May the false dawn not be the people's guide! for it gives many caravans to the wind (of destruction).
صبح کاذب خلق را رهبر مباد ** کو دهد بس کاروانها را به باد
O thou who hast become captive to the false dawn, do not regard the true dawn also as false.
ای شده تو صبح کاذب را رهین ** صبح صادق را تو کاذب هم مبین
If thou (thyself) hast no protection (art not exempt) from hypocrisy and wickedness, wherefore shouldst thou impute the same (vices) to thy brother?1980
گر نداری از نفاق و بد امان ** از چه داری بر برادر ظن همان
The evil-doer is always thinking ill (of others): he reads his own book as referring to his neighbour.
بدگمان باشد همیشه زشت‌کار ** نامه‌ی خود خواند اندر حق یار
The wretches who have remained (sunk) in (their own) unrighteous qualities have called the prophets magicians and unrighteous;
آن خسان که در کژیها مانده‌اند ** انبیا را ساحر و کژ خوانده‌اند
And those base Amírs, (who were) forgers of falsehood, conceived this evil thought about the chamber of Ayáz,
وآن امیران خسیس قلب‌ساز ** این گمان بردند بر حجره‌ی ایاز
(Supposing) that he kept there a buried hoard and treasure. Do not look at others in the mirror of thyself!
کو دفینه دارد و گنج اندر آن ** ز آینه‌ی خود منگر اندر دیگران
The King, indeed, knew his innocence: (only) on their account was he making that investigation,1985
شاه می‌دانست خود پاکی او ** بهر ایشان کرد او آن جست و جو
Saying, “O Amír, open the door of the chamber at midnight, when he (Ayáz) will be unaware of it,
کای امیر آن حجره را بگشای در ** نیم شب که باشد او زان بی‌خبر
In order that his (secret) thoughts may come to light: afterwards it rests with me to punish him.
تا پدید آید سگالشهای او ** بعد از آن بر ماست مالشهای او
I bestow the gold and jewels upon you: of those riches I desire naught but the information (concerning them).”
مر شما را دادم آن زر و گهر ** من از آن زرها نخواهم جز خبر
Thus he spoke, while his heart was throbbing on account of the incomparable Ayáz,
این همی‌گفت و دل او می‌طپید ** از برای آن ایاز بی ندید
(Thinking), “Is it I who am uttering this (command)? How (grieved) he will be if he hear of this injustice!”1990
که منم کین بر زبانم می‌رود ** این جفاگر بشنود او چون شود
Again he says (to himself), “By the truth of his religion, (I vow) that his constancy is too great
باز می‌گوید به حق دین او ** که ازین افزون بود تمکین او
For him to be annoyed by my foul aspersion and heedless of my purpose and meaning.
کی به قذف زشت من طیره شود ** وز غرض وز سر من غافل بود
When an afflicted person has perceived the (true) interpretations (reasons) of his pain, he sees the victory: how should he be vanquished by the pain?
مبتلی چون دید تاویلات رنج ** برد بیند کی شود او مات رنج
The (true) interpreter (of suffering) is (like) the patient Ayáz, for he is contemplating the ocean of ends (ultimate consequences).
صاحب تاویل ایاز صابرست ** کو به بحر عاقبتها ناظرست
To him, as to Joseph, the interpretation of the dream of these prisoners (in the world) is evident.1995
هم‌چو یوسف خواب این زندانیان ** هست تعبیرش به پیش او عیان
How should the goodly man who is aware of the meaning of the dreams of others be ignorant of (the meaning of) his own dream?
خواب خود را چون نداند مرد خیر ** کو بود واقف ز سر خواب غیر
If I give him a hundred stabs with my sword by way of trial, the union (concord) of that loving one (with me) will not be diminished.
گر زنم صد تیغ او را ز امتحان ** کم نگردد وصلت آن مهربان
He knows I am wielding that sword against myself: I am he in reality and he is I.”
داند او که آن تیغ بر خود می‌زنم ** من ویم اندر حقیقت او منم
Setting forth the real oneness of the lover and the beloved, although they are contrary to each other from the point of view that want is the opposite of wanting nothing. So a mirror is formless and pure, and formlessness is the opposite of form, yet in reality they have a oneness with each other which is tedious to explain: a hint is enough for the wise.
بیان اتحاد عاشق و معشوق از روی حقیقت اگر چه متضادند از روی آنک نیاز ضد بی‌نیازیست چنان که آینه بی‌صورتست و ساده است و بی‌صورتی ضد صورتست ولکن میان ایشان اتحادیست در حقیقت کی شرح آن درازست و العاقل یکفیه الاشاره
From grief for a (long) separation (from Laylá) there came suddenly a sickness into the body of Majnún.
جسم مجنون را ز رنج و دوریی ** اندر آمد ناگهان رنجوریی
(Heated) by the flame of longing his blood boiled up, so that (the symptoms of) quinsy appeared in that mad (lover).2000
خون بجوش آمد ز شعله‌ی اشتیاق ** تا پدید آمد بر آن مجنون خناق
Thereupon the physician came to treat him and said, “There is no resource but to bleed him.
پس طبیب آمد بدار و کردنش ** گفت چاره نیست هیچ از رگ‌زنش
Bleeding is necessary in order to remove the blood.” (So) a skilled phlebotomist came thither,
رگ زدن باید برای دفع خون ** رگ‌زنی آمد بدانجا ذو فنون