That folk fell to (eating) the food, since they had suffered famine and were (almost) dead from ravenous hunger. اندر افتادند در لوت آن نفر ** قحط دیده مرده از جوع البقر
For several days they ate their fill of the gift, (both) those who were inspired by that breath (of Moses) and the (other) human beings and the quadrupeds. چند روزی سیر خوردند از عطا ** آن دمی و آدمی و چارپا
When their bellies were filled and they grasped the (Divine) bounty and the necessity was gone, then they waxed insolent (in disobedience). 3620 چون شکم پر گشت و بر نعمت زدند ** وآن ضرورت رفت پس طاغی شدند
The carnal soul is a follower of Pharaoh: beware, do not satisfy it, lest it remember its ancient infidelity. نفس فرعونیست هان سیرش مکن ** تا نیارد یاد از آن کفر کهن
Without the glowing heat of the fire (of mortification) the carnal soul will never become goodly: hark, do not beat the iron till it has become like live coals. بی تف آتش نگردد نفس خوب ** تا نشد آهن چو اخگر هین مکوب
Without hunger the body makes no movement (towards God): ‘tis cold iron thou art beating. Know (this for sure)! بی‌مجاعت نیست تن جنبش‌کنان ** آهن سردیست می‌کوبی بدان
Though it weep and wail most piteously, it will never become a true believer. Take heed! گر بگرید ور بنالد زار زار ** او نخواهد شد مسلمان هوش دار
It is like Pharaoh: in (the time of) famine it lays its head before Moses, as he (Pharaoh) did, making supplication; 3625 او چو فرعونست در قحط آنچنان ** پیش موسی سر نهد لابه‌کنان
(But) when it has been freed from want, it rebels (once more) when the donkey has cast off his load, he kicks. چونک مستغنی شد او طاغی شود ** خر چو بار انداخت اسکیزه زند
So, when its business has gone forward (prosperously), it (the carnal soul) forgets its sighs and lamentations. پس فراموشش شود چون رفت پیش ** کار او زان آه و زاریهای خویش
The man who lives in a city (many) years, as soon as his eye goes asleep, سالها مردی که در شهری بود ** یک زمان که چشم در خوابی رود
Beholds another city full of good and evil, and his own city comes not into his memory at all, شهر دیگر بیند او پر نیک و بد ** هیچ در یادش نیاید شهر خود
So that (he should say), “I have lived there (so many years); this new city is not mine: here I am (only) in pawn.” 3630 که من آنجا بوده‌ام این شهر نو ** نیست آن من درینجاام گرو
Nay, he thinks that in sooth he has always lived in this very city and has been born and bred in it. بل چنان داند که خود پیوسته او ** هم درین شهرش به دست ابداع و خو
What wonder (then) if the spirit does not remember its (ancient) abodes, which have been its dwelling-place and birthplace aforetime, چه عجب گر روح موطنهای خویش ** که بدستش مسکن و میلاد پیش
Since this world, like sleep, is covering it over as clouds cover the stars? — می‌نیارد یاد کین دنیا چو خواب ** می‌فرو پوشد چو اختر را سحاب
Especially as it has trodden so many cities, and the dust has not (yet) been swept from its perceptive faculty, خاصه چندین شهرها را کوفته ** گردها از درک او ناروفته
Nor has it made ardent efforts that its heart should become pure and behold the past; 3635 اجتهاد گرم ناکرده که تا ** دل شود صاف و ببیند ماجرا
That its heart should put forth its head (peep forth) from the aperture of the mystery and should see the beginning and the end with open eye. سر برون آرد دلش از بخش راز ** اول و آخر ببیند چشم باز
The diverse modes and stages of the nature of Man from the beginning. اطوار و منازل خلقت آدمی از ابتدا
First he came into the clime (world) of inorganic things, and from the state of inorganic things he passed into the vegetable state. آمده اول به اقلیم جماد ** وز جمادی در نباتی اوفتاد
(Many) years he lived in the vegetable state and did not remember the inorganic state because of the opposition (between them); سالها اندر نباتی عمر کرد ** وز جمادی یاد ناورد از نبرد
And when he passed from the vegetable into the animal state, the vegetable state was not remembered by him at all, وز نباتی چون به حیوانی فتاد ** نامدش حال نباتی هیچ یاد
Save only for the inclination which he has towards that (state), especially in the season of spring and sweet herbs— 3640 جز همین میلی که دارد سوی آن ** خاصه در وقت بهار و ضیمران
Like the inclination of babes towards their mothers: it (the babe) does not know the secret of its desire for being suckled; هم‌چو میل کودکان با مادران ** سر میل خود نداند در لبان
(Or) like the excessive inclination of every novice towards the noble spiritual Elder, whose fortune is young (and flourishing). هم‌چو میل مفرط هر نو مرید ** سوی آن پیر جوانبخت مجید