The king's purpose in (having) the guards was not that he might thereby keep off robbers and ne’er-do-wells.
قصد شه از حارسان آن هم نبود ** که کند زان دفع دزدان و رنود
He knew that the man who is just is free from (fear of) attack and secure in his heart.
او همی دانست که آن کو عادلست ** فارغست از واقعه آمن دلست
Justice is the guardian of pleasures; not men who beat their rattles on the roofs at night.730
عدل باشد پاسبان گامها ** نه به شب چوبک‌زنان بر بامها
But his object in (listening to) the sound of the rebeck was, like (that of) ardent lovers (of God), (to bring into his mind) the phantasy of that (Divine) allocution;
لیک بد مقصودش از بانگ رباب ** هم‌چو مشتاقان خیال آن خطاب
(For) the shrill noise of the clarion and the menace of the drum somewhat resemble that universal trumpet.
ناله‌ی سرنا و تهدید دهل ** چیزکی ماند بدان ناقور کل
Hence philosophers have said that we received these harmonies from the revolution of the (celestial) sphere,
پس حکیمان گفته‌اند این لحنها ** از دوار چرخ بگرفتیم ما
(And that) this (melody) which people sing with pandore and throat is the sound of the revolutions of the sphere;
بانگ گردشهای چرخست این که خلق ** می‌سرایندش به طنبور و به حلق
(But) the true believers say that the influences of Paradise made every unpleasant sound to be beautiful.735
مومنان گویند که آثار بهشت ** نغز گردانید هر آواز زشت
We all have been parts of Adam, we have heard those melodies in Paradise.
ما همه اجزای آدم بوده‌ایم ** در بهشت آن لحنها بشنوده‌ایم
Although the water and earth (of our bodies) have caused a doubt to fall upon us, something of those (melodies) comes (back) to our memory;
گرچه بر ما ریخت آب و گل شکی ** یادمان آمد از آنها چیزکی
But since it is mingled with the earth of sorrow, how should this treble and bass give (us) the same delight?
لیک چون آمیخت با خاک کرب ** کی دهند این زیر و آن بم آن طرب
When water is mingled with urine and stalings, its temperament is made bitter and acid by the commixture.
آب چون آمیخت با بول و کمیز ** گشت ز آمیزش مزاجش تلخ و تیز
There is a small quantity of water in his (a man's) body: suppose it is urine, (yet) it will extinguish a fire.740
چیزکی از آب هستش در جسد ** بول گیرش آتشی را می‌کشد
If the water has been defiled, (still) this natural property of it remains, for by its nature it allays the fire of grief.
گر نجس شد آب این طبعش بماند ** که آتش غم را به طبع خود نشاند
Therefore samá‘ (music) is the food of lovers (of God), since therein is the phantasy of composure (tranquillity of mind).
پس غدای عاشقان آمد سماع ** که درو باشد خیال اجتماع
From (hearing) sounds and pipings the mental phantasies gather a (great) strength; nay, they become forms (in the imagination).
قوتی گیرد خیالات ضمیر ** بلک صورت گردد از بانگ و صفیر
The fire of love is made keen (inflamed) by melodies, just as the fire (ardour) of the man who dropped walnuts (into the water).
آتش عشق از نواها گشت تیز ** آن چنان که آتش آن جوزریز
Story of the thirsty man who dropped walnuts from the top of a walnut-tree into the water-brook that was in the hollow, without reaching the water (himself), in order that he might hear the sound made by the walnuts falling on the water, which thrilled him with joy as (though it were) sweet music.
حکایت آن مرد تشنه کی از سر جوز بن جوز می‌ریخت در جوی آب کی در گو بود و به آب نمی‌رسید تا به افتادن جوز بانگ آب# بشنود و او را چو سماع خوش بانگ آب اندر طرب می‌آورد
The water was in a deep place: the thirsty man went up the tree and scattered the walnuts one by one.745
در نغولی بود آب آن تشنه راند ** بر درخت جوز جوزی می‌فشاند
The walnuts were falling from the walnut-tree into the water: the sound was coming (to his ears), and he was seeing the bubbles.
می‌فتاد از جوزبن جوز اندر آب ** بانگ می‌آمد همی دید او حباب
A sensible person said to him, “Leave off, O youth: truly the (loss of the) walnuts will bring thirst (regret) to you.
عاقلی گفتش که بگذار ای فتی ** جوزها خود تشنگی آرد ترا
The more the fruit falls into the water—(since) the water is below at a (great) distance from you,
بیشتر در آب می‌افتد ثمر ** آب در پستیست از تو دور در
The river-water will have carried it (the fruit) far away before you with effort come down from the top (of the tree).”
تا تو از بالا فرو آیی به زور ** آب جویش برده باشد تا به دور
He replied, “My purpose in this scattering is not (to obtain possession of) the walnuts: look more keenly, do not stop at this superficial (view).750