A river of milk and a river of honey everlasting; a river of wine and a river of running water.
جوی شیر و جوی شهد جاودان ** جوی خمر و دجله‌ی آب روان
Then from the Throne they flow into Paradise; some little thing (offshoot) appears in this world too,1630
پس ز عرش اندر بهشتستان رود ** در جهان هم چیزکی ظاهر شود
Although here those four (rivers) are defiled—by what? By the poison of mortality and indigestion.
گرچه آلوده‌ست اینجا آن چهار ** از چه از زهر فنا و ناگوار
From (each of) those four (rivers) a draught has been poured on the dark Earth and a temptation has been offered,
جرعه‌ای بر خاک تیره ریختند ** زان چهار و فتنه‌ای انگیختند
In order that these vile wretches may seek the source thereof; (but) these worthless folk are content with this (draught).
تا بجویند اصل آن را این خسان ** خود برین قانع شدند این ناکسان
He (God) hath given milk and nourishment for babes: He hath made the breast of every wife a fountain (of milk).
شیر داد و پرورش اطفال را ** چشمه کرده سینه‌ی هر زال را
(He hath given) wine to drive away grief and care: He hath made of the grape a fountain to inspire courage.1635
خمر دفع غصه و اندیشه را ** چشمه کرده از عنب در اجترا
(He hath given) honey as a remedy for the sick body: He hath made the inward part of the bee a fountain (of honey).
انگبین داروی تن رنجور را ** چشمه کرده باطن زنبور را
He gave water universally to high and low for cleanliness and for drinking.
آب دادی عام اصل و فرع را ** از برای طهر و بهر کرع را
(The object is) that you may follow the track from these (derivatives) towards the origins; but you are content with this (offshoot), O trifler.
تا ازینها پی بری سوی اصول ** تو برین قانع شدی ای بوالفضول
Now hear the story of the Earth and what she is saying to enchant the disturber (of her peace).
بشنو اکنون ماجرای خاک را ** که چه می‌گوید فسون محراک را
With frowning (unsmiling) looks in the presence of Seraphiel, she is practising a hundred sorts of coquetry and blandishment,1640
پیش اسرافیل‌گشته او عبوس ** می‌کند صد گونه شکل و چاپلوس
Saying, “By the truth of the holy essence of the Almighty, (I beseech thee), do not regard this violence to me as lawful!
که بحق ذات پاک ذوالجلال ** که مدار این قهر را بر من حلال
I have a presentiment of this change: suspicious thoughts are running in my head.
من ازین تقلیب بویی می‌برم ** بدگمانی می‌دود اندر سرم
Thou art the Angel of mercy: show mercy, for the humá will not harm any (common) bird.
تو فرشته‌ی رحمتی رحمت نما ** زانک مرغی را نیازارد هما
O (thou who art) healing and mercy to the sorrowful, do thou the same as those two benefactors did.”
ای شفا و رحمت اصحاب درد ** تو همان کن کان دو نیکوکار کرد
At once Seraphiel returned to the King: in God's presence he excused himself and told what had passed,1645
زود اسرافیل باز آمد به شاه ** گفت عذر و ماجرا نزد اله
Saying, “Outwardly (formally) Thou gavest (me) the command to take (the clay), (but) Thou didst inspire my conscience to do the opposite of that.
کز برون فرمان بدادی که بگیر ** عکس آن الهام دادی در ضمیر
The command to take Thou didst address to my ear, the prohibition against hardheartedness Thou didst address to my understanding.
امر کردی در گرفتن سوی گوش ** نهی کردی از قساوت سوی هوش
Mercy, being prior, prevailed over wrath, O Lord whose actions are incomparable and whose dealings are gracious.”
سبق رحمت گشت غالب بر غضب ** ای بدیع افعال و نیکوکار رب
The sending of Azrael, the Angel of firm resolution and strong mind, on whom be peace, to seize a handful of clay in order that the body of Adam, on whom be peace, might be quickened.
فرستادن عزرائیل ملک العزم و الحزم را علیه‌السلام ببر گرفتن حفنه‌ای خاک تا شود جسم آدم چالاک عیله‌السلام و الصلوة
Straightway God said to Azrael, “Behold the Earth full of vain imagination!
گفت یزدان زو عزرائیل را ** که ببین آن خاک پر تخییل را
Find that feeble unjust old crone: hark, fetch a handful of clay and make haste!”1650
آن ضعیف زال ظالم را بیاب ** مشت خاکی هین بیاور با شتاب
Azrael, the captain of the (Divine) Decree, went off towards the terrestrial globe for the purpose of requisition.
رفت عزرائیل سرهنگ قضا ** سوی کره‌ی خاک بهر اقتضا
The Earth, according to rule, began lamenting loudly: she adjured him, she swore many an oath,
خاک بر قانون نفیر آغاز کرد ** داد سوگندش بسی سوگند خورد
Crying, “O favourite youth (page-of-honour), O bearer of the Throne, O thou whose command is obeyed in heaven and earth,
کای غلام خاص و ای حمال عرش ** ای مطاع الامر اندر عرش و فرش
Depart, for the sake of the mercy of the Merciful (God)! Depart, for the sake of Him who hath shown kindness unto thee!
رو به حق رحمت رحمن فرد ** رو به حق آنک با تو لطف کرد
(Depart), for the sake of that King who alone is worshipped and with whom no one's lamentation is rejected!”1655
حق شاهی که جز او معبود نیست ** پیش او زاری کس مردود نیست
He replied, “These conjurations cannot move me to avert my face from (disobey) the Giver of (all) commands secret or manifest.”
گفت نتوانم بدین افسون که من ** رو بتابم ز آمر سر و علن
She said, “After all, He hath commanded forbearance: both (severity and forbearance) are commanded: take (choose) the latter on the ground of knowledge.”
گفت آخر امر فرمود او به حلم ** هر دو امرند آن بگیر از راه علم
He replied, “That would be an interpretation or an inference: do not seek to confuse the plain meaning of the command.
گفت آن تاویل باشد یا قیاس ** در صریح امر کم جو التباس
If thou interpret (alter) thine own thought (so as to make it agree with the command), ’tis better than that thou shouldst interpret (pervert) this unequivocal (command).
فکر خود را گر کنی تاویل به ** که کنی تاویل این نامشتبه
My heart is burning (melting) at thy supplication, my bosom is filled with blood on account of thy salty tears.1660
دل همی‌سوزد مرا بر لابه‌ات ** سینه‌ام پر خون شد از شورابه‌ات
I am not pitiless; nay, I have greater pity than those three holy ones for the sorrow of the sorrowful.
نیستم بی‌رحم بل زان هر سه پاک ** رحم بیشستم ز درد دردناک
If I am slapping an orphan, while a mild-natured person may put halwá (sweetmeat) in his hand,
گر طبانجه می‌زنم من بر یتیم ** ور دهد حلوا به دستش آن حلیم
Those slaps (of mine) are better (for him) than the other's halwá; and if he be beguiled by the halwá, woe to him!
این طبانجه خوشتر از حلوای او ** ور شود غره به حلوا وای او
My heart is burning at thy lamentable cry, but God is teaching me (to know) a (great) kindness—
بر نفیر تو جگر می‌سوزدم ** لیک حق لطفی همی‌آموزدم
The kindness concealed amidst cruelties, the priceless cornelian hidden in filth.1665
لطف مخفی در میان قهرها ** در حدث پنهان عقیق بی‌بها
The cruelty done by God is better than a hundred clemencies of mine: to withhold the soul from God is agony to the soul.
قهر حق بهتر ز صد حلم منست ** منع کردن جان ز حق جان کندنست
His worst cruelty is better than the clemency of both worlds: how excellent is the Lord of created beings and how excellent (His) help!
بترین قهرش به از حلم دو کون ** نعم رب‌العالمین و نعم عون
In His cruelty there are secret kindnesses: to surrender the soul for His sake increases (the life of) the soul.
لطفهای مضمر اندر قهر او ** جان سپردن جان فزاید بهر او
Hark, dismiss suspicion and error: make thy head a foot (to hasten towards Him) since He hath bidden thee come.
هین رها کن بدگمانی و ضلال ** سر قدم کن چونک فرمودت تعال
His ‘Come’ will give (thee) exaltations; it will give (thee) intoxication and (spiritual) brides and couches.1670
آن تعال او تعالیها دهد ** مستی و جفت و نهالیها دهد
In short, never, never can I weaken (the force of) that sublime command and complicate it (by prevarication).”
باری آن امر سنی را هیچ هیچ ** من نیارم کرد وهن و پیچ پیچ
The wretched Earth heard all this (counsel), (but) in her ear was a plug arising from that evil suspicion.
این همه بشنید آن خاک نژند ** زان گمان بد بدش در گوش بند
Once more in another fashion the lowly Earth made entreaty and prostrated herself, like a drunken man.
باز از نوعی دگر آن خاک پست ** لابه و سجده همی‌کرد او چو مست
He said, “Nay, arise! There is no loss (to thee) from this (thing), I lay my head and life as a pledge and guarantee.
گفت نه برخیز نبود زین زیان ** من سر و جان می‌نهم رهن و ضمان
Do not think of entreating (me), do not make further entreaty except to that merciful and justice-dealing King.1675
لابه مندیش و مکن لابه دگر ** جز بدان شاه رحیم دادگر
I am a slave to (His) command, I dare not neglect His command which raised dust from the sea.
بنده فرمانم نیارم ترک کرد ** امر او کز بحر انگیزید گرد
Save from the Creator of ear and eye and head I will hear (accept) neither good nor evil—not even from my own soul.
جز از آن خلاق گوش و چشم و سر ** نشنوم از جان خود هم خیر و شر
My ear is deaf to all words but His: He is dearer to me than my sweet soul.
گوش من از گفت غیر او کرست ** او مرا از جان شیرین جان‌ترست