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,
لاف درویشی زنی و بی‌خودی ** های هوی مستیان ایزدی
Saying, “I know not earth from heaven.” The (Divine) jealousy hath tried thee, tried thee (and found thee wanting).
که زمین را من ندانم ز آسمان ** امتحانت کرد غیرت امتحان
Thus hath the wind of thy ass-colt put thee to shame, thus hath it affirmed the existence of thy self-negation.680
باد خرکره‌ی چنین رسوات کرد ** هستی نفی ترا اثبات کرد
In this wise doth God expose hypocrisy, in this wise doth He catch the quarry that has started away.
این چنین رسوا کند حق شید را ** این چنین گیرد رمیده‌صید را
There are hundreds of thousands of trials, O son, for any one who says, “I am the captain of the Gate.”
صد هزاران امتحانست ای پسر ** هر که گوید من شدم سرهنگ در
If the vulgar do not know him by (putting him to) the trial, (yet) the adepts of the Way will demand from him the token (of his veracity).
گر نداند عامه او را ز امتحان ** پختگان راه جویندش نشان
When a churl pretends to be a tailor, the king will throw down a piece of satin in front of him,
چون کند دعوی خیاطی خسی ** افکند در پیش او شه اطلسی
Saying, “Cut this into a wide undervest (baghaltáq)”: from (as the result of) the trial there appear two horns on him.685
که ببر این را بغلطاق فراخ ** ز امتحان پیدا شود او را دو شاخ