I entreat that Thy grace may become an alchemist (may work a transmutation) and that this bundle of firewood may be turned into gold at this moment.’
لطف تو خواهم که میناگر شود ** این زمان این تنگ هیزم زر شود
Immediately I saw that his firewood was turned into gold, gleaming brightly on the ground, like fire.
در زمان دیدم که زر شد هیزمش ** هم‌چو آتش بر زمین می‌تافت خوش
Thereat I became beside myself for a long while. When I came to myself (again) out of (that) bewilderment,705
من در آن بی‌خود شدم تا دیرگه ** چونک با خویش آمدم من از وله
He said afterwards, ‘O God, if those great ones (the saints) are very jealous and are fleeing from celebrity,
بعد از آن گفت ای خداگر آن کبار ** بس غیورند و گریزان ز اشتهار
At once, without delay, make this (gold) a bundle of firewood again, just as it was (before).’
باز این را بند هیزم ساز زود ** بی‌توقف هم بر آن حالی که بود
Immediately those branches of gold turned into firewood: the intellect and the sight were intoxicated (amazed) at his (miraculous) work.
در زمان هیزم شد آن اغصان زر ** مست شد در کار او عقل و نظر
After that, he took up the firewood and went from me in hot haste towards the town.
بعد از آن برداشت هیزم را و رفت ** سوی شهر از پیش من او تیز و تفت
I wished to follow that (spiritual) king and ask him about (some) difficulties and hear (his answer);710
خواستم تا در پی آن شه روم ** پرسم از وی مشکلات و بشنوم
(But) the awe (which he inspired) made me (as though I were) bound: the vulgar have no way (admission) to the presence of the elect.”
بسته کرد آن هیبت او مر مرا ** پیش خاصان ره نباشد عامه را
And if the way become (open) to any one, let him offer his head (in utter devotion), for that (admission to their presence) comes from their mercy and their drawing (him towards them).
ور کسی را ره شود گو سر فشان ** کان بود از رحمت و از جذبشان
Therefore, when you gain companionship with the siddíq (true saint), deem that Divine favour (conferred on you) to be a precious opportunity.
پس غنیمت دار آن توفیق را ** چون بیابی صحبت صدیق را
(Do) not (be) like the fool who wins the favour of the King, and then lightly and easily falls away from the path (of favour).
نه چو آن ابله که یابد قرب شاه ** سهل و آسان در فتد آن دم ز راه
When more of (the King's) favour is bestowed on him, then he says, “Surely this is the thigh of an ox.”715
چون ز قربانی دهندش بیشتر ** پس بگوید ران گاوست این مگر
This does not consist of the thigh of an ox, O deviser of falsehood: to you it appears to be the thigh of an ox because you are an ass.
نیست این از ران گاو ای مفتری ** ران گاوت می‌نماید از خری
This is a royal gift devoid of any corruption: this is pure munificence (springing) from a (great) mercy,
بذل شاهانه‌ست این بی رشوتی ** بخشش محضست این از رحمتی
[How Solomon, on whom be peace, urged the envoys to hasten the emigration of Bilqís (from her kingdom) for the Faith’s sake.]
تحریض سلیمان علیه‌السلام مر رسولان را بر تعجیل به هجرت بلقیس بهر ایمان
Even as in (the spiritual) warfare King Solomon drew the cavalry and foot-soldiers of Bilqís (towards him),
هم‌چنان که شه سلیمان در نبرد ** جذب خیل و لشکر بلقیس کرد
Saying, “O honoured men, come quickly, quickly, for the waves have risen from the sea of bounty.
که بیایید ای عزیزان زود زود ** که برآمد موجها از بحر جود
At every moment the surge of its waves is scattering shorewards a hundred pearls without danger (to those who seek them).720
سوی ساحل می‌فشاند بی‌خطر ** جوش موجش هر زمانی صد گهر
We cry (you) welcome, O people of righteousness, for now Rizwan hath opened the gate of Paradise.”
الصلا گفتیم ای اهل رشاد ** کین زمان رضوان در جنت گشاد
Then Solomon said, “O couriers, go to Bilqís and believe in this Religion.
پس سلیمان گفت ای پیکان روید ** سوی بلقیس و بدین دین بگروید
Then bid her come hither with all speed, for verily God inviteth to the (abode of) peace.”
پس بگوییدش بیا اینجا تمام ** زود که ان الله یدعوا بالسلام
Hark, come speedily, O seeker of felicity, for now is (the time for) manifestations (of spiritual grace) and the opening of the door.
هین بیا ای طالب دولت شتاب ** که فتوحست این زمان و فتح باب
O thou who art not a seeker, come thou also, that thou mayst gain (the gift of) seeking (felicity) from this faithful Friend.725
ای که تو طالب نه‌ای تو هم بیا ** تا طلب یابی ازین یار وفا
The cause of the emigration of (Ibráhím son of) Adham, may God sanctify his spirit, and his abandoning the kingdom of Khurásán.
سبب هجرت ابراهیم ادهم قدس الله سره و ترک ملک خراسان
Quickly dash to pieces the kingdom (of this world), like (Ibráhím son of) Adham, that like him thou mayst gain the kingdom of everlasting life.
ملک برهم زن تو ادهم‌وار زود ** تا بیابی هم‌چو او ملک خلود
At night that king was asleep on his throne, (while) on the roof (of the palace) the guards were exercising authority.
خفته بود آن شه شبانه بر سریر ** حارسان بر بام اندر دار و گیر
The king's purpose in (having) the guards was not that he might thereby keep off robbers and ne’er-do-wells.
قصد شه از حارسان آن هم نبود ** که کند زان دفع دزدان و رنود
He knew that the man who is just is free from (fear of) attack and secure in his heart.
او همی دانست که آن کو عادلست ** فارغست از واقعه آمن دلست
Justice is the guardian of pleasures; not men who beat their rattles on the roofs at night.730
عدل باشد پاسبان گامها ** نه به شب چوبک‌زنان بر بامها
But his object in (listening to) the sound of the rebeck was, like (that of) ardent lovers (of God), (to bring into his mind) the phantasy of that (Divine) allocution;
لیک بد مقصودش از بانگ رباب ** هم‌چو مشتاقان خیال آن خطاب
(For) the shrill noise of the clarion and the menace of the drum somewhat resemble that universal trumpet.
ناله‌ی سرنا و تهدید دهل ** چیزکی ماند بدان ناقور کل
Hence philosophers have said that we received these harmonies from the revolution of the (celestial) sphere,
پس حکیمان گفته‌اند این لحنها ** از دوار چرخ بگرفتیم ما
(And that) this (melody) which people sing with pandore and throat is the sound of the revolutions of the sphere;
بانگ گردشهای چرخست این که خلق ** می‌سرایندش به طنبور و به حلق
(But) the true believers say that the influences of Paradise made every unpleasant sound to be beautiful.735
مومنان گویند که آثار بهشت ** نغز گردانید هر آواز زشت
We all have been parts of Adam, we have heard those melodies in Paradise.
ما همه اجزای آدم بوده‌ایم ** در بهشت آن لحنها بشنوده‌ایم
Although the water and earth (of our bodies) have caused a doubt to fall upon us, something of those (melodies) comes (back) to our memory;
گرچه بر ما ریخت آب و گل شکی ** یادمان آمد از آنها چیزکی
But since it is mingled with the earth of sorrow, how should this treble and bass give (us) the same delight?
لیک چون آمیخت با خاک کرب ** کی دهند این زیر و آن بم آن طرب
When water is mingled with urine and stalings, its temperament is made bitter and acid by the commixture.
آب چون آمیخت با بول و کمیز ** گشت ز آمیزش مزاجش تلخ و تیز
There is a small quantity of water in his (a man's) body: suppose it is urine, (yet) it will extinguish a fire.740
چیزکی از آب هستش در جسد ** بول گیرش آتشی را می‌کشد
If the water has been defiled, (still) this natural property of it remains, for by its nature it allays the fire of grief.
گر نجس شد آب این طبعش بماند ** که آتش غم را به طبع خود نشاند
Therefore samá‘ (music) is the food of lovers (of God), since therein is the phantasy of composure (tranquillity of mind).
پس غدای عاشقان آمد سماع ** که درو باشد خیال اجتماع
From (hearing) sounds and pipings the mental phantasies gather a (great) strength; nay, they become forms (in the imagination).
قوتی گیرد خیالات ضمیر ** بلک صورت گردد از بانگ و صفیر
The fire of love is made keen (inflamed) by melodies, just as the fire (ardour) of the man who dropped walnuts (into the water).
آتش عشق از نواها گشت تیز ** آن چنان که آتش آن جوزریز
Story of the thirsty man who dropped walnuts from the top of a walnut-tree into the water-brook that was in the hollow, without reaching the water (himself), in order that he might hear the sound made by the walnuts falling on the water, which thrilled him with joy as (though it were) sweet music.
حکایت آن مرد تشنه کی از سر جوز بن جوز می‌ریخت در جوی آب کی در گو بود و به آب نمی‌رسید تا به افتادن جوز بانگ آب# بشنود و او را چو سماع خوش بانگ آب اندر طرب می‌آورد
The water was in a deep place: the thirsty man went up the tree and scattered the walnuts one by one.745
در نغولی بود آب آن تشنه راند ** بر درخت جوز جوزی می‌فشاند
The walnuts were falling from the walnut-tree into the water: the sound was coming (to his ears), and he was seeing the bubbles.
می‌فتاد از جوزبن جوز اندر آب ** بانگ می‌آمد همی دید او حباب
A sensible person said to him, “Leave off, O youth: truly the (loss of the) walnuts will bring thirst (regret) to you.
عاقلی گفتش که بگذار ای فتی ** جوزها خود تشنگی آرد ترا
The more the fruit falls into the water—(since) the water is below at a (great) distance from you,
بیشتر در آب می‌افتد ثمر ** آب در پستیست از تو دور در
The river-water will have carried it (the fruit) far away before you with effort come down from the top (of the tree).”
تا تو از بالا فرو آیی به زور ** آب جویش برده باشد تا به دور
He replied, “My purpose in this scattering is not (to obtain possession of) the walnuts: look more keenly, do not stop at this superficial (view).750