As, when you lop off a (superfluous) branch from a tree, vigour is imparted to the well-conditioned branches.
همچو شاخی که ببری از درخت ** سر کند قوت ز شاخ نیکبخت
When you have turned its (the carnal steed's) tail in that direction, if it goes backward, it goes to the place of shelter.1125
چونک کردی دم او را آن طرف ** گر رود پس پس رود تا مکتنف
How excellent are the docile horses which go forward, not backward, and are not given over to restiveness,
حبذا اسپان رام پیشرو ** نه سپسرو نه حرونی را گرو
Going hot-foot, like the body of Moses the Kalím, to which (the distance) to the two seas (was) as the breadth of a blanket!
گرمرو چون جسم موسی کلیم ** تا به بحرینش چو پهنای گلیم
Seven hundred years is the duration of the journey on which he set out in the path of Love, (the journey that lasted) for an age.
هست هفصدساله راه آن حقب ** که بکرد او عزم در سیران حب
Since the aspiration (that carried him) on his journey in the body is (as immense as) this, his journey in the spirit must be (even) unto the highestParadise.
همت سیر تنش چون این بود ** سیر جانش تا به علیین بود
The kingly cavaliers sped forward in advance (of all); the boobies unloaded (their beasts of burden) in the stable-yard.1130
شهسواران در سباقت تاختند ** خربطان در پایگه انداختند
Parable.
مثل
’Tis like (the tale of) the caravaneers (who) arrived and entered a village and found a certain door open.
آنچنان که کاروانی میرسید ** در دهی آمد دری را باز دید
One (of them) said, “During this spell of cold weather let us unload (alight) here for a few days.”
آن یکی گفت اندرین برد العجوز ** تا بیندازیم اینجا چند روز
A voice cried, “Nay, unload outside, and then come indoors!”
بانگ آمد نه بینداز از برون ** وانگهانی اندر آ تو اندرون
Drop outside everything that ought to be dropped: do not come in with it, for this assembly-place is of high dignity.”
هم برون افکن هر آنچ افکندنیست ** در میا با آن کای ن مجلس سنیست
Hilál was a spiritual adept and a man of illumined soul, (though he was) the groom and slave of a Moslem Amír.1135
بد هلال استاددل جانروشنی ** سایس و بندهی امیری مومنی
The youth served as a groom in the stable, but (he was really) a king of kings and a slave (only) in name.
سایسی کردی در آخر آن غلام ** لیک سلطان سلاطین بنده نام
The Amír was ignorant of his slave's (real) condition, for he had no discernment but of the sort possessed by Iblís.
آن امیر از حال بنده بیخبر ** که نبودش جز بلیسانه نظر
He saw the clay, but not the treasure (buried) in it: he saw the five (senses) and the six (directions), but not the source of the five.
آب و گل میدید و در وی گنج نه ** پنج و شش میدید و اصل پنج نه
The colour of clay is manifest, the light of religion is hidden: such was (the case of) every prophet in the world.
رنگ طین پیدا و نور دین نهان ** هر پیمبر این چنین بد در جهان
One (person) saw the minaret, but not the bird (perched) upon it, (though) upon the minaret (was) a fully accomplished royal falcon;1140
آن مناره دید و در وی مرغ نی ** بر مناره شاهبازی پر فنی
And a second (observer) saw a bird flapping its wings, but not the hair in the bird's mouth (beak);
وان دوم میدید مرغی پرزنی ** لیک موی اندر دهان مرغ نی
But that one who was seeing by the light of God was aware both of the bird and of the hair,
وانک او ینظر به نور الله بود ** هم ز مرغ و هم ز مو آگاه بود
And said (to the other), “Pray, direct thine eye towards the hair: till thou see the hair, the knot will not be untied.”
گفت آخر چشم سوی موی نه ** تا نبینی مو بنگشاید گره
The one saw in the mud (only) figured clay, while the other saw clay replete with knowledge and works.
آن یکی گل دید نقشین دو وحل ** وآن دگر گل دید پر علم و عمل
1145 The body is the minaret, knowledge and obedience (to God) are like the bird: suppose three hundred birds (to be perched on it) or (only) two birds, whichever you please.1145
تن مناره علم و طاعت همچو مرغ ** خواه سیصد مرغگیر و یا دو مرغ
The middle man sees the bird only: neither before nor behind (him) does he see anything but a bird.
مرد اوسط مرغبینست او و بس ** غیر مرغی مینبیند پیش و پس
The hair is the hidden light belonging to the bird, whereby the soul of the bird is enduring (for ever).
موی آن نور نیست پنهان آن مرغ ** هیچ عاریت نباشد کار او
The works of the bird in whose beak is that hair are never counterfeit.
مرغ کان مویست درمنقار او ** هیچ عاریت نباشد کار او