(For example) the refusal of the Elephant to march against the House (of Allah) notwithstanding the driver's efforts and cries of “Come on!”2745
امتناع پیل از سیران ببیت ** با جد آن پیلبان و بانگ هیت
In spite of all blows the Elephant's feet would not move, either much or little, towards the Ka‘ba.
جانب کعبه نرفتی پای پیل ** با همه لت نه کثیر و نه قلیل
You would have said that its legs were paralysed or that its impetuous spirit was dead.
گفتیی خود خشک شد پاهای او ** یا بمرد آن جان صول‌افزای او
(But) whenever they turned its head towards Yemen, the fierce Elephant would begin to stride (forward) with the speed of a hundred horses.
چونک کردندی سرش سوی یمن ** پیل نر صد اسپه گشتی گام‌زن
(Since) the Elephant's perception was aware of the blow (coming) from the Unseen, how (much more) must the perception of the saint (endowed) with (the Divine) afflatus be (aware)!
حس پیل از زخم غیب آگاه بود ** چون بود حس ولی با ورود
Is it not (the case) that the prophet Jacob, that man of holy nature, (said) for Joseph's sake to all his (Joseph's) brethren—2750
نه که یعقوب نبی آن پاک‌خو ** بهر یوسف با همه اخوان او
When the brothers begged their father to give him to them, that they might take him to the country for a while,
از پدر چون خواستندش دادران ** تا برندش سوی صحرا یک زمان
(And) they all said to him, “Do not be afraid of harm (befalling him): give him one or two days' time, O father;
جمله گفتندش میندیش از ضرر ** یک دو روزش مهلتی ده ای پدر
For why wilt not thou entrust thy Joseph to us in going about and travelling (for pleasure),
که چرا ما را نمی داری امین ** یوسف خود را به سیران و ظعین
That we may play together in the meadows? In (making) this request we are trustworthy and beneficent”—
تا به هم در مرجها بازی کنیم ** ما درین دعوت امین و محسنیم
Did not he (Jacob) say (to them), “I know this, that (the thought of) his being removed from me is kindling grief and sickness in my heart;2755
گفت این دانم که نقلش از برم ** می‌فروزد در دلم درد و سقم
This heart of mine never lies, for my heart is illumined by the light of the highest heaven”?
این دلم هرگز نمی‌گوید دروغ ** که ز نور عرش دارد دل فروغ
That (foreboding) was a decisive proof of (their) wickedness, but by (Divine) destiny he took no account (of it).
آن دلیل قاطعی بد بر فساد ** وز قضا آن را نکرد او اعتداد
An intimation like that passed away from him (from his mind), because Destiny was at that moment (engaged) in (putting into operation the Divine) philosophy.
در گذشت از وی نشانی آن‌چنان ** که قضا در فلسفه بود آن زمان
’Tis no wonder that a blind man should fall into a pit, (but) the falling of one who can see the way is beyond all wonder.
این عجب نبود که کور افتد به چاه ** بوالعجب افتادن بینای راه
This Destiny employs diverse shifts: its eye-binding spell is God doeth what He pleaseth.2760
این قضا را گونه گون تصریفهاست ** چشم‌بندش یفعل‌الله ما یشاست
The heart knows and yet knows not its (Destiny's) artfulness: its (hard) iron becomes (soft) as wax for the seal.
هم بداند هم نداند دل فنش ** موم گردد بهر آن مهر آهنش
’Tis as though the heart should say (to itself), “Since its (Destiny's) inclination is turned to (bringing) this (to pass), whatever may happen, let it come!”
گوییی دل گویدی که میل او ** چون درین شد هرچه افتد باش گو
Accordingly it makes itself heedless of this (happening) and binds its soul fast in the shackle thereof.
خویش را زین هم مغفل می‌کند ** در عقالش جان معقل می‌کند
If that exalted one (the prophet or saint) is checkmated (worsted) in this (matter), ’tis not (really) checkmate, ’tis tribulation.
گر شود مات اندرین آن بوالعلا ** آن نباشد مات باشد ابتلا
A single tribulation redeems him from a hundred tribulations, a single fall takes him (high) up on the ladders (of spiritual ascent).2765
یک بلا از صد بلااش وا خرد ** یک هبوطش بر معارجها برد
The half-baked saucy fellow, whom the wine (of Love) has relieved from the surfeit of intoxication with a hundred thousand wicked half-baked (persons like himself),
خام شوخی که رهانیدش مدام ** از خمار صد هزاران زشت خام
Finally becomes mature and adept: he escapes from enslavement to this world and is made free.
عاقبت او پخته و استاد شد ** جست از رق جهان و آزاد شد
He is made drunken with the everlasting wine, he becomes (spiritually) discerning, and is delivered from created beings,
از شراب لایزالی گشت مست ** شد ممیز از خلایق باز رست
From their weak conventional faith and from the illusions of their unseeing eyes.
ز اعتقاد سست پر تقلیدشان ** وز خیال دیده‌ی بی‌دیدشان