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
We look well into the heart without intermediary, for through clairvoyance we are in a high belvedere.
ما به دل بی واسطه خوش بنگریم ** کز فراست ما به عالی منظریم
Those (others) are physicians of food and fruit: by them the animal soul is (made) strong.
آن طبیبان غذااند و ثمار ** جان حیوانی بدیشان استوار
We are physicians of deeds and words: the ray of the light of (Divine) Majesty is our inspirer,
ما طبیبان فعالیم و مقال ** ملهم ما پرتو نور جلال
(So that we know) that a deed like this will be beneficial to thee, while a deed like that will cut (thee) off from the Way;2705
کین چنین فعلی ترا نافع بود ** و آنچنان فعلی ز ره قاطع بود
And that words like these will lead thee on (to grace), while words like those will bring anguish to thee.
اینچنین قولی ترا پیش آورد ** و آنچنان قولی ترا نیش آورد
To those (other) physicians a (sample of) urine is evidence, whereas this evidence of ours is the inspiration of the Almighty.
آن طبیبان را بود بولی دلیل ** وین دلیل ما بود وحی جلیل
We do not desire a fee from any one: our fee comes many a time from God.
دستمزدی می نخواهیم از کسی ** دستمزد ما رسد از حق بسی
Hark, come hither for the incurable disease! We, one by one, are a medicine for the (spiritually) sick.”
هین صلا بیماری ناسور را ** داروی ما یک بیک رنجور را
How the people (of Sabá) demanded miracles from the prophets.
معجزه خواستن قوم از پیغامبران
The people said, “O ye company of impostors, where is the evidence of (your) knowledge of medicine and (your) usefulness?2710
قوم گفتند ای گروه مدعی ** کو گواه علم طب و نافعی
Since ye are in bondage, like us, to this same sleep and food (and) are pasturing in the country—
چون شما بسته همین خواب و خورید ** همچو ما باشید در ده میچرید
Since ye are entrapped by this water and earth, how are ye hunters of the Símurgh (which is) the heart?
چون شما در دام این آب و گلید ** کی شما صیاد سیمرغ دلید
Love of power and dominion induces (a man) to reckon himself amongst the prophets.
حب جاه و سروری دارد بر آن ** که شمارد خویش از پیغامبران
We will not put in our ears such vain boasts and lies and (thereby) fall into deception.”
ما نخواهیم این چنین لاف و دروغ ** کردن اندر گوش و افتادن بدوغ
The prophets said, “This (disbelief) arises from that malady: the original blindness (of your hearts) is the screen (which hinders you) from seeing (the truth).2715