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
If I were eminent in respect of property, possessions, and riches, I would fill thy mouth with gold.”
گر به مال و ملک و ثروت فردمی ** من دهانت را پر از زر کردمی
“The Faith of you (Moslems) is hypocrisy and falsehood: like that call to prayer, it waylays (the seeker and prevents him from embracing Islam);
هست ایمان شما زرق و مجاز ** راهزن همچون که آن بانگ نماز
But many a regret has come into my heart and soul from (my admiration for) the Faith and sincerity of Báyazíd.”3390
لیک از ایمان و صدق بایزید ** چند حسرت در دل و جانم رسید
Tanquam illa femina quae, cum concubitum asini videret, dixit: “Eheu, quid est hic admissarius egregius? [Just like that woman who observed sexual intercourse with the ass, she said (to herself): “Oh, what is this incomparable stallion?]
همچو آن زن کو جماع خر بدید ** گفت آوه چیست این فحل فرید
Si concubitus hoc est, hi asini (praemium) abstulerunt: cacant super vulvis nostris hi mariti.” [If sexual intercourse is (like) this, these asses have won (the prize): these husbands (just) defecate on our vulvas.”]
گر جماع اینست بردند این خران ** بر کس ما میریند این شوهران
Báyazíd paid all that is due to (fulfilled every obligation of) the Faith: blessings be on such a peerless lion!
داد جمله داد ایمان بایزید ** آفرینها بر چنین شیر فرید
If a single drop of his Faith enter into the ocean, the ocean will be submerged in his drop,
قطرهای ز ایمانش در بحر ار رود ** بحر اندر قطرهاش غرقه شود
As (when) a mote of fire (falls) amidst forests, the (whole) forest passes away in that mote;3395
همچو ز آتش ذرهای در بیشهها ** اندر آن ذره شود بیشه فنا
(Or) as (when) a phantasy (appears) in the heart of a king or his army, (a phantasy which) destroyed his enemies in war.
چون خیالی در دل شه یا سپاه ** کرد اندر جنگ خصمان را تباه
A star (of Divine illumination) appeared in Mohammed, so that the substance of (the beliefs of) Magian and Jew passed away.
یک ستاره در محمد رخ نمود ** تا فنا شد گوهر گبر و جهود
He that received the Faith entered into security; the infidelities of the rest became (a matter on which there were) two opinions.
آنک ایمان یافت رفت اندر امان ** کفرهای باقیان شد دو گمان
At any rate, their first pure (entire) unbelief did not remain (with them): it (the star of Mohammed) planted (in them) either (formal acceptance of) Islam or a (great) dread (of it).
کفر صرف اولین باری نماند ** یا مسلمانی و یا بیمی نشاند
This (description of the Faith of Báyazíd) is a (mere) makeshift varnishing: these similes are not equivalent to the mote of (Divine light).3400
این به حیله آب و روغن کردنیست ** این مثلها کفو ذرهی نور نیست
A mote is only a paltry bodily thing: a mote is not the indivisible Sun.
ذره نبود جز حقیری منجسم ** ذره نبود شارق لا ینقسم
Know that (my) calling it (the Sun) a mote has a purpose hidden (from thee, for) thou art not familiar with the Sea: at present thou art (but) the foam.
گفتن ذره مرادی دان خفی ** محرم دریا نهای این دم کفی
If the luminous sun of the Shaykh's Faith should display itself from the Orient of the Shaykh's spirit,
آفتاب نیر ایمان شیخ ** گر نماید رخ ز شرق جان شیخ
All below, down to the moist clay (beneath the earth's crust), would gain (abundant) treasure, and all above would gain a verdant Paradise.
جمله پستی گنج گیرد تا ثری ** جمله بالا خلد گیرد اخضری
He hath a spirit of resplendent light, he hath a body of despicable earth.3405
او یکی جان دارد از نور منیر ** او یکی تن دارد از خاک حقیر
Oh, I wonder whether he is this or that. Tell (me), uncle, for I am left (helpless) in this difficulty.
ای عجب اینست او یا آن بگو ** که بماندم اندرین مشکل عمو
O brother, if he is this, (then) what is that?—for the Seven Heavens are filled with its light—
گر وی اینست ای برادر چیست آن ** پر شده از نور او هفت آسمان
And if he is that (spirit), (then) what is this body, my friend? Oh, I wonder which of these twain he is and who?
ور وی آنست این بدن ای دوست چیست ** ای عجب زین دو کدامین است و کیست
Story of the woman who told her husband that the cat had eaten the meat, (whereupon) the husband put the cat in the balance (in order to weigh her). (Finding that) her weight amounted to half a “mann”, he said, “O wife, the meat weighed half a ‘mann’ and more. If this is the meat, where is the cat? Or if this is the cat, where is the meat?”
حکایت آن زن کی گفت شوهر را کی گوشت را گربه خورد شوهر گربه را به ترازو بر کشید گربه نیم من برآمد گفت ای زن گوشت نیم من بود و افزون اگر این گوشتست گربه کو و اگر این گربه است گوشت کو
There was a man, a householder, who had a very sneering, dirty, and rapacious wife.
بود مردی کدخدا او را زنی ** سخت طناز و پلید و رهزنی
Whatever (food) he brought (home), his wife would consume it, and the man was forced to keep silence.3410
هرچه آوردی تلف کردیش زن ** مرد مضطر بود اندر تن زدن
(One day) that family man brought home, for a guest, (some) meat (which he had procured) with infinite pains.
بهر مهمان گوشت آورد آن معیل ** سوی خانه با دو صد جهد طویل