He is the King of kings; nay, he is the King-maker, though on account of the evil eye his name is “Ayáz.”
شاه شاهانست و بلک شاه‌ساز ** وز برای چشم بد نامش ایاز
Even the good eyes are evil to him in respect of (their) jealousy, for his beauty is infinite.
چشمهای نیک هم بر وی به دست ** از ره غیرت که حسنش بی‌حدست
I want a mouth as broad as heaven to describe the qualities of him who is envied by the angels;
یک دهان خواهم به پهنای فلک ** تا بگویم وصف آن رشک ملک
And if I should get a mouth like this and a hundred times as (broad as) this, it would be too narrow for (utterance of) this longing's distressful cry.1885
ور دهان یابم چنین و صد چنین ** تنگ آید در فغان این حنین
(Yet), if I should not utter even this (little) amount, O trusted (friend), the phial, (which is) my heart, would burst from weakness (inability to contain its emotion).
این قدر گر هم نگویم ای سند ** شیشه‌ی دل از ضعیفی بشکند
Since I have seen my heart's phial (to be) fragile, I have rent many a mantle in order to allay (my pain).
Beyond doubt, O worshipful one, I must become mad for three days at the beginning of every month.
من سر هر ماه سه روز ای صنم ** بی‌گمان باید که دیوانه شوم
Hark, to-day is the first of the triduum: ’tis the day of triumph (pírúz), not (the day of) the turquoise (pírúza).
هین که امروز اول سه روزه است ** روز پیروزست نه پیروزه است
Every heart that is in love with the King, for it (for that heart) ’tis always the beginning of the month.1890
هر دلی که اندر غم شه می‌بود ** دم به دم او را سر مه می‌بود
Since I have become mad, the story of Mahmúd and the description of Ayáz are now out of order.
قصه‌ی محمود و اوصاف ایاز ** چون شدم دیوانه رفت اکنون ز ساز
Explaining that what is related (here) is (only) the outward form of the Story, and that it is a form befitting these (hearers) who apprehend (no more than) the external form and suitable to the mirror of their imagination, whereas the real essence of the Story is so transcendent that speech is ashamed to reveal it, and from (being overcome with) confusion (the writer) loses head, beard, and pen. And a hint is enough for the wise.
بیان آنک آنچ بیان کرده می‌شود صورت قصه است وانگه آن صورتیست کی در خورد این صورت گیرانست و درخورد آینه‌ی تصویر ایشان و از قدوسیتی کی حقیقت این قصه راست نطق را ازین تنزیل شرم می‌آید و از خجالت سر و ریش و قلم گم می‌کند و العاقل یکفیه الاشاره
Forasmuch as my elephant has dreamed of Hindustán, abandon hope of (receiving) the tax: the village is ruined.
زانک پیلم دید هندستان به خواب ** از خراج اومید بر ده شد خراب
How should poesy and rhyme come to me after the foundations of sanity are destroyed?
کیف یاتی النظم لی والقافیه ** بعد ما ضاعت اصول العافیه
’Tis not (merely) one madness I have amidst the sorrows of love; nay, but madness on madness on madness.
ما جنون واحد لی فی الشجون ** بل جنون فی جنون فی جنون
My body is wasted away by secret indications of the mysteries, ever since I beheld eternal life (baqá) in dying to self (faná).1895
ذاب جسمی من اشارات الکنی ** منذ عاینت البقاء فی الفنا
O Ayáz, from love of thee I have become (thin) as a hair: I am unable to tell (thy) story, do thou tell my story.
ای ایاز از عشق تو گشتم چو موی ** ماندم از قصه تو قصه‌ی من بگوی
Many a tale of thy love have I recited with (all) my soul: (now) that I have become (unsubstantial as) a tale, do thou recite mine.
بس فسانه‌ی عشق تو خواندم به جان ** تو مرا که افسانه گشتستم بخوان
Verily thou art reciting, O model (for all), not I: I am Mount Sinai, thou art Moses, and this (discourse) is the echo.
خود تو می‌خوانی نه من ای مقتدی ** من که طورم تو موسی وین صدا
How should the helpless mountain know what the words are? The mountain is empty of that (meaning) which Moses knows.
کوه بیچاره چه داند گفت چیست ** زانک موسی می‌بداند که تهیست
The mountain knows (only) according to its own measure: the body hath (only) a little of the grace of the spirit.1900
کوه می‌داند به قدر خویشتن ** اندکی دارد ز لطف روح تن
The body is like the astrolabe in respect of (the use of the latter in) calculation (of altitudes): it is a sign (for seekers) of the sun-like spirit.
تن چو اصطرلاب باشد ز احتساب ** آیتی از روح هم‌چون آفتاب
When the astronomer is not keen-sighted, an astrolabe-moulder is required,
آن منجم چون نباشد چشم‌تیز ** شرط باشد مرد اصطرلاب‌ریز
To make an astrolabe for him in order that he may gain some knowledge concerning the state of the sun.
تا صطرلابی کند از بهر او ** تا برد از حالت خورشید بو
The soul that seeks (to learn) the truth from the (bodily) astrolabe—how much should it know of the (spiritual) sky and sun?
جان کز اصطرلاب جوید او صواب ** چه قدر داند ز چرخ و آفتاب
You who observe (them) with the astrolabe of the eye are certainly very far short (of perfection) in your view of the (spiritual) world.1905
تو که ز اصطرب دیده بنگری ** درجهان دیدن یقین بس قاصری
You have seen the (spiritual) world according to the measure of your eye, (and) where is the (spiritual) world (in relation to that)? Why, (then), have you twisted your moustache (so boastfully)?
تو جهان را قدر دیده دیده‌ای ** کو جهان سبلت چرا مالیده‌ای
The gnostics (mystics) possess a collyrium: seek it, in order that this eye which (now) resembles a river may become an ocean.
عارفان را سرمه‌ای هست آن بجوی ** تا که دریا گردد این چشم چو جوی
If a single mote of reason and consciousness is (remaining) with me, what is this melancholy madness and distracted speech?
ذره‌ای از عقل و هوش ار با منست ** این چه سودا و پریشان گفتنست
Since my brain is empty of reason and consciousness, how then am I at fault in this raving?
چونک مغز من ز عقل و هش تهیست ** پس گناه من درین تخلیط چیست
No; the fault is his, for he robbed me of my reason: in his presence the reason of all rational beings is dead.1910
نه گناه اوراست که عقلم ببرد ** عقل جمله‌ی عاقلان پیشش بمرد
O thou who causest the reason to wander and the understanding to go astray, intelligences have no object of hope but thee.
یا مجیر العقل فتان الحجی ** ما سواک للعقول مرتجی
I have never desired reason since thou mad’st me mad: I have never envied beauty since thou didst adorn me.
ما اشتهیت العقل مذ جننتنی ** ما حسدت الحسن مذ زینتنی
Is my madness for love of thee approved? Say “Yes,” and God will reward thee.
هل جنونی فی هواک مستطاب ** قل بلی والله یجزیک الثواب
Whether he speak Arabic or Persian, where is the ear and mind by means of which you should attain to the apprehension of it?
گر بتازی گوید او ور پارسی ** گوش و هوشی کو که در فهمش رسی
His wine is not suitable to every mind, his ring is not subject to every ear.1915
باده‌ی او درخور هر هوش نیست ** حلقه‌ی او سخره‌ی هر گوش نیست
Once again I have become mad-like: go, go, my (dear) soul, quickly fetch a chain;
باز دیگر آمدم دیوانه‌وار ** رو رو ای جان زود زنجیری بیار
(But if you bring any) except the chain of my beloved's curl— though you bring two hundred chains, I will burst them (all).
غیر آن زنجیر زلف دلبرم ** گر دو صد زنجیر آری بردرم
The wise purpose (of Ayáz) in looking at his rustic shoon and sheepskin jacket—then let Man consider from what he was created.
حکمت نظر کردن در چارق و پوستین کی فلینظر الانسان مم خلق
Bring back (to my mind) the story of Ayáz's love; for ’tis a treasure full of mystery.
بازگردان قصه‌ی عشق ایاز ** که آن یکی گنجیست مالامال راز
Every day he is going into the uppermost chamber to see his rustic shoon and sheepskin jacket,
می‌رود هر روز در حجره‌ی برین ** تا ببیند چارقی با پوستین
Because (self-)existence produces grievous intoxication: it removes intelligence from the head and reverence from the heart.1920
زانک هستی سخت مستی آورد ** عقل از سر شرم از دل می‌برد
From this ambush this same intoxication of (self-)existence waylaid a hundred thousand generations of old.
صد هزاران قرن پیشین را همین ** مستی هستی بزد ره زین کمین
By this (self-)existence an ‘Azázíl was made to be Iblís, saying, “Why should Adam become lord over me?
شد عزرائیلی ازین مستی بلیس ** که چرا آدم شود بر من رئیس
I too am noble and nobly-born: I am capable of receiving and ready for (receiving) a hundred excellences.
خواجه‌ام من نیز و خواجه‌زاده‌ام ** صد هنر را قابل و آماده‌ام
In excellence I am inferior to none, that I should stand before my enemy to do him service.
در هنر من از کسی کم نیستم ** تا به خدمت پیش دشمن بیستم
I am born of fire, he of mud: what is the position (rank) of mud compared with fire?1925
من ز آتش زاده‌ام او از وحل ** پیش آتش مر وحل را چه محل
Where was he in the period when I was the Prince of the World and the glory of Time?”
او کجا بود اندر آن دوری که من ** صدر عالم بودم و فخر زمن
(On the words of God) “He created the Jinn from smokeless fire,” and His words concerning Iblís: “verily he was one of the Jinn, and he transgressed.”
خلق الجان من مارج من نار و قوله تعالی فی حق ابلیس انه کان من الجن ففسق
The fire (of pride and jealousy) was flaming in the soul of the fool (Iblís), because he was (born) of fire: the son is (endued with) the inward nature of his father.
شعله می‌زد آتش جان سفیه ** که آتشی بود الولد سر ابیه
No; I have spoken in error; ’twas the compelling might of God: why, (then), adduce any cause (for it)?
نه غلط گفتم که بد قهر خدا ** علتی را پیش آوردن چرا
The causeless action (of God) is quit of (all) causes: it is lasting (without change) and firmly stablished from eternity.
کار بی‌علت مبرا از علل ** مستمر و مستقرست از ازل
In the perfection of the holy work sped on (by Him) what room is there for (any) temporal cause or temporal thing?1930
در کمال صنع پاک مستحث ** علت حادث چه گنجد یا حدث
What is (the real meaning of) “the inward nature of (his) father”? His (God's) work (creative energy) is our father: (His) work is the kernel, and the formal (physical) father is the skin (shell).
سر آب چه بود آب ما صنع اوست ** صنع مغزست و آب صورت چو پوست