This world is as the ruin, and thou the treasure (buried there): if I have made investigation concerning thy treasure, be not aggrieved.
این جهان هم‌چون خرابست و تو گنج ** گر تفحص کردم از گنجت مرنج
I recklessly committed such an indiscretion, that I may always boast (of thy virtue) to (thy) enemies;
زان چنین بی‌خردگی کردم گزاف ** تا زنم با دشمنان هر بار لاف
So that, when my tongue bestows a name on thee, my eye may give testimonies of this which I have seen.
تا زبانم چون ترا نامی نهد ** چشم ازین دیده گواهیها دهد
If I have sought to rob thee of thy honour I come, O Moon (of beauty), with sword and winding-sheet.315
گر شدم در راه حرمت راه‌زن ** آمدم ای مه به شمشیر و کفن
Do not cut off my feet and head save with thine own hand, for I belong to this hand, not to another hand.
جز به دست خود مبرم پا و سر ** که ازین دستم نه از دست دگر
Thou art talking again of separation: do whatsoever thou wilt, but do not this!”
از جدایی باز می‌رانی سخن ** هر چه خواهی کن ولیکن این مکن
The way is now made (open for entering) into the realm of Discourse (Exposition); (but) ‘tis impossible to speak (on the subject), since there is no time (to do so at present).
در سخن آباد این دم راه شد ** گفت امکان نیست چون بیگاه شد
We have told the husks (externals), but the kernel (the inner meaning) is buried; if we remain (alive), this will not remain (concealed) as it is now.
پوستها گفتیم و مغز آمد دفین ** گر بمانیم این نماند همچنین
How the beloved rejected the excuses of the lover and rubbed his duplicity into him.
رد کردن معشوقه عذر عاشق را و تلبیس او را در روی او مالیدن
The loved one opened her lips to answer him, saying, “On my side it is day, and on thy side it is night.320
در جوابش بر گشاد آن یار لب ** کز سوی ما روز سوی تست شب
Why in contention dost thou bring forward dark evasions be fore those who see (the truth plainly)?
حیله‌های تیره اندر داوری ** پیش بینایان چرا می‌آوری
To us, all the deceit and dissimulations that thou hast in thy heart are manifest and clear as day.
هر چه در دل داری از مکر و رموز ** پیش ما رسواست و پیدا هم‌چو روز
If we, in kindness to our servant, cover it up, why dost thou carry shamelessness beyond the limit?
گر بپوشیمش ز بنده‌پروری ** تو چرا بی‌رویی از حد می‌بری
Learn from thy Father; for in (the hour of) sin Adam came down willingly to the vestibule
از پدر آموز که آدم در گناه ** خوش فرود آمد به سوی پایگاه
When he beheld that Knower of secrets, he stood up on his feet to ask forgiveness.325
چون بدید آن عالم الاسرار را ** بر دو پا استاد استغفار را
He seated himself on the ashes of contrition: he did not jump from one branch of idle pleading to another
بر سر خاکستر انده نشست ** از بهانه شاخ تا شاخی نجست
He said only, ‘O Lord, verily we have done wrong,’ when he saw the (angelic) life-guards in front and behind.
ربنا انا ظلمنا گفت و بس ** چونک جانداران بدید از پیش و پس
He saw the life-guards who are invisible, as the spirit is—each one’s mace (reaching) to the sky—-
دید جانداران پنهان هم‌چو جان ** دورباش هر یکی تا آسمان
Saying, ‘Hola! be (as) the ant before Solomon, lest this mace cleave thee asunder.
که هلا پیش سلیمان مور باش ** تا بنشکافد ترا این دورباش
Do not for one moment stand (anywhere) but in the place of truth: a man hath no guardian like the (seeing) eye.330
جز مقام راستی یک دم مه‌ایست ** هیچ لالا مرد را چون چشم نیست
(Even) if the blind man be purified by admonition, he continually becomes polluted again.
کور اگر از پند پالوده شود ** هر دمی او باز آلوده شود
O Adam, thou art not blind of vision, but when the Divine destiny comes, the sight becomes blind.’”
آدما تو نیستی کور از نظر ** لیک اذا جاء القضا عمی البصر
Lifetimes are needed—(so) rarely and occasionally (does it happen)—for the seeing man to fall by destiny into the pit.
عمرها باید به نادر گاه‌گاه ** تا که بینا از قضا افتد به چاه
As regards the blind man, this destiny in sooth is his companion on the way; for ‘tis his nature and disposition to fall.
کور را خود این قضا همراه اوست ** که مرورا اوفتادن طبع و خوست
He falls into the filth and does not know what the smell is; (he asks himself), “Is this smell from me or from (my) being polluted?”335
در حدث افتد نداند بوی چیست ** از منست این بوی یا ز آلودگیست
And likewise, if any one sprinkle some musk over him, he thinks it (comes) from himself and not from the kindness of his friend.
ور کسی بر وی کند مشکی نثار ** هم ز خود داند نه از احسان یار