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3
247-296

  • And he (the townsman) would make an excuse, saying, “This year we have a guest who has come from such and such a district;
  • او بهانه ساختی کامسال‌مان ** از فلان خطه بیامد میهمان

  • (But) next year I will run (down) to that part (of the country), if I can escape from the pressing affairs (which keep me at home).”
  • سال دیگر گر توانم وا رهید ** از مهمات آن طرف خواهم دوید

  • He (the countryman) said, “My family are (anxiously) expecting your children, O benefactor.”
  • گفت هستند آن عیالم منتظر ** بهر فرزندان تو ای اهل بر

  • Every year he was coming back, like the stork, to reside in the townsman's pavilion, 250
  • باز هر سالی چو لکلک آمدی ** تا مقیم قبه‌ی شهری شدی

  • And every year the Khwája would expend his gold and wealth upon him and open his wings (wide).
  • خواجه هر سالی ز زر و مال خویش ** خرج او کردی گشادی بال خویش

  • On the last occasion, that paladin set dishes (of food) before him at morn and eve for three months.
  • آخرین کرت سه ماه آن پهلوان ** خوان نهادش بامدادان و شبان

  • From shame he again said to the Khwája, “How long (nothing but) promises? How long will you deceive me?”
  • از خجالت باز گفت او خواجه را ** چند وعده چند بفریبی مرا

  • The Khwája said, “My body and soul are eager for the meeting, but every change depends on the decree of Him (God).
  • گفت خواجه جسم و جانم وصل‌جوست ** لیک هر تحویل اندر حکم هوست

  • Man is like a ship or sail: (he must wait) to see when the Driver of the wind shall send the (favourable) breeze.” 255
  • آدمی چون کشتی است و بادبان ** تا کی آرد باد را آن بادران

  • Once more he (the countryman) adjured him, crying, “O generous man, take your children and come and behold the pleasures (of the country).”
  • باز سوگندان بدادش کای کریم ** گیر فرزندان بیا بنگر نعیم

  • He took his hand three times in covenant, saying, “In God's name, come quickly, make the utmost effort!”
  • دست او بگرفت سه کرت بعهد ** کالله الله زو بیا بنمای جهد

  • After ten years—and every year the same sugared entreaties and promises—
  • بعد ده سال و بهر سالی چنین ** لابه‌ها و وعده‌های شکرین

  • The Khwája's children said, “O father, the moon and the clouds and the shadows too have their journeys.
  • کودکان خواجه گفتند ای پدر ** ماه و ابر و سایه هم دارد سفر

  • You have laid obligations on him, you have taken great pains on his account, 260
  • حقها بر وی تو ثابت کرده‌ای ** رنجها در کار او بس برده‌ای

  • And he wishes to repay some part of that obligation when you become his guest.
  • او همی‌خواهد که بعضی حق آن ** وا گزارد چون شوی تو میهمان

  • He gave us many injunctions in secret: ‘Bring him to the country,’ said he, ‘coaxing (him to come).’”
  • بس وصیت کرد ما را او نهان ** که کشیدش سوی ده لابه‌کنان

  • He (the townsman) said, “This is true, but, O Síbawayh, be on thy guard against the malice of him to whom thou hast shown kindness.
  • گفت حقست این ولی ای سیبویه ** اتق من شر من احسنت الیه

  • Love is the seed (that bears fruit at the moment) of the last breath: I fear that it may be corrupted by estrangement.”
  • دوستی تخم دم آخر بود ** ترسم از وحشت که آن فاسد شود

  • There is a friendship like a cutting sword, (destructive) as December in the gardens and cornfields; 265
  • صحبتی باشد چو شمشیر قطوع ** همچو دی در بوستان و در زروع

  • There is a friendship like the season of spring, whence (come) restorations and produce incalculable.
  • صحبتی باشد چو فصل نوبهار ** زو عمارتها و دخل بی‌شمار

  • Prudence is this, that you think evil, so that you may flee and become quit of evil.
  • حزم آن باشد که ظن بد بری ** تا گریزی و شوی از بد بری

  • The Prophet has said, “Prudence is (consists in) thinking evil”: know that for every footstep there is a snare, O fool!
  • حزم س الظن گفتست آن رسول ** هر قدم را دام می‌دان ای فضول

  • The surface of the plateau is level and broad, (but at) every step there is a snare: do not advance boldly.
  • روی صحرا هست هموار و فراخ ** هر قدم دامیست کم ران اوستاخ

  • The mountain-goat runs on, saying, “Where is the snare?” As it speeds onward, the snare lights on its throat. 270
  • آن بز کوهی دود که دام کو ** چون بتازد دامش افتد در گلو

  • O thou who saidst “Where?” look and see! Thou sawest the plain, (but) thou didst not see the ambush.
  • آنک می‌گفتی که کو اینک ببین ** دشت می‌دیدی نمی‌دیدی کمین

  • Without ambush and snare and hunter, O cunning one, how should there be a sheep's tail (laid in a trap) amidst the cornfield?
  • بی کمین و دام و صیاد ای عیار ** دنبه کی باشد میان کشت‌زار

  • They that came along boldly on the earth—see their bones and skulls!
  • آنک گستاخ آمدند اندر زمین ** استخوان و کله‌هاشان را ببین

  • When you go to the graveyard, O you with whom God is pleased, ask their bones concerning that which is past,
  • چون به گورستان روی ای مرتضا ** استخوانشان را بپرس از ما مضی

  • That you may see clearly how those blind intoxicated men went down into the pit of delusion. 275
  • تا بظاهر بینی آن مستان کور ** چون فرو رفتند در چاه غرور

  • If you have eyes, do not walk blindly; and if you have not eyes, take a staff in your hand.
  • چشم اگر داری تو کورانه میا ** ور نداری چشم دست آور عصا

  • When you have not the staff of prudence and judgement, make the (seer's) eye your leader;
  • آن عصای حزم و استدلال را ** چون نداری دید می‌کن پیشوا

  • And if there is no staff of prudence and judgement, do not stand on every road without a guide.
  • ور عصای حزم و استدلال نیست ** بی عصاکش بر سر هر ره مه‌ایست

  • Step in the same fashion as a blind man steps, in order that your foot may escape from the pit and the dog.
  • گام زان سان نه که نابینا نهد ** تا که پا از چاه و از سگ وا رهد

  • He (the blind man) plants his foot tremblingly and with fear and precaution, so that he may not fall into derangement. 280
  • لرز لرزان و بترس و احتیاط ** می‌نهد پا تا نیفتد در خباط

  • O you who have jumped away from some smoke and fallen into a fire, you who have sought a mouthful (of food) and become a mouthful for a snake,
  • ای ز دودی جسته در ناری شده ** لقمه جسته لقمه‌ی ماری شده

  • (Story of the people of Sabá and how prosperity made them forward.)
  • قصه‌ی اهل سبا و طاغی کردن نعمت ایشان را و در رسیدن شومی طغیان و کفران در ایشان و بیان فضیلت شکر و وفا

  • You have not read the story of the people of Sabá, or you have read it and seen (heard) naught but the echo.
  • تو نخواندی قصه‌ی اهل سبا ** یا بخواندی و ندیدی جز صدا

  • The mountain itself (which produces the echo) is not aware of the echo: the mind of the mountain hath no way (of access) to the meaning.
  • از صدا آن کوه خود آگاه نیست ** سوی معنی هوش که را راه نیست

  • Without ear and mind, it goes on making a noise; when you are silent, it also becomes silent.
  • او همی بانگی کند بی گوش و هوش ** چون خمش کردی تو او هم شد خموش

  • God bestowed on the people of Sabá much ease—myriads of castles and palaces and orchards. 285
  • داد حق اهل سبا را بس فراغ ** صد هزاران قصر و ایوانها و باغ

  • (But) those bad-natured ones rendered no thanks for that (bounty): in fidelity they were less than dogs.
  • شکر آن نگزاردند آن بد رگان ** در وفا بودند کمتر از سگان

  • When to a dog there comes from the door a piece of bread, he will gird up his loins at the door.
  • مر سگی را لقمه‌ی نانی ز در ** چون رسد بر در همی‌بندد کمر

  • He will become the watcher and guardian of the door, even though violence and hard treatment befall him.
  • پاسبان و حارس در می‌شود ** گرچه بر وی جور و سختی می‌رود

  • Still will he stay and abide at that door: he will deem it ingratitude to prefer another.
  • هم بر آن در باشدش باش و قرار ** کفر دارد کرد غیری اختیار

  • And (again), if a strange dog come by day or night (to a quarter of the town), the dogs there will at once teach him a lesson, 290
  • ور سگی آید غریبی روز و شب ** آن سگانش می‌کنند آن دم ادب

  • Saying, “Begone to the place that is thy first lodging: obligation for that kindness is the heart's pledge (which it must redeem).”
  • که برو آنجا که اول منزلست ** حق آن نعمت گروگان دلست

  • They will bite him, saying, “Begone to thy place, do not any more leave (unpaid) the obligation for that kindness.”
  • می‌گزندش که برو بر جای خویش ** حق آن نعمت فرو مگذار بیش

  • From the door of the spirit and spiritual men how long didst thou drink the water of life, and thine eyes were opened!
  • از در دل و اهل دل آب حیات ** چند نوشیدی و وا شد چشمهات

  • Much food from the door of the spiritual, (in the form) of (mystical) intoxication and ecstasy and selflessness, didst thou cast upon thy soul.
  • بس غذای سکر و وجد و بی‌خودی ** از در اهل دلان بر جان زدی

  • Afterwards, through greed, thou didst abandon that door, and (now), through greed, thou art going round about every shop. 295
  • باز این در را رها کردی ز حرص ** گرد هر دکان همی‌گردی ز حرص

  • For the sake of worthless tharíd thou art running to the doors of those (worldly) patrons whose pots are (full of) fat.
  • بر در آن منعمان چرب‌دیگ ** می‌دوی بهر ثرید مردریگ