When (the supply of) water comes to a fortress from outside, it is more than enough in times of peace;3600
قلعه را چون آب آید از برون ** در زمان امن باشد بر فزون
(But) when the enemy forms a ring round that (fortress), in order that he may drown them (the garrison) in blood,
چونک دشمن گرد آن حلقه کند ** تا که اندر خونشان غرقه کند
The (hostile) troops cut off the outside water, that (the defenders of) the fortress may have no refuge from them.
آب بیرون را ببرند آن سپاه ** تا نباشد قلعه را زانها پناه
At that time a briny well inside (the walls) is better than a hundred sweet rivers outside.
آن زمان یک چاه شوری از درون ** به ز صد جیحون شیرین از برون
The Cutter of cords (Death) and the armies of Death come, like December, to cut the boughs and leaves (of the body),
قاطع الاسباب و لشکرهای مرگ ** هم‌چو دی آید به قطع شاخ و برگ
(And then) there is no succour for them in the world from Spring, except perchance the Spring of the Beloved's face in the soul.3605
در جهان نبود مددشان از بهار ** جز مگر در جان بهار روی یار
The Earth is entitled “the Abode of delusion” because she draws back her foot (and deserts you) on the day of passage.
زان لقب شد خاک را دار الغرور ** کو کشد پا را سپس یوم العبور
Before that (time) she was running right and left, saying, “I will take away thy sorrow”; but she never took anything away.
پیش از آن بر راست و بر چپ می‌دوید ** که بچینم درد تو چیزی نچید
In the hour of anxieties she would say to you, “May pain be far from thee, and (may) ten mountains (stand) between (pain and thee)!”
او بگفتی مر ترا وقت غمان ** دور از تو رنج و ده که در میان
When the army of Pain arrives, she holds her breath: she will not even say, “I have seen (and been acquainted with) thee.”
چون سپاه رنج آمد بست دم ** خود نمی‌گوید ترا من دیده‌ام
God made a parable concerning the Devil on this wise: “He leads you into battle by his cunning tricks,3610
حق پی شیطان بدین سان زد مثل ** که ترا در رزم آرد با حیل
Saying, ‘I will give thee help, I am beside thee, I will run before thee in the perils (of war);
که ترا یاری دهم من با توم ** در خطرها پیش تو من می‌دوم
I will be thy shield amidst the arrows of khadang wood, I will be thy refuge in the hour of distress;
اسپرت باشم گه تیر خدنگ ** مخلص تو باشم اندر وقت تنگ
I will sacrifice my life for thee in raising thee to thy feet. Thou art a Rustam, a lion: come on, be manful!’”
جان فدای تو کنم در انتعاش ** رستمی شیری هلا مردانه باش
By means of these wiles that bag of deceit and cunning and craft leads him (whom he makes his dupe) to infidelity.
سوی کفرش آورد زین عشوه‌ها ** آن جوال خدعه و مکر و دها
As soon as he sets foot (therein) and falls into the moat (of fire), he (the Devil) opens his lips with a loud ha, ha.3615
چون قدم بنهاد در خندق فتاد ** او به قاهاقاه خنده لب گشاد
(The dupe cries), “Hey, come! I have hopes of thee.” He (the Devil) says, “Begone, begone, for I am quit of thee.
هی بیا من طمعها دارم ز تو ** گویدش رو رو که بیزارم ز تو
Thou didst not fear the justice of the Creator, (but) I fear (it): keep thy hands off me!”
تو نترسیدی ز عدل کردگار ** من همی‌ترسم دو دست از من بدار
(Then) God says (to the Devil), “He (thy dupe), indeed, is parted from felicity, and how shouldst thou be saved by these hypocrisies?”
گفت حق خود او جدا شد از بهی ** تو بدین تزویرها هم کی رهی
On the Day of Reckoning et faciens et pathicus infames sunt lapidationisque consortes. [On the Day of Reckoning (both) the active and passive (homosexuals) will be shamed-faced and partners in (being punished by) stoning.]
فاعل و مفعول در روز شمار ** روسیاهند و حریف سنگسار
Assuredly, by the decree and just dispensation (of God), (both) the waylaid and the waylayer are in the pit of farness (from God) and in an evil resting-place.3620
ره‌زده و ره‌زن یقین در حکم و داد ** در چه بعدند و در بس المهاد
(Both) the fool and the ghoul who deceived him must ever endure to be deprived of salvation and felicity.
گول را و غول را کو را فریفت ** از خلاص و فوز می‌باید شکیفت
Both the ass and he that caught the ass are (stuck) in the mud here: here (in this world) they are forgetful of (God) and there (in the next world) they are sunk (in woe)—
هم خر و خرگیر اینجا در گلند ** غافلند اینجا و آن‌جا آفلند
(All) except those who turn back from that (deception) and come (forth) from the autumn (of sensuality) into the springtide of (Divine) grace,
جز کسانی را که وا گردند از آن ** در بهار فضل آیند از خزان
And who repent, for God is ready to accept repentance, and cleave to His command, for a goodly Commander is He!
توبه آرند و خدا توبه‌پذیر ** امر او گیرند و او نعم الامیر