An empty belly is the Devil's prison, because anxiety for bread prevents him from plotting and deceiving.
اشکم خالی بود زندان دیو ** کش غم نان مانعست از مکر و ریو
Know that a belly full of viands is the Devil's market, where the Devil's merchants raise a clamour:
اشکم پر لوت دان بازار دیو ** تاجران دیو را در وی غریو
Merchants who practise sorcery and sell worthless goods and obfuscate (men's) wits by vociferation.
تاجران ساحر لاشی‌فروش ** عقل‌ها را تیره کرده از خروش
By a (trick of) sorcery they cause a vat to run like a horse and make a piece of linen out of moonshine and twilight.4730
خم روان کرده ز سحری چون فرس ** کرده کرباسی ز مهتاب و غلس
They weave earth like silk and throw earth (dust) in the eyes of the discerning.
چون بریشم خاک را برمی‌تنند ** خاک در چشم ممیز می‌زنند
They give to a bit of (fragrant) sandal-wood the appearance of a piece of (common) wood; they put in us the envious desire for a clod.
چندلی را رنگ عودی می‌دهند ** بر کلوخیمان حسودی می‌دهند
(But) holy is He who giveth (mere) earth a (specious) colour and causes us to quarrel over it like children.
پاک آنک خاک را رنگی دهد ** هم‌چو کودکمان بر آن جنگی دهد
(The world is) a skirtful of earth, and we are like little children: in our sight the earth is as gold of the mine.
دامنی پر خاک ما چون طفلکان ** در نظرمان خاک هم‌چون زر کان
There is no room for a child beside (grown-up) men: how should God let a child sit with men?4735
طفل را با بالغان نبود مجال ** طفل را حق کی نشاند با رجال
If fruit become old, (yet) so long as it is immature and not ripe it is called ghúra (unripe grapes).
میوه گر کهنه شود تا هست خام ** پخته نبود غوره گویندش به نام
Though (one resembling) immature and sour (fruit) reach the age of a hundred years, he is (still) a child and unripe (ghúra) in the opinion of every sagacious person.
گر شود صدساله آن خام ترش ** طفل و غوره‌ست او بر هر تیزهش
Though his hair and beard be white, he is still in the childish state of fear and hope,
گرچه باشد مو و ریش او سپید ** هم در آن طفلی خوفست و امید
Saying, “Shall I attain (to maturity), or am I (to be) left immature? Oh, I wonder, will the Vine bestow that bounty on me?
که رسم یا نارسیده مانده‌ام ** ای عجب با من کند کرم آن کرم
Notwithstanding such an incapacity and remoteness (from God), will He confer on these unripe grapes (ghúra) of mine a perfection like that of the ripe grape (angúr)?4740
با چنین ناقابلی و دوریی ** بخشد این غوره‌ی مرا انگوریی
I have no hopes from any quarter, but that (Divine) Bounty is saying to me, ‘Do not ye despair!’”
نیستم اومیدوار از هیچ سو ** وان کرم می‌گویدم لا تیاسوا
Our Kháqán (Emperor) has made a perpetual feast (for us): He is always pulling our ears (drawing us thither and saying), “Do not lose hope!”
دایما خاقان ما کردست طو ** گوشمان را می‌کشد لا تقنطوا
Although we are in the ditch (and overwhelmed) by this despair, let us go dancing along since He has invited us.
گرچه ما زین ناامیدی در گویم ** چون صلا زد دست اندازان رویم
Let us dance (along) like mettlesome horses galloping towards the familiar pasturage.
دست اندازیم چون اسپان سیس ** در دویدن سوی مرعای انیس
Let us toss our feet, though no foot is there; let us drain the cup, though no cup is there,4745
گام اندازیم و آنجا گام نی ** جام پردازیم و آنجا جام نی
Because all things there are spiritual: ’tis reality on reality on reality.
زانک آنجا جمله اشیا جانیست ** معنی اندر معنی اندر معنیست
Form is the shadow, reality is the sun: the shadowless light is (only to be found) in the ruin.
هست صورت سایه معنی آفتاب ** نور بی‌سایه بود اندر خراب
When not a brick is left (resting) on a brick there, no ugly shadow remains in the moonlight.
چونک آنجا خشت بر خشتی نماند ** نور مه را سایه‌ی زشتی نماند
(Even) if the brick be of gold it must be torn away, since (the removal of) the brick is the price paid for inspiration and light.
خشت اگر زرین بود بر کندنیست ** چون بهای خشت وحی و روشنیست
In order to remove the shadow (of materiality) the mountain (Sinai) is rased to the ground: ’tis a small matter to fall to pieces for the sake of this light.4750
کوه بهر دفع سایه مندکست ** پاره گشتن بهر این نور اندکست
When the light of the Lord struck on the surface of the mountain, it (the mountain) fell to pieces in order that it (the light) should penetrate its interior too.
بر برون که چو زد نور صمد ** پاره شد تا در درونش هم زند