Thou knowest what is the value of every article of merchandise; (if) thou knowest not the value of thyself, ’tis folly.
قیمت هر کاله می‌دانی که چیست ** قیمت خود را ندانی احمقیست
Thou hast become acquainted with the fortunate and inauspicious stars; thou dost not look to see whether thou art fortunate or unwashed (spiritually foul and ill-favoured).
سعدها و نحسها دانسته‌ای ** ننگری سعدی تو یا ناشسته‌ای
This, this, is the soul of all the sciences—that thou shouldst know who thou shalt be on the Day of Judgement.
جان جمله علمها اینست این ** که بدانی من کیم در یوم دین
Thou art acquainted with the fundamentals (usúl) of the (Mohammedan) Religion, but look upon thine own fundamental (asl) and see whether it is good.2655
آن اصول دین بدانستی ولیک ** بنگر اندر اصل خود گر هست نیک
Thine own fundamentals are better for thee than the two fundamentals (of the Mohammedan Religion), so that thou mayst know thine own fundamental (essential nature), O great man.
از اصولینت اصول خویش به ** که بدانی اصل خود ای مرد مه
Description of the luxuriance of the city of the Sabaeans and their ingratitude.
صفت خرمی شهر اهل سبا و ناشکری ایشان
Their fundamental (nature) was bad: those inhabitants of Sabá were recoiling from the means (which lead) to meeting (with God);
اصلشان بد بود آن اهل سبا ** می‌رمیدندی ز اسباب لقا
(Yet) He gave them so many estates and orchards and meadowlands, on the left hand and the right, for (their) leisure (pastime and diversion).
دادشان چندان ضیاع و باغ و راغ ** از چپ و از راست از بهر فراغ
Inasmuch as the fruit was falling (to the ground) from abundance, there was no room for any one to pass on the road,
بس که می‌افتاد از پری ثمار ** تنگ می‌شد معبر ره بر گذار
(For) the scattered largesse of fruit would block the way: the wayfarer (would be) in amazement at the plenty of the fruit.2660
آن نثار میوه ره را می‌گرفت ** از پری میوه ره‌رو در شگفت
In their groves, through the dropping of the fruit, a basket on the head would be filled involuntarily.
سله بر سر در درختستانشان ** پر شدی ناخواست از میوه‌فشان
The breeze would scatter the fruit, not (the hand of) any one: by that fruit a multitude of skirts would be filled.
باد آن میوه فشاندی نه کسی ** پر شدی زان میوه دامنها بسی
Huge clusters, having come low down, would strike against the head and face of the wayfarer.
خوشه‌های زفت تا زیر آمده ** بر سر و روی رونده می‌زده
On account of the plenty of gold a bath-stoker might have tied a golden belt on his waist.
مرد گلخن‌تاب از پری زر ** بسته بودی در میان زرین کمر
The dogs would trample buns underfoot; the desert wolf would have indigestion from the (rich) food.2665
سگ کلیچه کوفتی در زیر پا ** تخمه بودی گرگ صحرا از نوا
Town and village had become safe from robbers and wolves; the goat was not afraid even of the fierce wolf.
گشته آمن شهر و ده از دزد و گرگ ** بز نترسیدی هم از گرگ سترگ
If I explain (all) the blessings bestowed upon the people (of Sabá), which were increasing day by day,
گر بگویم شرح نعمتهای قوم ** که زیادت می‌شد آن یوما بیوم
It will hinder (me) from (speaking of) important matters. The prophets brought (to the Sabaeans) the (Divine) command, namely, “Do thou, therefore, be righteous.”
مانع آید از سخنهای مهم ** انبیا بردند امر فاستقم
How the prophets came from God to admonish the people of Sabá.
آمدن پیغامبران حق به نصیحت اهل سبا
Thirteen prophets came thither: all (of them) were ready to guide those who had lost the way,
سیزده پیغامبر آنجا آمدند ** گم‌رهان را جمله رهبر می‌شدند
Saying, “Come, the benefit has increased: where is the thanksgiving? If the steed of thanksgiving lie down, set (it) in motion.2670
که هله نعمت فزون شد شکر کو ** مرکب شکر ار بخسپد حرکوا
In (the view of) reason it is necessary to give thanks to the Benefactor; otherwise, the door of everlasting wrath will be opened.
شکر منعم واجب آید در خرد ** ورنه بگشاید در خشم ابد
Hark, behold the loving kindness (of God)! And in sooth would any one (but God) do this—namely, be content with a single thanksgiving for such benefits?
هین کرم بینید وین خود کس کند ** کز چنین نعمت به شکری بس کند
He bestows a head and asks as thanksgiving (only) one act of bowing; He bestows feet and asks as thanksgiving (only) one act of sitting (in piety and devotion).”
سر ببخشد شکر خواهد سجده‌ای ** پا ببخشد شکر خواهد قعده‌ای
The people said, “The ghoul has carried off our thanksgiving: we have become weary of giving thanks and receiving benefits.
قوم گفته شکر ما را برد غول ** ما شدیم از شکر و از نعمت ملول
We have become so disgusted with the bounty that neither piety nor sin pleases us.2675
ما چنان پژمرده گشتیم ازعطا ** که نه طاعتمان خوش آید نه خطا
We do not desire benefits and orchards: we do not desire means (of enjoyment) and leisure.”
ما نمی‌خواهیم نعمتها و باغ ** ما نمی‌خواهیم اسباب و فراغ
The prophets said, “In your hearts is a malady whence there is (produced) a canker in the acknowledgment of obligations,
انبیا گفتند در دل علتیست ** که از آن در حق‌شناسی آفتیست
And whereby the benefit is wholly turned into disease: how should food become (a source of) strength in the sick?
نعمت از وی جملگی علت شود ** طعمه در بیمار کی قوت شود
How many a sweet thing came to thee, O persistent (in sin), and they all grew unsweet, and their pure (quality) became turbid!
چند خوش پیش تو آمد ای مصر ** جمله ناخوش گشت و صاف او کدر
Thou didst become a foe to these sweetnesses: on whatsoever thing thou didst lay thy hand, it became unsweet.2680
تو عدو این خوشیها آمدی ** گشت ناخوش هر چه بر وی کف زدی
Whosoever became (in reality) thy familiar and friend became despicable and vile in thy sight;
هر که اوشد آشنا و یار تو ** شد حقیر و خوار در دیدار تو
And every one, too, that (in reality) would be alien to thee is, in thy opinion, very grand and venerable.
هر که او بیگانه باشد با تو هم ** پیش تو او بس مه‌است و محترم
This (false opinion) also is from the effect produced by that sickness: its poison pervades all associated (with it).
این هم از تاثیر آن بیماریست ** زهر او در جمله جفتان ساریست
It behoves (thee) quickly to remove that malady, for with that (disease) sugar will seem filth;
دفع آن علت بباید کرد زود ** که شکر با آن حدث خواهد نمود
Every sweet thing that comes to thee grows unsweet: if the Water of Life arrive, it turns into fire.2685
هر خوشی کاید به تو ناخوش شود ** آب حیوان گر رسد آتش شود
That (morbid) quality is the elixir of death and woe: thereby thy (spiritual) life is at last turned into death.
کیمیای مرگ و جسکست آن صفت ** مرگ گردد زان حیاتت عاقبت
There was many a food by which thy heart (spirit) was revived: when it entered thy body, it became stinking.
بس غدایی که ز وی دل زنده شد ** چون بیامد در تن تو گنده شد
There is many a dear one that was hunted (by thee) with blandishments: when he became thy prey, he became cheap in thine eyes.
بس عزیزی که بناز اشکار شد ** چون شکارت شد بر تو خوار شد
When from sincerity the friendship of intellect with intellect arises, every moment the devotion is increased;
آشنایی عقل با عقل از صفا ** چون شود هر دم فزون باشد ولا
(But) know for sure, the friendship of the carnal soul with any base carnal soul is momently diminished,2690
آشنایی نفس با هر نفس پست ** تو یقین می‌دان که دم دم کمترست
Because his carnal soul hovers round disease and soon corrupts the (friendly) acquaintance.
زانک نفسش گرد علت می‌تند ** معرفت را زود فاسد می‌کند
If thou dost not wish thy friend to be averse (to thee) on the morrow, take (choose) friendship with the intelligent and with the intellect.
گر نخواهی دوست را فردا نفیر ** دوستی با عاقل و با عقل گیر
Inasmuch as thou art sick from the simoom of the carnal soul, whatever thou mayst take thou art the instrument for (infecting it with) disease.
از سموم نفس چون با علتی ** هر چه گیری تو مرض را آلتی
If thou take a jewel, it becomes a (common) stone; and if thou take kindness of heart, it becomes a hatred;
گر بگیری گوهری سنگی شود ** ور بگیری مهر دل جنگی شود
And if thou take a fine original saying, after thy apprehension (of it) it has become tasteless and gross—2695
ور بگیری نکته‌ی بکری لطیف ** بعد درکت گشت بی‌ذوق و کثیف
‘I have heard this many a time; it has become old: tell something else besides this, O trusty friend.’
که من این را بس شنیدم کهنه شد ** چیز دیگر گو بجز آن ای عضد
Suppose that something else fresh and new has been said, again to-morrow thou art surfeited with it and averse.
چیز دیگر تازه و نو گفته گیر ** باز فردا زان شوی سیر و نفیر
Remove the disease: when the disease is eradicated, every old tale will become new to thee,
دفع علت کن چو علت خو شود ** هرحدیثی کهنه پیشت نو شود
So that it will bring forth new leaves from the old (bough): the old (tale) will cause a hundred clusters to blossom from the ditch.
تا که از کهنه برآرد برگ نو ** بشکفاند کهنه صد خوشه ز گو
We are the (spiritual) physicians, the disciples of God: the Red Sea beheld us and was cloven.2700
ما طبیبانیم شاگردان حق ** بحر قلزم دید ما را فانفلق
Those natural physicians are different, for they look into the heart by means of a pulse.
آن طبیبان طبیعت دیگرند ** که به دل از راه نبضی بنگرند