Rumi's Masnavi - In this community there has never been metamorphosis of the body, but there is metamorphosis of the spirit, O man endowed with perception.

In this community there has never been metamorphosis of the body, but there is metamorphosis of the spirit, O man endowed with perception.

اندرین امت نبد مسخ بدن ** لیک مسخ دل بود ای بوالفطن

When his spirit becomes the ape-spirit, his clay (body) is debased by the ape-spirit. 2595

چون دل بوزینه گردد آن دلش ** از دل بوزینه شد خوار آن گلش

How should the ass be debased by his (bodily) form, if his spirit had possessed the virtue (that is derived) from (rational) experience?

گر هنر بودی دلش را ز اختبار ** خوار کی بودی ز صورت آن حمار

The dog of the Companions (of the Cave) had a goodly character: was he any the worse on account of his (bodily) form?

آن سگ اصحاب خوش بد سیرتش ** هیچ بودش منقصت زان صورتش

The “Fellows of the Sabbath” suffered outward metamorphosis, in order that the people might behold outwardly their ignominious fall.

مسخ ظاهر بود اهل سبت را ** تا ببیند خلق ظاهر کبت را

Through breaking (vows of) repentance a hundred thousand others have become hogs and asses inwardly.

از ره سر صد هزاران دگر ** گشته از توبه شکستن خوک و خر

How the fox approached the runaway ass a second time in order to beguile him once more.

دوم بار آمدن روبه بر این خر گریخته تا باز بفریبدش

Then the fox came quickly towards the ass: the ass said, “One must beware of a friend like you. 2600

پس بیامد زود روبه سوی خر ** گفت خر از چون تو یاری الحذر

Ignoble creature, what did I do to you that you brought me into the presence of a dragon?

ناجوامردا چه کردم من ترا ** که به پیش اژدها بردی مرا

What but the malignity of your nature was the cause of your enmity to my life, O perverse one?”—

موجب کین تو با جانم چه بود ** غیر خبث جوهر تو ای عنود

Like the scorpion, which bites a man's foot though no inconvenience has come to it from him,

هم‌چو کزدم کو گزد پای فتی ** نارسیده از وی او را زحمتی

Or like the Devil who is the enemy of our souls, though no inconvenience or injury has befallen him from us;

یا چو دیوی کو عدوی جان ماست ** نارسیده زحمتش از ما و کاست

Nay, but he is naturally the adversary of the human soul and rejoices at the destruction of Man; 2605

بلک طبعا خصم جان آدمیست ** از هلاک آدمی در خرمیست

He never breaks off his pursuit of any human being: how should he abandon his wicked disposition and nature?

از پی هر آدمی او نسکلد ** خو و طبع زشت خود او کی هلد

For, without any cause, his essential malignity pulls him on to (commit) injustice and tyranny.

زانک خبث ذات او بی‌موجبی ** هست سوی ظلم و عدوان جاذبی

He continually invites thee to a spacious tent in order that he may cast thee into a pit,

هر زمان خواند ترا تا خرگهی ** که در اندازد ترا اندر چهی

Saying, “In such and such a place there is a tank of water and (many) fountains,” that he may cast thee headlong into the tank.

که فلان جا حوض آبست و عیون ** تا در اندازد به حوضت سرنگون

That accursed one caused an Adam, notwithstanding all his inspiration and insight, to fall into woe and bane, 2610

آدمی را با همه وحی و نظر ** اندر افکند آن لعین در شور و شر

Without any sin (having been committed against him) and without any previous harm having been wrongfully done to him by Adam.

بی‌گناهی بی‌گزند سابقی ** که رسد او را ز آدم ناحقی

The fox replied, “It was a spell of magic that appeared in your eyes as a lion;

گفت روبه آن طلسم سحر بود ** که ترا در چشم آن شیری نمود

Else I am more puny in body than you, and I always feed there by night and day.

ورنه من از تو به تن مسکین‌ترم ** که شب و روز اندر آنجا می‌چرم

If he (the magician) had not wrought a spell of that kind, every famishing (animal) would have run thither.

گرنه زان گونه طلسمی ساختی ** هر شکم‌خواری بدانجا تاختی

(In) a foodless world full of elephants and rhinoceroses how should the meadow have remained verdant without (the protection of) a spell? 2615

یک جهان بی‌نوا پر پیل و ارج ** بی‌طلسمی کی بماندی سبز مرج

Truly, I meant to tell you, by way of instruction, not to be afraid if you should see a terrible thing like that;

من ترا خود خواستم گفتن به درس ** که چنان هولی اگر بینی مترس

But I forgot to impart (this) knowledge to you, because I was overwhelmed with grief and pity on your account.

لیک رفت از یاد علم آموزیت ** که بدم مستغرق دلسوزیت

I saw you were ravenously hungry and without food, (therefore) I was making haste so that you might attain to the remedy;

دیدمت در جوع کلب و بی‌نوا ** می‌شتابیدم که آیی تا دوا