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
Know that here (where the saints abide) the (meaning of) “fat” is that the soul becomes fat (flourishing), and (know that) here the plight of the desperate is made good.
چربش اینجا دان که جان فربه شود ** کار نااومید اینجا به شود
How the smitten would assemble every morning at the door of the (monastic) cell of Jesus, on whom be peace, craving to be healed through his prayer.
جمع آمدن اهل آفت هر صباحی بر در صومعه‌ی عیسی علیه السلام جهت طلب شفا به دعای او
The table of the spiritual is (like) the cell of Jesus: O afflicted one, beware, beware! Do not forsake this door!
صومعه‌ی عیسیست خوان اهل دل ** هان و هان ای مبتلا این در مهل
From all sides the people would gather—blind and lame and palsied and clothed in rags—
جمع گشتندی ز هر اطراف خلق ** از ضریر و لنگ و شل و اهل دلق
At the door of the cell of Jesus in the morning, that he by his breath might deliver them from tribulation.300
بر در آن صومعه‌ی عیسی صباح ** تا بدم اوشان رهاند از جناح
As soon as he finished his litanies, that man of goodly religion (Jesus) would go forth at morning tide,
او چو فارغ گشتی از اوراد خویش ** چاشتگه بیرون شدی آن خوب‌کیش
And would see troops of afflicted feeble folk seated at the door in hope and expectancy.
جوق جوقی مبتلا دیدی نزار ** شسته بر در در امید و انتظار
(Then) he would say, “O ye that are smitten, the wants of all you here present have been granted by God.
گفتی ای اصحاب آفت از خدا ** حاجت این جملگانتان شد روا
Hark, set off and go without pain or trouble towards the forgiveness and kindness of God.”
هین روان گردید بی رنج و عنا ** سوی غفاری و اکرام خدا
All, like tethered camels whose knees you unbind with foresight,305
جملگان چون اشتران بسته‌پای ** که گشایی زانوی ایشان برای
At his prayer would begin to run on their feet, hastening gladly and joyously to their homes.
خوش دوان و شادمانه سوی خان ** از دعای او شدندی پا دوان
(So too) thou hast experienced many maladies in thyself, and hast gained health from these kings of religion (the saints).
How oft hath thy limping been turned into a smooth (easy) gait, how oft hath thy soul been made void of grief and pain!
چند آن لنگی تو رهوار شد ** چند جانت بی غم و آزار شد
O heedless one, tie a string to thy foot, that thou mayst not become lost to (unconscious of) thyself even, O sluggard!
ای مغفل رشته‌ای بر پای بند ** تا ز خود هم گم نگردی ای لوند
Thy ingratitude and forgetfulness did not call to mind thy (former) drinking of honey.310
ناسپاسی و فراموشی تو ** یاد ناورد آن عسل‌نوشی تو
Necessarily, that way (by which spiritual blessings were conveyed) became barred to thee, since the hearts of the “men of heart” were made sore by thee.
لاجرم آن راه بر تو بسته شد ** چون دل اهل دل از تو خسته شد
Quickly overtake them and ask pardon of God; weep lamentably like a cloud,
زودشان در یاب و استغفار کن ** همچو ابری گریه‌های زار کن
In order that their rose-garden may open its blossoms to thee, and that the ripe fruits may burst and reveal themselves.
تا گلستانشان سوی تو بشکفد ** میوه‌های پخته بر خود وا کفد
Pace round that same door: do not be less than a dog, if thou hast become (associated as) a fellow-servant with the dog of the Cave,
هم بر آن در گرد کم از سگ مباش ** با سگ کهف ار شدستی خواجه‌تاش
Because even dogs admonish dogs, saying, “Fix thy heart on thy first home,315
چون سگان هم مر سگان را ناصح‌اند ** که دل اندر خانه‌ی اول ببند
Hold fast to the first door where thou didst eat bones, and fulfil thy obligation: do not leave that (debt unpaid).”
آن در اول که خوردی استخوان ** سخت گیر و حق گزار آن را ممان
They keep biting him (the strange dog), that from a sense of duty he may go thither and be prospered by his first abode.
می‌گزندش تا ز ادب آنجا رود ** وز مقام اولین مفلح شود
They bite him, saying, “O naughty dog, begone! Do not become an enemy to thy benefactor.
می‌گزندش کای سگ طاغی برو ** با ولی نعمتت یاغی مشو
Be attached, like the door-ring, to that same door; keep watch and be nimble and ready to spring.
بر همان در همچو حلقه بسته باش ** پاسبان و چابک و برجسته باش
Do not be the type of our breaking faith, do not recklessly make (our) disloyalty notorious.320
صورت نقض وفای ما مباش ** بی‌وفایی را مکن بیهوده فاش
Since fidelity is the badge by which the dogs are known, begone and do not bring opprobrium and ill-fame upon the dogs.”
مر سگان را چون وفا آمد شعار ** رو سگان را ننگ و بدنامی میار
Inasmuch as unfaithfulness has (always) been a disgrace (even) to dogs, how shouldst thou deem it right to show unfaithfulness?
بی‌وفایی چون سگان را عار بود ** بی‌وفایی چون روا داری نمود
The high God hath boasted of faithfulness: He hath said, “Who but I am most faithful in keeping a promise?”
حق تعالی فخر آورد از وفا ** گفت من اوفی بعهد غیرنا
Know that faithfulness (to others when it is accompanied) with rejection of God is unfaithfulness: no one hath precedence over (hath a prior claim to) God's rights.
بی‌وفایی دان وفا با رد حق ** بر حقوق حق ندارد کس سبق
Thy mother's right (only) arose after that Bounteous One had made her indebted (to Him) for thy embryo.325
حق مادر بعد از آن شد کان کریم ** کرد او را از جنین تو غریم
He bestowed on thee a form within her body, He gave ease to her during pregnancy and accustomed her (to the burden).
صورتی کردت درون جسم او ** داد در حملش ورا آرام و خو
She deemed thee as a part joined (to herself); His providence separated (from her) that which was joined.
همچو جزو متصل دید او ترا ** متصل را کرد تدبیرش جدا
God hath prepared thousands of artifices and contrivances, so that thy mother hath thrown (her) love upon thee.
حق هزاران صنعت و فن ساختست ** تا که مادر بر تو مهر انداختست
Therefore God's right is prior to (that of) the mother: whoever does not recognise that right is an ass.
پس حق حق سابق از مادر بود ** هر که آن حق را نداند خر بود
(If thou deny it), do not even admit that He created mother, teat, and milk, and united her with the father!330
آنک مادر آفرید و ضرع و شیر ** با پدر کردش قرین آن خود مگیر
O Lord, O Thou whose beneficence is eternal, Thine is both that which I know and that which I know not.
ای خداوند ای قدیم احسان تو ** آنک دانم وانک نه هم آن تو
Thou didst command, saying, “Remember God, because My right shall never grow old.
تو بفرمودی که حق را یاد کن ** زانک حق من نمی‌گردد کهن
Remember the kindness which I did unto you that morn by protecting (you) in the ship (ark) of Noah.
یاد کن لطفی که کردم آن صبوح ** با شما از حفظ در کشتی نوح
At that time I gave to the stock of your fathers security from the Flood and from its waves.
پیله بابایانتان را آن زمان ** دادم از طوفان و از موجش امان