They liken anguish to thorns; it is not that (in reality), but they do so as a means of arousing (thy) attention.
غصه را با خار تشبیهی کنند ** آن نباشد لیک تنبیهی کنند
When they called a hard heart “stony,” that was (really) inappropriate, (but) they made it serve as a similitude.
آن دل قاسی که سنگش خواندند ** نامناسب بد مثالی راندند
The archetype of that (object of comparison) is inconceivable: put the blame on thy conceptual faculty, and do not regard it (the archetype) as negated (nonexistent).
در تصور در نیاید عین آن ** عیب بر تصویر نه نفیش مدان
How the Shaykh, in obedience to the intimation from the Unseen, went with his basket four times in one day to the house of a certain Amír for the purpose of begging; and how the Amír rebuked him for his impudence, and how he excused himself to the Amír.
رفتن این شیخ در خانه‌ی امیری بهر کدیه روزی چهار بار به زنبیل به اشارت غیب و عتاب کردن امیر او را بدان وقاحت و عذر گفتن او امیر را
One day the Shaykh went four times to the palace of an Amír, in order to beg like a dervish,
شیخ روزی چار کرت چون فقیر ** بهر کدیه رفت در قصر امیر
(With) a basket in his hand, crying, “Something for God's sake! The Creator of the soul is seeking a piece of bread.”2750
در کفش زنبیل و شی لله زنان ** خالق جان می‌بجوید تای نان
’Tis preposterous, O son: it makes even Universal Reason giddy-headed (astounded).
نعلهای بازگونه‌ست ای پسر ** عقل کلی را کند هم خیره‌سر
When the Amír saw him, he said to him, “O impudent man, I will tell you something, (but) do not fasten on me the name of niggard.
چون امیرش دید گفتش ای وقیح ** گویمت چیزی منه نامم شحیح
What callousness and effrontery and (insolent) behaviour is this, that you come in (here) four times in one day?
این چه سغری و چه رویست و چه کار ** که به روزی اندر آیی چار بار
Who here is attached to you, Shaykh? Never have I seen a sturdy beggar like you.
کیست اینجا شیخ اندر بند تو ** من ندیدم نر گدا مانند تو
You have brought (all) beggars into contempt and disgrace: what abominable importunity, worthy of ‘Abbás (himself), is this that you have shown!2755
حرمت و آب گدایان برده‌ای ** این چه عباسی زشت آورده‌ای
‘Abbás (the seller) of date-syrup is (merely) your groom: may no freethinker (mulhid) have such an ill-starred soul!”
غاشیه بر دوش تو عباس دبس ** هیچ ملحد را مباد این نفس نحس
He replied, “O Amír, I am devoted to the (Divine) command. Be silent! Thou art not acquainted with my (inward) fire: do not boil (rage) so much!
Had I found in myself any greed for bread, I would have ripped my bread craving belly.
بهر نان در خویش حرصی دیدمی ** اشکم نان‌خواه را بدریدمی
During seven years, (inspired) by the ardour of Love that cooks the body, I have eaten (nothing but) vine-leaves in the wilderness,
هفت سال از سوز عشق جسم‌پز ** در بیابان خورده‌ام من برگ رز
So that, from my eating withered and fresh leaves, this bodily colour of mine had turned green.”2760
تا ز برگ خشک و تازه خوردنم ** سبز گشته بود این رنگ تنم
So long as thou art in the veil of the Father of mankind (Adam), do not look slightingly on the lovers (of God).
تا تو باشی در حجاب بوالبشر ** سرسری در عاشقان کمتر نگر
The acute men who have split hairs (in profound investigation) and with (all) their soul have (studied and) apprehended the science of astronomy,
زیرکان که مویها بشکافتند ** علم هیات را به جان دریافتند
And the sciences of sorcery and magic and (natural) philosophy, and, though they do not know (these sciences) with real knowledge,
علم نارنجات و سحر و فلسفه ** گرچه نشناسند حق المعرفه
Yet have endeavoured (to know them) as far as they possibly can, and have surpassed all their rivals—
لیک کوشیدند تا امکان خود ** بر گذشتند از همه اقران خود
Love was jealous and withdrew from them: such a (manifest) Sun became invisible to them.2765
عشق غیرت کرد و زیشان در کشید ** شد چنین خورشید زیشان ناپدید
(I marvel), how did such a Sun withdraw its face from the light of an eye that observed a star in the daytime?
نور چشمی کو به روز استاره دید ** آفتابی چون ازو رو در کشید
Abandon this (revilement); hark, accept my counsel: regard the lovers (of God) with the eye of love.
زین گذر کن پند من بپذیر هین ** عاشقان را تو به چشم عشق بین
(Their) time is precious and their souls are on the watch (for the Beloved): at that moment they cannot excuse themselves to thee.
وقت نازک باشد و جان در رصد ** با تو نتوان گفت آن دم عذر خود
Apprehend (their real state), do not be dependent on their words, do not wound the breasts (hearts) of the lovers.
فهم کن موقوف آن گفتن مباش ** سینه‌های عاشقان را کم خراش
Hast not thou formed a bad opinion of this enthusiasm (of theirs)? (Thou hast done so from prudence): do not abandon prudence, always act with caution;2770
نه گمانی برده‌ای تو زین نشاط ** حزم را مگذار می‌کن احتیاط