کردی نبایستی رمید ** خاصه نیکی کرد آن یار حمید
He replied, “Life is freely given for the king's sake: why should he come as an intercessor between (us)?
گفت بهر شاه مبذولست جان ** او چرا آید شفیع اندر میان
At that moment mine was (the state described by the words) —‘I am with God in a state wherein no chosen prophet is my peer.’2960
لی معالله وقت بود آن دم مرا ** لا یسع فیه نبی مجتبی
I desire no mercy but the blows of the king; I desire no refuge except that king.
من نخواهم رحمتی جز زخم شاه ** من نخواهم غیر آن شه را پناه
I have naughted all besides the king for the reason that I have devoted myself to the king.
غیر شه را بهر آن لا کردهام ** که به سوی شه تولا کردهام
The king, if he behead me in his wrath, will bestow on me sixty other lives.
گر ببرد او به قهر خود سرم ** شاه بخشد شصت جان دیگرم
’Tis my business to hazard (and lose) my head and to be selfless; ’tis the business of my sovereign king to give (me) a (new) head.”
کار من سربازی و بیخویشی است ** کار شاهنشاه من سربخشی است
Honour to the head that is severed by the King's hand! Shame on the head that betakes itself to another!2965
فخر آن سر که کف شاهش برد ** ننگ آن سر کو به غیری سر برد
The night which the King in his wrath covered with pitch (pitchy darkness) holds in disdain a thousand days of festival.
شب که شاه از قهر در قیرش کشید ** ننگ دارد از هزاران روز عید
Verily, the circumambulation performed by him who beholds the King is above wrath and grace and infidelity and religion.
خود طواف آنک او شهبین بود ** فوق قهر و لطف و کفر و دین بود
Not one word (capable of) expressing it has (ever) come into the world, for it is hidden, hidden, hidden,
زان نیامد یک عبارت در جهان ** که نهانست و نهانست و نهان
Inasmuch as these glorious names and words were manifested from the reel (uttered from the mouth) of Adam.
زانک این اسما و الفاظ حمید ** از گلابهی آدمی آمد پدید
He (God) taught (him) the names was an Imám (an infallible authority) for Adam; but (the teaching was) not in the garb of (letters such as) ‘ayn and lám.2970
علم الاسما بد آدم را امام ** لیک نه اندر لباس عین و لام
When he put on his head the cap of water and clay, those spiritual names became black-faced,
چون نهاد از آب و گل بر سر کلاه ** گشت آن اسمای جانی روسیاه
For they assumed the veil of letters and breath, (only) in order that the essential reality might (gradually) be made manifest to the water and clay.
که نقاب حرف و دم در خود کشید ** تا شود بر آب و گل معنی پدید