This is what was written in the scroll—“Know that outside of the town a treasure is buried.
اندر آن رقعه نبشته بود این ** که برون شهر گنجی دان دفین
(Go to) such-and-such a domed building in which there is a martyr's shrine, with its back to the town and its gate towards the desert.1940
آن فلان قبه که در وی مشهدست ** پشت او در شهر و در در فدفدست
Turn your back to it and face the qibla (Mecca) and then let loose an arrow from your bow.
پشت با وی کن تو رو در قبله آر ** وانگهان از قوس تیری بر گذار
When you have shot the arrow from your bow, O fortunate one, dig up the place where your arrow fell.”
چون فکندی تیر از قوس ای سعاد ** بر کن آن موضع که تیرت اوفتاد
Thereupon the youth fetched a strongbow and let fly an arrow into the expanse of (aerial) space,
پس کمان سخت آورد آن فتی ** تیر پرانید در صحن فضا
And quickly and with great joy brought a pick-axe and mattock and dug up the spot where his arrow had fallen;
زو تبر آورد و بیل او شاد شاد ** کند آن موضع که تیرش اوفتاد
(But) both he and the mattock and pick-axe were worn out (in vain efforts), and he found not even a trace of the hidden treasure.1945
کند شد هم او و هم بیل و تبر ** خود ندید از گنج پنهانی اثر
Every day in like fashion he was shooting arrows, but never getting to know the situation of the treasure.
هم‌چنین هر روز تیر انداختی ** لیک جای گنج را نشناختی
Since he made this his continual practice, a whispered rumour arose in the city and (among) the people.
چونک این را پیشه کرد او بر دوام ** فجفجی در شهر افتاد و عوام
How the news of this treasure became known and reached the ears of the king.
فاش شدن خبر این گنج و رسیدن به گوش پادشاه
Then the party (of informers) who lay in ambush gave information of this to the king,
پس خبر کردند سلطان را ازین ** آن گروهی که بدند اندر کمین
And submitted the matter (to him) secretly, saying that such-and-such an one had found a treasure-scroll.
عرضه کردند آن سخن را زیردست ** که فلانی گنج‌نامه یافتست
When this person (the fakir) heard that it had come to (the knowledge of) the king, he saw no remedy but resignation and acquiescence;1950
چون شنید این شخص کین با شه رسید ** جز که تسلیم و رضا چاره ندید
(So), ere he should suffer (torture on) the rack by order of the Emperor, that person laid the note (of the treasure) before him,
پیش از آنک اشکنجه بیند زان قباد ** رقعه را آن شخص پیش او نهاد
Saying, “(Ever) since I found this scroll, I have seen no treasure but (only) infinite trouble.
گفت تا این رقعه را یابیده‌ام ** گنج نه و رنج بی‌حد دیده‌ام
Not even a single mite of treasure has been discovered, but I have writhed very much, like a snake.
خود نشد یک حبه از گنج آشکار ** لیک پیچیدم بسی من هم‌چو مار
During a (whole) month I have been in bitter distress like this, for loss or gain (accruing) from this (treasure-scroll) is forbidden to me.
مدت ماهی چنینم تلخ‌کام ** که زیان و سود این بر من حرام
Maybe thy fortune will disclose (to thee) this mine (of riches), O king (who art) victorious in war and the conqueror of fortresses.”1955
بوک بختت بر کند زین کان غطا ** ای شه پیروزجنگ و دزگشا
For six long months and more the king shot arrows and dug pits (where the arrows fell).
مدت شش ماه و افزون پادشاه ** تیر می‌انداخت و برمی‌کند چاه
Wherever an energetic drawer of the strongbow was (to be found), he (the king) gave (him) arrows to shoot and searched for the treasure in every direction.
هرکجا سخته کمانی بود چست ** تیر داد انداخت و هر سو گنج جست
(The result was) nothing but vexation and grief and futilities: as (in the case of) the ‘Anqá, the name (of the treasure) was known to all, but the essence (reality) was non-existent.
غیر تشویش و غم و طامات نی ** هم‌چو عنقا نام فاش و ذات نی
How the king despaired of finding the treasure and became weary of searching for it.
نومید شدن آن پادشاه از یافتن آن گنج و ملول شدن او از طلب آن
When he met with obstacles (to success) in (all) the breadth and length (of his enterprise), the king became sick at heart and weary.
چونک تعویق آمد اندر عرض و طول ** شاه شد زان گنج دل سیر و ملول
(After) the king (had) dug pits in the deserts, yard by yard, he threw the scroll wrathfully before him (the fakir).1960
دشتها را گز گز آن شه چاه کند ** رقعه را از خشم پیش او فکند
“Take this scroll,” said he, “which has no (good) effects; you are the fittest (owner) for it, since you have no work.
گفت گیر این رقعه کش آثار نیست ** تو بدین اولیتری کت کار نیست
It is no use for one who has work (to do) that he should burn the rose and go about (busy himself with) the thorn.
نیست این کار کسی کش هست کار ** که بسوزد گل بگردد گرد خار
’Tis singular (how) the victims of this melancholy madness expect grass to grow from iron.
نادر افتد اهل این ماخولیا ** منتظر که روید از آهن گیا
This specialty needs a man of stout heart like you: do you, who have a stout heart, search for this (treasure).
سخت جانی باید این فن را چو تو ** تو که داری جان سخت این را بجو
If you cannot find it, you will never weary (of seeking); and if you find it, I grant you the right of possession.”1965
گر نیابی نبودت هرگز ملال ** ور بیابی آن به تو کردم حلال
How should Reason wend the way of despair? ’Tis Love that runs on its head in that direction.
عقل راه ناامیدی کی رود ** عشق باشد کان طرف بر سر دود
Love is reckless, not Reason: Reason seeks that from which it may get some profit.
لاابالی عشق باشد نی خرد ** عقل آن جوید کز آن سودی برد
(The lover is) fierce in onset and body-consuming and unabashed: in tribulation, like the nether millstone;
ترک‌تاز و تن‌گداز و بی‌حیا ** در بلا چون سنگ زیر آسیا
A hard-faced one that has no back: he has killed in himself the seeking of self-interest.
سخت‌رویی که ندارد هیچ پشت ** بهره‌جویی را درون خویش کشت
He gambles (everything) clean away, he seeks no reward, even as he receives (everything) clean (as a free gift) from Him (God).1970
پاک می‌بازد نباشد مزدجو ** آنچنان که پاک می‌گیرد ز هو
God gives him his existence without any cause: the devoted (lover) yields it up again without cause;
می‌دهد حق هستیش بی‌علتی ** می‌سپارد باز بی‌علت فتی
For devotion consists in giving without cause: gambling (one's self) clean away (pure self-sacrifice) is outside of (transcends) every religion.
که فتوت دادن بی علتست ** پاک‌بازی خارج هر ملتست
Forasmuch as religion seeks (Divine) grace or salvation, those who gamble (everything) clean away are (God's) chosen favourites.
زانک ملت فضل جوید یا خلاص ** پاک بازانند قربانان خاص
Neither do they put God to any test, nor do they knock at the door of any profit or loss.
نی خدا را امتحانی می‌کنند ** نی در سود و زیانی می‌زنند
How the king gave back the treasure-scroll to the fakir, saying, “Take it: we are quit of it.”
باز دادن شاه گنج‌نامه را به آن فقیر کی بگیر ما از سر این برخاستیم
When the king handed over to that grief-stricken man the treasure-scroll (which was) fraught with commotion,1975
چونک رقعه‌ی گنج پر آشوب را ** شه مسلم داشت آن مکروب را
He (the fakir) became secure from rivals and annoyance, (so) he went and wrapped himself in his melancholy madness.
گشت آمن او ز خصمان و ز نیش ** رفت و می‌پیچید در سودای خویش
He made sad-thoughted Love his friend: a dog licks his own sore himself.
یار کرد او عشق درداندیش را ** کلب لیسد خویش ریش خویش را
Love hath none to help him in his torment: there is not in the village one inhabitant familiar with him.
عشق را در پیچش خود یار نیست ** محرمش در ده یکی دیار نیست
None is more mad than the lover, (yet) Reason is blind and deaf to his melancholia,
نیست از عاشق کسی دیوانه‌تر ** عقل از سودای او کورست و کر
Because this is no common madness: in these cases Medicine cannot give right guidance.1980
زآنک این دیوانگی عام نیست ** طب را ارشاد این احکام نیست
If frenzy of this kind overtake a physician, he will wash out (obliterate) the book of Medicine with (tears of) blood.
گر طبیبی را رسد زین گون جنون ** دفتر طب را فرو شوید به خون
The Medicine of all intellects is (but) a picture of him (Love); the faces of all sweethearts are (but) a veil of him.
طب جمله‌ی عقلها منقوش اوست ** روی جمله دلبران روپوش اوست
O votary of Love, turn thy face towards thine own face: thou hast no kinsman but thyself, O distraught one.
روی در روی خود آر ای عشق‌کیش ** نیست ای مفتون ترا جز خویش خویش
He (the fakir) made a qibla of his heart and began to pray: man hath naught but that for which he laboureth.
قبله از دل ساخت آمد در دعا ** لیس للانسان الا ما سعی
Ere he had heard any answer (to his prayer) he had (already) been engaged in praying for (many) years.1985
پیش از آن کو پاسخی بشنیده بود ** سالها اندر دعا پیچیده بود
He was always praying intently without (receiving) any (overt) response, (but) he was hearing Labbayka in secret from the (Divine) grace.
بی‌اجابت بر دعاها می‌تنید ** از کرم لبیک پنهان می‌شنید
Since that sickly man was always dancing without the tambourine, in reliance upon the bounty of the Almighty Creator,