It will escape from you also: set not your heart upon it. Do you yourself escape from it before it escapes (from you).
از تو هم بجهد تو دل بر وی منه ** پیش از آن کو بجهد از وی تو بجه
The appearance of the Holy Spirit (Gabriel) in the shape of a man to Mary when she was undressed and washing herself, and how she took refuge with God.
پیدا شدن روح القدس بصورت آدمی بر مریم بوقت برهنگی و غسل کردن و پناه گرفتن بحق تعالی
Before the slipping away of your possessions, say to the form (of created things), like Mary, “(I take) refuge from thee with the Merciful (God).”3700
همچو مریم گوی پیش از فوت ملک ** نقش را کالعوذ بالرحمن منک
Mary in her chamber saw a form that gave increase of life— a life-increasing, heart-ravishing one.
دید مریم صورتی بس جان‌فزا ** جان‌فزایی دلربایی در خلا
That trusted Spirit rose up before her from the face of the earth, like the moon and the sun.
پیش او بر رست از روی زمین ** چون مه وخورشید آن روح الامین
Beauty unveiled rose up from the earth (in) such (splendour) as the sun rises from the East.
از زمین بر رست خوبی بی‌نقاب ** آنچنان کز شرق روید آفتاب
A trembling came over Mary's limbs, for she was undressed and was afraid of evil.
لرزه بر اعضای مریم اوفتاد ** کو برهنه بود و ترسید از فساد
(’Twas) such a form that if Joseph had beheld it plainly, he would have cut his hand in amazement, like the (Egyptian) women.3705
صورتی که یوسف ار دیدی عیان ** دست از حیرت بریدی چو زنان
It blossomed from the earth like a rose before her—like a phantasy which lifts its head from the heart.
همچو گل پیشش برویید آن ز گل ** چون خیالی که بر آرد سر ز دل
Mary became selfless (beside herself), and in her selflessness she said, “I will leap into the Divine protection,”
گشت بی‌خود مریم و در بی‌خودی ** گفت بجهم در پناه ایزدی
Because that pure-bosomed one had made a habit of betaking herself in flight to the Unseen.
زانک عادت کرده بود آن پاک‌جیب ** در هزیمت رخت بردن سوی غیب
Since she deemed the world a kingdom without permanence, she prudently made a fortress of that (Divine) Presence,
چون جهان را دید ملکی بی‌قرار ** حازمانه ساخت زان حضرت حصار
In order that in the hour of death she should have a stronghold which the Enemy would find no way to attack.3710
تا به گاه مرگ حصنی باشدش ** که نیابد خصم راه مقصدش
She saw no better fortress than the protection of God: she chose her abiding-place near to that castle.
از پناه حق حصاری به ندید ** یورتگه نزدیک آن دز برگزید
When she beheld those amorous reason-destroying glances whereby hearts were ever being pierced (as) by arrows—
چون بدید آن غمزه‌های عقل‌سوز ** که ازو می‌شد جگرها تیردوز
King and army are enthralled by Him, the sovereigns of wit (intelligence) are made witless by Him;
شاه و لشکر حلقه در گوشش شده ** خسروان هوش بیهوشش شده
Hundreds of thousands of kings are held in servitude by Him; hundreds of thousands of full-moons He hath given over to (love's) wasting fever;
صد هزاران شاه مملوکش برق ** صد هزاران بدر را داده به دق
Zuhra hath not the courage to breathe (a word); Universal Reason, when it sees Him, humbles itself.3715
زهره نی مر زهره را تا دم زند ** عقل کلش چون ببیند کم زند
What shall I say? for He has sealed my lips: His furnace has consumed the place (channel) of my breath.
من چگویم که مرا در دوخته‌ست ** دمگهم را دمگه او سوخته‌ست
“I am the smoke of that fire, I am the evidence for it”—far from that King be their false interpretation!
دود آن نارم دلیلم من برو ** دور از آن شه باطل ما عبروا
Verily, there is no evidence for a sun except the light of the lofty sun.
خود نباشد آفتابی را دلیل ** جز که نور آفتاب مستطیل
Who (what) is the shadow that it should be an evidence for Him? ’Tis enough for it that it should be abased before Him.
سایه کی بود تا دلیل او بود ** این بستش کع ذلیل او بود
This majesty (which I have attributed to Him) in (the matter of) evidence declares the truth: all perceptions are behind (Him), He is outstripping (them).3720
این جلالت در دلالت صادقست ** جمله ادراکات پس او سابقست
All perceptions are (mounted) on lame asses; He is mounted on the wind that flies like an arrow.
جمله ادراکات بر خرهای لنگ ** او سوار باد پران چون خدنگ
If He flee, none (of them) finds the dust of the King; and if they flee, He bars the way in front (of them).
گر گریزد کس نیابد گرد شه ** ور گریزند او بگیرد پیش ره
All the perceptions are unquiet: it is the time for battle, not the time for the (festal) cup.
جمله ادراکات را آرام نی ** وقت میدانست وقت جام نی
One perceptive faculty is flying like a falcon, while another, (swift) as an arrow, is tearing its place of passage;
آن یکی وهمی چو بازی می‌پرد ** وآن دگر چون تیر معبر می‌درد
And another is like a ship with sails, and another is turning back every moment.3725
وان دگر چون کشتی با بادبان ** وآن دگر اندر تراجع هر زمان
When an object of chase appears to them from afar, all those birds (the perceptions) increase (the speed of) their onset.
چون شکاری می‌نمایدشان ز دور ** جمله حمله می‌فزایند آن طیور
When it vanishes from sight, they become lost: like owls, they go to every wilderness,
چونک ناپیدا شود حیران شوند ** همچو جغدان سوی هر ویران شوند
Waiting, with one eye closed and one eye open, that the delectable prey may appear.
منتظر چشمی به هم یک چشم باز ** تا که پیدا گردد آن صید به ناز
When it tarries long, they say (from weariness), “We wonder whether it was a (real) prey or a phantom.”
چون بماند دیر گویند از ملال ** صید بود آن خود عجب یا خود خیال
The right course is that, for a short while, they should gather come strength and vigour by (taking) a rest.3730
مصلحت آنست تا یک ساعتی ** قوتی گیرند و زور از راحتی
If there were no night, on account of cupidity all people would consume themselves by the agitation (of pursuit).
گر نبودی شب همه خلقان ز آز ** خویشتن را سوختندی ز اهتزاز
From desire and greed of amassing gain, every one would give his body to be consumed.
از هوس وز حرص سود اندوختن ** هر کسی دادی بدن را سوختن
Night appears, like a treasure of mercy, that they may be delivered from their greed for a short while.
شب پدید آید چو گنج رحمتی ** تا رهند ازحرص خود یکساعتی
When a feeling of (spiritual) contraction comes over you, O traveller, ’tis (for) your good: do not become afire (with grief) in your heart,
چونک قبضی آیدت ای راه‌رو ** آن صلاح تست آتش دل مشو
For in that (contrary state of) expansion and delight you are spending: the expenditure (of enthusiasm) requires an income of (painful) preparation (to balance it).3735
زآنک در خرجی در آن بسط و گشاد ** خرج را دخلی بباید زاعتداد
If it were always the season of summer, the blazing heat of the sun would penetrate the garden
گر هماره فصل تابستان بدی ** سوزش خورشید در بستان شدی
And burn up from root and bottom the soil whence its plants grow, so that the old (withered) ones would never again become fresh.
منبتش را سوختی از بیخ و بن ** که دگر تازه نگشتی آن کهن
If December is sour-faced, (yet) it is kind; summer is laughing, but (none the less) it is burning (destroying).
گر ترش‌رویست آن دی مشفق است ** صیف خندانست اما محرقست
When (spiritual) contraction comes, behold expansion therein: be fresh (cheerful) and do not let wrinkles fall on your brow.
چونک قبض آید تو در وی بسط بین ** تازه باش و چین میفکن در جبین
Children are laughing, and sages are sour: sorrow appertains to the liver, and joy arises from the lungs.3740
کودکان خندان و دانایان ترش ** غم جگر را باشد و شادی ز شش
The eye of the child, like (that of) the ass, is (fixed) on the stall; the eye of the wise man is (engaged) in reckoning the end.
چشم کودک همچو خر در آخرست ** چشم عاقل در حساب آخرست
He (the child) sees the rich fodder in the stall, while this (wise man) sees his ultimate end to be death by (the hand of) the Butcher.
او در آخر چرب می‌بیند علف ** وین ز قصاب آخرش بیند تلف
That fodder is bitter (in the end), for this Butcher gave it: He set up a pair of scales for our flesh.
آن علف تلخست کین قصاب داد ** بهر لحم ما ترازویی نهاد
Go, eat the fodder of wisdom which God hath given (us) disinterestedly from pure bounty.
رو ز حکمت خور علف کان را خدا ** بی غرض دادست از محض عطا
O slave (to your lusts), you have understood bread, not wisdom, (to be meant) in that (text) which God hath spoken unto you—Eat ye of His provision.3745
فهم نان کردی نه حکمت ای رهی ** زانچ حق گفتت کلوا من رزقه
God's provision in the (present) stage (of your existence) is wisdom that will not choke you at the last (in the world hereafter).
رزق حق حکمت بود در مرتبت ** کان گلوگیرت نباشد عاقبت
(If) you have closed this (bodily) mouth, another mouth is opened, which becomes an eater of the morsels of (spiritual) mysteries.
این دهان بستی دهانی باز شد ** کو خورنده‌ی لقمه‌های راز شد
If you cut off your body from the Devil's milk, by (thus) weaning it you will enjoy much felicity.
گر ز شیر دیو تن را وابری ** در فطام اوبسی نعمت خوردی