And he that was acquainted with that (spiritual) emperor of high fortune, (and) his heart (courage) did not consent to strike a heavy blow,
وآنک آگه بود از آن صاحب‌قران ** دل ندادش که زند زخم گران
Half-knowledge tied his hand, (so that) he saved his life and only wounded himself.
نیم‌دانش دست او را بسته کرد ** جان ببرد الا که خود را خسته کرد
Day broke, and the disciples were thinned: wails of lamentation arose from their house.
روز گشت و آن مریدان کاسته ** نوحه‌ها از خانه‌شان برخاسته
Thousands of men and women came to him (Báyazíd), saying, “O thou in whose single shirt the two worlds are contained,2135
پیش او آمد هزاران مرد و زن ** کای دو عالم درج در یک پیرهن
If this body of thine were a human body, it would have been destroyed, like a human body, by the daggers.”
این تن تو گر تن مردم بدی ** چون تن مردم ز خنجر گم شدی
A self-existent one encountered a selfless one in combat: the self-existent one drove a thorn into his own eye (hurt himself).
با خودی با بی‌خودی دوچار زد ** با خود اندر دیده‌ی خود خار زد
O you who stab the selfless ones with the sword, you are stabbing your own body with it. Beware!
ای زده بر بی‌خودان تو ذوالفقار ** بر تن خود می‌زنی آن هوش دار
For the selfless one has passed away (in God) and is safe: he is dwelling in safety for ever.
زانک بی‌خود فانی است و آمنست ** تا ابد در آمنی او ساکنست
His form has passed away and he has become a mirror: naught is there but the form (image) of the face of another.2140
نقش او فانی و او شد آینه ** غیر نقش روی غیر آن جای نه
If you spit (at it), you spit at your own face; and if you strike at the mirror, you strike at yourself;
گر کنی تف سوی روی خود کنی ** ور زنی بر آینه بر خود زنی
And if you see an ugly face (in that mirror), ’tis you; and if you see Jesus and Mary, ’tis you.
ور ببینی روی زشت آن هم توی ** ور ببینی عیسی و مریم توی
He is neither this nor that: he is simple (pure and free from attributes of self): he has placed your image before you.
او نه اینست و نه آن او ساده است ** نقش تو در پیش تو بنهاده است
When the discourse reached this point, it closed its lips; when the pen reached this point, it broke to pieces.
چون رسید اینجا سخن لب در ببست ** چون رسید اینجا قلم درهم شکست
Close thy lips (O my soul): though eloquence is at thy command, do not breathe a word—and God best knoweth the right way.2145
لب ببند ار چه فصاحت دست داد ** دم مزن والله اعلم بالرشاد
O you who are drunken with the wine (of love), you are on the edge of the roof: sit down or (else) descend, and peace be with you!
برکنار بامی ای مست مدام ** پست بنشین یا فرود آ والسلام
Every moment when you enjoy (union with the Beloved), deem that delightful moment to be the edge of the roof.
هر زمانی که شدی تو کامران ** آن دم خوش را کنار بام دان
Be trembling for (fear of losing) the delightful moment: conceal it like a treasure, do not divulge it.
بر زمان خوش هراسان باش تو ** هم‌چو گنجش خفیه کن نه فاش تو
Lest calamity suddenly befall (your) plighted love, take heed, go very fearfully into that place of ambush.
تا نیاید بر ولا ناگه بلا ** ترس ترسان رو در آن مکمن هلا
The spirit's fear of loss at the moment of enjoyment is (the sign of its) departure (descent) from the hidden roof-edge.2150
ترس جان در وقت شادی از زوال ** زان کنار بام غیبست ارتحال
If you do not see the mysterious roof-edge, (yet) the spirit is seeing, for it is shuddering (with fear).
گر نمی‌بینی کنار بام راز ** روح می‌بیند که هستش اهتزاز
Every sudden chastisement that has come to pass has taken place on the edge of the turret of enjoyment.
هر نکالی ناگهان کان آمدست ** بر کنار کنگره‌ی شادی بدست
Indeed there is no fall except (on) the edge of the roof: (take) warning from (the fate of) the people of Noah and the people of Lot.
جز کنار بام خود نبود سقوط ** اعتبار از قوم نوح و قوم لوط
Explaining the cause of the eloquence and loquacity of that impertinent man in the presence of the Prophet, on whom be peace.
بیان سبب فصاحت و بسیارگویی آن فضول به خدمت رسول علیه‌السلام
When the ray (reflexion) of the Prophet's boundless intoxication struck (the objector), that stupid fellow also became drunken and merry.
پرتو مستی بی‌حد نبی ** چون بزد هم مست و خوش گشت آن غبی
Of course, in consequence of (drunken) glee he became loquacious: the intoxicated man neglected (to observe) respect and began to rave.2155
لاجرم بسیارگو شد از نشاط ** مست ادب بگذاشت آمد در خباط
Not on every occasion does selflessness (intoxication) work mischief, (but) wine makes the unmannerly person more so.
نه همه جا بی‌خودی شر می‌کند ** بی‌ادب را می چنان‌تر می‌کند
If he (the wine-drinker) be intelligent, he becomes decorous (displays goodly qualities when beside himself); and if he be evil-natured, he becomes worse.
گر بود عاقل نکو فر می‌شود ** ور بود بدخوی بتر می‌شود
But since the majority are evil and reprobate, wine has been forbidden to all.
لیک اغلب چون بدند و ناپسند ** بر همه می را محرم کرده‌اند
How the Prophet, on whom be peace, explained the cause of his preferring and choosing the (young) man of Hudhayl as commander and chief of the army over the heads of the elders and veterans.
بیان رسول علیه السلام سبب تفضیل و اختیار کردن او آن هذیلی را به امیری و سرلشکری بر پیران و کاردیدگان
Cases are decided by the general rule (not by the exceptions):since the majority are evil, the sword was taken away from the hand of the highwayman.
حکم اغلب راست چون غالب بدند ** تیغ را از دست ره‌زن بستدند
The Prophet said, “O thou who lookest on externals, do not regard him as a youth and unskilled.2160
گفت پیغامبر کای ظاهرنگر ** تو مبین او را جوان و بی‌هنر
Oh, there is many a black beard and the man (its owner) old (in wisdom); oh, there is many a white beard with a heart (black) as pitch.
ای بسا ریش سیاه و مردت پیر ** ای بسا ریش سپید و دل چو قیر
Often have I tested his understanding: that youth has shown (the ripe experience of) age in (handling) affairs.
عقل او را آزمودم بارها ** کرد پیری آن جوان در کارها
O son, the (really) old is the old in understanding: ‘tis not whiteness of the hair in the beard and on the head.
پیر پیر عقل باشد ای پسر ** نه سپیدی موی اندر ریش و سر
How should he (any old man) be older than Iblís? When he lacks understanding, he is good-for-naught.
از بلیس او پیرتر خود کی بود ** چونک عقلش نیست او لاشی بود
Suppose he is a child: (what matter) when he hath the (life-giving) breath of Jesus (and) is purged of vainglory and vain desire?2165
طفل گیرش چون بود عیسی نفس ** پاک باشد از غرور و از هوس
That whiteness of hair is a proof of maturity to the bandaged eye that hath little penetration.
آن سپیدی مو دلیل پختگیست ** پیش چشم بسته کش کوته‌تگیست
Since the blind imitator recognises nothing but (an external) proof, he continually seeks the way (to the truth) in the (out ward) sign.
آن مقلد چون نداند جز دلیل ** در علامت جوید او دایم سبیل
For his sake we have said, ‘When you wish to plan (anything), choose an elder (to advise you).’
بهر او گفتیم که تدبیر را ** چونک خواهی کرد بگزین پیر را
He who has escaped from the purdah of blind imitation sees by the light of God that which (really) is.
آنک او از پرده‌ی تقلید جست ** او به نور حق ببیند آنچ هست
Without proof and without exposition the pure Light cleaves its (the object’s) skin and enters into the middle (the core).2170
نور پاکش بی‌دلیل و بی‌بیان ** پوست بشکافد در آید در میان
To one who regards (only) the appearance, what is (the difference between) the adulterated and genuine coin? How should he know what is in the date-basket?
پیش ظاهربین چه قلب و چه سره ** او چه داند چیست اندر قوصره
Oh, there is much gold made black with smoke, that it may be saved from (falling into) the hands of every envious thief.
ای بسا زر سیه کرده بدود ** تا رهد از دست هر دزدی حسود
Oh, there is much copper gilded with gold, that he (the counterfeiter) may sell it to (those of) small understanding.
ای بسا مس زر اندوده به زر ** تا فروشد آن به عقل مختصر
We, who see the inward (reality) of the whole world, see the heart and look not on the outward form.”
ما که باطن‌بین جمله‌ی کشوریم ** دل ببینیم و به ظاهر ننگریم
The cadis who are concerned with the outward form (the letter of the law) give judgement according to outward appearances.2175
قاضیانی که به ظاهر می‌تنند ** حکم بر اشکال ظاهر می‌کنند
When he (the suspected person) has uttered the profession of the Faith and has shown some (formal sign of) true belief, at once these people (the cadis) pronounce him a true believer.
چون شهادت گفت و ایمانی نمود ** حکم او مومن کنند این قوم زود
There is many a hypocrite who has taken refuge in this out ward form and has shed the blood of a hundred true believers in secret.
بس منافق کاندرین ظاهر گریخت ** خون صد مومن به پنهانی بریخت
Endeavour to become old in intelligence and religion, that you may become, like the Universal Intelligence, a seer of the in ward (reality).
جهد کن تا پیر عقل و دین شوی ** تا چو عقل کل تو باطن‌بین شوی
When the beauteous Intelligence unveiled its face (revealed itself) from non-existence, He (God) gave it a robe of honour and a thousand names.
از عدم چون عقل زیبا رو گشاد ** خلعتش داد و هزارش نام داد
Of those sweet-breathing names the least is this, that it (the Intelligence) is not in need of any one.2180
کمترین زان نامهای خوش‌نفس ** این که نبود هیچ او محتاج کس
If the Intelligence display its face in visible form, day will be dark beside its light;
گر به صورت وا نماید عقل رو ** تیره باشد روز پیش نور او