If I beg a handful of lentils from some one, he says to me, ‘Be silent, O death and plague!’
گر بخواهم از کسی یک مشت نسک ** مر مرا گوید خمش کن مرگ و جسک
The Arabs take pride in fighting and giving: thou amongst the Arabs art like a fault in writing.”2260
مر عرب را فخر غزو است و عطا ** در عرب تو همچو اندر خط خطا
What fighting (can we do)? We are killed without fighting, we have been beheaded by the sword of want.
چه غزا ما بیغزا خود کشتهایم ** ما به تیغ فقر بیسر گشتهایم
What gifts (can we make)? We are continually in beggary, we are slitting the vein of (slaughtering) the gnat in the air.
چه عطا ما بر گدایی میتنیم ** مر مگس را در هوا رگ میزنیم
If any guest arrive, if I am I (as sure as I am living) (when) he goes to sleep at night, I will tear the tattered cloak from his body.
گر کسی مهمان رسد گر من منم ** شب بخسبد قصد دلق او کنم
How disciples (novices in Súfism) are beguiled in their need by false impostors and imagine them to be Shaykhs and venerable personages and (saints) united (with God), and do not know the difference between fact (naqd) and fiction (naql) and between what is tied on (artificially) and what has grown up (naturally).
مغرور شدن مریدان محتاج به مدعیان مزور و ایشان را شیخ و محتشم و واصل پنداشتن و نقل را از نقد فرق نادانستن و بر بسته را از بر رسته
For this reason the wise have said with knowledge, ‘One must become the guest of those who confer benefits.’
بهر این گفتند دانایان به فن ** میهمان محسنان باید شدن
Thou art the disciple and guest of one who, from his vileness, robs thee of all thou hast.2265
تو مرید و میهمان آن کسی ** کاو ستاند حاصلت را از خسی
He is not strong: how should he make thee strong? He does not give light, (nay) he makes thee dark.
نیست چیره چون ترا چیره کند ** نور ندهد مر ترا تیره کند
Since he had no light (in himself), how in association (with him) should others obtain light from him?
چون و را نوری نبود اندر قران ** نور کی یابند از وی دیگران
(He is) like the half-blind healer of eyes: what should he put in (people's) eyes except jasper?
همچو اعمش کو کند داروی چشم ** چه کشد در چشمها الا که یشم
Such is our state in poverty and affliction: may no guest be beguiled by us!
حال ما این است در فقر و عنا ** هیچ مهمانی مبا مغرور ما
If thou hast never seen a ten years' famine in (visible) forms, open thine eyes and look at us.2270
قحط ده سال ار ندیدی در صور ** چشمها بگشا و اندر ما نگر
Our outward appearance is like the inward reality of the impostor: darkness in his heart, his tongue flashy (plausible).
ظاهر ما چون درون مدعی ** در دلش ظلمت زبانش شعشعی
He has no scent or trace of God, (but) his pretension is greater than (that of) Seth and the Father of mankind (Adam).
از خدا بویی نه او را نی اثر ** دعویش افزون ز شیث و بو البشر
The Devil (is so ashamed of him that he) has not shown to him even his portrait, (yet) he (the impostor) is saying, ‘We are of the Abdál and are more (we are superior even to them).’
دیو ننموده و را هم نقش خویش ** او همیگوید ز ابدالیم و بیش
He has stolen many an expression used by dervishes, in order that he himself may be thought to be a (holy) personage.
حرف درویشان بدزدیده بسی ** تا گمان آید که هست او خود کسی
In his talk he cavils at Báyazíd, (although) Yazíd would be ashamed of his inward (thoughts and feelings).2275
خرده گیرد در سخن بر بایزید ** ننگ دارد از درون او یزید
(He is) without (any) portion of the bread and viands of Heaven: God did not throw a single bone to him.
بینوا از نان و خوان آسمان ** پیش او ننداخت حق یک استخوان
He has proclaimed, ‘I have laid out the dishes, I am the Vicar of God, I am the son of the (spiritual) Khalífa:
او ندا کرده که خوان بنهادهام ** نایب حقم خلیفه زادهام
Welcome (to the feast), O simple-hearted ones, tormented (with hunger), that from my bounteous table ye may eat your fill’—of nothing.
الصلا ساده دلان پیچ پیچ ** تا خورید از خوان جودم سیر هیچ
Some persons, (relying) on the promise of ‘To-morrow,’ have wandered for years around that door, (but) ‘To-morrow’ never comes.
سالها بر وعدهی فردا کسان ** گرد آن در گشته فردا نارسان
It needs a long time for the inmost conscience of a man to become evident, more and less (both in great and small matters),2280
دیر باید تا که سر آدمی ** آشکارا گردد از بیش و کمی
(So that we may know whether) beneath the wall of his body there is treasure, or whether there is the house of snake and ant and dragon.
زیر دیوار بدن گنج است یا ** خانهی مار است و مور و اژدها
When it became clear that he was naught (worthless), (by that time) the life of the seeker (disciple) had passed: what use (was) the knowledge (to him)?
چون که پیدا گشت کاو چیزی نبود ** عمر طالب رفت آگاهی چه سود
Explaining how it may happen, (though) rarely, that a disciple sincerely puts his faith in a false impostor (and believes) that he is a (holy) personage, and by means of this faith attains unto a (spiritual) degree which his Shaykh has never (even) dreamed of, and (then) fire and water do him no hurt, though they hurt his Shaykh; but this occurs very seldom.
در بیان آن که نادر افتد که مریدی در مدعی مزور اعتقاد به صدق ببندد که او کسی است و بدین اعتقاد به مقامی برسد که شیخش در خواب ندیده باشد و آب و آتش او را گزند نکند و شیخش را گزند کند و لیکن به نادر نادر
But exceptionally comes (the case of) a disciple to whom, because of his (spiritual) illumination, that falsehood (of the impostor) is beneficial.
لیک نادر طالب آید کز فروغ ** در حق او نافع آید آن دروغ
He, by his goodly purpose, attains unto a (high) degree, although he fancied (the impostor to be) soul, and that (soul) proved to be (only) body.
او به قصد نیک خود جایی رسد ** گر چه جان پنداشت و آن آمد جسد
(It is) like trying to find the qibla in the heart (depth) of night: the qibla is not (found), but his (the seeker's) prayer is valid.2285
چون تحری در دل شب قبله را ** قبله نی و آن نماز او روا
The impostor has a dearth of soul within, but we have a dearth of bread without.
مدعی را قحط جان اندر سر است ** لیک ما را قحط نان بر ظاهر است
Why should we conceal (our poverty) like the impostor and suffer agony for the sake of false reputation?”
ما چرا چون مدعی پنهان کنیم ** بهر ناموس مزور جان کنیم
How the Bedouin bade his wife be patient and declared to her the excellence of poverty.
صبر فرمودن اعرابی زن خود را و فضیلت صبر و فقر بیان کردن با زن
Her husband said to her, “How long wilt thou seek income and seed-produce? What indeed is left of (our) life? Most (of it) is past.
شوی گفتش چند جویی دخل و کشت ** خود چه ماند از عمر افزونتر گذشت
The sensible man does not look at increase or deficiency, because both (these) will pass by like a torrent.
عاقل اندر بیش و نقصان ننگرد ** ز آن که هر دو همچو سیلی بگذرد
Whether it (life) be pure (clear and untroubled) or whether it be a turbid flood, do not speak of it, since it is not enduring for a moment.2290
خواه صاف و خواه سیل تیره رو ** چون نمیپاید دمی از وی مگو
In this world thousands of animals are living happily, without up and down (anxiety).
اندر این عالم هزاران جانور ** میزید خوش عیش بیزیر و زبر
The dove on the tree is uttering thanks to God, though her food for the night is not (yet) ready.
شکر میگوید خدا را فاخته ** بر درخت و برگ شب ناساخته
The nightingale is singing glory to God (and saying), ‘I rely on Thee for my daily bread, O Thou who answerest (prayer).’
حمد میگوید خدا را عندلیب ** کاعتماد رزق بر تست ای مجیب
The falcon has made the king's hand his joy (the place in which he takes delight), and has given up hope of (has become indifferent to) all carrion.
باز دست شاه را کرده نوید ** از همه مردار ببریده امید
Similarly you may take (every animal) from the gnat to the elephant: they all have become God's family (dependent on Him for their nourishment), and what an excellent nourisher is God!2295
همچنین از پشهگیری تا به پیل ** شد عیال الله و حق نعم المعیل
All these griefs that are within our breasts arise from the vapour and dust of our existence and wind (vain desire).
این همه غمها که اندر سینههاست ** از بخار و گرد بود و باد ماست
These uprooting griefs are as a scythe to us: (to think that) this is such and such or that that is such and such is a temptation (of the Devil) to us.
این غمان بیخ کن چون داس ماست ** این چنین شد و آن چنان وسواس ماست
Know that every pain is a piece of Death: expel (that) part of Death from thee, if there be a means (of doing so).
دان که هر رنجی ز مردن پارهای است ** جزو مرگ از خود بران گر چارهای است
When thou canst not flee from the part of Death, know that the whole of it will be poured upon thy head.
چون ز جزو مرگ نتوانی گریخت ** دان که کلش بر سرت خواهند ریخت
If the part of Death has become sweet to thee, know that God will make the whole sweet.2300
جزو مرگ ار گشت شیرین مر ترا ** دان که شیرین میکند کل را خدا
Pains are coming from Death as (his) messengers: do not avert thy face from his messenger, O foolish one!
دردها از مرگ میآید رسول ** از رسولش رو مگردان ای فضول
Whoever lives sweetly (pleasantly) dies bitterly (painfully): whoever serves his body does not save his soul.
هر که شیرین میزید او تلخ مرد ** هر که او تن را پرستد جان نبرد
Sheep are driven from the plains (to the town): they kill those that are fattest.
گوسفندان را ز صحرا میکشند ** آن که فربه تر مر آن را میکشند
The night is past and dawn is come. O my soul, how long wilt thou take up (again) this tale of gold from the beginning?
شب گذشت و صبح آمد ای تمر ** چند گیری این فسانهی زر ز سر
Thou wert young (once), and (then) thou wert more contented: (now) thou hast become a seeker of gold, (but) at first thou wert gold indeed (precious and perfect).2305
تو جوان بودی و قانعتر بدی ** زر طلب گشتی خود اول زر بدی
Thou wert a fruitful vine: how hast thou become unsaleable (worthless)? How hast thou become rotten when thy fruit is ripening?
رز بدی پر میوه چون کاسد شدی ** وقت میوه پختنت فاسد شدی
Thy fruit ought to become sweeter and not move farther backwards like rope-makers.
میوهات باید که شیرینتر شود ** چون رسن تابان نه واپستر رود
Thou art my wife: the wife must be of the same quality (as the husband) in order that things may go rightly.
جفت مایی جفت باید هم صفت ** تا بر آید کارها با مصلحت