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
Therefore to you, O man of vision, two clear eyes are (as) a hundred mothers and a hundred fathers; پس دو چشم روشن ای صاحب‌نظر ** مر ترا صد مادرست و صد پدر
Especially the eye of the heart (the spiritual eye), which is seventy-fold and of which these two sensible eyes are (only) the gleaners. خاصه چشم دل آن هفتاد توست ** وین دو چشم حس خوشه‌چین اوست
Oh, alas, the highwaymen are seated (and lying in wait for me): they have tied a hundred knots beneath my tongue. ای دریغا ره‌زنان بنشسته‌اند ** صد گره زیر زبانم بسته‌اند
How should the smooth-paced horse move well, when his leg is tied? This is a very heavy chain: hold me excused! 340 پای‌بسته چون رود خوش راهوار ** بس گران بندیست این معذور دار
These words (of mine) are coming (forth) brokenly, O heart; for these words are pearls, and (the Divine) jealousy is the mill (which breaks them); این سخن اشکسته می‌آید دلا ** کین سخن درست غیرت آسیا
(But), though the pearls be broken into small fragments, they become tutty (collyrium) for the sore eye (of the spirit). در اگر چه خرد و اشکسته شود ** توتیای دیده‌ی خسته شود
O pearl, do not beat thy head (in grief) at thy being broken, for through being broken thou wilt become (radiant) light. ای در از اشکست خود بر سر مزن ** کز شکستن روشنی خواهی شدن
It (the word) has to be uttered thus brokenly and in bandages: God, who is Self-sufficient, will make it whole at last. همچنین اشکسته بسته گفتنیست ** حق کند آخر درستش کو غنیست
If wheat is broken and torn asunder (in the mill), it appears in the (baker’s) shop, saying, “Look! a perfect loaf!” 345 گندم ار بشکست و از هم در سکست ** بر دکان آمد که نک نان درست
“Thou too, O lover, since thy crime has become manifest, abandon water and oil (specious varnish) and be broken (contrite). تو هم ای عاشق چو جرمت گشت فاش ** آب و روغن ترک کن اشکسته باش
Those who are the elect children of Adam sigh forth (the confession), ‘verily we have done wrong.’ آنک فرزندان خاص آدم‌اند ** نفحه‌ی انا ظلمنا می‌دمند
Submit thy petition, do not argue like the accursed hard- faced (impudent) Iblis. حاجت خود عرضه کن حجت مگو ** هم‌چو ابلیس لعین سخت‌رو
If impudence concealed his fault, go, exert thyself in (showing) obstinacy and impudence! سخت‌رویی گر ورا شد عیب‌پوش ** در ستیز و سخت‌رویی رو بکوش
Abu Jahl, like a vindictive Ghuzz Turcoman, demanded a miracle from the Prophet; 350 آن ابوجهل از پیمبر معجزی ** خواست هم‌چون کینه‌ور ترکی غزی
But that Siddiq of God (Abu Bakr) did not crave a miracle: he said, ‘Verily, this face speaks naught but truth.’ لیک آن صدیق حق معجز نخواست ** گفت این رو خود نگوید جز که راست
How should it beseem one like thee, from egoism, to make trial of a beloved like me?” کی رسد هم‌چون توی را کز منی ** امتحان هم‌چو من یاری کنی
How the Jew said to ‘Alí, may God honour his person, "If thou hast confidence in God's protection, cast thyself down from the top of this kiosk"; and how the Prince of the Faithful answered him. گفتن آن جهود علی را کرم الله وجهه کی اگر اعتماد داری بر حافظی حق از سر این کوشک خود را در انداز و جواب گفتن امیرالمومنین او را
One day a contumacious man, who was ignorant of the reverence due to God, said to Murtazá (‘Alí), مرتضی را گفت روزی یک عنود ** کو ز تعظیم خدا آگه نبود