The man dazed by greed may hear a hundred stories, (but) not a single point comes into the ear of greed.
صد حکایت بشنود مدهوش حرص ** در نیاید نکتهای در گوش حرص
How the criers of the Cadi advertised an insolvent round the town.
تعریف کردن منادیان قاضی مفلسی را گرد شهر
There was an insolvent person without house or home, who remained in prison and pitiless bondage.585
بود شخصی مفلسی بیخان و مان ** مانده در زندان وبند بیامان
He would unconscionably eat the rations of the prisoners; on account of (his) appetite he was (a burden) like Mount Qáf on the hearts of the people (in the gaol).
لقمهی زندانیان خوردی گزاف ** بر دل خلق از طمع چون کوه قاف
No one had the pluck to eat a mouthful of bread, because that snatcher of portions would carry off his entire meal.
زهره نه کس را که لقمهی نان خورد ** ز انکه آن لقمهربا کاوش برد
Any one who is far from the feast of the Merciful (God) has the eye of a (low) beggar, though he be a sultan.
هر که دور از دعوت رحمان بود ** او گدا چشم است اگر سلطان بود
He (the insolvent) had trodden virtue underfoot; the prison had become a hell on account of that robber of bread.
مر مروت را نهاده زیر پا ** گشته زندان دوزخی ز آن نان ربا
If you flee in hope of some relief, on that side also a calamity comes to meet you.590
گر گریزی بر امید راحتی ** ز آن طرف هم پیشت آید آفتی
No corner is without wild beasts; there is no rest but in the place where you are alone with God.
هیچ کنجی بیدد و بیدام نیست ** جز به خلوتگاه حق آرام نیست
The corner (narrow cell) of this world's inevitable prison is not exempt from the charges for visitors and (the cost of) housewarming.
کنج زندان جهان ناگزیر ** نیست بیپا مزد و بیدق الحصیر
By God, if you go into a mouse-hole, you will be afflicted by some one who has the claws of a cat.
و الله ار سوراخ موشی در روی ** مبتلای گربه چنگالی شوی
Man has fatness from (thrives on) fancy, if his fancies are beautiful;
آدمی را فربهی هست از خیال ** گر خیالاتش بود صاحب جمال
And if his fancies show anything unlovely he melts away as wax (is melted) by a fire.595
ور خیالاتش نماید ناخوشی ** میگدازد همچو موم از آتشی
If amidst snakes and scorpions God keep you with the fancies of them that are (spiritually) fair,
در میان مار و کژدم گر ترا ** با خیالات خوشان دارد خدا
The snakes and scorpions will be friendly to you, because that fancy is the elixir which transmutes your copper (into gold).
مار و کژدم مر ترا مونس بود ** کان خیالت کیمیای مس بود
Patience is sweetened by fair fancy, since (in that case) the fancies of relief (from pain) have come before (the mind).
صبر شیرین از خیال خوش شده ست ** کان خیالات فرج پیش آمده ست
That relief comes into the heart from faith: weakness of faith is despair and torment.
آن فرج آید ز ایمان در ضمیر ** ضعف ایمان ناامیدی و زحیر
Patience gains a crown from faith: where one hath no patience, he hath no faith.600
صبر از ایمان بیابد سر کله ** حیث لا صبر فلا إیمان له
The Prophet said, “God has not given faith to any one in whose nature there is no patience.”
گفت پیغمبر خداش ایمان نداد ** هر که را صبری نباشد در نهاد
That same one (who) in your eyes is like a snake is a picture (of beauty) in the eyes of another,
آن یکی در چشم تو باشد چو مار ** هم وی اندر چشم آن دیگر نگار
Because in your eyes is the fancy of his being an infidel, while in the eyes of his friend is the fancy of his being a (true) believer;
ز انکه در چشمت خیال کفر اوست ** و آن خیال مومنی در چشم دوست
For both the effects (belief and unbelief) exist in this one person: now he is a fish and now a hook.
کاندر این یک شخص هر دو فعل هست ** گاه ماهی باشد او و گاه شست
Half of him is believer, half of him infidel; half of him cupidity, half of him patience (and abstinence).605
نیم او مومن بود نیمیش گبر ** نیم او حرص آوری نیمیش صبر
Your God has said, “(Some) of you (are) believing”; (and) again, “(Some) of you (are) unbelieving” (as) an old fire-worshipper.
گفت یزدانت فمنکم مومن ** باز منکم کافر گبر کهن
(He is) like an ox, his left half black, the other half white as the moon.