(That) this (should proceed) from Ayáz is absurd and incredible, for he is an ocean whereof none can see the bottom.”
از ایاز این خود محالست و بعید ** کو یکی دریاست قعرش ناپدید
The Seven Seas are (but) a drop in it: the whole of existence is (but) a driblet of its waves.1880
هفت دریا اندرو یک قطرهای ** جملهی هستی ز موجش چکرهای
All purities are fetched from that ocean: its drops, every one, are alchemists.
جمله پاکیها از آن دریا برند ** قطرههااش یک به یک میناگرند
He is the King of kings; nay, he is the King-maker, though on account of the evil eye his name is “Ayáz.”
شاه شاهانست و بلک شاهساز ** وز برای چشم بد نامش ایاز
Even the good eyes are evil to him in respect of (their) jealousy, for his beauty is infinite.
چشمهای نیک هم بر وی به دست ** از ره غیرت که حسنش بیحدست
I want a mouth as broad as heaven to describe the qualities of him who is envied by the angels;
یک دهان خواهم به پهنای فلک ** تا بگویم وصف آن رشک ملک
And if I should get a mouth like this and a hundred times as (broad as) this, it would be too narrow for (utterance of) this longing's distressful cry.1885
ور دهان یابم چنین و صد چنین ** تنگ آید در فغان این حنین
(Yet), if I should not utter even this (little) amount, O trusted (friend), the phial, (which is) my heart, would burst from weakness (inability to contain its emotion).
این قدر گر هم نگویم ای سند ** شیشهی دل از ضعیفی بشکند
Since I have seen my heart's phial (to be) fragile, I have rent many a mantle in order to allay (my pain).
Beyond doubt, O worshipful one, I must become mad for three days at the beginning of every month.
من سر هر ماه سه روز ای صنم ** بیگمان باید که دیوانه شوم
Hark, to-day is the first of the triduum: ’tis the day of triumph (pírúz), not (the day of) the turquoise (pírúza).
هین که امروز اول سه روزه است ** روز پیروزست نه پیروزه است
Every heart that is in love with the King, for it (for that heart) ’tis always the beginning of the month.1890
هر دلی که اندر غم شه میبود ** دم به دم او را سر مه میبود
Since I have become mad, the story of Mahmúd and the description of Ayáz are now out of order.
قصهی محمود و اوصاف ایاز ** چون شدم دیوانه رفت اکنون ز ساز
Explaining that what is related (here) is (only) the outward form of the Story, and that it is a form befitting these (hearers) who apprehend (no more than) the external form and suitable to the mirror of their imagination, whereas the real essence of the Story is so transcendent that speech is ashamed to reveal it, and from (being overcome with) confusion (the writer) loses head, beard, and pen. And a hint is enough for the wise.
بیان آنک آنچ بیان کرده میشود صورت قصه است وانگه آن صورتیست کی در خورد این صورت گیرانست و درخورد آینهی تصویر ایشان و از قدوسیتی کی حقیقت این قصه راست نطق را ازین تنزیل شرم میآید و از خجالت سر و ریش و قلم گم میکند و العاقل یکفیه الاشاره
Forasmuch as my elephant has dreamed of Hindustán, abandon hope of (receiving) the tax: the village is ruined.
زانک پیلم دید هندستان به خواب ** از خراج اومید بر ده شد خراب
How should poesy and rhyme come to me after the foundations of sanity are destroyed?
کیف یاتی النظم لی والقافیه ** بعد ما ضاعت اصول العافیه
’Tis not (merely) one madness I have amidst the sorrows of love; nay, but madness on madness on madness.
ما جنون واحد لی فی الشجون ** بل جنون فی جنون فی جنون
My body is wasted away by secret indications of the mysteries, ever since I beheld eternal life (baqá) in dying to self (faná).1895
ذاب جسمی من اشارات الکنی ** منذ عاینت البقاء فی الفنا
O Ayáz, from love of thee I have become (thin) as a hair: I am unable to tell (thy) story, do thou tell my story.
ای ایاز از عشق تو گشتم چو موی ** ماندم از قصه تو قصهی من بگوی
Many a tale of thy love have I recited with (all) my soul: (now) that I have become (unsubstantial as) a tale, do thou recite mine.
بس فسانهی عشق تو خواندم به جان ** تو مرا که افسانه گشتستم بخوان
Verily thou art reciting, O model (for all), not I: I am Mount Sinai, thou art Moses, and this (discourse) is the echo.
خود تو میخوانی نه من ای مقتدی ** من که طورم تو موسی وین صدا
How should the helpless mountain know what the words are? The mountain is empty of that (meaning) which Moses knows.
کوه بیچاره چه داند گفت چیست ** زانک موسی میبداند که تهیست
The mountain knows (only) according to its own measure: the body hath (only) a little of the grace of the spirit.1900
کوه میداند به قدر خویشتن ** اندکی دارد ز لطف روح تن
The body is like the astrolabe in respect of (the use of the latter in) calculation (of altitudes): it is a sign (for seekers) of the sun-like spirit.
تن چو اصطرلاب باشد ز احتساب ** آیتی از روح همچون آفتاب
When the astronomer is not keen-sighted, an astrolabe-moulder is required,
آن منجم چون نباشد چشمتیز ** شرط باشد مرد اصطرلابریز
To make an astrolabe for him in order that he may gain some knowledge concerning the state of the sun.
تا صطرلابی کند از بهر او ** تا برد از حالت خورشید بو