- The more you cudgel it, the more it thrives: it grows fat on blows of the stick.
- تا که چوبش میزنی به میشود ** او ز زخم چوب فربه میشود
 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		 
		 
		    
		    - Assuredly the true believer's soul is a porcupine, for it is (made) stout and fat by the blows of tribulation.
- نفس مومن اشغری آمد یقین ** کو به زخم رنج زفتست و سمین
 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
                 
	         
	         
	         
	         
	         
		 
		 
		    
		    - For this reason the tribulation and abasement (laid) upon the prophets is greater than (that laid upon) all the (other) creatures in the world,   100
- زین سبب بر انبیا رنج و شکست ** از همه خلق جهان افزونترست
 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		 
		 
		    
		    - So that their souls became stouter than (all other) souls; for no other class of people suffered that affliction.
- تا ز جانها جانشان شد زفتتر ** که ندیدند آن بلا قوم دگر
 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		 
		 
		    
		    - The hide is afflicted by the medicine (tan-liquor), (but) it becomes sweet like Tá’if leather;
- پوست از دارو بلاکش میشود ** چون ادیم طایفی خوش میشود
 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		 
		 
		    
		    - And if he (the tanner) did not rub the bitter and acrid (liquor) into it, it would become fetid, unpleasant, and foul-smelling.
- ورنه تلخ و تیز مالیدی درو ** گنده گشتی ناخوش و ناپاک بو
 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		 
		 
		    
		    - Know that Man is an untanned hide, made noisome and gross by humours.
- آدمی را پوست نامدبوغ دان ** از رطوبتها شده زشت و گران
 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
                 
	         
	         
	         
	         
	         
		 
		 
		    
		    - Give (him) bitter and acrid (discipline) and much rubbing (tribulation), that he may become pure and lovely and exceedingly strong;   105
- تلخ و تیز و مالش بسیار ده ** تا شود پاک و لطیف و با فره
 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		 
		 
		    
		    - But if you cannot (mortify yourself), be content, O cunning one, if God give you tribulation without choice (on your part),
- ور نمیتوانی رضا ده ای عیار ** گر خدا رنجت دهد بیاختیار
 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		 
		 
		    
		    - For affliction (sent) by the Friend is (the means of) your being purified: His knowledge is above your contrivance.
- که بلای دوست تطهیر شماست ** علم او بالای تدبیر شماست
 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		 
		 
		    
		    - The affliction becomes sweet (to the sufferer) when he sees happiness: the medicine becomes sweet (to the sick man) when he regards health.
- چون صفا بیند بلا شیرین شود ** خوش شود دارو چو صحتبین شود
 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		 
		 
		    
		    - He sees victory for himself in the very essence of checkmate; therefore he says, “Kill me, O trusty ones!”
- برد بیند خویش را در عین مات ** پس بگوید اقتلونی یا ثقات
 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
                 
	         
	         
	         
	         
	         
		 
		 
		    
		    - This policeman became a (source of) profit in respect of another, but he became reprobate in respect of himself.   110
- این عوان در حق غیری سود شد ** لیک اندر حق خود مردود شد
 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		 
		 
		    
		    - The mercy appertaining to the Faith was cut off from him; the hate inherent in the Devil enfolded him.
- رحم ایمانی ازو ببریده شد ** کین شیطانی برو پیچیده شد
 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		 
		 
		    
		    - He became a factory of anger and hatred: know that hate is the root of error and infidelity.
- کارگاه خشم گشت و کینوری ** کینه دان اصل ضلال و کافری
 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
	      
	       
	      
	       
	      
	       
	      
		  
		  
	      
		  
		  - How they asked Jesus, on whom be peace, saying, "O Spirit of God, what is the hardest thing to bear of all the hard things in existence?"
- سال کردن از عیسی علیهالسلام کی در وجود از همهی صعبها صعبتر چیست
 
	      
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		 
		 
		    
		    - A sober-minded man said to Jesus, “What is the hardest to bear of all things in existence?”
- گفت عیسی را یکی هشیار سر ** چیست در هستی ز جمله صعبتر
 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		 
		 
		    
		    - He replied, “O (my dear) soul, the hardest is God's anger, on account of which Hell is trembling as we (are).”
- گفتش ای جان صعبتر خشم خدا ** که از آن دوزخ همی لرزد چو ما
 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
                 
	         
	         
	         
	         
	         
		 
		 
		    
		    - He said, “What is the security against this anger of God?” Jesus said, “To abandon thine own anger at once.”   115
- گفت ازین خشم خدا چه بود امان ** گفت ترک خشم خویش اندر زمان
 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		 
		 
		    
		    - Therefore, as the policeman became this anger's mine (source), his ugly anger surpassed even (that of) a wild beast.
- پس عوان که معدن این خشم گشت ** خشم زشتش از سبع هم در گذشت
 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		 
		 
		    
		    - What hope is there for him of (Divine) mercy, unless perchance that graceless man should turn back from that (vile) quality?
- چه امیدستش به رحمت جز مگر ** باز گردد زان صفت آن بیهنر
 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		 
		 
		    
		    - Although the world cannot do without them, this statement is a (means of) casting (those who hear it) into error.
- گرچه عالم را ازیشان چاره نیست ** این سخن اندر ضلال افکندنیست
 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		 
		 
		    
		    - The world cannot do without urine either, but that urine is not clear running water.
- چاره نبود هم جهان را از چمین ** لیک نبود آن چمین ماء معین
 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
	      
	       
	      
	       
	      
	       
	      
		  
		  
	      
		  
		  - The lover’s attempted perfidy, and how the beloved scolded him.
- قصد خیانت کردن عاشق و بانگ  بر زدن معشوق بر وی
 
	      
	    
	  
	    
	       
                 
	         
	         
	         
	         
	         
		 
		 
		    
		    - When that simpleton found her alone, at once he attempted to embrace and kiss her.   120
- چونک تنهااش بدید آن ساده مرد ** زود او قصد کنار و بوسه کرد
 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		 
		 
		    
		    - The beauty with awesome mien raised her voice against him, saying, “Do not behave impudently, be mindful of good manners!”
- بانگ بر وی زد به هیبت آن نگار ** که مرو گستاخ ادب را هوش دار
 
		 
	       
	       
	       
	    
	  
	    
	       
		 
	         
		 
	         
		 
		 
		 
		    
		    - He said, “Why, there is privacy, and no people (present): the water at hand, and a thirsty man like me!
- گفت آخر خلوتست و خلق نی ** آب حاضر تشنهی همچون منی