English    Türkçe    فارسی   

4
1555-1604

  • He tied up his leg and said, “I will become a ball, I will go rolling along in the curve of His bat.” 1555
  • For this cause the sweet-mouthed Sage utters a curse on the rider who does not dismount from the body.
  • How should love for the Lord be inferior to love for Laylá? To become a ball for His sake is more worthy.
  • Become a ball, turn on the side which is sincerity, (and go) rolling, rolling in the curve of the bat of Love,
  • For henceforth this journey is (accomplished by means of) the pull of God, while that (former) journey on the she-camel is our progression (made by our own efforts).
  • Such is the extraordinary mode of progression which transcends the utmost exertion of the Jinn and mankind. 1560
  • Such is the pull—not every common pull—to which Ahmad (Mohammed) awarded the pre-eminence. And (now) farewell!
  • How the slave wrote to the King a statement complaining of the reduction of his allowance
  • Cut short the discourse (on these topics) for the sake of (re turning to the story of) the slave who has written a message to the King
  • He is sending to the gracious King a statement filled with wrangling and self-conceit and hatred.
  • The body is (like) a letter: look into it (and see) whether it is worthy of the King; then take it (to Him).
  • Go into a corner, open the letter, read (it), see whether its‘ words are suitable to kings. 1565
  • If it be not suitable, tear it in pieces and write another letter and remedy (the fault).
  • But do not think it is easy to open the letter which is the body; otherwise every one would plainly see the secret of the heart.
  • How hard and difficult is it to open the letter! ‘Tis a task for men, not for children playing at knuckle
  • We have all become satisfied with (reading) the table of contents, because we are steeped in cupidity and vain desire.
  • The table of contents is a snare for the vulgar, that they may think the text of the scroll is like that (table). 1570
  • Open the title-page, do not turn your neck aside from these words—and God best knoweth the right course.
  • That title is like a declaration made by the tongue: examine the text of the scroll, namely, the bosom (your inward self),
  • (And see) whether it is in agreement with your declaration, in order that your actions may not be hypocritical.
  • When you are carrying a very heavy sack, you must not fail to look into it,
  • (To see) what of sour and sweet you have in the sack. If it is worth bringing along, bring it; 1575
  • Otherwise, empty your sack of the stones (in it), and redeem yourself from this fruitless toil and disgrace.
  • Put in the sack that (only) which must be brought to righteous sultans and kings.
  • Story of the divine with a big turban and the man who carried it off, and how he (the divine) shouted, “Undo it and see what you are taking: then take it (if you wish)!”
  • A certain divine had collected some old rags and wound them in his turban,
  • In order that it might become big and look grand when he came into the assembly in the Hatím.
  • He had clipped the rags from (various) garments and outwardly embellished the turban with them. 1580
  • The exterior of the turban was like a robe of Paradise, (but) it was shameful and ugly within, like the hypocrite.
  • Shreds of dalq (dervish-cloak) and cotton and fur were buried inside that turban.
  • He had set his face towards the college at dawn, that by means of this false dignity he might gain (material) blessings.
  • A clothes-robber stood waiting on the dark road to practise his craft.
  • He snatched the turban from his head, and then started to run in order that he might settle the business. 1585
  • Thereupon the divine shouted at him, saying, “O son, undo the turban (first), then take it (away with you).
  • Even as you are flying with four wings (very rapidly), (with the same speed) undo the gift which you are taking away.
  • Undo it and rub (feel) with your hand, then take it if you like: I sanction (that).”
  • When he who was fleeing undid it, a hundred thousand rags dropped on the road.
  • Of that big improper turban of his there remained in his (the robber's) hand (only) an ell of old cloth. 1590
  • He dashed the rag on the ground, saying, “O worthless man, by this fraud you have put me out of business (deprived me of profit).”
  • The World's mute admonition to worldlings, and how it displays its faithlessness to those who have hope of its keeping faith (with them).
  • He (the divine) said, “I defrauded (you), but (at the same time) I declared to you the (truth of the) matter by way of admonition.”
  • Likewise the World, though it blossomed delightfully (made a fair show), at the same time uttered a (warning) cry and declared its faithlessness.
  • In this (realm of) existence and corruption, O master, existence is the fraud and that corruption is the admonition.
  • Existence says, “Come, I am delectable,” and its corruption says, “Go, I am nothing.” 1595
  • O thou that bitest thy lip (in admiration) at the beauty of spring, look on the coldness and paleness of autumn.
  • In the daytime thou didst deem the countenance of the sun beauteous: remember its death in the moment of setting.
  • Thou sawest the full-moon on this lovely firmament: observe also its anguish (caused by the loss of visibility) during the interlunar period.
  • A boy, on account of his beauty, became the lord of the people: after the morrow he became doting and exposed to the scorn of the people.
  • If the body of those in the fresh bloom of youth has made thee a prey, after (it has come to) old age behold a body (bleached) like a cotton plantation. 1600
  • O thou who hast seen rich viands, arise and see the residue thereof in the latrine.
  • Say to the filth, “Where is that beauty of thine—the savour and goodliness and (sweet) scent (which thou hadst) in the dish?”
  • It replies, “That (beauty) was the bait: I was its trap: since thou hast fallen a prey (to it), the bait has become hidden.”
  • Many fingers that in handicraft (skill and dexterity) were the envy of master craftsmen have at last become trembling.