Rumi's Masnavi - The gift of Bilqís was forty mules: their whole load consisted of bricks of gold.

The gift of Bilqís was forty mules: their whole load consisted of bricks of gold.

هدیه‌ی بلقیس چل استر بدست ** بار آنها جمله خشت زر بدست

When he (the envoy) reached the open plain, belonging to Solomon, he saw that its carpet was (made) entirely of solid gold.

چون به صحرای سلیمانی رسید ** فرش آن را جمله زر پخته دید

He rode on gold for the distance of forty stages, till gold had no more esteem in his sight. 565

بر سر زر تا چهل منزل براند ** تا که زر را در نظر آبی نماند

(Many) times they said, “Let us take the gold back to the treasury: what a (fruitless) quest are we (engaged) in!

بارها گفتند زر را وا بریم ** سوی مخزن ما چه بیگار اندریم

A spacious land of which the soil is pure gold—to bring gold thither as a gift is folly.”

عرصه‌ای کش خاک زر ده دهیست ** زر به هدیه بردن آنجا ابلهیست

O thou who hast brought intelligence to God as a gift, there intelligence is less (in value) than the dust of the road.

ای ببرده عقل هدیه تا اله ** عقل آنجا کمترست از خاک راه

When the worthlessness of the gift became apparent there (in Solomon's kingdom), shamefacedness was drawing them back (towards Bilqís);

چون کساد هدیه آنجا شد پدید ** شرمساریشان همی واپس کشید

(But) again they said, “Whether it be worthless or valuable, what matter to us? We are slaves (bound) to (obey) the command. 570

باز گفتند ار کساد و ار روا ** چیست بر ما بنده فرمانیم ما

Whether we have to bring gold or earth, the command of the one who gives the command is to be executed.

گر زر و گر خاک ما را بردنیست ** امر فرمان‌ده به جا آوردنیست

If they command you to bring it back (to Bilqís), (then) take the gift back according to the command.”

گر بفرمایند که واپس برید ** هم به فرمان تحفه را باز آورید

When Solomon beheld that (gift), he laughed, saying, “When did I seek tharíd from you?

خنده‌ش آمد چون سلیمان آن بدید ** کز شما من کی طلب کردم ثرید

I do not bid you bestow gifts on me; nay, I bid you be worthy of the gifts (which I bestow);

من نمی‌گویم مرا هدیه دهید ** بلک گفتم لایق هدیه شوید

For I have rare gifts (coming) from the Unseen, which human beings durst not even ask for. 575

که مرا از غیب نادر هدیه‌هاست ** که بشر آن را نیارد نیز خواست

Ye worship the star (planet) that makes gold: turn your faces towards Him that makes the star.

می‌پرستید اختری کو زر کند ** رو باو آرید کو اختر کند

Ye worship the sun in heaven, having despised the Spirit (which is) of high price.

می‌پرستید آفتاب چرخ را ** خوار کرده جان عالی‌نرخ را

The sun, by command of God, is our cook: ’twere folly that we should say it is God.

آفتاب از امر حق طباخ ماست ** ابلهی باشد که گوییم او خداست

If thy sun be eclipsed, what wilt thou do? How wilt thou expel that blackness from it?

آفتابت گر بگیرد چون کنی ** آن سیاهی زو تو چون بیرون کنی

Wilt not thou bring thy headache (trouble and pain) to the court of God, saying, ‘Take the blackness away, give back the radiance!’ 580

نه به درگاه خدا آری صداع ** که سیاهی را ببر وا ده شعاع

If they would kill thee at midnight, where is the sun, that thou shouldst wail (in supplication) and beg protection of it?

گر کشندت نیم‌شب خورشید کو ** تا بنالی یا امان خواهی ازو

Calamities, for the most part, happen in the night; and at that time the object of thy worship is absent.

حادثات اغلب به شب واقع شود ** وان زمان معبود تو غایب بود

If thou sincerely bow (in prayer) to God, thou wilt be delivered from the stars: thou wilt become intimate (with God).

سوی حق گر راستانه خم شوی ** وا رهی از اختران محرم شوی

When thou becomest intimate, I will open my lips (to speak) with thee, that thou may’st behold a Sun at midnight.

چون شوی محرم گشایم با تو لب ** تا ببینی آفتابی نیم‌شب

It hath no Orient but the pure spirit: in (respect of) its rising, there is no difference between day and night. 585

جز روان پاک او را شرق نه ** در طلوعش روز و شب را فرق نه

’Tis day when it (the Sun) rises; when it begins to shine, night is night no more.

روز آن باشد که او شارق شود ** شب نماند شب چو او بارق شود

(Such) as the mote appears in the presence of the sun, even such is the sun (of this world) in the pure substance (of the Light of God).

چون نماید ذره پیش آفتاب ** هم‌چنانست آفتاب اندر لباب

The sun that becomes resplendent, and before which the (keenest) sight is blunted and dazzled—

آفتابی را که رخشان می‌شود ** دیده پیشش کند و حیران می‌شود

Thou wilt see it as a mote in the light of the Divine Throne, (a mote) beside the illimitable abounding light of the Divine Throne.

هم‌چو ذره بینیش در نور عرش ** پیش نور بی حد موفور عرش

Thou wilt deem it base and lowly and impermanent, (when) strength has come to thine (inward) eye from the Creator.” 590

خوار و مسکین بینی او را بی‌قرار ** دیده را قوت شده از کردگار

(The Divine Light is) the Philosophers' Stone from which a single impression fell on the (primal) vapour, and it (the vapour) became a star;

کیمیایی که ازو یک ماثری ** بر دخان افتاد گشت آن اختری

The unique elixir of which half a gleam struck upon a (region of) darkness and made it the sun;

نادر اکسیری که از وی نیم تاب ** بر ظلامی زد به گردش آفتاب

The marvellous alchemist who by a single operation fastened all these properties on Saturn.

بوالعجب میناگری کز یک عمل ** بست چندین خاصیت را بر زحل

Know, O seeker, that the remaining planets and the spiritual substances are (to be judged) according to the same standard.

باقی اخترها و گوهرهای جان ** هم برین مقیاس ای طالب بدان

The sensuous eye is subject to the sun: seek and find a divine eye, 595

دیده‌ی حسی زبون آفتاب ** دیده‌ی ربانیی جو و بیاب

In order that the beams of the flaming sun may become subject (abased) before that vision;

تا زبون گردد به پیش آن نظر ** شعشعات آفتاب با شرر

For that vision is luminous, while these (sunbeams) are igneous: fire is very dark in comparison with light.

که آن نظر نوری و این ناری بود ** نار پیش نور بس تاری بود

The miraculous gifts and illumination of Shaykh ‘Abdullah Maghribí, may God sanctify his spirit.

کرامات و نور شیخ عبدالله مغربی قدس الله سره

Shaykh ‘Abdullah Maghribí said, “During sixty years I never perceived in night the quality of night.

گفت عبدالله شیخ مغربی ** شصت سال از شب ندیدم من شبی

During sixty years I never experienced any darkness, neither by day nor by night nor from infirmity.”

من ندیدم ظلمتی در شصت سال ** نه به روز و نه به شب نه ز اعتلال

The Súfís declared his words to be true: “During the night we would follow him 600

صوفیان گفتند صدق قال او ** شب همی‌رفتیم در دنبال او

Into deserts filled with thorns and ditches, he going in front of us like the full moon.

در بیابانهای پر از خار و گو ** او چو ماه بدر ما را پیش‌رو

Without looking behind him, he would say, (though it was) at night-time, ‘Hark! here is a ditch: turn to the left!’

روی پس ناکرده می‌گفتی به شب ** هین گو آمد میل کن در سوی چپ

Then, after a little while, he would say, ‘Turn to the right, because a thorn is before your feet.’

باز گفتی بعد یک دم سوی راست ** میل کن زیرا که خاری پیش پاست

Day would break: we would come to kiss his foot, and his foot would be like the feet of a bride,

روز گشتی پاش را ما پای‌بوس ** گشته و پایش چو پاهای عروس

No trace of earth or mud on it, none of scratch from thorns or bruise from stones.” 605

نه ز خاک و نه ز گل بر وی اثر ** نه از خراش خار و آسیب حجر

God made the Maghribí a Mashriqí: He made the place of sunset (maghrib) light-producing like the place of sunrise (mashriq).

مغربی را مشرقی کرده خدای ** کرده مغرب را چو مشرق نورزای

The light of this one who belongs to the Sun of suns is riding (in majesty): by day he is guarding high and low.

نور این شمس شموسی فارس است ** روز خاص و عام را او حارس است

How should that glorious light, which brings thousands of suns into view, not be a guardian?

چون نباشد حارس آن نور مجید ** که هزاران آفتاب آرد پدید

By his light do thou walk always in safety amidst dragons and scorpions.

تو به نور او همی رو در امان ** در میان اژدها و کزدمان

That holy light is going in front of thee and tearing every highwayman to pieces. 610

پیش پیشت می‌رود آن نور پاک ** می‌کند هر ره‌زنی را چاک‌چاک

Know aright (the meaning of the text) on the Day when He (God) will not put the Prophet to shame; read (their) light shall run before them.

یوم لا یخزی النبی راست دان ** نور یسعی بین ایدیهم بخوان

Although that (light) will be increased at the Resurrection, (yet) beg of God (to grant thee) trial (of it) here;

گرچه گردد در قیامت آن فزون ** از خدا اینجا بخواهید آزمون