Rumi's Masnavi - (But) when I was born, I escaped from the narrow prison (of the womb) into a world of pleasant air and beautiful colour.

(But) when I was born, I escaped from the narrow prison (of the womb) into a world of pleasant air and beautiful colour.

چون بزادم رستم از زندان تنگ ** در جهان خوش هوای خوب رنگ‌‌

Now I deem the (earthly) world to be like the womb, since in this fire I have seen such rest:

من جهان را چون رحم دیدم کنون ** چون در این آتش بدیدم این سکون‌‌

In this fire I have seen a world wherein every atom possesses the (life-giving) breath of Jesus.

اندر این آتش بدیدم عالمی ** ذره ذره اندر او عیسی دمی‌‌

Lo, (it is) a world apparently non-existent (but) essentially existent, while that (other) world is apparently existent (but) has no permanence. 795

نک جهان نیست شکل هست ذات ** و آن جهان هست شکل بی‌‌ثبات‌‌

Come in, mother, (I beseech thee) by the right of motherhood: see this fire, how it hath no fieriness.

اندر آ مادر به حق مادری ** بین که این آذر ندارد آذری‌‌

Come in, mother, for felicity is come; come in, mother, do not let fortune slip from thy hand.

اندر آ مادر که اقبال آمده ست ** اندر آ مادر مده دولت ز دست‌‌

Thou hast seen the power of that (Jewish) cur: come in, that thou mayst see the power and the grace of God.

قدرت آن سگ بدیدی اندر آ ** تا ببینی قدرت و لطف خدا

’Tis (only) out of pity that I am drawing thy feet (hither), for indeed such is my rapture that I have no care for thee.

من ز رحمت می‌‌کشانم پای تو ** کز طرب خود نیستم پروای تو

Come in and call the others also, for the King has spread a (festal) table within the fire. 800

اندر آ و دیگران را هم بخوان ** کاندر آتش شاه بنهاده ست خوان‌‌

O true believers, come in, all of you: except the sweetness (‘adhbí) of (the true) religion all is torment (‘adháb).

اندر آیید ای مسلمانان همه ** غیر عذب دین عذاب است آن همه‌‌

Oh, come in, all of you, like moths; (come) into this fortune which hath a hundred springtimes.”

اندر آیید ای همه پروانه‌‌وار ** اندر این بهره که دارد صد بهار

(Thus) he was crying amidst that multitude: the souls of the people were filled with awe.

بانگ می‌‌زد در میان آن گروه ** پر همی‌‌شد جان خلقان از شکوه‌‌

After that, the folk, men and women (alike), cast themselves unwittingly into the fire—

خلق خود را بعد از آن بی‌‌خویشتن ** می‌‌فگندند اندر آتش مرد و زن‌‌

Without custodian, without being dragged, for love of the Friend, because from Him is the sweetening of every bitterness— 805

بی‌‌موکل بی‌‌کشش از عشق دوست ** ز آن که شیرین کردن هر تلخ از اوست‌‌

Until it came to pass that the (king's) myrmidons were holding back the people, saying, “Do not enter the fire!”

تا چنان شد کان عوانان خلق را ** منع می‌‌کردند کاتش در میا

The Jew became black-faced (covered with shame) and dismayed; he became sorry and sick at heart,

آن یهودی شد سیه رو و خجل ** شد پشیمان زین سبب بیمار دل‌‌

Because the people grew more loving (ardent) in their Faith and more firm in mortification (faná) of the body.

کاندر ایمان خلق عاشق‌‌تر شدند ** در فنای جسم صادق‌‌تر شدند

Thanks (be to God), the Devil's plot caught him in its toils; thanks (be to God), the Devil saw himself disgraced.

مکر شیطان هم در او پیچید شکر ** دیو هم خود را سیه رو دید شکر

That which he was rubbing (the shame he was inflicting) on the faces of those persons (the Christians) was all accumulated on the visage of that vile wretch. 810

آن چه می‌‌مالید در روی کسان ** جمع شد در چهره‌‌ی آن ناکس آن‌‌

He who was busy rending the garment (honour and integrity) of the people—his own (garment) was rent, (while) they were unhurt.

آن که می‌‌درید جامه‌‌ی خلق چست ** شد دریده آن او ایشان درست‌‌

How the mouth remained awry of a man who pronounced the name of Mohammed, on whom be peace, derisively.

کج ماندن دهان آن مرد که نام محمد را علیه السلام به تسخر خواند

He made his mouth wry and called (the name of) Mohammed in derision: his mouth remained awry.

آن دهان کژ کرد و از تسخر بخواند ** مر محمد را دهانش کژ بماند

He came back, saying, “Pardon me, O Mohammed, O thou to whom belong the (Divine) favours and knowledge (derived) immediately from God.

باز آمد کای محمد عفو کن ** ای ترا الطاف و علم من لدن‌‌

In my folly I was ridiculing thee, (but) I myself was related to ridicule and deserving it.”

من ترا افسوس می‌‌کردم ز جهل ** من بدم افسوس را منسوب و اهل‌‌

When God wishes to rend the veil of any one (expose him to shame), He turns his inclination towards reviling holy men. 815

چون خدا خواهد که پرده‌‌ی کس درد ** میلش اندر طعنه‌‌ی پاکان برد

And if God wishes to hide the blame of any one, he (that person) does not breathe a word of blame against the blameworthy.

چون خدا خواهد که پوشد عیب کس ** کم زند در عیب معیوبان نفس‌‌

When God wishes to help us, He turns our inclination towards humble lament.

چون خدا خواهد که‌‌مان یاری کند ** میل ما را جانب زاری کند

Oh, happy the eye that is weeping for His sake! Oh, fortunate the heart that is seared for His sake!

ای خنک چشمی که آن گریان اوست ** وی همایون دل که آن بریان اوست‌‌

The end of every weeping is laughter at last; the man who foresees the end is a blessed servant (of God).

آخر هر گریه آخر خنده‌‌ای است ** مرد آخر بین مبارک بنده‌‌ای است‌‌

Wherever is flowing water, there is greenery: wherever are running tears, (the Divine) mercy is shown. 820

هر کجا آب روان سبزه بود ** هر کجا اشک روان رحمت شود

Be moaning and moist-eyed like the water-wheel, that green herbs may spring up from the courtyard of your soul.

باش چون دولاب نالان چشم تر ** تا ز صحن جانت بر روید خضر

If you desire tears, have mercy on one who sheds tears; if you desire mercy, show mercy to the weak.

اشک خواهی رحم کن بر اشک بار ** رحم خواهی بر ضعیفان رحم آر

How the fire reproached the Jewish king.

عتاب کردن آتش را آن پادشاه جهود

The king turned his face to the fire, saying, “O fierce-tempered one, where is thy world-consuming natural disposition?

رو به آتش کرد شه کای تند خو ** آن جهان سوز طبیعی خوت کو

How art thou not burning? What has become of thy specific property? Or has thy intention changed because of our fortune?

چون نمی‌‌سوزی چه شد خاصیتت ** یا ز بخت ما دگر شد نیتت‌‌

Thou hast no pity (even) on the fire-worshipper: how (then) has he been saved who does not worship thee? 825

می‌‌نبخشایی تو بر آتش پرست ** آن که نپرستد ترا او چون برست‌‌

Never, O fire, art thou patient: how burnest thou not? What is it? Hast thou not the power?

هرگز ای آتش تو صابر نیستی ** چون نسوزی چیست قادر نیستی‌‌

Is this a spell, I wonder, that binds the eye or the mind? How does such a lofty flame not burn?

چشم بند است این عجب یا هوش بند ** چون نسوزاند چنین شعله‌‌ی بلند

Has some one bewitched thee? Or is it magic, or is thy unnatural behaviour from our fortune?”

جادویی کردت کسی یا سیمیاست ** یا خلاف طبع تو از بخت ماست‌‌

The fire said: “I am the same, O idolator: come in, that thou mayst feel my heat.

گفت آتش من همانم ای شمن ** اندر آ تو تا ببینی تاب من‌‌

My nature and element have not changed: I am the sword of God and by (His) leave I cut. 830

طبع من دیگر نگشت و عنصرم ** تیغ حقم هم به دستوری برم‌‌

The Turcoman dogs fawn at the tent-door before the guest,

بر در خرگه سگان ترکمان ** چاپلوسی کرده پیش میهمان‌‌

But if any one having the face of a stranger pass by the tent, he will see the dogs rushing at him like lions.

ور به خرگه بگذرد بیگانه رو ** حمله بیند از سگان شیرانه او

I am not less than a dog in devotion, nor is God less than a Turcoman in life (living power).”

من ز سگ کم نیستم در بندگی ** کم ز ترکی نیست حق در زندگی‌‌

If the fire of your nature make you suffer pain, it burns by command of the Lord of religion;

آتش طبعت اگر غمگین کند ** سوزش از امر ملیک دین کند

If the fire of your nature give you joy, (that is because) the Lord of the Judgment puts joy therein. 835

آتش طبعت اگر شادی دهد ** اندر او شادی ملیک دین نهد

When you feel pain, ask pardon of God: pain, by command of the Creator, is efficacious.

چون که غم بینی تو استغفار کن ** غم به امر خالق آمد کار کن‌‌

When He pleases, pain itself becomes joy; bondage itself becomes freedom.

چون بخواهد عین غم شادی شود ** عین بند پای، آزادی شود

Air and earth and water and fire are (His) slaves: with you and me they are dead, but with God they are alive.

باد و خاک و آب و آتش بنده‌‌اند ** با من و تو مرده با حق زنده‌‌اند

Before God, fire is always standing (ready to do His behest), writhing continually day and night, like a lover.

پیش حق آتش همیشه در قیام ** همچو عاشق روز و شب پیچان مدام‌‌

If you strike stone on iron, it (the fire) leaps out: ’tis by God's command that it puts forth its foot. 840

سنگ بر آهن زنی بیرون جهد ** هم به امر حق قدم بیرون نهد

Do not strike together the iron and stone of injustice, for these two generate like man and woman.

آهن و سنگ ستم بر هم مزن ** کاین دو می‌‌زایند همچون مرد و زن‌‌