Hark, come into our boat, O wretched man, or (at least) tie that boat (of thine) to this boat (of ours).”
هی در آ در کشتی ما ای نژند ** یا تو آن کشتی برین کشتی ببند
He replies, “How should I abandon power and dominion? How should I follow thee blindly?”
گوید او چون ترک گیرم گیر و دار ** چون روم من در طفیلت کوروار
A blind man is certainly better off with a guide than (when he goes) alone: in the former case there is (only) one ignominy, while in the latter there are a hundred.
کور با رهبر به از تنها یقین ** زان یکی ننگست و صد ننگست ازین
Thou art fleeing from a gnat to a scorpion, thou art fleeing from a dewdrop into an ocean.
می‌گریزی از پشه در کزدمی ** می‌گریزی در یمی تو از نمی
Thou art fleeing from thy father's unkindnesses into the midst of scoundrels and mischief and trouble.4110
می‌گریزی از جفاهای پدر ** در میان لوطیان و شور و شر
Like Joseph, thou art fleeing from one sorrow to fall into a well (of woe) through (being beguiled by) “let us frolic and play.”
می‌گریزی هم‌چو یوسف ز اندهی ** تا ز نرتع نلعب افتی در چهی
Because of this pastime thou fallest into a well, like him; but where is the (Divine) favour to help thee (as it helped him)?
در چه افتی زین تفرج هم‌چو او ** مر ترا لیک آن عنایت یار کو
Had it not been (done) by his father's leave, he would never have emerged from the well till the Resurrection;
گر نبودی آن به دستوری پدر ** برنیاوردی ز چه تا حشر سر
(But) in order to please him his father gave the permission and said, “Since this is thy desire, may good come (of it)!”
آن پدر بهر دل او اذن داد ** گفت چون اینست میلت خیر باد
Any blind man who turns away in scorn from a Messiah will be left, like the Jews, without guidance;4115
هر ضریری کز مسیحی سر کشد ** او جهودانه بماند از رشد
(For) though he was blind, he was capable of receiving light; (but) from showing this aversion he becomes blind and blue (miserably lost).
قابل ضو بود اگر چه کور بود ** شد ازین اعراض او کور و کبود
Jesus says to him, “O blind man, cling to me with both hands: I have a precious collyrium.
گویدش عیسی بزن در من دو دست ** ای عمی کحل عزیزی با منست
If thou art blind, thou wilt obtain light from me and lay hold of the (sweet-scented) Joseph's shirt of the spirit.”
از من ار کوری بیابی روشنی ** بر قمیص یوسف جان بر زنی
The (real) fortune and highway (of success) lies in the business that comes to thee after utter defeat (self-abasement).
کار و باری کت رسد بعد شکست ** اندر آن اقبال و منهاج رهست
Give up the business that hath no foot or head (permanence): hark, old donkey, get for thyself a Pír!4120
کار و باری که ندارد پا و سر ** ترک کن هی پیر خر ای پیر خر
May none but the Pír be (thy) master and captain!—not the Pír (old man) of the rolling sky, but the Pír of right guidance.
غیر پیر استاد و سرلشکر مباد ** پیر گردون نی ولی پیر رشاد
The devotee of darkness sees the light immediately as soon as he becomes subject to (the authority of) the Pír.
در زمان چون پیر را شد زیردست ** روشنایی دید آن ظلمت‌پرست
What is required is self-surrender, not long toil: ’tis useless to rush about in error.
شرط تسلیم است نه کار دراز ** سود نبود در ضلالت ترک‌تاز
Henceforth I will not seek the way to the Ether (the highest celestial sphere): I will seek the Pír, I will seek the Pír, the Pír, the Pír!
من نجویم زین سپس راه اثیر ** پیر جویم پیر جویم پیر پیر
The Pír is the ladder to Heaven: by whom (what) is the arrow made to fly? By the bow.4125
پیر باشد نردبان آسمان ** تیر پران از که گردد از کمان
Was it not Abraham that caused the gross Nimrod to (attempt the) journey to heaven by means of the vulture?
نه ز ابراهیم نمرود گران ** کرد با کرکس سفر بر آسمان
(Impelled) by self-will, he often went upward; but no vulture can fly to heaven.
از هوا شد سوی بالا او بسی ** لیک بر گردون نپرد کرکسی
Abraham said to him, “O traveller, I will be thy vulture: this is more seemly for thee.
گفتش ابراهیم ای مرد سفر ** کرکست من باشم اینت خوب‌تر
When thou makest of me a ladder to go aloft, thou wilt ascend to heaven without flying”—
چون ز من سازی به بالا نردبان ** بی پریدن بر روی بر آسمان
As the heart (spirit), without provisions or riding-camel, travels (swiftly) as lightning to west and east;4130
آنچنان که می‌رود تا غرب و شرق ** بی ز زاد و راحله دل هم‌چو برق