He (the lover) was bringing the policeman into the prayer (of benediction), because such solace had come to him from the policeman. او عوان را در دعا در می‌کشید ** کز عوان او را چنان راحت رسید
He (the policeman) was poison to all (others), but to him (he was) the antidote: the policeman was the means of uniting that longing lover (with the object of his desire). بر همه زهر و برو تریاق بود ** آن عوان پیوند آن مشتاق بود
Hence there is no absolute evil in the world: evil is relative. Know this (truth) also. 65 پس بد مطلق نباشد در جهان ** بد به نسبت باشد این را هم بدان
In (the realm of) Time there is no poison or sugar that is not a foot (support) to one and a fetter (injury) to another— در زمانه هیچ زهر و قند نیست ** که یکی را پا دگر را بند نیست
To one a foot, to another a fetter; to one a poison and to another (sweet and wholesome) like sugar. مر یکی را پا دگر را پای‌بند ** مر یکی را زهر و بر دیگر چو قند
Snake-poison is life to the snake, (but) it is death in relation to man. زهر مار آن مار را باشد حیات ** نسبتش با آدمی باشد ممات
The sea is as a garden to the water-creatures; to the creatures of earth it is death and a (painful) brand. خلق آبی را بود دریا چو باغ ** خلق خاکی را بود آن مرگ و داغ
Reckon up likewise, O man of experience, (instances of) this relativity from a single individual to a thousand. 70 همچنین بر می‌شمر ای مرد کار ** نسبت این از یکی کس تا هزار
Zayd, in regard to that (particular) one, may be a devil, (but) in regard to another person he may be a (beneficent) sultan. زید اندر حق آن شیطان بود ** در حق شخصی دگر سلطان بود
That one will say that Zayd is an exalted siddíq (saint), and this one will say that Zayd is an infidel who ought to be killed. آن بگوید زید صدیق سنیست ** وین بگوید زید گبر کشتنیست
Zayd is one person—to that one (he is as) a shield, (while) to this other one (he is) wholly pain and loss. زيد يك ذات است بر آن يك جنان ** او بر اين ديگر همه رنج و زيان
If you wish that to you he should be (as) sugar, then look on him with the eye of lovers. گر تو خواهی کو ترا باشد شکر ** پس ورا از چشم عشاقش نگر
Do not look on that Beauteous One with your own eye: behold the Sought with the eye of seekers. 75 منگر از چشم خودت آن خوب را ** بین به چشم طالبان مطلوب را
Shut your own eye to that Sweet-eyed One: borrow an eye from His lovers. چشم خود بر بند زان خوش‌چشم تو ** عاریت کن چشم از عشاق او
Nay, borrow eye and sight from Him, and then look on His face with His eye, بلک ازو کن عاریت چشم و نظر ** پس ز چشم او بروی او نگر
So that you may be secure from satiety and weariness: on this account the Almighty said, “God shall belong to him: تا شوی آمن ز سیری و ملال ** گفت کان الله له زین ذوالجلال
I shall be his eye and hand and heart,” to the end that His fortunate one should escape from adversities. چشم او من باشم و دست و دلش ** تا رهد از مدبریها مقبلش
Whatsoever is loathed is a lover and friend when it becomes thy guide towards thy beloved. 80 هر چه مکرو هست چون شد او دلیل ** سوی محبوبت حبیبست و خلیل
Story of the preacher who at the beginning of every exhortation used to pray for the unjust and hard-hearted and irreligious. حکایت آن واعظ کی هر آغاز تذکیر دعای ظالمان و سخت‌دلان و بی‌اعتقادان کردی
A certain preacher, whenever he mounted the pulpit, would begin to pray for the highway robbers (who plunder and maltreat the righteous). آن یکی واعظ چو بر تخت آمدی ** قاطعان راه را داعی شدی
He would lift up his hand, (crying), “O Lord, let mercy fall upon evil men and corrupters and insolent transgressors, دست برمی‌داشت یا رب رحم ران ** بر بدان و مفسدان و طاغیان
Upon all who make a mock of the good people, upon all whose hearts are unbelieving and those who dwell in the Christian monastery.” بر همه تسخرکنان اهل خیر ** برهمه کافردلان و اهل دیر
He would not pray for the pure; he would pray for none but the wicked. می‌نکردی او دعا بر اصفیا ** می‌نکردی جز خبیثان را دعا
They said to him, “This is unknown (extraordinary): ’tis no generosity to pray for the people of unrighteousness.” 85 مر ورا گفتند کین معهود نیست ** دعوت اهل ضلالت جود نیست
He replied, “I have seen (experienced) goodness from these folk: for this reason I have chosen to pray for them. گفت نیکویی ازینها دیده‌ام ** من دعاشان زین سبب بگزیده‌ام
They wrought so much wickedness and injustice and oppression that they cast (drove) me forth from evil into good. خبث و ظلم و جور چندان ساختند ** که مرا از شر به خیر انداختند
Whenever I turned my face towards this world, I suffered blows and beating from them, هر گهی که رو به دنیا کردمی ** من ازیشان زخم و ضربت خوردمی
And took refuge from the blows Yonder: the wolves were always bringing me back into the (right) Way. کردمی از زخم آن جانب پناه ** باز آوردندمی گرگان به راه
Inasmuch as they contrived the means of my (spiritual) welfare, it behoves me to pray for them, O intelligent one.” 90 چون سبب‌ساز صلاح من شدند ** پس دعاشان بر منست ای هوشمند
The servant (of God) complains to God of pain and smart: he makes a hundred complaints of his pain. بنده می‌نالد به حق از درد و نیش ** صد شکایت می‌کند از رنج خویش
God says, “After all, grief and pain have made thee humbly entreating and righteous. حق همی گوید که آخر رنج و درد ** مر ترا لابه کنان و راست کرد
Make this complaint of the bounty that befalls thee and removes thee far from My door and makes thee an outcast.” این گله زان نعمتی کن کت زند ** از در ما دور و مطرودت کند
In reality every foe (of yours) is your medicine: he is an elixir and beneficial and one that seeks to win your heart; در حقیقت هر عدو داروی تست ** کیمیا و نافع و دلجوی تست
For you flee away from him into solitude and would fain implore help of God's grace. 95 که ازو اندر گریزی در خلا ** استعانت جویی از لطف خدا
Your friends are really enemies, for they make you far from the (Divine) Presence and occupied (with them). در حقیقت دوستانت دشمن‌اند ** که ز حضرت دور و مشغولت کنند
There is an animal whose name is ushghur (porcupine): it is (made) stout and big by blows of the stick. هست حیوانی که نامش اشغرست ** او به زخم چوب زفت و لمترست
The more you cudgel it, the more it thrives: it grows fat on blows of the stick. تا که چوبش می‌زنی به می‌شود ** او ز زخم چوب فربه می‌شود
Assuredly the true believer's soul is a porcupine, for it is (made) stout and fat by the blows of tribulation. نفس مومن اشغری آمد یقین ** کو به زخم رنج زفتست و سمین
For this reason the tribulation and abasement (laid) upon the prophets is greater than (that laid upon) all the (other) creatures in the world, 100 زین سبب بر انبیا رنج و شکست ** از همه خلق جهان افزونترست
So that their souls became stouter than (all other) souls; for no other class of people suffered that affliction. تا ز جانها جانشان شد زفت‌تر ** که ندیدند آن بلا قوم دگر
The hide is afflicted by the medicine (tan-liquor), (but) it becomes sweet like Tá’if leather; پوست از دارو بلاکش می‌شود ** چون ادیم طایفی خوش می‌شود
And if he (the tanner) did not rub the bitter and acrid (liquor) into it, it would become fetid, unpleasant, and foul-smelling. ورنه تلخ و تیز مالیدی درو ** گنده گشتی ناخوش و ناپاک بو
Know that Man is an untanned hide, made noisome and gross by humours. آدمی را پوست نامدبوغ دان ** از رطوبتها شده زشت و گران
Give (him) bitter and acrid (discipline) and much rubbing (tribulation), that he may become pure and lovely and exceedingly strong; 105 تلخ و تیز و مالش بسیار ده ** تا شود پاک و لطیف و با فره
But if you cannot (mortify yourself), be content, O cunning one, if God give you tribulation without choice (on your part), ور نمی‌توانی رضا ده ای عیار ** گر خدا رنجت دهد بی‌اختیار
For affliction (sent) by the Friend is (the means of) your being purified: His knowledge is above your contrivance. که بلای دوست تطهیر شماست ** علم او بالای تدبیر شماست
The affliction becomes sweet (to the sufferer) when he sees happiness: the medicine becomes sweet (to the sick man) when he regards health. چون صفا بیند بلا شیرین شود ** خوش شود دارو چو صحت‌بین شود
He sees victory for himself in the very essence of checkmate; therefore he says, “Kill me, O trusty ones!” برد بیند خویش را در عین مات ** پس بگوید اقتلونی یا ثقات
This policeman became a (source of) profit in respect of another, but he became reprobate in respect of himself. 110 این عوان در حق غیری سود شد ** لیک اندر حق خود مردود شد
The mercy appertaining to the Faith was cut off from him; the hate inherent in the Devil enfolded him. رحم ایمانی ازو ببریده شد ** کین شیطانی برو پیچیده شد
He became a factory of anger and hatred: know that hate is the root of error and infidelity. کارگاه خشم گشت و کین‌وری ** کینه دان اصل ضلال و کافری
How they asked Jesus, on whom be peace, saying, "O Spirit of God, what is the hardest thing to bear of all the hard things in existence?" سال کردن از عیسی علیه‌السلام کی در وجود از همه‌ی صعبها صعب‌تر چیست