Though the outward form of the letter was praise, from (amidst) the praise the scent of anger was showing traces (betraying itself).
ظاهر رقعه اگر چه مدح بود ** بوی خشم از مدح اثرها می‌نمود
All your actions are devoid of light and ugly because you are far, far from the light of your original nature.
زان همه کار تو بی‌نورست و زشت ** که تو دوری دور از نور سرشت
The splendour of the actions of the vile becomes unsaleable (fades away), just as fresh fruit soon becomes rotten.
رونق کار خسان کاسد شود ** هم‌چو میوه‌ی تازه زو فاسد شود
The splendour of the present life soon produces unsaleableness (becomes of no account), inasmuch as it belongs to the world of generation and corruption.
رونق دنیا برآرد زو کساد ** زانک هست از عالم کون و فساد
Breasts are not gladdened by an encomium when there are feelings of enmity in the encomiast.1735
خوش نگردد از مدیحی سینه‌ها ** چونک در مداح باشد کینه‌ها
O heart, become purged of enmity and repugnance, and then chant “Glory to God” and be busy (in serving Him).
ای دل از کین و کراهت پاک شو ** وانگهان الحمد خوان چالاک شو
(To have) “Glory to God” on your tongue and repugnance within is hypocrisy or guile on the tongue’s part;
بر زبان الحمد و اکراه درون ** از زبان تلبیس باشد یا فسون
And moreover God hath said, “I do not look to the exterior, I am regarding the interior.”
وانگهان گفته خدا که ننگرم ** من به ظاهر من به باطن ناظرم
Story of the encomiast who from regard for reputation was thanking the object of his praise, while the scent (signs) of his inward grief and pain and the shabbiness of his outward garb showed that those expressions of gratitude were vain and false.
حکایت آن مداح کی از جهت ناموس شکر ممدوح می‌کرد و بوی اندوه و غم اندرون او و خلاقت دلق ظاهر او می‌نمود کی آن شکرها لافست و دروغ
A certain man came (home) from ‘Iráq, (clad) in a tattered cloak: his friends inquired concerning (his) separation (from them).
آن یکی با دلق آمد از عراق ** باز پرسیدند یاران از فراق
“Yes,” he replied; “there was (the sorrow of) separation, but the journey was very blessed and fortunate for me,1740
گفت آری بد فراق الا سفر ** بود بر من بس مبارک مژده‌ور
For the Caliph gave me ten robes of honour—may a hundred praises and laudations (ever) accompany him!”
که خلیفه داد ده خلعت مرا ** که قرینش باد صد مدح و ثنا
He was reciting expressions of gratitude and praise till he carried gratitude beyond bound and limit.
شکرها و حمدها بر می‌شمرد ** تا که شکر از حد و اندازه ببرد
Then they said to him, “Thy wretched guise bears witness to thy mendacity.
پس بگفتندش که احوال نژند ** بر دروغ تو گواهی می‌دهند
(Thou art) naked, bare-headed, consumed (with afflictions): thou hast stolen (these) expressions of gratitude or learned (them by rote).
تن برهنه سر برهنه سوخته ** شکر را دزدیده یا آموخته
Where are the signs of the gratitude and praise due to thy prince on thy unplenished head and feet?1745
کو نشان شکر و حمد میر تو ** بر سر و بر پای بی توفیر تو
If thy tongue is weaving (making up) praise of that king, (yet) thy seven members are complaining (of him).
گر زبانت مدح آن شه می‌تند ** هفت اندامت شکایت می‌کند
In the generosity of that king and sultan of munificence was there not (room for) a pair of shoes and trousers for thee?”
در سخای آن شه و سلطان جود ** مر ترا کفشی و شلواری نبود
He replied, “I gave away what he bestowed: the prince left nothing undone in the way of solicitude.
گفت من ایثار کردم آنچ داد ** میر تقصیری نکرد از افتقاد
I received all the presents from the prince and distributed them among the orphans and the poor.
بستدم جمله عطاها از امیر ** بخش کردم بر یتیم و بر فقیر
I gave the riches away and received long (everlasting) life in return, because I was utterly self-sacrificing.”1750
مال دادم بستدم عمر دراز ** در جزا زیرا که بودم پاک‌باز
Then they said to him, “Bless thee! the riches are gone: what (then) is this naphtha-smoke within thee?
پس بگفتندش مبارک مال رفت ** چیست اندر باطنت این دود نفت
A hundred loathings like thorns are in thy heart: how should grief be the sign of rejoicing?
صد کراهت در درون تو چو خار ** کی بود انده نشان ابتشار
Where are the signs of love and charity and being pleased (with God), if what thou hast said of what passed is true?
کو نشان عشق و ایثار و رضا ** گر درستست آنچ گفتی ما مضی
I grant, forsooth, that the riches are gone: (then) where is (thy) desire (for spiritual riches)? If the torrent has gone by, where is the torrent-bed?
خود گرفتم مال گم شد میل کو ** سیل اگر بگذشت جای سیل کو
If (as thou pretendest) thine eye was (once) black and soul-inspiring, and if it is soul-inspiring no longer, (then) why is it blue?1755
چشم تو گر بد سیاه و جان‌فزا ** گر نماند او جان‌فزا ازرق چرا
Where are the signs of self-sacrifice, O sour one? The smell of false and empty words is coming (from thee): be silent!”
کو نشان پاک‌بازی ای ترش ** بوی لاف کژ همی‌آید خمش
Charity (for God's sake) hath a hundred signs within (in the heart): the good deed hath a hundred tokens.
صد نشان باشد درون ایثار را ** صد علامت هست نیکوکار را
If riches be consumed in charity, a hundred lives come into the heart as a substitute.
مال در ایثار اگر گردد تلف ** در درون صد زندگی آید خلف
A sowing of pure seeds in God's earth, and then no income! (That is impossible.)
در زمین حق زراعت کردنی ** تخمهای پاک آنگه دخل نی
If the (spiritual) ears of corn grow not from the gardens of Hú (God), then tell (me), how should God's earth be “spacious”?1760
گر نروید خوشه از روضات هو ** پس چه واسع باشد ارض الله بگو
Since this earth of mortality is not without produce, how should God's earth be (without it)? That (earth of God) is a spacious place.
چونک این ارض فنا بی‌ریع نیست ** چون بود ارض الله آن مستوسعیست
Verily, the produce of this earth (of God) is infinite: even the least (produce) for a single seed is seven-hundredfold.
این زمین را ریع او خود بی‌حدست ** دانه‌ای را کمترین خود هفصدست
You said, “Glory to God!” Where are the signs (in you) of those who glorify? Neither in your exterior nor within is there a trace.
حمد گفتی کو نشان حامدون ** نه برونت هست اثر نه اندرون
(Only) the gnostic's glorification of God is right (perfect), for his feet and hands have borne witness to his glorification.
حمد عارف مر خدا را راستست ** که گواه حمد او شد پا و دست
It hath lifted him up from the dark pit of the body and redeemed him from the bottom of the dungeon of this world.1765
از چه تاریک جسمش بر کشید ** وز تک زندان دنیااش خرید
On his shoulder is the sign of glorification—the silken robe of piety and the light which associates itself (with him).
اطلس تقوی و نور متلف ** آیت حمدست او را بر کتف
He is delivered from the transitory world, he is dwelling in the Rose-garden, and (therein is) a running fountain.
وا رهیده از جهان عاریه ** ساکن گلزار و عین جاریه
His sitting-place and home and abode is on the throne of the high-aspiring inmost consciousness, and his station
بر سریر سر عالی‌همتش ** مجلس و جا و مقام و رتبتش
Is the Seat of sincerity in which all the siddíqs are flourishing and joyous and fresh of countenance.
مقعد صدقی که صدیقان درو ** جمله سر سبزند و شاد و تازه‌رو
Their praise (of God), like the garden's praise on account of spring, hath a hundred signs and a hundred pomps.1770
حمدشان چون حمد گلشن از بهار ** صد نشانی دارد و صد گیر و دار
Fountains and palms and herbs and rose-beds and plots of bright-coloured flowers bear witness to its springtide.
بر بهارش چشمه و نخل و گیاه ** وآن گلستان و نگارستان گواه
Everywhere thousands of witnesses to the Beloved are (engaged) in bearing testimony, as the pearl (bears testimony) to the oyster-shell.
شاهد شاهد هزاران هر طرف ** در گواهی هم‌چو گوهر بر صدف
(But) from your breath (words) comes the smell of a bad conscience, and your (inward) pain is reflected from your head and face, O braggart!
بوی سر بد بیاید از دمت ** وز سر و رو تابد ای لافی غمت
In the battle-field (of this world) there are sagacious ones who know (distinguish) the smell: do not in (your) presumption idly utter (imitate) the ecstatic cries (of the true enthusiasts).
بوشناسانند حاذق در مصاف ** تو به جلدی های هو کم کن گزاف
Do not brag of musk, for that smell of onions is revealing the secret (true nature) of your breath (words and professions).1775
تو ملاف از مشک کان بوی پیاز ** از دم تو می‌کند مکشوف راز