Thou hast eaten for years, and food has never failed: leave the future and look at the past.
سالها خوردی و کم نامد ز خور ** ترک مستقبل کن و ماضی نگر
Bring to mind the food and viands thou hast eaten (already): do not regard what is to come, and do not be miserable.
لوت و پوت خورده را هم یاد آر ** منگر اندر غابر و کم باش زار
How the lion made the ass his prey, and being thirsty after his exertions went to the spring to drink. Before his return the fox had eaten the liver together with the lungs, heart, and kidneys, which are the choicest parts. The lion looked for the heart and liver, and when he did not find them asked the fox where they were. The fox replied, “If he had possessed a heart and liver, how should he have come back to thee after receiving such a stern lesson on that day and (only) saving his life by means of a thousand devices?” “If we had hearkened or considered with understanding we should not have been among the fellows of Hell-fire.”
صید کردن شیر آن خر را و تشنه شدن شیر از کوشش رفت به چشمه تا آب خورد تا باز آمدن شیر جگربند و دل و گرده را روباه خورده بود کی لطیفترست شیر طلب کرد دل و جگر نیافت از روبه پرسید کی کو دل و جگر روبه گفت اگر او را دل و جگر بودی آنچنان سیاستی دیده بود آن روز و به هزار حیله جان برده کی بر تو باز آمدی لوکنا نسمع او نعقل ماکنا فی اصحاب السعیر
The little fox brought the ass into the presence of the lion: the courageous lion tore him to pieces.2870
برد خر را روبهک تا پیش شیر ** پاره‌پاره کردش آن شیر دلیر
The King of the Beasts was made thirsty by his exertions and went to the spring to drink some water.
تشنه شد از کوشش آن سلطان دد ** رفت سوی چشمه تا آبی خورد
Meanwhile the little fox, having got an opportunity, ate his (the ass's) liver, lungs, and heart.
روبهک خورد آن جگربند و دلش ** آن زمان چون فرصتی شد حاصلش
When the lion returned from the spring to eat (his prey), he looked in the ass to find the heart, (but) there was neither heart nor liver.
شیر چون وا گشت از چشمه به خور ** جست در خر دل نه دل بد نه جگر
He said to the fox, “Where is the liver? What has become of the heart?—for no animal can do without these two (organs).”
گفت روبه را جگر کو دل چه شد ** که نباشد جانور را زین دو بد
He (the fox) replied, “If he had possessed a heart or liver, how should he have come here a second time?2875
گفت گر بودی ورا دل یا جگر ** کی بدینجا آمدی بار دگر
He had experienced that tremendous agony and turmoil, the scramble down the mountain, the terror, and the flight;
آن قیامت دیده بود و رستخیز ** وآن ز کوه افتادن و هول و گریز
If he had had a liver or heart, how could he have come a second time into thy presence?”
گر جگر بودی ورا یا دل بدی ** بار دیگر کی بر تو آمدی
When there is no light in the heart, ’tis no heart; when there is no spirit (in the body), ’tis naught but earth.
چون نباشد نور دل دل نیست آن ** چون نباشد روح جز گل نیست آن
The (heart resembling) glass that hath no spiritual light is (like) urine and the urine-phial: do not call it a lamp.
آن زجاجی کو ندارد نور جان ** بول و قاروره‌ست قندیلش مخوان
The light in the lamp is the gift of the Almighty; the glass and earthenware (vessels) are His creatures' handiwork.2880
نور مصباحست داد ذوالجلال ** صنعت خلقست آن شیشه و سفال
Necessarily in respect of the vessels there is number, (but) in respect of the flames (of light) there is naught but unity.
لاجرم در ظرف باشد اعتداد ** در لهبها نبود الا اتحاد
When the light of six lamps is mingled together, there is no number and plurality in their light.
نور شش قندیل چون آمیختند ** نیست اندر نورشان اعداد و چند
The Jew has become a polytheist from (regarding) the vessels; the true believer regarded the light and (consequently) has become endowed with (spiritual) perception.
آن جهود از ظرفها مشرک شده‌ست ** نور دید آن مومن و مدرک شده‌ست
When the sight falls upon the spirit's vessel, it regards Seth and Noah as being two.
چون نظر بر ظرف افتد روح را ** پس دو بیند شیث را و نوح را
When there is water in it (the canal), (only then) is it (really) a canal: the (real) man is he that hath the spirit (within him).2885
جو که آبش هست جو خود آن بود ** آدمی آنست کو را جان بود
These (others) are not men, they are (mere) forms: they are dead with (desire for) bread and killed by appetite.
این نه مردانند اینها صورتند ** مرده‌ی نانند و کشته‌ی شهوتند
Story of the Christian ascetic who went about with a lamp in the daytime in the midst of the bazaar because of the ecstasy which he had (in his heart).
حکایت آن راهب که روز با چراغ می‌گشت در میان بازار از سر حالتی کی او را بود
That person was going about in a bazaar in the daytime with a candle, his heart full of love and (spiritual) ardour.
آن یکی با شمع برمی‌گشت روز ** گرد بازاری دلش پر عشق و سوز
A busybody said to him, “Hey, O such-and-such, what are you seeking beside every shop?
بوالفضولی گفت او را کای فلان ** هین چه می‌جویی به سوی هر دکان
Hey, why are you going about in search (of something) with a lamp in bright daylight? What is the joke?”
هین چه می‌گردی تو جویان با چراغ ** در میان روز روشن چیست لاغ
He replied, “I am searching everywhere for a man that is alive with the life inspired by that (Divine) Breath.2890
گفت می‌جویم به هر سو آدمی ** که بود حی از حیات آن دمی
Is there a man in existence?” “This bazaar,” said the other, “is full: surely they are men, O noble sage.”
هست مردی گفت این بازار پر ** مردمانند آخر ای دانای حر
He answered, “I want (one who is) a man on the two-wayed road—in the way of anger and at the time of desire.
گفت خواهم مرد بر جاده‌ی دو ره ** در ره خشم و به هنگام شره
Where is (one who is) a man at the moment of anger and at the moment of appetite? In search of (such) a man I am running from street to street.
وقت خشم و وقت شهوت مرد کو ** طالب مردی دوانم کو به کو
Where in the world is (one who is) a man on these two occasions, that I may devote my life to him to-day?”
کو درین دو حال مردی در جهان ** تا فدای او کنم امروز جان
“You are seeking a rare thing,” said he; “but you take no heed of the (Divine) ordinance and destiny. Consider well!2895
گفت نادر چیز می‌جویی ولیک ** غافل از حکم و قضایی بین تو نیک
You regard (only) the branch, you are unaware of the root: we are the branch, the ordinances of the (Divine) decree are the root.”
ناظر فرعی ز اصلی بی‌خبر ** فرع ماییم اصل احکام قدر
The (Divine) destiny causes the rolling sphere (of heaven) to lose its way; the (Divine) destiny makes a hundred Mercuries to be ignorant;
چرخ گردان را قضا گمره کند ** صدعطارد را قضا ابله کند
It makes the world of (our) contrivance to be straitened; it makes iron and hard rock to be (unresisting as) water.
تنگ گرداند جهان چاره را ** آب گرداند حدید و خاره را
O thou who hast resolved upon the way (thou wilt go), step by step, thou art the rawest of the raw, the rawest of the raw, the rawest of the raw.
ای قراری داده ره را گام گام ** خام خامی خام خامی خام خام
Since thou hast seen the revolution of the millstone, come now, see also the water of the river.2900
چون بدیدی گردش سنگ آسیا ** آب جو را هم ببین آخر بیا
Thou hast seen the dust rise into the air: amidst the dust see the wind.
خاک را دیدی برآمد در هوا ** در میان خاک بنگر باد را
Thou seest the kettles of thought boiling: look with intelligence on the fire too.
دیگهای فکر می‌بینی به جوش ** اندر آتش هم نظر می‌کن به هوش
God said to Job, “I have graciously bestowed a (gift of) patience upon every hair of thee.
گفت حق ایوب را در مکرمت ** من بهر موییت صبری دادمت
Hark, do not pay so much regard to thy patience: thou hast seen (thy) patience, (now) look at (My) giving (thee) patience.”
هین به صبر خود مکن چندین نظر ** صبر دیدی صبر دادن را نگر
How long wilt thou behold the revolution of the water-wheel? Put forth thy head and behold the rapid water (that turns it).2905
چند بینی گردش دولاب را ** سر برون کن هم ببین تیز آب را
Thou wilt say, “I am beholding it”; but there are many good signs of (really) beholding it.
تو همی‌گویی که می‌بینم ولیک ** دید آن را بس علامتهاست نیک
When thou hast taken a summary view of the circling movement of the foam, look upon the Sea if thou wantest (to feel) bewilderment.
گردش کف را چو دیدی مختصر ** حیرتت باید به دریا در نگر
He that regards the foam tells of the mystery, while he that regards the Sea is bewildered.
آنک کف را دید سر گویان بود ** وانک دریا دید او حیران بود
He that regards the foam forms intentions, while he that regards the Sea makes his heart (one with) the Sea.
آنک کف را دید نیتها کند ** وانک دریا دید دل دریا کند
He that regards the foam-flakes is (engaged) in reckoning (and calculation), while he that regards the Sea is without (conscious) volition.2910
آنک کفها دید باشد در شمار ** و آنک دریا دید شد بی‌اختیار
He that regards the foam is in (continual) movement, while he that regards the Sea is devoid of hypocrisy.
آنک او کف دید در گردش بود ** وانک دریا دید او بی‌غش بود
How a Moslem called a Magian (to accept Islam).
دعوت کردن مسلمان مغ را
A certain man said to a Magian, “O such-and-such, hark, become a Moslem, be one of the true believers!”
مر مغی را گفت مردی کای فلان ** هین مسلمان شو بباش از مومنان
He replied, “If God will, I shall become a true believer; and if He increase His grace, I shall become possessed of intuitive faith.”
گفت اگر خواهد خدا مومن شوم ** ور فزاید فضل هم موقن شوم
He (the Moslem) said, “God wills thy true belief, in order that thy spirit may be delivered from the hand (power) of Hell;
گفت می‌خواهد خدا ایمان تو ** تا رهد از دست دوزخ جان تو
But thy ill-omened carnal soul and the wicked Devil are dragging thee towards infidelity and the fire-temple.”2915
لیک نفس نحس و آن شیطان زشت ** می‌کشندت سوی کفران و کنشت
He replied, “O reasonable man, since they are predominant I shall (necessarily) be on the side of the stronger.
گفت ای منصف چو ایشان غالب‌اند ** یار او باشم که باشد زورمند
I can side (only) with him who is predominant: I (must) fall in the direction to which the predominant one is pulling (me).
یار آن تانم بدن کو غالبست ** آن طرف افتم که غالب جاذبست