Do not tear out those feathers which are an ornament to Paradise: do not tear out those feathers which (enable thee to) traverse the Way.”
بر مکن آن پر خلد آرای را ** بر مکن آن پر رهپیمای را
When he (the peacock) heard this counsel, he looked at him (the Sage) and, after that, began to lament and weep.
چون شنید این پند در وی بنگریست ** بعد از آن در نوحه آمد میگریست
The long lamentation and weeping of the sorrowful (peacock) caused every one who was there to fall a-weeping;
نوحه و گریهی دراز دردمند ** هر که آنجا بود بر گریهش فکند
And he who was asking the reason of (the peacock's) tearing out his feathers, (he too being left) without an answer repented (of having asked) and wept,615
وآنک میپرسید پر کندن ز چیست ** بیجوابی شد پشیمان میگریست
Saying, “Why did I impertinently ask him (that question)? He was full of grief: I made him distraught.”
کز فضولی من چرا پرسیدمش ** او ز غم پر بود شورانیدمش
From his (the peacock's) moist eyes the water (of tears) was trickling to the earth: in every drop were contained a hundred answers.
میچکید از چشم تر بر خاک آب ** اندر آن هر قطره مدرج صد جواب
Sincere weeping touches the souls (of all), so that it makes (even) the sky and heaven to weep.
گریهی با صدق بر جانها زند ** تا که چرخ و عرش را گریان کند
Without any doubt, intellects and hearts (spirits) are celestial, (though) they live debarred from the celestial light.
عقل و دلها بیگمان عرشیاند ** در حجاب از نور عرشی میزیند
Explaining that the intellect and spirit are imprisoned in clay, like Hárút and Márút in the pit of Babylon.
در بیان آنک عقل و روح در آب و گل محبوساند همچون هاروت و ماروت در چاه بابل
Like Hárút and Márút, those two pure ones (the intellect and spirit) have been confined here (in this world) in a horrible pit.620
همچو هاروت و چو ماروت آن دو پاک ** بستهاند اینجا به چاه سهمناک
They are in the low and sensual world: they have been confined in this pit on account of sin.
عالم سفلی و شهوانی درند ** اندرین چه گشتهاند از جرمبند
The good and the evil (alike) learn magic and the opposite of magic from these twain involuntarily;
سحر و ضد سحر را بیاختیار ** زین دو آموزند نیکان و شرار
But first they admonish him, saying, “Beware, do not learn and pick up magic from us:
لیک اول پند بدهندش که هین ** سحر را از ما میاموز و مچین
We teach this magic, O such and such, for the purpose of trial and probation;
ما بیاموزیم این سحر ای فلان ** از برای ابتلا و امتحان
(But thou art free to choose), for probation necessarily involves free-will, and thou canst not have any (effective) free-will without the power (of action).”625
که امتحان را شرط باشد اختیار ** اختیاری نبودت بیاقتدار
Desires are like sleeping dogs: good and evil are hidden in them.
میلها همچون سگان خفتهاند ** اندریشان خیر و شر بنهفتهاند
When there is no power (of action), this troop (of desires) are asleep and silent like faggots (smouldering in the fire),
چونک قدرت نیست خفتند این رده ** همچو هیزمپارهها و تنزده
Until (when) a carcase comes into view, the blast of the trumpet of greed strikes on (suddenly rouses) the dogs.
تا که مرداری در آید در میان ** نفخ صور حرص کوبد بر سگان
When the carcase of a donkey appears in the parish, a hundred sleeping dogs are awakened by it.
چون در آن کوچه خری مردار شد ** صد سگ خفته بدان بیدار شد
The greedy desires that had gone into the concealment of the Unseen rush out and display themselves.630
حرصهای رفته اندر کتم غیب ** تاختن آورد سر بر زد ز جیب
Every hair on every dog becomes (like) a tooth, though they wag their tails (fawningly) for the sake of gaining their object.
موبه موی هر سگی دندان شده ** وز برای حیله دم جنبان شده
His (the dog's) under-half is cunning, (while) the upper (half) is anger, like a poor fire that gets faggots (fuel);
نیم زیرش حیله بالا آن غضب ** چون ضعیف آتش که یابد او حطب
Flame on flame reaches (it) from (the realm of) non-spatiality: the smoke of its blaze goes up to the sky.
شعله شعله میرسد از لامکان ** میرود دود لهب تا آسمان
In this body (of ours) a hundred such dogs are sleeping: when they have no prey (in sight), they are hidden.
صد چنین سگ اندرین تن خفتهاند ** چون شکاری نیستشان بنهفتهاند
Or they resemble falcons with eyes sealed (covered); (yet) in the veil (hood) consumed with passion for a prey,635
یا چو بازانند و دیده دوخته ** در حجاب از عشق صیدی سوخته
Till he (the Falconer) lifts the hood and it (the falcon) sees the prey: then it circles the mountains (in pursuit).
تا کله بردارد و بیند شکار ** آنگهان سازد طواف کوهسار