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
(But) of these Súfís there are (only) a few among thousands; the rest are living in (under the protection of) his (the perfect Súfí's spiritual) empire.
از هزاران اندکی زین صوفیند ** باقیان در دولت او میزیند
When the samá‘ had come (run its course) from beginning to end, the minstrel struck up a heavy (deep-sounding) strain.535
چون سماع آمد از اول تا کران ** مطرب آغازید یک ضرب گران
He commenced (to sing), "The ass is gone, and the ass is gone": he made the whole (company) sharers in this ditty.
خر برفت و خر برفت آغاز کرد ** زین حراره جمله را انباز کرد
From this enthusiasm (they continued) beating their feet (dancing) to this ditty till dawn, clapping their hands (and singing), "The ass is gone, the ass is gone!"
زین حراره پای کوبان تا سحر ** کفزنان خر رفت و خر رفت ای پسر
By way of imitation that Súfí began (to sing) in (tones of) impassioned feeling this same (phrase), “The ass is gone.”
از ره تقلید آن صوفی همین ** خر برفت آغاز کرد اندر حنین
When the pleasure and excitement and music and dancing were over, day dawned and they all said, “Farewell!”
چون گذشت آن نوش و جوش و آن سماع ** روز گشت و جمله گفتند الوداع
The monastery was deserted, and the Súfí remained (alone): that traveller set about shaking the dust from his baggage.540
خانقه خالی شد و صوفی بماند ** گرد از رخت آن مسافر میفشاند
He brought out the baggage from his cell, in order that he might tie it on the ass, (for he was) desirous of (finding) people to travel with.
رخت از حجره برون آورد او ** تا به خر بر بندد آن همراه جو
He was hurrying that he might overtake his fellow-travellers; he went into the stable but did not find the ass.
تا رسد در همرهان او میشتافت ** رفت در آخر خر خود را نیافت
He said, “The servant has taken it (the ass) to water, because it drank little water last night.”
گفت آن خادم به آبش برده است ** ز انکه خر دوش آب کمتر خورده است
The servant came, and the Súfí said to him, “Where is the ass?” “Look at your beard,” replied the servant, and a quarrel arose.