When this person (the fakir) heard that it had come to (the knowledge of) the king, he saw no remedy but resignation and acquiescence;1950
چون شنید این شخص کین با شه رسید ** جز که تسلیم و رضا چاره ندید
(So), ere he should suffer (torture on) the rack by order of the Emperor, that person laid the note (of the treasure) before him,
پیش از آنک اشکنجه بیند زان قباد ** رقعه را آن شخص پیش او نهاد
Saying, “(Ever) since I found this scroll, I have seen no treasure but (only) infinite trouble.
گفت تا این رقعه را یابیدهام ** گنج نه و رنج بیحد دیدهام
Not even a single mite of treasure has been discovered, but I have writhed very much, like a snake.
خود نشد یک حبه از گنج آشکار ** لیک پیچیدم بسی من همچو مار
During a (whole) month I have been in bitter distress like this, for loss or gain (accruing) from this (treasure-scroll) is forbidden to me.
مدت ماهی چنینم تلخکام ** که زیان و سود این بر من حرام
Maybe thy fortune will disclose (to thee) this mine (of riches), O king (who art) victorious in war and the conqueror of fortresses.”1955
بوک بختت بر کند زین کان غطا ** ای شه پیروزجنگ و دزگشا
For six long months and more the king shot arrows and dug pits (where the arrows fell).
مدت شش ماه و افزون پادشاه ** تیر میانداخت و برمیکند چاه
Wherever an energetic drawer of the strongbow was (to be found), he (the king) gave (him) arrows to shoot and searched for the treasure in every direction.
هرکجا سخته کمانی بود چست ** تیر داد انداخت و هر سو گنج جست
(The result was) nothing but vexation and grief and futilities: as (in the case of) the ‘Anqá, the name (of the treasure) was known to all, but the essence (reality) was non-existent.
غیر تشویش و غم و طامات نی ** همچو عنقا نام فاش و ذات نی
How the king despaired of finding the treasure and became weary of searching for it.
نومید شدن آن پادشاه از یافتن آن گنج و ملول شدن او از طلب آن
When he met with obstacles (to success) in (all) the breadth and length (of his enterprise), the king became sick at heart and weary.
چونک تعویق آمد اندر عرض و طول ** شاه شد زان گنج دل سیر و ملول
(After) the king (had) dug pits in the deserts, yard by yard, he threw the scroll wrathfully before him (the fakir).1960
دشتها را گز گز آن شه چاه کند ** رقعه را از خشم پیش او فکند
“Take this scroll,” said he, “which has no (good) effects; you are the fittest (owner) for it, since you have no work.
گفت گیر این رقعه کش آثار نیست ** تو بدین اولیتری کت کار نیست
It is no use for one who has work (to do) that he should burn the rose and go about (busy himself with) the thorn.
نیست این کار کسی کش هست کار ** که بسوزد گل بگردد گرد خار
’Tis singular (how) the victims of this melancholy madness expect grass to grow from iron.
نادر افتد اهل این ماخولیا ** منتظر که روید از آهن گیا
This specialty needs a man of stout heart like you: do you, who have a stout heart, search for this (treasure).
سخت جانی باید این فن را چو تو ** تو که داری جان سخت این را بجو
If you cannot find it, you will never weary (of seeking); and if you find it, I grant you the right of possession.”1965
گر نیابی نبودت هرگز ملال ** ور بیابی آن به تو کردم حلال
How should Reason wend the way of despair? ’Tis Love that runs on its head in that direction.
عقل راه ناامیدی کی رود ** عشق باشد کان طرف بر سر دود
Love is reckless, not Reason: Reason seeks that from which it may get some profit.
لاابالی عشق باشد نی خرد ** عقل آن جوید کز آن سودی برد
(The lover is) fierce in onset and body-consuming and unabashed: in tribulation, like the nether millstone;
ترکتاز و تنگداز و بیحیا ** در بلا چون سنگ زیر آسیا
A hard-faced one that has no back: he has killed in himself the seeking of self-interest.
سخترویی که ندارد هیچ پشت ** بهرهجویی را درون خویش کشت
He gambles (everything) clean away, he seeks no reward, even as he receives (everything) clean (as a free gift) from Him (God).1970
پاک میبازد نباشد مزدجو ** آنچنان که پاک میگیرد ز هو
God gives him his existence without any cause: the devoted (lover) yields it up again without cause;
میدهد حق هستیش بیعلتی ** میسپارد باز بیعلت فتی
For devotion consists in giving without cause: gambling (one's self) clean away (pure self-sacrifice) is outside of (transcends) every religion.
که فتوت دادن بی علتست ** پاکبازی خارج هر ملتست
Forasmuch as religion seeks (Divine) grace or salvation, those who gamble (everything) clean away are (God's) chosen favourites.
زانک ملت فضل جوید یا خلاص ** پاک بازانند قربانان خاص
Neither do they put God to any test, nor do they knock at the door of any profit or loss.
نی خدا را امتحانی میکنند ** نی در سود و زیانی میزنند
How the king gave back the treasure-scroll to the fakir, saying, “Take it: we are quit of it.”
باز دادن شاه گنجنامه را به آن فقیر کی بگیر ما از سر این برخاستیم