At last, when the veil of death comes over you, these bits of the Book drop away from your face.
عاقبت چون چادر مرگت رسد ** از رخت این عشرها اندر فتد
When the call comes to arise and depart, thereafter (all) the arts of disputation vanish.1285
چونک آید خیزخیزان رحیل ** گم شود زان پس فنون قال و قیل
The world of silence comes into view. Stop (talking)! Alas for him that hath not a familiarity (with silence) within him!
عالم خاموشی آید پیش بیست ** وای آنک در درون انسیش نیست
Polish your breast (heart) for a day or two: make that mirror your book (of meditation),
صیقلی کن یک دو روزی سینه را ** دفتر خود ساز آن آیینه را
For from (seeing) the reflexion of the imperial Joseph old Zalíkhá became young anew.
که ز سایه‌ی یوسف صاحب‌قران ** شد زلیخای عجوز از سر جوان
The chilly temperature of “the old woman's cold spell” is changed (into heat) by the sun of Tamúz (July).
می‌شود مبدل به خورشید تموز ** آن مزاح بارد برد العجوز
A dry-lipped bough is changed into a flourishing palm-tree by the burning (anguish) of a Mary.1290
می‌شود مبدل بسوز مریمی ** شاخ لب خشکی به نخلی خرمی
O (you who are like the) old woman, how long will you strive with the (Divine) destiny? Seek the cash now: let bygones be.
ای عجوزه چند کوشی با قضا ** نقد جو اکنون رها کن ما مضی
Since your face hath no hope of (acquiring) beauty, you may either put rouge (on it) or, if you wish, ink.
چون رخت را نیست در خوبی امید ** خواه گلگونه نه و خواهی مداد
Story of the sick man of whose recovery the physician despaired.
حکایت آن رنجور کی طبیب درو اومید صحت ندید
A certain sick man went to a physician and said, “Feel my pulse, O sagacious one,
آن یکی رنجور شد سوی طبیب ** گفت نبضم را فرو بین ای لبیب
That by (feeling) the pulse you may diagnose the state of my heart, for the hand-vein is connected with the heart.”
که ز نبض آگه شوی بر حال دل ** که رگ دستست با دل متصل
Since the heart is invisible, if you want a symbol of it, seek (it) from him who hath connexion with the heart.1295
چونک دل غیبست خواهی زو مثال ** زو بجو که با دلستش اتصال
The wind is hidden from the eye, O trusty (friend), (but) see it in the dust and in the movement of the leaves,
باد پنهانست از چشم ای امین ** در غبار و جنبش برگش ببین
(And observe) whether it is blowing from the right or from the left: the movement of the leaves will describe its condition to you.
کز یمینست او وزان یا از شمال ** جنبش برگت بگوید وصف حال
(If) you know not intoxication of the heart (and ask) where (it is), seek the description of it from the inebriated (languid) eye.
مستی دل را نمی‌دانی که کو ** وصف او از نرگس مخمور جو
Since you are far from (knowing) the Essence of God, you may recognise the description of the Essence in the Prophet and (his) evidentiary miracles.
چون ز ذات حق بعیدی وصف ذات ** باز دانی از رسول و معجزات
Certain secret miracles and graces (proceeding) from the elect (Súfí) Elders impress the heart (of the disciple);1300
معجزاتی و کراماتی خفی ** بر زند بر دل ز پیران صفی
For within them (those Elders) there are a hundred immediate (spiritual) resurrections, (of which) the least is this, that their neighbour becomes intoxicated;
که درونشان صد قیامت نقد هست ** کمترین آنک شود همسایه مست
Hence that fortunate (disciple) who has devoted himself to a blessed (saint) has become the companion of God.
پس جلیس الله گشت آن نیک‌بخت ** کو به پهلوی سعیدی برد رخت
The evidentiary miracle that produced an effect upon something inanimate (is) either (like) the rod (of Moses) or (the passage of) the sea (by the Israelites) or the splitting of the moon.
معجزه کان بر جمادی زد اثر ** یا عصا با بحر یا شق‌القمر
If it (the evidentiary miracle) produces an immediate effect upon the soul, (the reason is that) it (the soul) is brought into connexion (with the producer of the effect) by means of a hidden link.
گر ترا بر جان زند بی‌واسطه ** متصل گردد به پنهان رابطه
The effects produced upon inanimate objects are (only) accessory: they are (really) for the sake of the fair invisible spirit,1305
بر جمادات آن اثرها عاریه‌ست ** از پی روح خوش متواریه‌ست
In order that the inmost heart may be affected by means of that inanimate object. (But) how (much more) excellent is bread (produced) without the substance (of bread), (namely), dough!
تا از آن جامد اثر گیرد ضمیر ** حبذا نان بی‌هیولای خمیر
How excellent is the Messiah's table of food without stint! How excellent is Mary's fruit (that was produced) without an orchard!