- Foxes, in the chase, are saved by their legs, but the foxes inconsiderately deem that (safety to proceed) from their tails.
- پا رهاند روبهان را در شکار ** و آن زدم دانند روباهان غرار
- (Hence) they play fondly with their tails, thinking, “These save our lives in the ambuscade (of calamity).”
- عشقها با دم خود بازند کین ** میرهاند جان ما را در کمین
- O fox, preserve your legs from (being broken by) brickbats; when you have no legs, what use is your tail, O bold-eyed one?
- روبها پا را نگه دار از کلوخ ** پا چو نبود دم چه سود ای چشمشوخ
- We are like foxes, and the noble (saints) are (as) our legs: they save us from a hundred kinds of vengeance. 2230
- ما چو روباهان و پای ما کرام ** میرهاندمان ز صدگون انتقام
- Our subtle contrivance is as our tails: we play fondly with our tails, left and right.
- حیلهی باریک ما چون دم ماست ** عشقها بازیم با دم چپ و راست
- We wag our tails in argumentation and cunning, in order that Zayd and Bakr may remain amazed at us.
- دم بجنبانیم ز استدلال و مکر ** تا که حیران ماند از ما زید و بکر
- We have sought to excite the amazement of the people; we have eagerly grasped at Divinity,
- طالب حیرانی خلقان شدیم ** دست طمع اندر الوهیت زدیم
- That by means of guile we may gain possession of (the people's) hearts; we do not see that we are in a ditch.
- تا بافسون مالک دلها شویم ** این نمیبینیم ما کاندر گویم
- You are in the ditch and in the pit, O scoundrel: keep your hands off the moustache of others! 2235
- در گوی و در چهی ای قلتبان ** دست وا دار از سبال دیگران
- When you arrive at a fair and beauteous garden, after that lay hold of the people's skirts and lead them.
- چون به بستانی رسی زیبا و خوش ** بعد از آن دامان خلقان گیر و کش
- O you who dwell in the prison of the four (elements) and the five (senses) and the six (directions), lead others also to (such) a goodly place!
- ای مقیم حبس چار و پنج و شش ** نغز جایی دیگران را هم بکش
- O you who, like an ass-servant, are the comrade of the ass's rump, you have found a (fine) spot to kiss: take us (to it)!
- ای چو خربنده حریف کون خر ** بوسه گاهی یافتی ما را ببر
- Since (true) servitude to the Beloved has not been granted you, whence has arisen in you the wish for sovereignty?
- چون ندادت بندگی دوست دست ** میل شاهی از کجاات خاستست
- In your desire that they should say to you “Bravo!” you have tied a bowstring on the neck of your soul. 2240
- در هوای آنک گویندت زهی ** بستهای در گردن جانت زهی
- O fox, abandon this tail, (which is) contrivance, and devote your heart to the lords of the heart (the saints).
- روبها این دم حیلت را بهل ** وقف کن دل بر خداوندان دل
- (Whilst you are) under the protection of the lion, roast-meat will not fail;O fox, do not hasten towards the carcase.
- در پناه شیر کم ناید کباب ** روبها تو سوی جیفه کم شتاب
- O heart, thou wilt be regarded (with favour) by God at the moment when, like a part, thou goest towards thy Whole.
- تو دلا منظور حق آنگه شوی ** که چو جزوی سوی کل خود روی
- God saith, “Our regard is (bestowed) on the heart; it is not (bestowed) on the external form, which is (only) water and earth.”
- حق همیگوید نظرمان در دلست ** نیست بر صورت که آن آب و گلست
- You say, “I too have a heart”; (but) the heart is above the empyrean, it is not below. 2245
- تو همیگویی مرا دل نیز هست ** دل فراز عرش باشد نه به پست
- Certainly in the dark earth also there is water, but ’tis not proper for you to wash your hands with that water,
- در گل تیره یقین هم آب هست ** لیک زان آبت نشاید آبدست
- Because, though it is water, it is overcome by the earth. Do not, then, say of your heart, “This too is a heart.”
- زانک گر آبست مغلوب گلست ** پس دل خود را مگو کین هم دلست
- The heart that is higher than the heavens is the heart of the saint or the prophet.
- آن دلی کز آسمانها برترست ** آن دل ابدال یا پیغامبرست
- That (heart) has become cleansed of earth and purified; it has come to (full) growth and has been made complete.
- پاک گشته آن ز گل صافی شده ** در فزونی آمده وافی شده
- It has taken leave of earth and has come to the Sea; it has escaped from the prison of earth and has become of the Sea. 2250
- ترک گل کرده سوی بحر آمده ** رسته از زندان گل بحری شده
- (But) our water has remained imprisoned in earth. Hark, O Sea of Mercy, draw us out of the clay!
- آب ما محبوس گل ماندست هین ** بحر رحمت جذب کن ما را ز طین
- The Sea says, “I draw thee into myself, but thou art vainly pretending to be the sweet water.
- بحر گوید من ترا در خود کشم ** لیک میلافی که من آب خوشم
- Thy vain pretence is keeping thee deprived of fortune: abandon that (idle) fancy and enter into me.”
- لاف تو محروم میدارد ترا ** ترک آن پنداشت کن در من درآ
- The water in the earth (of the body) desires to go into the Sea, (but) the earth has seized the water's foot and is dragging (it back).
- آب گل خواهد که در دریا رود ** گل گرفته پای آب و میکشد
- If it release its foot from the hand of the earth, the earth will be left dry, and it (the water) becomes absolutely free. 2255
- گر رهاند پای خود از دست گل ** گل بماند خشک و او شد مستقل
- What is that drawing back of the water by the earth? (It is) your drawing (towards you) the dessert and unmixed wine (of sensuality).
- آن کشیدن چیست از گل آب را ** جذب تو نقل و شراب ناب را
- Even so every lust in the world, whether it be (for) riches or power or bread—
- همچنین هر شهوتی اندر جهان ** خواه مال و خواه جاه و خواه نان
- Each of these things produces an intoxication (ardent desire) in you, and when you gain it not, it inflicts a headache upon you.
- هر یکی زینها ترا مستی کند ** چون نیابی آن خمارت میزند
- This headache of grief has become a proof that your intoxication was caused by that missed object (of desire).
- این خمار غم دلیل آن شدست ** که بدان مفقود مستیات بدست
- Do not partake of these (objects) but according to the measure of (your) necessity, lest they grow predominant and become rulers over you. 2260
- جز به اندازهی ضرورت زین مگیر ** تا نگردد غالب و بر تو امیر
- You scornfully refused (help), saying, “I am the owner of a (purified) heart: I have no need of any one else, I am united (with God).”
- سر کشیدی تو که من صاحبدلم ** حاجت غیری ندارم واصلم
- That is as though the water in the earth should scornfully refuse, saying, “I am the water, and why should I seek aid?”
- آنچنانک آب در گل سر کشد ** که منم آب و چرا جویم مدد
- You fancied this polluted (heart) was the (pure) heart; consequently you averted your heart from those possessed of (purified) hearts.
- دل تو این آلوده را پنداشتی ** لاجرم دل ز اهل دل برداشتی
- Do you indeed think it possible that this heart which is in love with milk and honey should be that (pure) heart?
- خود روا داری که آن دل باشد این ** کو بود در عشق شیر و انگبین
- The deliciousness of milk and honey is the reflexion of the (pure) heart: from that heart the sweetness of every sweet thing is derived. 2265
- لطف شیر و انگبین عکس دلست ** هر خوشی را آن خوش از دل حاصلست
- Hence the heart is the substance, and the world is the accident: how should the heart's shadow (reflexion) be the object of the heart's desire?
- پس بود دل جوهر و عالم عرض ** سایهی دل چون بود دل را غرض
- Is that (pure heart) the heart that is enamoured of riches and power, or is submissive to this black earth and water (the body),
- آن دلی کو عاشق مالست و جاه ** یا زبون این گل و آب سیاه
- Or to vain fancies which it worships in the darkness for the sake of fame?
- یا خیالاتی که در ظلمات او ** میپرستدشان برای گفت و گو
- The heart is naught but the Sea of Light: is the heart the place for vision of God—and then blind?
- دل نباشد غیر آن دریای نور ** دل نظرگاه خدا وانگاه کور
- The heart is not (contained) in hundreds of thousands (of persons) noble or common; it is in a single one: which is he? Which? 2270
- نه دل اندر صد هزاران خاص و عام ** در یکی باشد کدامست آن کدام
- Leave (what is only) a fragment of the heart and seek the (perfect) heart, in order that by means of it that fragment may become as a mountain.
- ریزهی دل را بهل دل را بجو ** تا شود آن ریزه چون کوهی ازو
- The (perfect) heart is encompassing (the whole of) this realm of existence and scattering gold in beneficence and bounty.
- دل محیطست اندرین خطهی وجود ** زر همیافشاند از احسان و جود
- It chooses to lavish blessings derived from the Blessedness of God upon the people of the world.
- از سلام حق سلامیها نثار ** میکند بر اهل عالم اختیار
- Whosoever's skirt is right and ready, the largesse of the heart comes to that person.
- هر که را دامن درستست و معد ** آن نثار دل بر آنکس میرسد
- Your skirt (to catch that largesse) is supplication and presence (with God): beware, do not put in your skirt the stone of iniquity, 2275
- دامن تو آن نیازست و حضور ** هین منه در دامن آن سنگ فجور
- In order that your skirt may not be torn by those stones and that you may distinguish the sterling coin (of truth) from the colours (of falsehood).
- تا ندرد دامنت زان سنگها ** تا بدانی نقد را از رنگها