(With) bow and arrow in his hand on account of the wolf, so that he may shoot if the fierce wolf should come.
در کفش تیر و کمان از بهر گرگ ** تا زند گر آید آن گرگ سترگ
If thou wilt do that service, the place is thine; and if not, have the kindness to seek another place.”630
گر تو آن خدمت کنی جا آن تست ** ورنه جای دیگری فرمای جست
He said, “I will do a hundred services, (only) give thou the place, and put that bow and arrow in my hand.
گفت صد خدمت کنم تو جای ده ** آن کمان و تیر در کفم بنه
I will not sleep, I will guard the vines; if the wolf raise his head, I will shoot the arrow at him.
من نخسپم حارسی رز کنم ** گر بر آرد گرگ سر تیرش زنم
For God's sake do not leave me to-night, O double-hearted (hypocrite), (with) the rain-water overhead and the mud underneath!”
بهر حق مگذارم امشب ای دودل ** آب باران بر سر و در زیر گل
A nook was cleared, and he with his family went thither: (’twas) a narrow place and without room to turn.
گوشه‌ای خالی شد و او با عیال ** رفت آنجا جای تنگ و بی مجال
Mounted upon one another, like locusts, (and crowded) from terror of the flood into the corner of the cavern,635
چون ملخ بر همدگر گشته سوار ** از نهیب سیل اندر کنج غار
During the night, the whole night, they all (were) crying, “O God, this serves us right, serves us right, serves us right.”
شب همه شب جمله گویان ای خدا ** این سزای ما سزای ما سزا
This is what is deserved by him that consorted with the vile, or showed worthiness for the sake of the unworthy.
این سزای آنک شد یار خسان ** یا کسی کرداز برای ناکسان
This is what is deserved by him that in vain desire gives up paying homage to the dust of the noble.
این سزای آنک اندر طمع خام ** ترک گوید خدمت خاک کرام
That you lick the dust and the wall of the pure (elect) is better (for you) than the vulgar and their vines and rose-gardens.
خاک پاکان لیسی و دیوارشان ** بهتر از عام و رز و گلزارشان
That you become a slave to a man of enlightened heart is better (for you) than that you should walk upon the crown of the head of kings.640
بنده‌ی یک مرد روشن‌دل شوی ** به که بر فرق سر شاهان روی
From the kings of earth you will get nothing but the (empty) noise of a drum, O courier of (many) roads.
از ملوک خاک جز بانگ دهل ** تو نخواهی یافت ای پیک سبل
Even the townsmen are brigands in comparison with the Spirit. Who is the countryman? The fool that is without spiritual gifts.
شهریان خود ره‌زنان نسبت بروح ** روستایی کیست گیج و بی فتوح
This is what is deserved by him who, (when) the cry of a ghoul came to him, without rational foresight chose to move (towards the ghoul).
این سزای آنک بی تدبیر عقل ** بانگ غولی آمدش بگزید نقل
When repentance has gone from the (core of the) heart to the pericardium after that it is of no use to acknowledge (one's sin).
چون پشیمانی ز دل شد تا شغاف ** زان سپس سودی ندارد اعتراف
(With) the bow and arrow in his hand, he (was) seeking the wolf all night to and fro.645
آن کمان و تیر اندر دست او ** گرگ را جویان همه شب سو بسو
The wolf, in sooth, was given power over him, like sparks of fire: (he was) seeking the wolf (outside), and (was) unaware of the wolf (within himself).
گرگ بر وی خود مسلط چون شرر ** گرگ جویان و ز گرگ او بی‌خبر
Every gnat, every flea, had become as a wolf and inflicted a wound upon them in that ruined place.
هر پشه هر کیک چون گرگی شده ** اندر آن ویرانه‌شان زخمی زده
There was no opportunity even of driving away those gnats, because of (their) dread of an attack by the contumacious wolf,
فرصت آن پشه راندن هم نبود ** از نهیب حمله‌ی گرگ عنود
Lest the wolf should inflict some damage, (and then) the countryman would tear out the Khwája's beard.
تا نباید گرگ آسیبی زند ** روستایی ریش خواجه بر کند
In this wise (they were) gnashing their teeth till midnight: their souls were coming (up) from the navel to the lip.650
این چنین دندان‌کنان تا نیمشب ** جانشان از ناف می‌آمد به لب
Suddenly the figure of a deserted (solitary) wolf raised its head (appeared) from the top of a hillock.
ناگهان تمثال گرگ هشته‌ای ** سر بر آورد از فراز پشته‌ای
The Khwája loosed the arrow from the thumbstall and shot at the animal, so that it fell to the ground.
تیر را بگشاد آن خواجه ز شست ** زد بر آن حیوان که تا افتاد پست
In falling, wind escaped from the animal: the countryman uttered a wail and beat his hands,
اندر افتادن ز حیوان باد جست ** روستایی های کرد و کوفت دست
(Crying), “O ungenerous (wretch), it is my ass-colt!” “Nay,” said he, “this is the devilish wolf.
ناجوامردا که خرکره‌ی منست ** گفت نه این گرگ چون آهرمنست
The features of wolfishness are apparent in it; its form makes (one) acquainted with its wolfishness.”655
اندرو اشکال گرگی ظاهرست ** شکل او از گرگی او مخبرست
“Nay,” he said, “I know the wind that escaped from its arse as well as (I know) water from wine.
گفت نه بادی که جست از فرج وی ** می‌شناسم همچنانک آبی ز می
Thou hast killed my ass-colt in the meadows—mayst thou never be released from anguish!”
کشته‌ای خرکره‌ام را در ریاض ** که مبادت بسط هرگز ز انقباض
“Make a better investigation,” he replied; “it is night, and at night material objects are screened from the beholder.
Night causes many a thing to appear wrong and changed (from its proper aspect): not every one has the (power of) seeing correctly by night.
شب غلط بنماید و مبدل بسی ** دید صایب شب ندارد هر کسی
(Now there is) both night and clouds and heavy rain withal: these three darknesses produce great error.”660
هم شب و هم ابر و هم باران ژرف ** این سه تاریکی غلط آرد شگرف
He said, “To me ’tis as (manifest as) bright day: I know (it), it is the wind of my ass-colt.
گفت آن بر من چو روز روشنست ** می‌شناسم باد خرکره‌ی منست
Amongst twenty winds I know that wind as the traveller (knows) his provisions for the journey.”
در میان بیست باد آن باد را ** می‌شناسم چون مسافر زاد را
The Khwája sprang up, and losing patience he seized the countryman by his collar,
خواجه بر جست و بیامد ناشکفت ** روستایی را گریبانش گرفت
Crying, “O fool and cutpurse, thou hast shown hypocrisy: thou hast eaten both beng and opium together.
کابله طرار شید آورده‌ای ** بنگ و افیون هر دو با هم خورده‌ای
Amidst three darknesses thou knowest the wind of the ass: how dost not thou know me, O giddy-head?665
در سه تاریکی شناسی باد خر ** چون ندانی مر مرا ای خیره‌سر
He that knows a colt at midnight, how should he not know his own ten years' comrade?”
آنک داند نیمشب گوساله را ** چون نداند همره ده‌ساله را
Thou art feigning to be a gnostic and distraught (with love of God): thou art throwing dust in the eyes of generosity,
خویشتن را عارف و واله کنی ** خاک در چشم مروت می‌زنی
Saying, “I have no consciousness even of myself: in my heart there is no room for aught but God.
که مرا از خویش هم آگاه نیست ** در دلم گنجای جز الله نیست
I have no recollection of what I ate yesterday: this heart takes joy in nothing except bewilderment.
آنچ دی خوردم از آنم یاد نیست ** این دل از غیر تحیر شاد نیست
I am sane and maddened by God: remember (this), and (since I am) in such a state of selflessness, hold me excusable.670
عاقل و مجنون حقم یاد آر ** در چنین بی‌خویشیم معذور دار
He that eats carrion, that is to say, (drinks) date-wine—the (religious) Law enrols him amongst those who are excused.
آنک مرداری خورد یعنی نبید ** شرع او را سوی معذوران کشید
The drunkard and eater of beng has not (the right of) divorce or barter; he is even as a child: he is a person absolved and emancipated.
مست و بنگی را طلاق و بیع نیست ** همچو طفلست او معاف و معتقیست
The intoxication that arises from the scent of the unique King—a hundred vats of wine never wrought that (intoxication) in head and brain.
مستیی کید ز بوی شاه فرد ** صد خم می در سر و مغز آن نکرد
To him (the God-intoxicated man), then, how should the obligation (to keep the Law) be applicable? The horse is fallen (out of account) and has become unable to move.
پس برو تکلیف چون باشد روا ** اسب ساقط گشت و شد بی دست و پا
Who in the world would lay a load upon the ass-colt? Who would give lessons in Persian to Bú Murra?675
بار کی نهد در جهان خرکره را ** درس کی دهد پارسی بومره را
When lameness comes, the load is taken off: God hath said,It is no sin in the blind.
بار بر گیرند چون آمد عرج ** گفت حق لیس علی الاعمی حرج
I have become blind in regard to myself, seeing by (the grace of) God: therefore I am absolved from the small (obligation) and from the great.”
سوی خود اعمی شدم از حق بصیر ** پس معافم از قلیل و از کثیر
Thou braggest of thy dervishhood and selflessness, (thou utterest) the wailful cries of those intoxicated with God,