He (the worldling) dies and leaves a (sepulchral) vault to occupy his place; and (in the case of) one who has lain for ages (in the earth), even the vault has disappeared.
مرد او بر جای خرپشته نشاند ** وآنک کهنه گشت هم پشته نماند
The justice of God hath mated every one (with one of his own kind)—elephant with elephant and gnat with gnat.
هر کسی را جفت کرده عدل حق ** پیل را با پیل و بق را جنس بق
The familiar associates of Ahmad (Mohammed) were the Four Friends, (while) the familiars of Bú Jahl were ‘Utba and Dhu ’l-Khimár.1895
مونس احمد به مجلس چار یار ** مونس بوجهل عتبه و ذوالخمار
The Ka‘ba of Gabriel and the (celestial) spirits is a Lotus-tree; the qibla of the belly-slave is a table-cloth (covered with dishes of food).
کعبه‌ی جبریل و جانها سدره‌ای ** قبله‌ی عبدالبطون شد سفره‌ای
The qibla of the gnostic is the light of union (with God); the qibla of the philosopher's intellect is phantasy.
قبله‌ی عارف بود نور وصال ** قبله‌ی عقل مفلسف شد خیال
The qibla of the ascetic is the Gracious God; the qibla of the flatterer is a purse of gold.
قبله‌ی زاهد بود یزدان بر ** قبله‌ی مطمع بود همیان زر
The qibla of the spiritual is patience and long-suffering; the qibla of form worshippers is the image of stone.
قبله‌ی معنی‌وران صبر و درنگ ** قبله‌ی صورت‌پرستان نقش سنگ
The qibla of those who dwell on the inward is the Bounteous One; the qibla of those who worship the outward is a woman's face.1900
قبله‌ی باطن‌نشینان ذوالمنن ** قبله‌ی ظاهرپرستان روی زن
Similarly reckon up new and old (instances); and if you are weary (of doing so), go about your business.
هم‌چنین برمی‌شمر تازه و کهن ** ور ملولی رو تو کار خویش کن
Our provision (from God) is wine in a golden cup, while those curs have the tutmáj broth and the trough.
رزق ما در کاس زرین شد عقار ** وآن سگان را آب تتماج و تغار
(God says), “To him on whom We have bestowed a (particular) disposition We have sent the appropriate provision accordingly.
لایق آنک بدو خو داده‌ایم ** در خور آن رزق بفرستاده‌ایم
We have made it that one's disposition to be passionately fond of bread, We have made it this one's disposition to be intoxicated with the Beloved.”
خوی آن را عاشق نان کرده‌ایم ** خوی این را مست جانان کرده‌ایم
Since you are pleased and happy with your disposition, then why are you fleeing from that which is appropriate to your disposition?1905
چون به خوی خود خوشی و خرمی ** پس چه از درخورد خویت می‌رمی
(If) feminality pleases you, get a chádar; (if) the prowess of Rustam pleases you, get a dagger.
This topic hath no end, and (meanwhile) the fakir has been sorely wounded by the blows of penury.
این سخن پایان ندارد وآن فقیر ** گشته است از زخم درویشی عقیر
Story of the treasure-scroll (in which it was written), “Beside a certain domed building turn your face towards the qibla (Mecca) and put an arrow to the bow and shoot: the treasure is (buried) at the spot where it falls.”
قصه‌ی آن گنج‌نامه کی پهلوی قبه‌ای روی به قبله کن و تیر در کمان نه بینداز آنجا کی افتد گنجست
One night he dreamed—but where was sleep? The vision without sleep is familiar to the Súfí—
دید در خواب او شبی و خواب کو ** واقعه‌ی بی‌خواب صوفی‌راست خو
(That) a heavenly voice said to him, “O you who have seen trouble, search among the (loose) leaves of handwriting sold (as models) by stationers for a certain scroll.
هاتفی گفتش کای دیده تعب ** رقعه‌ای در مشق وراقان طلب
Unobserved by the stationer who is your neighbour, bring your hand into touch with his papers.1910
خفیه زان وراق کت همسایه است ** سوی کاغذپاره‌هاش آور تو دست
It is a scroll of such a shape and such a colour: then (as soon as possible) read it in privacy, O sorrowful one.
رقعه‌ای شکلش چنین رنگش چنین ** بس بخوان آن را به خلوت ای حزین
When you steal it from the stationer, my lad, then go out of the crowd and the noise and turmoil,
چون بدزدی آن ز وراق ای پسر ** پس برون رو ز انبهی و شور و شر
And read it by yourself in some lonely place: beware, do not seek any partnership in reading it.
تو بخوان آن را به خود در خلوتی ** هین مجو در خواندن آن شرکتی
But even if it (the secret) be divulged, do not be anxious, for none but you will get (so much as) half a barley-corn thereof.
ور شود آن فاش هم غمگین مشو ** که نیابد غیر تو زان نیم جو
And if it (the affair) be long drawn out, beware and take heed! Make (the text) do not ye despair your litany at every moment.”1915
ور کشد آن دیر هان زنهار تو ** ورد خود کن دم به دم لاتقنطوا
The (heavenly) announcer of the good news said this and put his hand on his (the fakir's) heart, saying, “Go, endure the toil.”
این بگفت و دست خود آن مژده‌ور ** بر دل او زد که رو زحمت ببر
When the youth came back to himself after the absence, on account of his joy he could not be contained in the world.
چون به خویش آمد ز غیبت آن جوان ** می‌نگنجید از فرح اندر جهان