When that grievous command (of God) proceeded step by step (pursued its course), the whole Nile was turned into blood from end to end,3590
چون پیاپی گشت آن امر شجون ** نیل می‌آمد سراسر جمله خون
Till (at last) Pharaoh came in person to him (Moses), humbly entreating him, his tall figure bent double,
تا بنفس خویش فرعون آمدش ** لابه می‌کردش دو تا گشته قدش
And said, “O (spiritual) sovereign, do not that which we did we have not the face to offer words (of excuse).
کانچ ما کردیم ای سلطان مکن ** نیست ما را روی ایراد سخن
I will become obedient to thy command with every bit (of my body); I am accustomed to be held in honour: do not deal hardly with me.
پاره پاره گردمت فرمان‌پذیر ** من بعزت خوگرم سختم مگیر
Hark, move thy lips in mercy, O trusted one, that it (thy prayer) may shut this fiery mouth (of Divine anger).”
هین بجنبان لب به رحمت ای امین ** تا ببندد این دهانه‌ی آتشین
He (Moses) said, “O Lord, he is deceiving me; he is deceiving Thy deceiver.3595
گفت یا رب می‌فریبد او مرا ** می‌فریبد او فریبنده‌ی ترا
Shall I hearken (to him) or shall I too give him deceit (in return), in order that that puller of the branch may recognise the root?
بشنوم یا من دهم هم خدعه‌اش ** تا بداند اصل را آن فرع‌کش
For the root (origin) of every cunning and contrivance is with use: whatsoever is on the earth, its root (origin) is from Heaven.”
که اصل هر مکری و حیلت پیش ماست ** هر چه بر خاکست اصلش از سماست
God said (to Moses), “That cur (Pharaoh) is not worth even that: fling a bone to the cur from a distance.
گفت حق آن سگ نیرزد هم به آن ** پیش سگ انداز از دور استخوان
Hark, shake the rod, so that the sods may give back whatever the locusts have destroyed,
هین بجنبان آن عصا تا خاکها ** وا دهد هرچه ملخ کردش فنا
And let the locusts immediately become black, that the people may behold the transformation wrought by God;3600
وان ملخها در زمان گردد سیاه ** تا ببیند خلق تبدیل اله
For I have no need of means: those means are (only) for the purpose of (serving as) a screen and covering,
که سببها نیست حاجت مر مرا ** آن سبب بهر حجابست و غطا
To the end that the natural philosopher may attach himself to the drug; and that the astronomer may turn his face to the star;
تا طبیعی خویش بر دارو زند ** تا منجم رو با ستاره کند
And that the hypocrite, from greed, may come to market at daybreak for fear of (finding) no demand for his wares,
تا منافق از حریصی بامداد ** سوی بازار آید از بیم کساد
Without having performed his devotions or washed his face (whilst) seeking morsels (for himself) he has become a morsel for Hell.”
بندگی ناکرده و ناشسته روی ** لقمه‌ی دوزخ بگشته لقمه‌جوی
The spirit of the vulgar is devouring and being devoured, like the lamb that feeds on hay.3605
آکل و ماکول آمد جان عام ** هم‌چو آن بره‌ی چرنده از حطام
The lamb is feeding, while the butcher rejoices, saying, “For our sake it feeds on the grass of (its) desire.”
می‌چرد آن بره و قصاب شاد ** کو برای ما چرد برگ مراد
In respect of food and drink thou art doing the work of Hell thou art fattening thyself for its (Hell’s) sake.
کار دوزخ می‌کنی در خوردنی ** بهر او خود را تو فربه می‌کنی
Do thine own work, feed on the daily bread of Wisdom, that the glorious heart (spirit) may become fat.
کار خود کن روزی حکمت بچر ** تا شود فربه دل با کر و فر
Bodily eating and drinking is the obstacle to this (spiritual) eating and drinking: the spirit is like a merchant, while the body is like a highwayman.
خوردن تن مانع این خوردنست ** جان چو بازرگان و تن چون ره‌زنست
(Only) at the time when the highwayman is consumed like firewood is the candle of the spirit resplendent;3610
شمع تاجر آنگهست افروخته ** که بود ره‌زن چو هیزم سوخته
For thou art (in reality) that (spiritual) intelligence, and (all) the rest (of thee) is a mask concealing the intelligence. Do not lose thy (real) self, do not strive in vain!
که تو آن هوشی و باقی هوش‌پوش ** خویشتن را گم مکن یاوه مکوش
Know that every sensual desire is like wine and beng: it is a veil over the intelligence, and thereby the rational man is stupefied.
دانک هر شهوت چو خمرست و چو بنگ ** پرده‌ی هوشست وعاقل زوست دنگ
The intoxication of the intelligence is not (caused by) wine alone: whatsoever is sensual shuts the (spiritual) eye and ear.
خمر تنها نیست سرمستی هوش ** هر چه شهوانیست بندد چشم و گوش
Iblís was far removed from wine-drinking: he was drunken with pride and unbelief.
آن بلیس از خمر خوردن دور بود ** مست بود او از تکبر وز جحود
The drunken man is he who sees that which is not: (to him) what is (really) a piece of copper or iron appears to be gold.3615
مست آن باشد که آن بیند که نیست ** زر نماید آنچ مس و آهنیست
This discourse hath no end. (God said), “O Moses, move thy lips, that the herbage may spring forth.”
این سخن پایان ندارد موسیا ** لب بجنبان تا برون روژد گیا
He (Moses) did so, and immediately the earth became green with hyacinths and costly grains.
هم‌چنان کرد و هم اندر دم زمین ** سبز گشت از سنبل و حب ثمین
That folk fell to (eating) the food, since they had suffered famine and were (almost) dead from ravenous hunger.
اندر افتادند در لوت آن نفر ** قحط دیده مرده از جوع البقر
For several days they ate their fill of the gift, (both) those who were inspired by that breath (of Moses) and the (other) human beings and the quadrupeds.
چند روزی سیر خوردند از عطا ** آن دمی و آدمی و چارپا
When their bellies were filled and they grasped the (Divine) bounty and the necessity was gone, then they waxed insolent (in disobedience).3620
چون شکم پر گشت و بر نعمت زدند ** وآن ضرورت رفت پس طاغی شدند
The carnal soul is a follower of Pharaoh: beware, do not satisfy it, lest it remember its ancient infidelity.
نفس فرعونیست هان سیرش مکن ** تا نیارد یاد از آن کفر کهن
Without the glowing heat of the fire (of mortification) the carnal soul will never become goodly: hark, do not beat the iron till it has become like live coals.
بی تف آتش نگردد نفس خوب ** تا نشد آهن چو اخگر هین مکوب
Without hunger the body makes no movement (towards God): ‘tis cold iron thou art beating. Know (this for sure)!