Know well that intelligences differ thus in degree from the earth to the sky.
این تفاوت عقلها را نیک دان ** در مراتب از زمین تا آسمان
There is an intelligence like the orb of the sun; there is an intelligence inferior to (the planet) Venus and the meteor.460
هست عقلی همچو قرص آفتاب ** هست عقلی کمتر از زهره و شهاب
There is an intelligence like a tipsy (flickering) lamp; there is an intelligence like a star of fire,
هست عقلی چون چراغی سرخوشی ** هست عقلی چون ستارهی آتشی
Because, when the cloud is removed from it, it produces intellects that behold the Light of God.
زانک ابر از پیش آن چون وا جهد ** نور یزدانبین خردها بر دهد
The particular intelligence has given the (universal) intelligence a bad name: worldly desire has deprived the (worldly) man of his desire (in the world hereafter).
عقل جزوی عقل را بدنام کرد ** کام دنیا مرد را بیکام کرد
That (universal intelligence), through being a prey (to God), beheld the beauty of the (Divine) Hunting, while this (particular intelligence), through being a hunter (of worldly goods), suffered the pain of being a prey (to perdition).
آن ز صیدی حسن صیادی بدید ** وین ز صیادی غم صیدی کشید
The former, through service, gained the pride of lordship, while the latter, through lordship, turned from the path of glory.465
آن ز خدمت ناز مخدومی بیافت ** وآن ز مخدومی ز راه عز بتافت
The latter, through being a Pharaoh, was taken captive by the water (of perdition), while the Israelites, through captivity, became (mighty as) a hundred Suhrábs.
آن ز فرعونی اسیر آب شد ** وز اسیری سبط صد سهراب شد
’Tis a topsy-turvy game and a terrible quandary; do not try (to escape by) cunning: ’tis (all) a matter of (Divine) favour and fortune.
لعب معکوسست و فرزینبند سخت ** حیله کم کن کار اقبالست و بخت
Do not weave plots in vain imagination and cunning; for the Self-sufficient One does not give way to the contriver.
بر حیال و حیله کم تن تار را ** که غنی ره کم دهد مکار را
Contrive, in the way of (by following the guidance of) one who serves (God) well, that you may gain the position of a prophet in a religious community.
مکر کن در راه نیکو خدمتی ** تا نبوت یابی اندر امتی
Contrive that you may be delivered from your own contrivance; contrive that you may become detached from the body.470
مکر کن تا وا رهی از مکر خود ** مکر کن تا فرد گردی از جسد
Contrive that you may become the meanest slave (of God): if you enter into (the state of) meanness (self-abasement), you will become lordly.
مکر کن تا کمترین بنده شوی ** در کمی رفتی خداونده شوی
Never, O old wolf, practise foxiness and perform service with the purpose of (gaining) lordship;
روبهی و خدمت ای گرگ کهن ** هیچ بر قصد خداوندی مکن
But rush into the fire like a moth: do not hoard up that (service), play for love!
لیک چون پروانه در آتش بتاز ** کیسهای زان بر مدوز و پاک باز
Renounce power and adopt piteous supplication: (the Divine) mercy comes towards piteous supplication, O dervish.
زور را بگذار و زاری را بگیر ** رحم سوی زاری آید ای فقیر
The piteous supplication of one sorely distressed and athirst is real; the piteous (but) cold supplication of falsehood is proper to the miscreant.475
زاری مضطر تشنه معنویست ** زاری سرد دروغ آن غویست
The weeping of Joseph's brethren is a trick, for their hearts are full of envy and infirmity.
گریهی اخوان یوسف حیلتست ** که درونشان پر ز رشک و علتست
Story of the Arab of the desert whose dog was dying of hunger, while his wallet was full of bread; he was lamenting over the dog and reciting poetry and sobbing and beating his head and face; and yet he grudged the dog a morsel from his wallet.
حکایت آن اعرابی کی سگ او از گرسنگی میمرد و انبان او پر نان و بر سگ نوحه میکرد و شعر میگفت و میگریست و سر و رو میزد و دریغش میآمد لقمهای از انبان به سگ دادن
The dog was dying, and the Arab sobbing, shedding tears, and crying, “Oh, sorrow!”
آن سگی میمرد و گریان آن عرب ** اشک میبارید و میگفت ای کرب
A beggar passed by and asked, “What is this sobbing? For whom is thy mourning and lamentation?”
سایلی بگذشت و گفت این گریه چیست ** نوحه و زاری تو از بهر کیست
He replied, “There was in my possession a dog of excellent disposition. Look, he is dying on the road.
گفت در ملکم سگی بد نیکخو ** نک همیمیرد میان راه او
He hunted for me by day and kept watch by night; (he was) keen-eyed and (good at) catching the prey and driving off thieves.”480
روز صیادم بد و شب پاسبان ** تیزچشم و صیدگیر و دزدران
He (the beggar) asked, “What ails him? Has he been wounded?” The Arab replied, “Ravenous hunger has made him (so) lamentable.”
گفت رنجش چیست زخمی خورده است ** گفت جوع الکلب زارش کرده است
“Show some patience,” said he, “in (bearing) this pain and anguish: the grace of God bestows a recompense on those who are patient.”
گفت صبری کن برین رنج و حرض ** صابران را فضل حق بخشد عوض
Afterwards he said to him, “O noble chief, what is this full wallet in your hand?”
بعد از آن گفتش کای سالار حر ** چیست اندر دستت این انبان پر