He is stroking me like this so boldly because in this (dark) night he thinks I am the ox.”
این چنین گستاخ ز آن میخاردم ** کاو درین شب گاو میپنداردم
God is saying, “O blind dupe, did not Túr (Sinai) fall in pieces at My Name?
حق همیگوید که ای مغرور کور ** نه ز نامم پاره پاره گشت طور
For if We had sent down (revealed) a Book to the mountain, it would have been riven asunder, then cut to pieces, and then it would have departed (disappeared).
که لو انزلنا کتابا للجبل ** لانصدع ثم انقطع ثم ارتحل
If Mount Uhud had been acquainted with Me, it would have been shivered to pieces and its heart would have been filled with blood.”510
از من ار کوه احد واقف بدی ** پاره گشتی و دلش پر خون شدی
You have heard this from your father and mother; in consequence you have embraced it thoughtlessly.
از پدر وز مادر این بشنیدهای ** لاجرم غافل در این پیچیدهای
If you become acquainted with this without blind imitation, by (His) grace you will become immaterial, like a voice from Heaven.
گر تو بیتقلید از این واقف شوی ** بینشان از لطف چون هاتف شوی
Hear this (following) story as a deterrent, in order that you may know the banefulness of blind imitation.
بشنو این قصه پی تهدید را ** تا بدانی آفت تقلید را
How the Súfís sold the traveller's beast (to pay) for the (expenses of the) mystic dance.
فروختن صوفیان بهیمهی مسافر را جهت سماع
A Súfí, after journeying, arrived at a monastery (for Súfís); he took his mount and led it to the stable.
صوفیی در خانقاه از ره رسید ** مرکب خود برد و در آخر کشید
With his own hand he gave it a little water and some fodder: (he was) not such a Súfí as the one we told of before.515
آب کش داد و علف از دست خویش ** نه چنان صوفی که ما گفتیم پیش
He took precaution for it against neglect and craziness, (but) when the (Divine) destiny comes to pass, of what avail is precaution?
احتیاطش کرد از سهو و خباط ** چون قضا آید چه سود است احتیاط
The Súfís were destitute and poor: poverty almost comprises an infidelity that brings (the soul) to perdition.
صوفیان در جوع بودند و فقیر ** کاد فقر أن یعی کفرا یبیر
O thou rich man who art full fed, beware of laughing at the unrighteousness of the suffering poor.
ای توانگر که تو سیری هین مخند ** بر کجی آن فقیر دردمند
On account of their destitution that Súfí flock, all of them, adopted (the expedient of) selling the ass,
از سر تقصیر آن صوفی رمه ** خر فروشی در گرفتند آن همه
Saying, “(In case) of necessity a carcase is lawful (food); (there is) many a vicious act that necessity made a virtuous one.”520
They instantly sold the little ass; they fetched dainty viands and lit candles.
هم در آن دم آن خرک بفروختند ** لوت آوردند و شمع افروختند
Jubilation arose in the monastery: (they cried), “To-night there are dainties and music and dancing and voracity.
ولوله افتاد اندر خانقه ** کامشبان لوت و سماع است و شره
How much (more) of this (carrying the) wallet and this beggary? How much (more) of this patience and of this three-day fasting?
چند از این صبر و از این سه روزه چند ** چند از این زنبیل و این دریوزه چند
We also are of (God's) creatures, we have soul. Good luck (is ours) to-night: we have the guest (to entertain).”
ما هم از خلقیم و جان داریم ما ** دولت امشب میهمان داریم ما
Thereby they were sowing the seed of falsehood, for they deemed soul that which is not soul.525
تخم باطل را از آن میکاشتند ** کان که آن جان نیست جان پنداشتند
And the traveller, too, was tired by the long journey and (gladly) saw that favour and fondness (with which they regarded him).
و آن مسافر نیز از راه دراز ** خسته بود و دید آن اقبال و ناز
The Súfís, one by one, caressed him: they were playing the game of (bestowing) pleasant attentions (on him).
صوفیانش یک به یک بنواختند ** نرد خدمتهای خوش میباختند
When he saw their affection towards him, he said, “If I don't make merry to-night, when (shall I do so)?”
گفت چون میدید میلانشان به وی ** گر طرب امشب نخواهم کرد کی
They ate the viands and began the samá‘ (musical dance); the monastery was filled with smoke and dust up to the roof—
لوت خوردند و سماع آغاز کرد ** خانقه تا سقف شد پر دود و گرد
The smoke of the kitchen, the dust of (raised by) beating the feet (dancing), the tumult (caused) by longing and ecstasy of spirit.530
دود مطبخ گرد آن پا کوفتن ** ز اشتیاق و وجد جان آشوفتن
Now, waving their hands, they would beat (the ground with) their feet; now, in (religious) prostration, they would sweep the dais (with their foreheads).
گاه دست افشان قدم میکوفتند ** گه به سجده صفه را میروفتند
(Only) after long (waiting) does the Súfí gain his desire (the satisfaction of his appetite) from Fortune: for that reason the Súfí is a great eater;
دیر یابد صوفی آز از روزگار ** ز آن سبب صوفی بود بسیار خوار
Except, to be sure, the Súfí who has eaten his fill of the Light of God: he is free from the shame of beggary;
جز مگر آن صوفیی کز نور حق ** سیر خورد او فارغ است از ننگ دق