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
When the king handed over to that grief-stricken man the treasure-scroll (which was) fraught with commotion,1975
چونک رقعهی گنج پر آشوب را ** شه مسلم داشت آن مکروب را
He (the fakir) became secure from rivals and annoyance, (so) he went and wrapped himself in his melancholy madness.
گشت آمن او ز خصمان و ز نیش ** رفت و میپیچید در سودای خویش
He made sad-thoughted Love his friend: a dog licks his own sore himself.
یار کرد او عشق درداندیش را ** کلب لیسد خویش ریش خویش را
Love hath none to help him in his torment: there is not in the village one inhabitant familiar with him.
عشق را در پیچش خود یار نیست ** محرمش در ده یکی دیار نیست
None is more mad than the lover, (yet) Reason is blind and deaf to his melancholia,
نیست از عاشق کسی دیوانهتر ** عقل از سودای او کورست و کر
Because this is no common madness: in these cases Medicine cannot give right guidance.1980
زآنک این دیوانگی عام نیست ** طب را ارشاد این احکام نیست