From the nurse, Sleep, I suck the milk of those bygone days of mine, O Lord.
شیر آن ایام ماضیهای خود ** میچشم از دایهی خواب ای صمد
All the (people in the) world are fleeing from their free-will and (self-)existence to their drunken (unconscious) side.
جمله عالم ز اختیار و هست خود ** میگریزد در سر سرمست خود
In order that for awhile they may be delivered from sobriety (consciousness), they lay upon themselves the opprobrium of wine and minstrelsy.225
تا دمی از هوشیاری وا رهند ** ننگ خمر و زمر بر خود مینهند
All know that this existence is a snare, that volitional thought and memory are a hell.
جمله دانسته کای این هستی فخ است ** فکر و ذکر اختیاری دوزخ است
They are fleeing from selfhood into selflessness either by means of intoxication or by means of (some engrossing) occupation, O well-conducted man.
میگریزند از خودی در بیخودی ** یا به مستی یا به شغل ای مهتدی
Thou (O God) drawest the soul back from that state of not-being because it entered into unconsciousness without Thy command.
نفس را زان نیستی وا میکشی ** زانک بیفرمان شد اندر بیهشی
Neither for the Jinn (genies) nor for mankind is it (possible) to pierce through the prison of the regions of the temporal world.
لیس للجن و لا للانس ان ** ینفذوا من حبس اقطار الزمن
There is no piercing through the cavities of the highest heavens save by the power of Guidance.230
لا نفوذ الا بسلطان الهدی ** من تجاویف السموات العلی
There is no guidance save by a power that preserves the spirit of the devout from the keepers of the shooting stars.
لا هدی الا بسلطان یقی ** من حراس الشهب روح المتقی
There is no way (admittance) for any one, till he become naughted, into the audience-chamber of (Divine) Majesty.
هیچ کس را تا نگردد او فنا ** نیست ره در بارگاه کبریا
What is the means of ascension to Heaven? This not-being. Not-being is the creed and religion of the lovers (of God).
چیست معراج فلک این نیستی ** عاشقان را مذهب و دین نیستی
From self-abasement in the way of Love the fur jacket and rustic shoon became the prayer-niche of Ayáz.
پوستین و چارق آمد از نیاز ** در طریق عشق محراب ایاز
Even though he was beloved by the king (Mahmúd), and was charming and beauteous outwardly and inwardly—235
گرچه او خود شاه را محبوب بود ** ظاهر و باطن لطیف و خوب بود
(For) he had become devoid of any arrogance or ostentation or malice, and his face was a mirror for the beauty of the king—
گشته بیکبر و ریا و کینهای ** حسن سلطان را رخش آیینهای
(Yet ’twas only) because he was far removed from his (self-) existence, (that) the end of his affair was praiseworthy.
چونک از هستی خود او دور شد ** منتهای کار او محمود بد
The steadfastness of Ayáz was all the firmer forasmuch as he was taking (those) precautions in fear of arrogance.
زان قویتر بود تمکین ایاز ** که ز خوف کبر کردی احتراز
He had been purified, and he had come and smitten the neck of (had beheaded) arrogance and selfishness.
او مهذب گشته بود و آمده ** کبر را و نفس را گردن زده
He was practising these devices either for the purpose of instructing (others) or for the sake of some principle of wisdom far removed from fear;240
یا پی تعلیم میکرد آن حیل ** یا برای حکمتی دور از وجل
Or (perhaps) the sight of his rustic shoon pleased him because (self-)existence is a shutter against the breeze of not-being,
یا که دید چارقش زان شد پسند ** کز نسیم نیستی هستیست بند
(And he looked at them) in order that the charnel-house which is (built) on not-being might open, and that he might feel the breeze of vitality and life.
تا گشاید دخمه کان بر نیستیست ** تا بیاید آن نسیم عیش و زیست
The wealth and riches and silks of this travellers' halt are a chain on the light-footed spirit.
ملک و مال و اطلس این مرحله ** هست بر جان سبکرو سلسله
The spirit espied the golden chain and was beguiled: it remained in the hole of a dungeon (far) from the open country.
سلسلهی زرین بدید و غره گشت ** ماند در سوراخ چاهی جان ز دشت
Its (the world's) appearance is (that of) Paradise, (but) in reality it is a hell; it is a viper full of venom, though its figure is (that of) a rose-cheeked (beauty).245
صورتش جنت به معنی دوزخی ** افعیی پر زهر و نقشش گل رخی
Although Hell-fire does no injury to the true believer, yet ’tis still better to pass on from that place (and leave it behind).
گرچه مؤمن را سقر ندهد ضرر ** لیک هم بهتر بود زانجا گذر
Although Hell keeps its torment far from him, yet in any case Paradise is better for him.
گرچه دوزخ دور دارد زو نکال ** لیک جنت به ورا فی کل حال