In thy greed for a grain of wheat thou hast chosen (to enter) the trap, and every grain of its wheat has become a scorpion to (sting) thee.
دام بگزیدی ز حرص گندمی ** بر تو شد هر گندم او کزدمی
The vain fancy of egoism came into thy head: (now) behold a shackle weighing fifty mann on thy foot!”4790
در سرت آمد هوای ما و من ** قید بین بر پای خود پنجاه من
In this fashion was he mourning for his soul, saying, “Why did I become the antagonist of my sovereign?”
نوحه میکرد این نمط بر جان خویش ** که چرا گشتم ضد سلطان خویش
(Then) he came to himself and asked pardon of God, and with his repentance he combined something else.
آمد او با خویش و استغفار کرد ** با انابت چیز دیگر یار کرد
The pain that arises from dread of losing one's faith—take pity (on him who is thus afflicted), for that is the irremediable pain.
درد کان از وحشت ایمان بود ** رحم کن کان درد بیدرمان بود
May no human being have a perfect (new and spotless) raiment! As soon as he is delivered from enduring (poverty) he at once seeks the seat of honour.
مر بشر را خود مبا جامهی درست ** چون رهید از صبر در حین صدر جست
May no human being possess a fist and nails! (for) then he never thinks of devotion and righteousness.4795
مر بشر را پنجه و ناخن مباد ** که نه دین اندیشد آنگه نه سداد
’Tis best for a man to be killed (mortified) in tribulation: the carnal soul is an ingrate and one that has gone astray.
آدمی اندر بلا کشته بهست ** نفس کافر نعمتست و گمرهست
How God addressed Azrael, saying, “Of all these creatures whose souls thou hast seized, whom didst thou pity most?” and the answer given by Azrael to the Lord.
خطاب حق تعالی به عزرائیل علیهالسلام کی ترا رحم بر کی بیشتر آمد ازین خلایق کی جانشان قبض کردی و جواب دادن عزرائیل حضرت را
God was saying to Azrael, “O marshal, whom of all the miserable ones didst thou pity (most)?”
حق به عزرائیل میگفت ای نقیب ** بر کی رحم آمد ترا از هر کیب
He replied, “My heart burns with grief for them all, but I am afraid to neglect the (Divine) command,
گفت بر جمله دلم سوزد به درد ** لیک ترسم امر را اهمال کرد
So that I should say, ‘Would that God might sacrifice me in exchange for the (generous) youth!’”
تا بگویم کاشکی یزدان مرا ** در عوض قربان کند بهر فتی
God asked, “For whom didst thou feel the greatest pity? On account of whom was thy heart most filled with flame and grilled?”4800
گفت بر کی بیشتر رحم آمدت ** از کی دل پر سوز و بریانتر شدت
“One day,” said he, “by (Thy) command I wrecked a ship on the fierce waves, so that it went to pieces.
گفت روزی کشتیی بر موج تیز ** من شکستم ز امر تا شد ریز ریز
Then Thou bad’st me take the souls of them all, except one woman and one child belonging to that company.
پس بگفتی قبض کن جان همه ** جز زنی و غیر طفلی زان رمه
The twain were left on a plank, and the plank was being driven on by the waves.
هر دو بر یک تختهای در ماندند ** تخته را آن موجها میراندند
Then Thou saidst, ‘Take the mother's soul and leave the child alone in obedience to the command Be!’
باز گفتی جان مادر قبض کن ** طفل را بگذار تنها ز امر کن
When I parted the child from its mother, Thou thyself knowest how bitter ’twas to me.4805
چون ز مادر بسکلیدم طفل را ** خود تو میدانی چه تلخ آمد مرا
Often have I seen sighs (heaved) in great mournings, (but) the bitter grief of that child has never gone from my recollection.”
بس بدیدم دود ماتمهای زفت ** تلخی آن طفل از فکرم نرفت
God said, “Of My grace I bade the waves cast that child into a forest—
گفت حق آن طفل را از فضل خویش ** موج را گفتم فکن در بیشهایش
A forest abounding in lilies and sweet basils and roses, full of trees laden with fruit good to eat,
بیشهای پر سوسن و ریحان و گل ** پر درخت میوهدار خوشاکل
And fountains of sweet limpid water. I fostered the child with a hundred endearments.
چشمههای آب شیرین زلال ** پروریدم طفل را با صد دلال
Myriads of melodious singing-birds poured forth a hundred songs in that garden.4810
صد هزاران مرغ مطرب خوشصدا ** اندر آن روضه فکنده صد نوا
I made for him a couch of wild-rose leaves; I made him secure from the shock of afflictions.
پسترش کردم ز برگ نسترن ** کرده او را آمن از صدمهی فتن
I told the sun not to scorch him; I told the wind to blow on him gently;
گفته من خورشید را کو را مگز ** باد را گفته برو آهسته وز
I told the clouds not to rain upon him; I told the lightning not to dart at him.
ابر را گفته برو باران مریز ** برق را گفته برو مگرای تیز