O king, if you take away the staff from an old man, he will be more grieved than that party (the magicians) were (grieved) by (the amputation of) their hands and feet.
گر عصا بستانی از پیری شها ** بیش رنجد که آن گروه از دست و پا
The cry, “No harm,” reached Heaven: (they said to Pharaoh), “Hark, cut (them) off, for our souls are delivered from the agony.
نعرهی لاضیر بر گردون رسید ** هین ببر که جان ز جان کندن رهید
We have come to know (that) we are not this body: beyond the body we are living through God.”3340
ما بدانستیم ما این تن نهایم ** از ورای تن به یزدان میزییم
Oh, blest is he that has recognised his (real) essence and built (for himself) a palace in everlasting security.
ای خنک آن را که ذات خود شناخت ** اندر امن سرمدی قصری بساخت
A child weeps for walnuts and raisins; those are very trifling things in the view of a reasonable man.
کودکی گرید پی جوز و مویز ** پیش عاقل باشد آن بس سهل چیز
(So) in the spirit's view the body is (like) walnuts and raisins, (but) how should (one who is) a child (in spiritual matters) attain to the knowledge possessed by (spiritual) men?
پیش دل جوز و مویز آمد جسد ** طفل کی در دانش مردان رسد
Whoever is veiled (from God) is really a child: the man is he who is beyond (all) uncertainty.
هر که محجوبست او خود کودکست ** مرد آن باشد که بیرون از شکست
Siquis barba et testiculis vir esset, every he-goat has a beard and plenty of hair.” [If someone were (defined as) a man by a beard and testicles, every he-goat has a beard and plenty of hair.”]3345
گر بریش و خایه مردستی کسی ** هر بزی را ریش و مو باشد بسی
That goat is a bad leader: he is taking his followers quickly along to the butcher.
پیشوای بد بود آن بز شتاب ** میبرد اصحاب را پیش قصاب
He has combed his beard, saying, “I am the foremost.” (Yes); thou art the foremost, but in the direction of death and anguish.
ریش شانه کرده که من سابقم ** سابقی لیکن به سوی مرگ و غم
Hark, adopt (as thy vocation) travelling (on the Way of righteousness) and abandon thy beard: abandon this egoism and troubled thought,
هین روش بگزین و ترک ریش کن ** ترک این ما و من و تشویش کن
That thou mayst become like the scent of the rose to (God's) lovers (and mayst be) their leader and guide to the Rose-garden.
تا شوی چون بوی گل با عاشقان ** پیشوا و رهنمای گلستان
Who (what) is the scent of the rose? The breath (voice) of reason and intelligence (which is) a sweet guide on the way to the Kingdom Everlasting.3350
کیست بوی گل دم عقل و خرد ** خوش قلاووز ره ملک ابد
How the King (Mahmúd) once more commanded Ayáz, saying, "Give a clear explanation concerning thy rustic shoon and sheepskin jacket in order that thy fellow-servants may be admonished by that indication, for (the Prophet has said), ‘Religion consists in (giving) sincere counsel.’"
فرمودن شاه به ایاز بار دگر کی شرح چارق و پوستین آشکارا بگو تا خواجه تاشانت از آن اشارت پند گیرد کی الدین النصیحة و موعظه یابند
“O Ayáz, declare the mystery of the rustic shoon and why in the presence of the shoon thou showest all this humility,
سر چارق را بیان کن ای ایاز ** پیش چارق چیستت چندین نیاز
So that thy (fellow-servants) Sunqur and Bakyáruq may hear the inmost secret of thy sheepskin jacket and rustic shoon.
تا بنوشد سنقر و بک یا رقت ** سر سر پوستین و چارقت
O Ayáz, slavery hath gained lustre from thee: thy lustre hath sped from lowliness towards heaven.
ای ایاز از تو غلامی نور یافت ** نورت از پستی سوی گردون شتافت
Servitude has become an object of regret to the free, since thou hast given life (and splendour) to servitude.
حسرت آزادگان شد بندگی ** بندگی را چون تو دادی زندگی
The true believer is he by whose true belief amidst the ebb and flow (of fortune) the infidel is made regretful.”3355
مؤمن آن باشد که اندر جزر و مد ** کافر از ایمان او حسرت خورد
Story of the infidel whom, in the time of Abá Yazíd (Báyazíd), they invited to become a Moslem; and how he answered them.
حکایت کافری کی گفتندش در عهد ابا یزید کی مسلمان شو و جواب گفتن او ایشان را
There was a certain infidel in the time of Báyazíd: a blessed Moslem said to him,
بود گبری در زمان بایزید ** گفت او را یک مسلمان سعید
“How would it be if you profess Islam, so that you may gain a hundred salvations and sovereignties?”
که چه باشد گر تو اسلام آوری ** تا بیابی صد نجات و سروری
He replied, “If this Faith (of thine), O disciple, is (the same as) that which is held by Báyazíd, the Shaykh (spiritual Director) of the world,
گفت این ایمان اگر هست ای مرید ** آنک دارد شیخ عالم بایزید
I cannot endure the glowing heat thereof, which is too great for (all) the strivings of my soul (to attain unto it).
من ندارم طاقت آن تاب آن ** که آن فزون آمد ز کوششهای جان
Although I feel no certainty as regards the Faith and Religion (of Islam), yet I believe mightily in his Faith.3360
گرچه در ایمان و دین ناموقنم ** لیک در ایمان او بس مؤمنم
I hold the faith that that (Faith of his) is higher than all (others): ’tis very beautiful, resplendent, and glorious.
دارم ایمان که آن ز جمله برترست ** بس لطیف و با فروغ و با فرست
Inwardly I am a believer in his Faith, though a seal is set firmly on my mouth.
مؤمن ایمان اویم در نهان ** گرچه مهرم هست محکم بر دهان
Again, if indeed the Faith (which thou wouldst have me embrace) is your Faith, I have no inclination or desire for it.
باز ایمان خود گر ایمان شماست ** نه بدان میلستم و نه مشتهاست
He that feels a hundred inclinations to believe—that (inclination) languishes as soon as he sees you (Moslems),
آنک صد میلش سوی ایمان بود ** چون شما را دید آن فاتر شود
Because he sees a (mere) name and no meaning in it, like calling the desert mafáza (a safe place).3365
زانک نامی بیند و معنیش نی ** چون بیابان را مفازه گفتنی
When he looks upon your Faith, his love is chilled (and shrinks) from professing it.”
عشق او ز آورد ایمان بفسرد ** چون به ایمان شما او بنگرد
Story of the harsh-voiced muezzin who called (the Moslems) to prayer in the land of the infidels and to whom a certain infidel offered presents.
حکایت آن مذن زشت آواز کی در کافرستان بانگ نماز داد و مرد کافری او را هدیه داد
A certain muezzin had a very harsh voice: he called (the Moslems to prayer) in the land of the infidels.
یک مذن داشت بس آواز بد ** در میان کافرستان بانگ زد
They said to him several times, “Do not give the call to prayer, for (otherwise) fighting and acts of hostility (against us) will be prolonged.”
چند گفتندش مگو بانگ نماز ** که شود جنگ و عداوتها دراز
He defied (them), and then without showing (any) caution he gave the call to prayer in the land of the infidels.
او ستیزه کرد و پس بیاحتراز ** گفت در کافرستان بانگ نماز
The (Moslem) folk were in fear of a general insurrection; however, an infidel came up (to them) with a robe.3370
خلق خایف شد ز فتنهی عامهای ** خود بیامد کافری با جامهای
He brought (with him) candles and halwá and such a (fine) robe as gifts, and approached in a friendly manner,
شمع و حلوا با چنان جامهی لطیف ** هدیه آورد و بیامد چون الیف
Asking again and again, “Tell me, where is this muezzin, whose call and cry increases my pleasure?”
پرس پرسان کین مذن کو کجاست ** که صلا و بانگ او راحتفزاست
“Eh, what pleasure was there from such a harsh voice?” He replied, “His voice penetrated into the church.
هین چه راحت بود زان آواز زشت ** گفت که آوازش فتاد اندر کنشت
I have a comely daughter of very high estate: she was desiring (to marry) a true believer.
دختری دارم لطیف و بس سنی ** آرزو میبود او را مؤمنی
Never would this passion go out of her head, (though) so many infidels were exhorting her.3375
هیچ این سودا نمیرفت از سرش ** پندها میداد چندین کافرش
Love of the Faith had grown up in her heart: this grief was like a censer and I like the aloes-wood (burning in it).
در دل او مهر ایمان رسته بود ** همچو مجمر بود این غم من چو عود
I was in torment and anguish and continually on the rack lest her passion should lead her (to embrace Islam).
در عذاب و درد و اشکنجه بدم ** که بجنبد سلسلهی او دم به دم
I knew no remedy for it until this muezzin chanted the adhán (call to prayer).
هیچ چاره میندانستم در آن ** تا فرو خواند این مذن آن اذان
(Then) my daughter said, ‘What is this detestable noise? It grates on my ear.
گفت دختر چیست این مکروه بانگ ** که بگوشم آمد این دو چار دانگ
Never in all my life have I heard such a harsh voice in this Christian convent and church.’3380
من همه عمر این چنین آواز زشت ** هیچ نشنیدم درین دیر و کنشت
Her sister said to her, ‘This chant, namely the adhán, gives (the Moslems) notice (of prayer-time) and is the watchword of the Faithful.’
خوهرش گفتا که این بانگ اذان ** هست اعلام و شعار مومنان
She would not believe it, and asked some one else: that person too said, ‘Yes, (it is true), O father.’
باورش نامد بپرسید از دگر ** آن دگر هم گفت آری ای پدر
When she became sure (of this), her face turned pale and her heart grew cold (averse) to Islam.
چون یقین گشتش رخ او زرد شد ** از مسلمانی دل او سرد شد
I was delivered from anxiety and torment: last night I slept sound in a peaceful sleep.
باز رستم من ز تشویش و عذاب ** دوش خوش خفتم در آن بیخوف خواب
This was the pleasure (that came) to me from his voice: in gratitude I bring (these) gifts: where is the man?”3385
راحتم این بود از آواز او ** هدیه آوردم به شکر آن مرد کو
When he saw him (the muezzin), he said, “Accept the gift, for thou hast been my protector and saviour.
چون بدیدش گفت این هدیه پذیر ** که مرا گشتی مجیر و دستگیر
(On account of) the benefit and kindness that thou hast done to me, I have become thy slave perpetually.
آنچ کردی با من از احسان و بر ** بندهی تو گشتهام من مستمر