Since in this epoch thou, O Vicegerent of God, art the commander of all righteous hearts,
چون امیر جمله دلهای سوی ** اندرین دور ای خلیفه‌ی حق توی
Cut off the heads of these four live birds and make everlasting the creatures that are not enduring for ever.
سر ببر این چار مرغ زنده را ** سر مدی کن خلق ناپاینده را
There is the duck and the peacock and the crow and the cock: these are a parable of the four (evil) dispositions in (human) souls.
بط و طاوسست و زاغست و خروس ** این مثال چار خلق اندر نفوس
The duck is greed, and the cock is lust; eminence is like the peacock, and the crow is (worldly) desire.
بط حرصست و خروس آن شهوتست ** جاه چون طاوس و زاغ امنیتست
His (the crow's) object of desire is this, that he forms hopes and wishes for immortality or long life.45
منیتش آن که بود اومیدساز ** طامع تابید یا عمر دراز
The duck is greed, for her bill is always in the ground, seeking what is buried in the wet and dry.
بط حرص آمد که نولش در زمین ** در تر و در خشک می‌جوید دفین
That gullet (of hers) is never idle for a moment: it hearkens unto naught of the (Divine) ordinance save the command “Eat ye!”
یک زمان نبود معطل آن گلو ** نشنود از حکم جز امر کلوا
’Tis like the looter who digs up (ravages) the house and very quickly fills his bag,
هم‌چو یغماجیست خانه می‌کند ** زود زود انبان خود پر می‌کند
Cramming into the bag good and bad (indifferently), single pearls and chickpeas,
اندر انبان می‌فشارد نیک و بد ** دانه‌های در و حبات نخود
Cramming dry and wet into the sack, for fear lest another enemy should arrive.50
تا مبادا یاغیی آید دگر ** می‌فشارد در جوال او خشک و تر
Time presses, the opportunity is small, he is terrified: without delay he heaves it under his arm as speedily as possible.
وقت تنگ و فرصت اندک او مخوف ** در بغل زد هر چه زودتر بی‌وقوف
But the true believer, from his confidence in that (Divine) Life, conducts his raid in a leisurely manner and with deliberation.
لیک مومن ز اعتماد آن حیات ** می‌کند غارت به مهل و با انات
He hath no fear of missing his chance or of the enemy, for he recognises the King's dominion over the enemy.
آمنست از فوت و از یاغی که او ** می‌شناسد قهر شه را بر عدو
He hath no fear of the other fellow-servants coming to jostle him and gain the advantage,55
آمنست از خواجه‌تاشان دگر ** که بیایندش مزاحم صرفه‌بر
(For) he perceived the King's justice in restraining his followers so that none durst do violence to any one.
عدل شه را دید در ضبط حشم ** که نیارد کرد کس بر کس ستم
Consequently he does not hurry and is calm: he hath no fear of missing his (appointed) portion.
لاجرم نشتابد و ساکن بود ** از فوات حظ خود آمن بود
He hath much deliberation and patience and long-suffering; he is contented and unselfish and pure of heart,
بس تانی دارد و صبر و شکیب ** چشم‌سیر و مثرست و پاک‌جیب
For this deliberation is the ray of the Merciful (God), while that haste is from the impulse of the Devil,
کین تانی پرتو رحمان بود ** وان شتاب از هزه‌ی شیطان بود
Because the Devil frightens him (the greedy man) away from poverty and kills the beast of burden, patience, by stabbing.60
زانک شیطانش بترساند ز فقر ** بارگیر صبر را بکشد به عقر
Hear from the Qur’án that the Devil in menace is threatening thee with hard poverty,
از نبی بشنو که شیطان در وعید ** می‌کند تهدیدت از فقر شدید
That in haste thou mayst eat foul things and take foul things, (having in thee) no generosity, no deliberation, no merit acquired by good works.
تا خوری زشت و بری زشت و شتاب ** نی مروت نی‌تانی نی ثواب
Necessarily (therefore) the infidel takes his food in seven bowels: his religion and spirit are thin and lean, his belly fat.
لاجرم کافر خورد در هفت بطن ** دین و دل باریک و لاغر زفت بطن
Concerning the occasion of the coming of the Tradition of Mustafá (Mohammed), the blessings of God be upon him, that the infidel takes his food in seven bowels, while the true believer takes his food in one bowel.
در سبب ورود این حدیث مصطفی صلوات الله علیه که الکافر یاکل فی سبعة امعاء و المومن یاکل فی معا واحد