I am devoted to the (Divine) edict, for ’tis commanded by God that I should be a beggar, a beggar, a beggar.
بنده فرمانم که امرست از خدا ** که گدا باشم گدا باشم گدا
I will not use choice expressions in begging: I will tread the way of none but the vile beggars,
در گدایی لفظ نادر ناورم ** جز طریق خس گدایان نسپرم
That I may be completely overwhelmed with abasement, and that I may hear abusive words from high and low.
تا شوم غرقهی مذلت من تمام ** تا سقطها بشنوم از خاص و عام
God's command is my (very) soul, and I am its follower: He has commanded me to be covetous, (for) ‘base is he that covets.’
امر حق جانست و من آن را تبع ** او طمع فرمود ذل من طمع
Since the Sultan of the Judgement desires covetousness from me, dust on the head of contentment henceforth!2695
چون طمع خواهد ز من سلطان دین ** خاک بر فرق قناعت بعد ازین
He has desired covetousness: how should I be ambitious of glory? He has desired beggary: how should I exercise sovereignty?
او مذلت خواست کی عزت تنم ** او گدایی خواست کی میری کنم
Henceforth beggary and abasement are my (very) soul: in my wallet are twenty (consummate beggars like) ‘Abbás.”
بعد ازین کد و مذلت جان من ** بیست عباساند در انبان من
The Shaykh would go about, with a basket in his hand, (saying, “Give) something, Sir, for God's sake, if He prompt you (to be generous).”
شیخ بر میگشت زنبیلی به دست ** شیء لله خواجه توفیقیت هست
His inward experiences were higher than the Footstool and the Throne (of God); his (external) business was (to cry), “Something for God's sake, something for God's sake!”
برتر از کرسی و عرش اسرار او ** شیء لله شیء لله کار او
The prophets, every one, ply this same trade: the people (to whom they are sent) are (really) destitute, (yet) they (the prophets) practise beggary,2700
انبیا هر یک همین فن میزنند ** خلق مفلس کدیه ایشان میکنند
Crying, “Lend to God, lend to God,” and persevering contrariously in (the exhortation) “Help God!”
اقرضوا الله اقرضوا الله میزنند ** بازگون بر انصروا الله میتنند
This Shaykh is going as a suppliant from door to door, (while) in Heaven a hundred doors are opened for the Shaykh,
در به در این شیخ میآرد نیاز ** بر فلک صد در برای شیخ باز
Because the beggary that he practised (so) diligently was for the sake of God, not for the sake of his gullet;
که آن گدایی که آن به جد میکرد او ** بهر یزدان بود نه از بهر گلو
And even if he had done it for the sake of his gullet, that gullet hath (is endowed with) exorbitance by the Light of God.
ور بکردی نیز از بهر گلو ** آن گلو از نور حق دارد غلو
As regards him, the eating of bread and honey and the drinking of milk is better than the forty days' seclusion and the three days' fast of a hundred dervishes.2705
در حق او خورد نان و شهد و شیر ** به ز چله وز سه روزهی صد فقیر
He eats Light, do not say he eats bread: he sows anemones (though) in appearance he feeds (on them).
نور مینوشد مگو نان میخورد ** لاله میکارد به صورت میچرد
Like the flame that consumes the oil (wax) in a candle, from his eating and drinking there is an increase of light for the company.
چون شراری کو خورد روغن ز شمع ** نور افزاید ز خوردش بهر جمع
God hath said, “Be not immoderate,” in reference to the eating of bread; He hath not said, “Be satisfied,” in reference to the eating of Light.
نانخوری را گفت حق لاتسرفوا ** نور خوردن را نگفتست اکتفوا
The former was the gullet subject to probation, while this (saintly) gullet was free from immoderation and secure from exorbitance.
آن گلوی ابتلا بد وین گلو ** فارغ از اسراف و آمن از غلو
(In the case of the Shaykh) ’twas (by) the (Divine) command and order, not (from) greed and cupidity: a spirit like that is not a follower of greed.2710
امر و فرمان بود نه حرص و طمع ** آن چنان جان حرص را نبود تبع
If the elixir say to the copper, “Give thyself up to me,” cupidity does not prevail (over it).
گر بگوید کیمیا مس را بده ** تو به من خود را طمع نبود فره
God had offered to the Shaykh (all) the treasures of the earth down to the seventh tier;
گنجهای خاک تا هفتم طبق ** عرضه کرده بود پیش شیخ حق
(But) the Shaykh said, “O Creator, I am a lover: if I seek aught but Thee, I am impious.
شیخ گفتا خالقا من عاشقم ** گر بجویم غیر تو من فاسقم
If I should bring into view the Eight Paradises, or if I should serve Thee from fear of Hell,
هشت جنت گر در آرم در نظر ** ور کنم خدمت من از خوف سقر
(Then) I am (only) a believer seeking salvation, for both these (motives) are concerned with the body.”2715
مومنی باشم سلامتجوی من ** زانک این هر دو بود حظ بدن