For the sake of blind conformity and (for the sake of following) traditional ideas, they set their feet (trampled) on the camels of Reason, this venerable Guide.
از پی تقلید و معقولات نقل ** پا نهاده بر جمال پیر عقل
They were not eager for a guide (pír-khar): they all had become (like) an old donkey (pír khar) from paying hypocritical observance to each other's eyes and ears.
پیر خر نی جمله گشته پیر خر ** از ریای چشم و گوش همدگر
God brought the (devout) worshippers from Paradise that He might show unto them the nurslings of Hell-fire.
از بهشت آورد یزدان بردگان ** تا نمایدشان سقر پروردگان
On the meaning of “He let the two seas go to meet one another: between them is a barrier which they do not seek (to cross).”
در معنی آن که مرج البحرين يلتقیان بينهما برزخ لا يبغیان
Behold the people of (destined for) the Fire and those of Paradise dwelling in the same shop, (yet) between them is a barrier which they do not seek to cross.2570
اهل نار و خلد را بین هم دکان ** در میانشان برزخ لا یبغیان
He hath mixed the people of the Fire and the people of the Light: between them He hath reared the mountain of Qáf.
اهل نار و اهل نور آمیخته ** در میانشان کوه قاف انگیخته
He hath mixed (them) like earth and gold in the mine: between them are a hundred deserts and caravanserays.
همچو در کان خاک و زر کرد اختلاط ** در میانشان صد بیابان و رباط
(They are) mixed even as pearls and jet beads in the necklace, (soon to be parted) like guests of a single night.
همچنان که عقد در در و شبه ** مختلط چون میهمان یک شبه
One half of the sea is sweet like sugar: the taste sweet, the colour bright as the moon.
بحر را نیمیش شیرین چون شکر ** طعم شیرین رنگ روشن چون قمر
The other half is bitter as snake's venom: the taste bitter and the colour dark as pitch.2575
نیم دیگر تلخ همچون زهر مار ** طمع تلخ و رنگ مظلم قیروار
Both (halves) dash against one another, from beneath and from the top, wave on wave like the water of the sea.
هر دو بر هم می‌‌زنند از تحت و اوج ** بر مثال آب دریا موج موج
The appearance of collision, (arising) from the narrow body, is (due to) the spirits' being intermingled in peace or war.
صورت بر هم زدن از جسم تنگ ** اختلاط جانها در صلح و جنگ
The waves of peace dash against each other and root up hatreds from (men's) breasts.
موجهای صلح بر هم می‌‌زند ** کینه‌‌ها از سینه‌‌ها بر می‌‌کند
In other form do the waves of war turn (men's) loves upside down (confound and destroy them).
موجهای جنگ بر شکل دگر ** مهرها را می‌‌کند زیر و زبر
Love is drawing the bitter ones to the sweet, because the foundation of (all) loves is righteousness.2580
مهر تلخان را به شیرین می‌‌کشد ** ز آن که اصل مهرها باشد رشد
Wrath is carrying away the sweet one to bitterness: how should the bitter sort with (be suited to) the sweet?
قهر شیرین را به تلخی می‌‌برد ** تلخ با شیرین کجا اندر خورد
The bitter and the sweet are not visible to this (ocular) sight, (but) they can be seen through the window of the latter end.
تلخ و شیرین زین نظر ناید پدید ** از دریچه‌‌ی عاقبت دانند دید
The eye that sees the end (ákhir) can see truly; the eye that sees (only) the stable (ákhur) is delusion and error.
چشم آخر بین تواند دید راست ** چشم آخر بین غرور است و خطاست
Oh, many the one that is sweet as sugar, but poison is concealed in the sugar.
ای بسا شیرین که چون شکر بود ** لیک زهر اندر شکر مضمر بود
He that is more sagacious (than the rest) will know it by the smell; another (only) when it touches his lips and teeth:2585
آن که زیرک‌‌تر به بو بشناسدش ** و آن دگر چون بر لب و دندان زدش
Then his lips will reject it before (it reaches) his throat, although the Devil is shouting, “Eat ye!”
پس لبش ردش کند پیش از گلو ** گر چه نعره می‌‌زند شیطان کلوا
And to another it will declare (itself) in his throat, while to another it will unmask in his body;
و آن دگر را در گلو پیدا کند ** و آن دگر را در بدن رسوا کند
And to another it will give burning pain in evacuation: its taste will deal him a blow that pierces his liver.
و آن دگر را در حدث سوزش دهد ** ذوق آن زخم جگر دوزش دهد
And to another (it will become manifest) after days and months; and to another after death, from the depth of the grave;
و آن دگر را بعد ایام و شهور ** و آن دگر را بعد مرگ از قعر گور
And if he be given a respite in the depth of the grave, (then) it will inevitably become manifest on the Day of Resurrection.2590
ور دهندش مهلت اندر قعر گور ** لا بد آن پیدا شود یوم النشور
Every piece of candy and sugar (desirable thing) in the world manifestly has a period granted to it from the revolution of Time.
هر نبات و شکری را در جهان ** مهلتی پیداست از دور زمان
Years are needed in order that the ruby in (exposed to the rays of) the sun may obtain (the perfect) tint and splendour and brilliance.
سالها باید که اندر آفتاب ** لعل یابد رنگ و رخشانی و تاب
Vegetables, again, reach maturity in two months, while the red rose comes to perfection in a year.
باز تره در دو ماه اندر رسد ** باز تا سالی گل احمر رسد
For this reason the Almighty and Glorious God in the Súratu ’l-An‘ám has made mention of an appointed term (ajal).
بهر این فرمود حق عز و جل ** سوره الانعام در ذکر اجل
You have heard this (discourse): may the whole of you, hair by hair, be an ear (to receive it)! ’Tis the Water of Life: (if) you have drunk, may it do you good!2595
این شنیدی مو به مویت گوش باد ** آب حیوان است خوردی نوش باد
Call it the Water of Life, call it not a discourse: behold the new spirit in the body of the old letter!
آب حیوان خوان مخوان این را سخن ** روح نو بین در تن حرف کهن
(Now), my friend, hearken to another saying (which is), like the soul, very clear (to mystics) and abstruse (to the rest):
نکته‌‌ی دیگر تو بشنو ای رفیق ** همچو جان او سخت پیدا و دقیق
In a certain place (spiritual degree), through Divine dispositions even this poison and snake (worldliness and sensuality) is (rendered) digestible.
در مقامی هست هم این زهر مار ** از تصاریف خدایی خوش گوار
In one place (it is) poison and in one place medicine, in one place infidelity and in one place approved.
در مقامی زهر و در جایی دوا ** در مقامی کفر و در جایی روا
Although there it is injurious to the soul, when it arrives here it is a remedy.2600
گر چه آن جا او گزند جان بود ** چون بدین جا در رسد درمان بود
In the young grape (ghúra) the juice is sour, but it is sweet and good when the ghúra comes to be an angúr (ripe grape).
آب در غوره ترش باشد و لیک ** چون به انگوری رسد شیرین و نیک
Again in the wine-jar it becomes bitter and unlawful, (but) in the state (form) of vinegar how excellent it is as a seasoning!
باز در خم او شود تلخ و حرام ** در مقام سرکگی نعم الادام
Concerning the impropriety of the disciple's (muríd) presuming to do the same things as are done by the saint (walí), inasmuch as sweetmeat does no harm to the physician, but is harmful to the sick, and frost and snow do no harm to the ripe grape, but are injurious to the young fruit; for he (the disciple) is (still) on the way, for he has not (yet) become (the saint to whom are applicable the words in the Qur’án): “That God may forgive thee thy former and latter sins.”
در معنی آن که آن چه ولی کند مرید را نشاید گستاخی کردن و همان فعل کردن که حلوا طبیب را زیان ندارد اما بیمار را زیان دارد و سرما و برف انگور را زیان ندارد اما غوره را زیان دارد که در راهست که ليغفر لک الله ما تقدم من ذنبک و ما تأخر
If the saint drinks a poison it becomes an antidote, but if the seeker (disciple) drinks it, his mind is darkened.
گر ولی زهری خورد نوشی شود ** ور خورد طالب سیه هوشی شود
From Solomon have come the words, “O Lord, give me (a kingdom that it behoves not any one after me to obtain),” that is, “do not give this kingdom and power to any but me.
رب هب لی از سلیمان آمده ست ** که مده غیر مرا این ملک و دست
Do not bestow this grace and bounty on any but me.” This looks like envy, but it was not that (in reality).2605
تو مکن با غیر من این لطف و جود ** این حسد را ماند اما آن نبود
Read with your soul the mystery of “it behoves not,” do not deem the inward meaning of “after me” (to be derived) from his (Solomon's) avarice.
نکته‌‌ی لا ينبغی می‌‌خوان به جان ** سر من بعدی ز بخل او مدان
Nay, but in sovereignty he saw a hundred dangers: the kingdom of this world was (has ever been), hair by hair (in every respect), fear for one's head.
بلکه اندر ملک دید او صد خطر ** مو به مو ملک جهان بد بیم سر
Fear for head with fear for heart with fear for religion— there is no trial for us like this.
بیم سر با بیم سر با بیم دین ** امتحانی نیست ما را مثل این
Therefore one must needs possess the high aspiration of a Solomon in order to escape from these myriads of colours and perfumes (enticing vanities).
پس سلیمان همتی باید که او ** بگذرد زین صد هزاران رنگ و بو
Even with such (great) strength (of spirit) as he had, the waves of that (worldly) kingdom were stifling his breath (choking him).2610
با چنان قوت که او را بود هم ** موج آن ملکش فرومی‌‌بست دم
Since dust settled on him from this sorrow, he had compassion for all the kings of the world.
چون بر او بنشست زین اندوه گرد ** بر همه شاهان عالم رحم کرد
He interceded (with God on their behalf) and said, “Give this kingdom and banner (to them) with (accompanied by) the (spiritual) perfection which Thou hast given to me.
شد شفیع و گفت این ملک و لوا ** با کمالی ده که دادی مر مرا
To whomsoever Thou wilt give (it), and (on whomsoever) Thou wilt confer that bounty, he (that person) is Solomon, and I also am he.
هر که را بدهی و بکنی آن کرم ** او سلیمان است و آن کس هم منم
He is not ‘after me,’ he is with me. What of ‘with me,’ indeed? I am without rival.”
او نباشد بعدی او باشد معی ** خود معی چه بود منم بی‌‌مدعی
’Tis my duty to explain this, but (now) I will return to the story of the man and wife.2615
شرح این فرض است گفتن لیک من ** باز می‌‌گردم به قصه‌‌ی مرد و زن
The moral of the altercation of the Arab and his wife.