That knowing cock said to him, “His horse died in another place.
گفت او را آن خروس با خبر ** که سقط شد اسپ او جای دگر
He sold the horse and escaped from loss: he cast the loss upon others;
اسپ را بفروخت و جست او از زیان ** آن زیان انداخت او بر دیگران
But to-morrow his mule will die: that will be good fortune for the dogs, (so say) no more.”3320
لیک فردا استرش گردد سقط ** مر سگان را باشد آن نعمت فقط
The covetous man immediately sold the mule and at that instant obtained deliverance from grief and loss.
زود استر را فروشید آن حریص ** یافت از غم وز زیان آن دم محیص
On the third day the dog said to the cock, “O prince of liars with your drums and kettledrums!”
روز ثالث گفت سگ با آن خروس ** ای امیر کاذبان با طبل و کوس
He (the cock) said, “He sold the mule in haste, (but),” said he, “to-morrow his slave will be stricken down,
گفت او بفروخت استر را شتاب ** گفت فردایش غلام آید مصاب
And when his slave dies, the next of kin will scatter pieces of bread upon the dogs and beggars.”
چون غلام او بمیرد نانها ** بر سگ و خواهنده ریزند اقربا
He (the master) heard this and sold his slave: he was saved from loss and his face was lit up (with joy).3325
این شنید و آن غلامش را فروخت ** رست از خسران و رخ را بر فروخت
He was giving thanks and making merry, saying, “I have been saved from three calamities in the world.
شکرها می‌کرد و شادیها که من ** رستم از سه واقعه اندر زمن
Since I learned the language of the fowl and the dog I have pierced the eye of evil destiny.”
تا زبان مرغ و سگ آموختم ** دیده‌ی س القضا را دوختم
Next day the disappointed dog said, “O drivelling cock, where are the sundries (you promised me)?
روز دیگر آن سگ محروم گفت ** کای خروس ژاژخا کو طاق و جفت
[How the cock became abashed before the dog on account of being false in those three promises.]
خجل گشتن خروس پیش سگ به سبب دروغ شدن در آن سه وعده
How long, pray, how long (will) your falsehood and deceit (continue)? Truly, nothing but falsehood flies out of your nest.”
چند چند آخر دروغ و مکر تو ** خود نپرد جز دروغ از وکر تو
He said, “Far be it from me and from my kind that we should become afflicted with falsehood.3330
گفت حاشا از من و از جنس من ** که بگردیم از دروغی ممتحن
We cocks are veracious like the muezzin: we are observers of the sun as well as seekers of the (right) time.
ما خروسان چون مذن راست‌گوی ** هم رقیب آفتاب و وقت‌جوی
We are watchers of the sun inwardly, though you may turn a basin upside down over us.”
پاسبان آفتابیم از درون ** گر کنی بالای ما طشتی نگون
The watchers of the Sun (of Reality) are the saints: in the flesh (they are) acquainted with the Divine mysteries.
پاسبان آفتابند اولیا ** در بشر واقف ز اسرار خدا
“God gave our family as a gift to Man to call (him) to the ritual prayer (and) in preparation (for that purpose).
اصل ما را حق پی بانگ نماز ** داد هدیه آدمی را در جهاز
If a mistake be committed by us in (giving) the call to prayer at the wrong time, it will become the cause of our being killed.3335
گر بناهنگام سهوی‌مان رود ** در اذان آن مقتل ما می‌شود
To say at the wrong time ‘Come to welfare’ will make our blood of no account and licit (liable to be shed with impunity).”
گفت ناهنگام حی عل فلاح ** خون ما را می‌کند خوار و مباح
’Tis only the (spiritual) cock, the Soul of (Divine) inspiration, that is protected (by God from sin) and purged of error.
آنک معصوم آمد و پاک از غلط ** آن خروس جان وحی آمد فقط
His (the master's) slave died in the house of the purchaser: that was the purchaser's loss entirely.
آن غلامش مرد پیش مشتری ** شد زیان مشتری آن یکسری
He saved his money, but he shed his own blood. Understand (this) well!
او گریزانید مالش را ولیک ** خون خود را ریخت اندر یاب نیک
One loss would have prevented (many) losses: our bodies and money are the ransom for our souls.3340
یک زیان دفع زیانها می‌شدی ** جسم و مال ماست جانها را فدا
In the presence of kings, in (the hour of their) dispensing punishment, you offer money and purchase your head (life):
پیش شاهان در سیاست‌گستری ** می‌دهی تو مال و سر را می‌خری
How (then) have you become, in (the case of Divine) destiny, (like) a churl— withholding your money from the (Supreme) Judge?
اعجمی چون گشته‌ای اندر قضا ** می‌گریزانی ز داور مال را
How the cock foretold the death of the Khwája.
خبر کردن خروس از مرگ خواجه
“But to-morrow he will certainly die: his heir, in mourning (for him), will slaughter a cow.
لیک فردا خواهد او مردن یقین ** گاو خواهد کشت وارث در حنین
The owner of the house will die (and) depart (from this world): lo, to-morrow a great deal of food will reach you.
صاحب خانه بخواهد مرد رفت ** روز فردا نک رسیدت لوت زفت
High and low will get pieces of bread and dainty morsels and viands in the midst of the street.3345
پاره‌های نان و لالنگ و طعام ** در میان کوی یابد خاص و عام
(The flesh of) the sacrificed cow and thin loaves of bread will be scattered quickly over the dogs and the beggars.”
گاو قربانی و نانهای تنک ** بر سگان و سایلان ریزد سبک
The death of the horse and mule and the death of the slave were bringing round the doom of this foolish deluded man.
مرگ اسپ و استر و مرگ غلام ** بد قضا گردان این مغرور خام
He fled (escaped) from the loss of wealth and from grief thereat: he increased his wealth and shed his own blood.
از زیان مال و درد آن گریخت ** مال افزون کرد و خون خویش ریخت
These austerities of dervishes—what are they for? (The reason is) that that tribulation (imposed) on the body is (in effect) the everlasting life of spirits.
این ریاضتهای درویشان چراست ** کان بلا بر تن بقای جانهاست
Unless a (mystic) traveller gains the everlasting life of his (spiritual) self, how should he make his body a sick and perishing (thing)?3350
تا بقای خود نیابد سالکی ** چون کند تن را سقیم و هالکی
How should he move his hand to (acts of) altruism and (devotional) work unless he sees (the salvation of) his soul in exchange for what is given (by him)?
دست کی جنبد به ایثار و عمل ** تا نبیند داده را جانش بدل
That one who gives without expectation of (any) gains—that one is God, is God, is God,
آنک بدهد بی امید سودها ** آن خدایست آن خدایست آن خدا
Or the friend of God (the saint), who has assumed the nature of God and has become luminous and has received the Absolute Radiance;
یا ولی حق که خوی حق گرفت ** نور گشت و تابش مطلق گرفت
For He is rich, while all except Him are poor: how should a poor man say “Take” without compensation?
کو غنی است و جز او جمله فقیر ** کی فقیری بی عوض گوید که گیر
Till a child sees that the apple is there, it will not give up from its hand the stinking onion.3355
تا نبیند کودکی که سیب هست ** او پیاز گنده را ندهد ز دست
All these market-folk, for the sake of this (worldly) object, are seated on the benches (in the shops) in the hope of (receiving) compensation:
این همه بازار بهر این غرض ** بر دکانها شسته بر بوی عوض
They offer a hundred fine articles of merchandise, and within their hearts they are intent on compensations.
صد متاع خوب عرضه می‌کنند ** واندرون دل عوضها می‌تنند
O man of the (true) Religion, you will not hear a single salaam (blessing) whereof the end will not pluck your sleeve (and demand something of you).
یک سلامی نشنوی ای مرد دین ** که نگیرد آخرت آن آستین