So that we heard of the chastisements which God inflicted upon the past generations in the preceding time,
تا شنیدیم آن سیاستهای حق ** بر قرون ماضیه اندر سبق
That we, like the fox, may keep better watch over ourselves from (considering) the fate of those ancient wolves.
تا که ما از حال آن گرگان پیش ** همچو روبه پاس خود داریم بیش
On this account he that is God's prophet and veracious in explanation called us “a people on which God has taken mercy.”3120
امت مرحومه زین رو خواندمان ** آن رسول حق و صادق در بیان
Behold with clear vision the bones and fur of those wolves, and take warning, O mighty ones!
استخوان و پشم آن گرگان عیان ** بنگرید و پند گیرید ای مهان
The wise man will put off from his head (lay aside) this self-existence and wind (of vanity), since he heard (what was) the end of the Pharaohs and ‘Ád;
عاقل از سر بنهد این هستی و باد ** چون شنید انجام فرعونان و عاد
And if he do not put it off, others will take warning from what befell him in consequence of his being misguided.
ور بننهد دیگران از حال او ** عبرتی گیرند از اضلال او
How Noah, on whom be peace, threatened his people, saying, “Do not struggle with me, for I am (only) a veil: ye are really struggling with God (who is) within this (veil), O God-forsaken men!”
تهدید کردن نوح علیه السلام مر قوم را که با من مپیچید که من رو پوشم در میان پس به حقیقت با خدای می‌‌پیچید ای مخذولان
Noah said, “O ye headstrong ones, I am not I: I am dead to the (animal) soul, I am living through the Soul of souls.
گفت نوح ای سرکشان من من نی‌‌ام ** من ز جان مرده به جانان می‌‌زی‌‌ام
Inasmuch as I am dead to the senses of the father of mankind (human sense perceptions), God has become my hearing and perception and sight.3125
چون بمردم از حواس بو البشر ** حق مرا شد سمع و ادراک و بصر
Since I am not I, this breath (of mine) is from Him: in the presence of this breath if any one breathes (a word) he is an infidel.”
چون که من من نیستم این دم ز هوست ** پیش این دم هر که دم زد کافر اوست
In the form of this fox there is the lion: ’tis not fitting to advance boldly towards this fox.
هست اندر نقش این روباه شیر ** سوی این روبه نشاید شد دلیر
Unless thou believe in him from his exterior aspect (accept him in the form in which he appears), thou wilt not hear from him the lions' roar.
گر ز روی صورتش می‌‌نگروی ** غره‌‌ی شیران از او می‌‌نشنوی
Unless Noah had had a hand (a powerful aid) from God, why should he have cast a whole world into confusion?
گر نبودی نوح را از حق یدی ** پس جهانی را چرا بر هم زدی
He was hundreds of thousands of lions in a single body; he was like fire, and the world (like) a stack.3130
صد هزاران شیر بود او در تنی ** او چو آتش بود و عالم خرمنی
Forasmuch as the stack neglected (to pay) the tithe due to him, he launched such a flame against that stack.
چون که خرمن پاس عشر او نداشت ** او چنان شعله بر آن خرمن گماشت
Whosoever in the presence of this hidden Lion opens his mouth disrespectfully, like the wolf,
هر که او در پیش این شیر نهان ** بی‌‌ادب چون گرگ بگشاید دهان
That Lion will tear him to pieces, as (he tore) the wolf, and will recite to him (the text) So we took vengeance upon them.
همچو گرگ آن شیر بردراندش ** فانتقمنا منهم بر خواندش
He will suffer blows, like the wolf, from the Lion's paw: foolish is he that waxed bold in the presence of the Lion.
زخم یابد همچو گرگ از دست شیر ** پیش شیر ابله بود کاو شد دلیر
Would that those blows fell upon the body, so that it might be that (the sinner's) faith and heart would be safe!3135
کاشکی آن زخم بر تن آمدی ** تا بدی کایمان و دل سالم بدی
My power is broken (fails me) on reaching this point: how can I declare this mystery?
قوتم بگسست چون اینجا رسید ** چون توانم کرد این سر را پدید
Make little of your bellies, like that fox: do not play fox's tricks in His presence.
همچو آن روبه کم اشکم کنید ** پیش او روباه بازی کم کنید
Lay the whole of your “we” and “I” before Him: the kingdom is His kingdom: give the kingdom to Him.
جمله ما و من به پیش او نهید ** ملک ملک اوست ملک او را دهید
When ye become poor (selfless) in the right Way, verily the Lion and the Lion's prey are yours,
چون فقیر آیید اندر راه راست ** شیر و صید شیر خود آن شماست
Because He is holy, and Glory is His attribute: He hath no need of good things and kernel or rind.3140
ز آنکه او پاک است و سبحان وصف اوست ** بی‌‌نیاز است او ز نغز و مغز و پوست
Every prize and every gift of grace that exists is for the sake of the servants of that King (God).
هر شکار و هر کراماتی که هست ** از برای بندگان آن شه است
The King hath no desire (for anything): He hath made all this empire for His creatures. Happy is he that knew!
نیست شه را طمع بهر خلق ساخت ** این همه دولت خنک آن کاو شناخت
Of what use should the possession of empires be to Him who created (all) empire and the two worlds?
آن که دولت آفرید و دو سرا ** ملک دولتها چه کار آید و را
In the presence of His Glory keep watch, then, over your hearts, lest ye be put to shame by thinking evil.
پیش سبحان بس نگه دارید دل ** تا نگردید از گمان بد خجل
For He sees conscience and thought and quest (desire) as (plainly) as a thread of hair in pure milk.3145
کاو ببیند سر و فکر و جستجو ** همچو اندر شیر خالص تار مو
He whose clear breast has become devoid of (any) image (impression) has become a mirror for the impressions of the Invisible.
آن که او بی‌‌نقش ساده سینه شد ** نقشهای غیب را آیینه شد
He becomes intuitively and undoubtingly aware of our inmost thought, because the true believer is the mirror of the true believer.
سر ما را بی‌‌گمان موقن شود ** ز آن که مومن آینه‌‌ی مومن شود
When he rubs our coin on the touchstone, then he knows the difference between faith and doubt.
چون زند او نقد ما را بر محک ** پس یقین را باز داند او ز شک
When his soul becomes the touchstone of the coin, then he will see (distinguish) the (true) heart and the false money (of hypocrisy).
چون شود جانش محک نقدها ** پس ببیند قلب را و قلب را
How kings seat in front of them the Súfís who know God, in order that their eyes may be illumined by (seeing) them.
نشاندن پادشاهان صوفیان عارف را پیش روی خویش تا چشمشان بدیشان روشن شود
Such is the custom of kings: you will have heard of this, if you remember.3150
پادشاهان را چنان عادت بود ** این شنیده باشی ار یادت بود
The paladins stand on their left hand, because the heart (the seat of courage) is fixed on the left side (of the body).
دست چپشان پهلوانان ایستند ** ز آنکه دل پهلوی چپ باشد ببند
On the right hand are the chancellor and the secretaries, because the science of writing and book-keeping belongs (in practice) to that hand.
مشرف و اهل قلم بر دست راست ** ز آن که علم و خط و ثبت آن دست راست
They give the Súfís the place in front of their countenance, for they (the Súfís) are a mirror for the soul, and better than a mirror,
صوفیان را پیش رو موضع دهند ** کاینه‌‌ی جان‌‌اند و ز آیینه بهند
(Since) they have polished their breasts (hearts) in commemoration (of God) and meditation, that the heart's mirror may receive the virgin (original) image.
سینه صیقلها زده در ذکر و فکر ** تا پذیرد آینه‌‌ی دل نقش بکر
Whoever is born beautiful from the loins of Creation, a mirror must be placed before him.3155
هر که او از صلب فطرت خوب زاد ** آینه در پیش او باید نهاد
The beauteous face is in love with the mirror: it (such a face) is a polisher of the soul and (a kindler) of the fear of God in (men's) hearts.
عاشق آیینه باشد روی خوب ** صیقل جان آمد و تقوی القلوب
How the guest came to Joseph, on whom be peace, and how Joseph demanded of him a gift and present on his return from abroad.
آمدن مهمان پیش یوسف علیه السلام و تقاضا کردن یوسف از او تحفه و ارمغان
The loving friend came from the ends of the earth and became the guest of Joseph the truthful,
آمد از آفاق یار مهربان ** یوسف صدیق را شد میهمان
For they had been acquainted in childhood, reclining (together) on the cushion of acquaintance.
کآشنا بودند وقت کودکی ** بر وساده‌‌ی آشنایی متکی
He spoke to him (Joseph) of the injustice and envy of his brethren: Joseph said, “That was (like) a chain, and I was the lion.
یاد دادش جور اخوان و حسد ** گفت کان زنجیر بود و ما اسد
The lion is not disgraced by the chain: I do not complain of God's destiny.3160
عار نبود شیر را از سلسله ** نیست ما را از قضای حق گله
If the lion had a chain on his neck, (yet) he was prince over all the chain-makers.”
شیر را بر گردن ار زنجیر بود ** بر همه زنجیر سازان میر بود
He asked, “How wert thou in regard to the prison and the well?” “Like the moon,” said Joseph, “in the interlunar period (when she is) on the wane.”
گفت چون بودی ز زندان و ز چاه ** گفت همچون در محاق و کاست ماه
If in that period the new moon is bent double, does not she at last become the full moon in the sky?
در محاق ار ماه نو گردد دو تا ** نی در آخر بدر گردد بر سما
Though the seed-pearl is pounded in the mortar, it becomes the light of eye and heart and looks aloft.
گر چه دردانه به هاون کوفتند ** نور چشم و دل شد و بیند بلند
They cast a grain of wheat under earth, then from its earth they raised up ears of corn;3165
گندمی را زیر خاک انداختند ** پس ز خاکش خوشه‌‌ها بر ساختند
Once more they crushed it with the mill: its value increased and it became soul invigorating bread;
بار دیگر کوفتندش ز آسیا ** قیمتش افزود و نان شد جان فزا
Again they crushed the bread under their teeth: it became the mind and spirit and understanding of one endowed with reason;
باز نان را زیر دندان کوفتند ** گشت عقل و جان و فهم هوشمند