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.
مخلص ماجرای عرب و جفت او
The heart of one who is sincere is seeking (to find) a moral for the altercation of the man and wife.
ماجرای مرد و زن را مخلصی ** باز می‌‌جوید درون مخلصی
The altercation of the man and wife has been related (as a story): know that it is a parable of your own flesh (nafs) and reason.
ماجرای مرد و زن افتاد نقل ** آن مثال نفس خود می‌‌دان و عقل
This man and wife, which are the flesh and the reason, are very necessary for (the manifestation of) good and evil;
این زن و مردی که نفس است و خرد ** نیک بایسته ست بهر نیک و بد
And this necessary pair in this house of earth are (engaged) in strife and altercation day and night.
وین دو بایسته در این خاکی سرا ** روز و شب در جنگ و اندر ماجرا
The wife is craving requisites for the household, that is to say, reputation and bread and viands and rank.2620
زن همی‌‌خواهد هویج خانگاه ** یعنی آب رو و نان و خوان و جاه
Like the wife, the flesh, in order to contrive the means (of gratifying its desires), is at one time seeking (having recourse to) humility and at another time to domination.
نفس همچون زن پی چاره‌‌گری ** گاه خاکی گاه جوید سروری
The reason is really unconscious of these (worldly) thoughts: in its brain is nothing but love of God.
عقل خود زین فکرها آگاه نیست ** در دماغش جز غم الله نیست
Although the inner meaning of the tale is this bait and trap, listen now to the outward form of the tale in its entirety.
گر چه سر قصه این دانه ست و دام ** صورت قصه شنو اکنون تمام
If the spiritual explanation were sufficient, the creation of the world would have been vain and idle.
گر بیان معنوی کافی شدی ** خلق عالم عاطل و باطل بدی
If love were (only spiritual) thought and reality, the form of your fasting and prayer would be non-existent.2625
گر محبت فکرت و معنیستی ** صورت روزه و نمازت نیستی
The gifts of lovers to one another are, in respect of love, naught but forms;
هدیه‌‌های دوستان با همدیگر ** نیست اندر دوستی الا صور
(But the purpose is) that the gifts may have borne testimony to feelings of love which are concealed in secrecy,
تا گواهی داده باشد هدیه‌ها ** بر محبتهای مضمر در خفا
Because outward acts of kindness bear witness to feelings of love in the heart, O dear friend.
ز آن که احسانهای ظاهر شاهدند ** بر محبتهای سر ای ارجمند
Your witness is sometimes true, sometimes false, sometimes drunken with wine, sometimes with sour curds.
شاهدت گه راست باشد گه دروغ ** مست گاهی از می و گاهی ز دوغ
He that has drunk sour curds makes a show of intoxication, shouts ecstatically, and behaves like one whose head is heavy (with the fumes of wine);2630
دوغ خورده مستیی پیدا کند ** های و هوی و سر گرانیها کند
That hypocrite is (assiduous) in fasting and praying, in order that it may be supposed that he is drunken with devotion (to God).
آن مرایی در صیام و در صلاست ** تا گمان آید که او مست ولاست
In short, external acts are different (from internal feelings), (and their purpose is) to indicate that which is hidden.
حاصل افعال برونی دیگر است ** تا نشان باشد بر آن چه مضمر است
O Lord, grant us according to our desire such discernment that we may know the false indication from the true.
یا رب آن تمییز ده ما را به خواست ** تا شناسیم آن نشان کژ ز راست
Do you know how the sense-perception becomes discerning? In this way, that the sense-perception should be seeing by the light of God.
حس را تمییز دانی چون شود ** آن که حس ینظر بنور الله بود
And if there be no effect (outward sign), the cause too makes manifest (that which is hidden), as (for example) kinship gives information concerning love (enables you to infer the presence of love).2635
ور اثر نبود سبب هم مظهر است ** همچو خویشی کز محبت مخبر است
He to whom the light of God has become a guide is not a slave to effects or causes—
نبود آن که نور حقش شد امام ** مر اثر را یا سببها را غلام
Or (if he is a slave to them) Love will throw a spark within, wax mighty, and make (the illumined one) independent of effect.
یا محبت در درون شعله زند ** زفت گردد وز اثر فارغ کند
He has no need to make his love known, since Love has shot its radiance over the sky (of his heart).
حاجتش نبود پی اعلام مهر ** چون محبت نور خود زد بر سپهر
There are detailed explanations (which I could give) in order to complete this subject; but seek them (for yourself), and (now) farewell.
هست تفصیلات تا گردد تمام ** این سخن لیکن بجو تو و السلام
Although the inner meaning is visible in this outward form, the form is (both) near to the meaning and far (from it).2640
گر چه شد معنی در این صورت پدید ** صورت از معنی قریب است و بعید
In regard to indication, they (the meaning and the form) are like the sap and the tree; (but) when you turn to the quiddity, they are very far (removed from each other).
در دلالت همچو آب‌‌اند و درخت ** چون به ماهیت روی دورند سخت
(Let me) take leave of quiddities and essential properties, and relate what happened to those twain with faces like the moon.
ترک ماهیات و خاصیات گو ** شرح کن احوال آن دو ماهرو
How the Arab set his heart on (complying with) his beloved's request and swore that in thus submitting (to her) he had no (idea of) trickery and making trial (of her).
دل نهادن عرب بر التماس دل بر خویش و سوگند خوردن که در این تسلیم مرا حیلتی و امتحانی نیست
The man said, “Now I have ceased to oppose (thee): thou hast authority (to do what thou wilt): draw the sword from the sheath.
مرد گفت اکنون گذشتم از خلاف ** حکم داری تیغ بر کش از غلاف
Whatsoever thou biddest me do, I will obey: I will not consider the bad or good result of it.
هر چه گویی من ترا فرمان‌‌برم ** در بد و نیک آمد آن ننگرم
I will become non-existent in thy existence, because I am thy lover: love makes blind and deaf.”2645
در وجود تو شوم من منعدم ** چون محبم حب یعمی و یصم
The wife said, “Dost thou intend to treat me with kindness, or art thou (bent on) discovering my secret by trickery?”
گفت زن آهنگ برم می‌‌کنی ** یا به حیلت کشف سرم می‌‌کنی
He said, “(No), by God who knows the thought most deeply hid, who out of dust created Adam pure (chosen above all),
گفت و الله عالم السر الخفی ** کافرید از خاک آدم را صفی
Who, in the body three cubits long which He gave him, displayed everything that was contained in the tablets (of destiny) and the (world of) spirits.
در سه گز قالب که دادش وا نمود ** هر چه در الواح و در ارواح بود
Through his He (God) taught him (Adam) the Names (through his God-given knowledge) he at the very first gave instruction (to the angels) concerning everything that shall come to pass unto everlasting,
تا ابد هر چه بود او پیش پیش ** درس کرد از علم الاسماء خویش
So that the angels became beside themselves (in amazement) at his teaching, and gained from his glorification (of God) a holiness other (than they possessed before).2650
تا ملک بی‌‌خود شد از تدریس او ** قدس دیگر یافت از تقدیس او
The revelation that appeared to them from Adam was not (contained) in the amplitude of their heavens.
آن گشادی‌‌شان کز آدم رو نمود ** در گشاد آسمانهاشان نبود
In comparison with the spaciousness of the range of that pure spirit (Adam), the expanse of the seven heavens became narrow.
در فراخی عرصه‌‌ی آن پاک جان ** تنگ آمد عرصه‌‌ی هفت آسمان
The Prophet said that God has said, ‘I am not contained at all in “high” and “low” (spatial dimensions);
گفت پیغمبر که حق فرموده است ** من نگنجم هیچ در بالا و پست