His hard eye (now) sheds tears like rain: (only) pain causes the unbelievers to call unto God.4690
چشم سختش اشکها باران کند ** منکران را درد اللهخوان کند
Since thou hast not received the breath (inspiration) of (holy) men from a (holy) man, hark, receive the Divine inspiration from pain.
چون دم مردان نپذرفتی ز مرد ** وحی حق را هین پذیرا شو ز درد
The wind says, “I am a messenger from the King of mankind: now I bring good news, now calamitous and bad;
باد گوید پیکم از شاه بشر ** گه خبر خیر آورم گه شوم و شر
For I am subject to command, I am not in command of myself: when am I forgetful, like thee, of my King?
ز آنک مامورم امیر خود نیم ** من چو تو غافل ز شاه خود کیم
If thy (spiritual) state resembled that of Solomon, I should have carried thee as (I carried) Solomon.
گر سلیمانوار بودی حال تو ** چون سلیمان گشتمی حمال تو
I am (only) lent (to thee); I should have become a possession in thy hand: I should have made thee acquainted with my mystery.4695
عاریهستم گشتمی ملک کفت ** کردمی بر راز خود من واقفت
But since thou art rebellious and I am (only) taken on loan to serve thee for three or four days,
لیک چون تو یاغیی من مستعار ** میکنم خدمت ترا روزی سه چار
Therefore I will lay thee low, like ‘Ád, and dash away in revolt from thy army,
پس چو عادت سرنگونیها دهم ** ز اسپه تو یاغیانه بر جهم
In order that thy faith in the Unseen may become firm at the moment when thy faith is (only) a source of woe.”
تا به غیب ایمان تو محکم شود ** آن زمان که ایمانت مایهی غم شود
(For) at that moment, in sooth, all become believers: at that moment even the (most) headstrong run on their heads.
آن زمان خود جملگان مؤمن شوند ** آن زمان خود سرکشان بر سر دوند
At that moment they cry piteously and make humble supplication, like robbers and brigands under the gibbet.4700
آن زمان زاری کنند و افتقار ** همچو دزد و راهزن در زیر دار
But if you become upright in (your faith in) the Unseen, you are owner of the two worlds and a magistrate (exercising sovereign authority) over yourself.
لیک گر در غیب گردی مستوی ** مالک دارین و شحنهی خود توی
The abiding (spiritual) magistracy and kingship is not (something) taken on loan for two days and ailing (perishable).
شحنگی و پادشاهی مقیم ** نه دو روزه و مستعارست و سقیم
(Possessing that) you are delivered from strife and can act for yourself: you are king and at the same time beating your own drum.
رستی از بیگار و کار خود کنی ** هم تو شاه و هم تو طبل خود زنی
When the World squeezes our throats tightly, would that our gullets and mouths had eaten (only) earth!
چون گلو تنگ آورد بر ما جهان ** خاک خوردی کاشکی حلق و دهان
This mouth, indeed, has (always) been an eater of earth; but an earth that has been coloured.4705
این دهان خود خاکخواری آمدست ** لیک خاکی را که آن رنگین شدست
This roast-meat and this wine and this sugar are (merely) coloured and painted earth, O son.
این کباب و این شراب و این شکر ** خاک رنگینست و نقشین ای پسر
When you have eaten or drunk (them) and they have become flesh and skin, He gives them the colour of flesh, but they are still the earth of (His) street.
چونک خوردی و شد آن لحم و پوست ** رنگ لحمش داد و این هم خاک کوست
’Tis from a bit of earth that He stitches the (body of) clay, and then makes the whole (fabric) a bit of earth again.
هم ز خاکی بخیه بر گل میزند ** جمله را هم باز خاکی میکند
Hindús and Qifcháq (Turks) and Greeks and Abyssinians— all have quite the same colour in the grave.
هندو و قفچاق و رومی و حبش ** جمله یک رنگاند اندر گور خوش
So you may know that all those colours and pictures are entirely a mask and deceit and borrowed (ephemeral).4710
تا بدانی کان همه رنگ و نگار ** جمله روپوشست و مکر و مستعار
The only lasting colour is the dye of Allah: know that all the rest are tied (stuck) on (superficially) like a bell.
رنگ باقی صبغة الله است و بس ** غیر آن بر بسته دان همچون جرس
The colour of sincerity and the colour of piety and intuitive faith will endure in the (devout) worshippers for evermore;
رنگ صدق و رنگ تقوی و یقین ** تا ابد باقی بود بر عابدین
And the colour of doubt and the colour of ingratitude and hypocrisy will endure in the undutiful soul for evermore;
رنگ شک و رنگ کفران و نفاق ** تا ابد باقی بود بر جان عاق
Like wicked Pharaoh's blackness of face, the colour whereof is enduring, though his body passes away.
چون سیهرویی فرعون دغا ** رنگ آن باقی و جسم او فنا