(’Twas) by reason of a marvellous providence in the knowledge of God— an edict which He wrote in the (eternal) past;4200
بهر نادر حکمتی در علم حق ** که نبشت آن حکم را در ما سبق
And also to the end that thy thoughts should be bewildered, so that bewilderment should be thy whole occupation.
نیز تا حیران بود اندیشهات ** تا که حیرانی بود کل پیشهات
(The eldest prince said), “My union with the Beloved will be achieved either by this effort or by some means outside of bodily effort.
یا وصال یار زین سعیم رسد ** یا ز راهی خارج از سعی جسد
I do not assert that my object will be gained in this (particular) way: I am palpitating (restlessly seeking) to ascertain from what quarter it will appear.
من نگویم زین طریق آید مراد ** میطپم تا از کجا خواهد گشاد
The decapitated bird tumbles in every direction to see in what direction its (vital) spirit may escape from its body.
سربریده مرغ هر سو میفتد ** تا کدامین سو رهد جان از جسد
My desire will be attained either by this going forth (in quest of it) or through (the opening of) some other gateway by (the hand of) Heaven.”4205
یا مراد من برآید زین خروج ** یا ز برجی دیگر از ذات البروج
Story of the person who dreamed that his hopes of opulence would be fulfilled in Cairo, and that there was a treasure (buried) in a certain house in a certain quarter of that city. When he came to Cairo, some one said to him, “I have dreamed of a treasure in such and such a quarter and such and such a house in Baghdád”; and he named the quarter and house in which this person lived. The latter perceived, however, that the information concerning the treasure in Cairo had been given to him (in his dream) in order to make him realise that, (although) he must not seek anywhere but in his own house, this treasure would really and truly be gained only in Cairo.
حکایت آن شخص کی خواب دید کی آنچ میطلبی از یسار به مصر وفا شود آنجا گنجیست در فلان محله در فلان خانه چون به مصر آمد کسی گفت من خواب دیدهایم کی گنجیست به بغداد در فلان محله در فلان خانه نام محله و خانهی این شخص بگفت آن شخص فهم کرد کی آن گنج در مصر گفتن جهت آن بود کی مرا یقین کنند کی در غیر خانهی خود نمیباید جستن ولیکن این گنج یقین و محقق جز در مصر حاصل نشود
There was (once) a man who inherited money and estates: he squandered all and was left destitute and miserable.
بود یک میراثی مال و عقار ** جمله را خورد و بماند او عور و زار
Inherited wealth indeed does not remain constant (to its new owner), since it was parted against its will from the deceased one.
مال میراثی ندارد خود وفا ** چون بناکام از گذشته شد جدا
Just because he (the heir) got it easily, he does not know its value; for he never made haste to work and toil and earn it.
او نداند قدر هم کاسان بیافت ** کو بکد و رنج و کسبش کم شتاف
O such-and-such, you know not the value of your soul because God bountifully gave it to you for nothing.
قدر جان زان میندانی ای فلان ** که بدادت حق به بخشش رایگان
His ready money went and his furniture and houses went: he was left (alone) like owls in the deserts.4210
نقد رفت و کاله رفته و خانهها ** ماند چون چغدان در آن ویرانهها
He cried, “O Lord, Thou gavest (me) provision: the provision is gone: either give (me) some provision or send death.”
گفت یا رب برگ دادی رفت برگ ** یا بده برگی و یا بفرست مرگ
When he became empty, he began to call unto God: he started the tune of “O Lord!” and “O Lord, protect me!”
چون تهی شد یاد حق آغاز کرد ** یا رب و یا رب اجرنی ساز کرد
Since the Prophet has said that the true believer is (like) a lute (mizhar), (which) makes music (only) at the time when it is empty—
چون پیمبر گفته مومن مزهرست ** در زمان خالیی ناله گرست
(For) as soon as it is filled, the minstrel lays it down—do not become full, for sweet is the touch of His hand.
چون شود پر مطربش بنهد ز دست ** پر مشو که آسیب دست او خوشست
Become empty and stay happily between (His) two fingers, for “where” is intoxicated with the wine of “nowhere.”4215
تی شو و خوش باش بین اصبعین ** کز می لا این سرمستست این
Frowardness departed (from him) and released the water (tears) from his eye: his tears watered (revived) the crops of devotion.
رفت طغیان آب از چشمش گشاد ** آب چشمش زرع دین را آب داد
The reason why the answer to the true believer's prayer is delayed.
سبب تاخیر اجابت دعای مومن
Oh, how many a sincere (worshipper) moans in prayer, so that the smoke of his sincerity ascends to Heaven,
ای بسا مخلص که نالد در دعا ** تا رود دود خلوصش بر سما
And from the lamentation of the sinful the perfume of the censer floats up beyond this lofty roof!
تا رود بالای این سقف برین ** بوی مجمر از انین المذنبین
Then the angels beseech God piteously, saying, “O Thou who answerest every prayer and O Thou whose protection is invoked,
پس ملایک با خدا نالند زار ** کای مجیب هر دعا وی مستجار
A faithful slave (of Thine) is making humble entreaty: he knows none but Thee on whom to rely.4220
بندهی مومن تضرع میکند ** او نمیداند به جز تو مستند
Thou bestowest Thy bounty (even) on strangers: every ardent wisher gains his desire from Thee.”
تو عطا بیگانگان را میدهی ** از تو دارد آرزو هر مشتهی
God saith, “’Tis not that he is despicable (in My sight); (nay), the very deferment of the bounty is (for the sake of) helping him.
حق بفرماید که نه از خواری اوست ** عین تاخیر عطا یاری اوست
Need caused him to turn towards Me from his (former state of) forgetfulness: it dragged him by the hair into My presence.
حاجت آوردش ز غفلت سوی من ** آن کشیدش مو کشان در کوی من
If I satisfy his need, he will go back and (again) become absorbed in that idle play.
گر بر آرم حاجتش او وا رود ** هم در آن بازیچه مستغرق شود