In consequence of the sin which proceeded from that man of goodly qualities (Joseph), he was left in prison for several years by the (Divine) Judge,
زین گنه کامد از آن نیکوخصال ** ماند در زندان ز داور چند سال
Who said, “What failure was shown by the Sun of justice that thou shouldst fall, like a bat, into the blackness (of night)?
که چه تقصیر آمد از خورشید داد ** تا تو چون خفاش افتی در سواد
Hark, what failure was shown by the sea and the cloud that thou shouldst seek help from the sand and the mirage?3410
هین چه تقصیر آمد از بحر و سحاب ** تا تو یاری خواهی از ریگ و سراب
If the vulgar are bats by nature and unreal (unspiritual), thou, at least, O Joseph, hast the eye of the falcon.
عام اگر خفاش طبعند و مجاز ** یوسفا داری تو آخر چشم باز
If a bat went into the blind and blue (the world of darkness and misery), (’tis no wonder, but) after all what ailed the falcon that had seen the Sultan?”
گر خفاشی رفت در کور و کبود ** باز سلطان دیده را باری چه بود
Therefore the (Divine) Master punished him for this sin, saying, “Do not make thy prop of rotten wood”;
پس ادب کردش بدین جرم اوستاد ** که مساز از چوب پوسیده عماد
But He caused Joseph to be engrossed with Him, to the end that his heart should not be pained by that imprisonment.
لیک یوسف را به خود مشغول کرد ** تا نیاید در دلش زان حبس درد
God gave him such intimate joy and rapture that neither the prison nor the mirk (of his dungeon) remained (visible) to him.3415
آنچنانش انس و مستی داد حق ** که نه زندان ماند پیشش نه غسق
There is no prison more frightful than the womb—noisome and dark and full of blood and unhealthy;
نیست زندانی وحشتر از رحم ** ناخوش و تاریک و پرخون و وخم
(Yet), when God has opened for you a window in His direction, your body (hidden) in the womb grows more (and more) every moment,
چون گشادت حق دریچه سوی خویش ** در رحم هر دم فزاید تنت بیش
And in that prison, from the immeasurable delight (which you feel therein), the senses blossom happily from the plant, your body.
اندر آن زندان ز ذوق بیقیاس ** خوش شکفت از غرس جسم تو حواس
’Tis grievous to you to go forth from the womb: you are fleeing from her (your mother's) pubes towards her back.
زان رحم بیرون شدن بر تو درشت ** میگریزی از زهارش سوی پشت
Know that the way of (spiritual) pleasure is from within, not from without: know that it is folly to seek palaces and castles.3420
راه لذت از درون دان نه از برون ** ابلهی دان جستن قصر و حصون
One man is enraptured and delighted in the nook of a mosque, while another is morose and disappointed in a garden.
آن یکی در کنج مسجد مست و شاد ** وآن دگر در باغ ترش و بیمراد
The palace (body) is nothing: ruin your body! The treasure lies in the ruin, O my prince.
قصر چیزی نیست ویران کن بدن ** گنج در ویرانیست ای میر من
Don't you see that at the wine-feast the drunkard becomes happy (only) when he becomes ruined (senseless)?
این نمیبینی که در بزم شراب ** مست آنگه خوش شود کو شد خراب
Although the (bodily) house is full of pictures, demolish it: seek the treasure, and with the treasure put it (the house) into good repair.
گرچه پر نقش است خانه بر کنش ** گنج جو و از گنج آبادان کنش
’Tis a house filled with pictures of imagination and fancy, and these forms (ideas) are as a veil over the treasure of union (with God).3425
خانهی پر نقش تصویر و خیال ** وین صور چون پرده بر گنج وصال
’Tis the radiance of the Treasure and the splendours of the (spiritual) gold that cause the forms (ideas) to surge up in this breast.
پرتو گنجست و تابشهای زر ** که درین سینه همیجوشد صور
’Tis from the purity and translucence of the noble Water that the particles of foam have veiled the face of the Water.
هم ز لطف و عکس آب با شرف ** پرده شد بر روی آب اجزای کف
’Tis from the purity and (ceaseless) agitation of the precious Spirit that the bodily figure has veiled the face of the Spirit.
هم ز لطف و جوش جان با ثمن ** پردهای بر روی جان شد شخص تن
Hearken, then, to the adage that issued from the mouths (of men)—“this which is (cast) upon us, O brother, is (derived) from us.”
پس مثل بشنو که در افواه خاست ** که اینچ بر ماست ای برادر هم ز ماست
Because of this veil, these thirsty ones who are (so) fond of the foam have got out of reach of the pure Water.3430
زین حجاب این تشنگان کفپرست ** ز آب صافی اوفتاده دوردست
“O (Divine) Sun, notwithstanding (that we have) a qibla (object of adoration) and Imám like Thee, we worship the night and behave in the manner of bats.
آفتابا با چو تو قبله و امام ** شبپرستی و خفاشی میکنیم
Make these bats to fly towards Thee and redeem them from this bat-like disposition, O Thou whose protection is implored!
سوی خود کن این خفاشان را مطار ** زین خفاشیشان بخر ای مستجار