Accordingly it makes itself heedless of this (happening) and binds its soul fast in the shackle thereof.
خویش را زین هم مغفل میکند ** در عقالش جان معقل میکند
If that exalted one (the prophet or saint) is checkmated (worsted) in this (matter), ’tis not (really) checkmate, ’tis tribulation.
گر شود مات اندرین آن بوالعلا ** آن نباشد مات باشد ابتلا
A single tribulation redeems him from a hundred tribulations, a single fall takes him (high) up on the ladders (of spiritual ascent).2765
یک بلا از صد بلااش وا خرد ** یک هبوطش بر معارجها برد
The half-baked saucy fellow, whom the wine (of Love) has relieved from the surfeit of intoxication with a hundred thousand wicked half-baked (persons like himself),
خام شوخی که رهانیدش مدام ** از خمار صد هزاران زشت خام
Finally becomes mature and adept: he escapes from enslavement to this world and is made free.
عاقبت او پخته و استاد شد ** جست از رق جهان و آزاد شد
He is made drunken with the everlasting wine, he becomes (spiritually) discerning, and is delivered from created beings,
از شراب لایزالی گشت مست ** شد ممیز از خلایق باز رست
From their weak conventional faith and from the illusions of their unseeing eyes.
ز اعتقاد سست پر تقلیدشان ** وز خیال دیدهی بیدیدشان
Oh, what device can their mental perception employ, I wonder, against the ebb and flow of the trackless Sea?2770
ای عجب چه فن زند ادراکشان ** پیش جزر و مد بحر بینشان
From that Desert came (all) these signs of cultivation and prosperity; (thence) came (all) empires and kingships and vizierates.
زان بیابان این عمارتها رسید ** ملک و شاهی و وزارتها رسید
Yearning with desire they (phenomenal ideas) come in troops from the Desert of Non-existence into the visible (material) world.
Caravan on caravan, they arrive from this Desert every evening and morning.
کاروان بر کاروان زین بادیه ** میرسد در هر مسا و غادیه
They come and seize our houses in distraint, (each one) saying, “I have arrived, ’tis my turn, do thou begone!”
آید و گیرد وثاق ما گرو ** که رسیدم نوبت ما شد تو رو
When the son has opened the eye of reason (attained to years of discretion), the father at once puts his (own) baggage in the cart.2775
چون پسر چشم خرد را بر گشاد ** زود بابا رخت بر گردون نهاد
’Tis (like) the King's highway—(travellers) departing and arriving, one going in this direction, another in that direction.
جادهی شاهست آن زین سو روان ** وآن از آن سو صادران و واردان
Consider well! We, (though apparently) sitting still, are (really) marching: don't you see that we are bound for a new place (of abode)?
نیک بنگر ما نشسته میرویم ** مینبینی قاصد جای نویم
You do not get (and spend) your capital for any present need; nay, but (you keep it) for your ultimate purposes.
بهر حالی مینگیری راس مال ** بلک از بهر غرضها در مل
The traveller, then, O devotee of the Way, is he whose march and face are towards the future,
پس مسافر این بود ای رهپرست ** که مسیر و روش در مستقبلست
Even as the troops of Phantasy are at every moment arriving (and passing) unweariedly through the curtains of the heart.2780
همچنانک از پردهی دل بیکلال ** دم به دم در میرسد خیل خیال
If (these) ideas are not (sprung) from one (and the same) Plantation, how are they coming to the heart on each other's heels?
گر نه تصویرات از یک مغرساند ** در پی هم سوی دل چون میرسند
Company after company, the army of our ideas, (impelled) by thirst, is speeding towards the fountain of the heart.
جوق جوق اسپاه تصویرات ما ** سوی چشمهی دل شتابان از ظما
They fill their jars and go: they are continually appearing and vanishing.
جرهها پر میکنند و میروند ** دایما پیدا و پنهان میشوند
Regard (your) thoughts as stars of the sky (which are) revolving in the sphere of another heaven.
فکرها را اختران چرخ دان ** دایر اندر چرخ دیگر آسمان
(If) you have experienced good fortune (spiritual thoughts), give thanks (to God) and do works of charity; (if) you have experienced bad fortune (sensual thoughts), give alms and ask pardon (of God).2785
سعد دیدی شکر کن ایثار کن ** نحس دیدی صدقه و استغفار کن
Who am I in relation to this? Come, O my King, make my ruling star auspicious and wheel once (towards me).
ما کییم این را بیا ای شاه من ** طالعم مقبل کن و چرخی بزن
Illumine my spirit with moonbeams, for my soul is blackened (eclipsed) by contact with the (Dragon's) Tail.
روح را تابان کن از انوار ماه ** که ز آسیب ذنب جان شد سیاه
Deliver it from fancy and vain imagination and opinion, deliver it from the well and the tyranny of the rope,
از خیال و وهم و ظن بازش رهان ** از چه و جور رسن بازش رهان
In order that through Thy goodly lovingkindness a heart (such as mine) may lift its wings and soar up from a (body of) water and earth.
تا ز دلداری خوب تو دلی ** پر بر آرد بر پرد ز آب و گلی
O Prince of Egypt and faithful keeper of thy promise, the wronged Joseph is in thy prison.2790
ای عزیز مصر و در پیمان درست ** یوسف مظلوم در زندان تست
Quickly dream a dream of his release, for God loveth the beneficent.
در خلاص او یکی خوابی ببین ** زود که الله یحب المحسنین
The seven noxious lean kine are devouring its (the spirit's) seven fat kine.
هفت گاو لاغری پر گزند ** هفت گاو فربهش را میخورند
The seven dry, ugly, and unapproved ears of corn are feeding on its fresh ears.
هفت خوشهی خشک زشت ناپسند ** سنبلات تازهاش را میچرند
Famine has arisen in its Egypt, O mighty Potentate: hark, O King, do not continue to sanction this.
قحط از مصرش بر آمد ای عزیز ** هین مباش ای شاه این را مستجیز
Let my Joseph sit in Thy prison, O King: come, deliver me from the wiles of the women.2795
یوسفم در حبس تو ای شه نشان ** هین ز دستان زنانم وا رهان
My mother's lust caused me to fall from the highest heaven which was my tethering-place (stable), for (God said), Fall ye down!
از سوی عرشی که بودم مربط او ** شهوت مادر فکندم که اهبطوا
So by the artfulness of a crone I fell from (a state of) complete perfection into the prison of the womb.
پس فتادم زان کمال مستتم ** از فن زالی به زندان رحم
She brings the spirit from the highest heaven to the (corporeal) Hatím (enclosure): great must be the craft of women.
روح را از عرش آرد در حطیم ** لاجرم کید زنان باشد عظیم
(Both) my first and my last fall were caused by woman, since I was spirit—and how have I become body?
اول و آخر هبوط من ز زن ** چونک بودم روح و چون گشتم بدن
Hearken to this lament of Joseph in his lapse (from grace), or take pity on that distraught Jacob.2800
بشنو این زاری یوسف در عثار ** یا بر آن یعقوب بیدل رحم آر
Shall I complain of my brethren or of the women who have cast me, like Adam, from the gardens (of Eden)?
ناله از اخوان کنم یا از زنان ** که فکندندم چو آدم از جنان
I am withered like leaves in December because I have eaten the wheat from the Paradise of union.
زان مثال برگ دی پژمردهام ** کز بهشت وصل گندم خوردهام
When I saw Thy graciousness and kindness and Thy greeting of peace and Thy message,
چون بدیدم لطف و اکرام ترا ** وآن سلام سلم و پیغام ترا
I produced rue (to burn as a charm) against the evil eye; (but) the evil eye reached even my rue.
من سپند از چشم بد کردم پدید ** در سپندم نیز چشم بد رسید
(’Tis) only Thy languishing eyes (that) are able to avert every evil eye (whether) in front or behind.2805
دافع هر چشم بد از پیش و پس ** چشمهای پر خمار تست و بس
Thy good eye, O King, defeats and extirpates the evil eye: how excellent it is as a remedy!
چشم بد را چشم نیکویت شها ** مات و مستاصل کند نعم الدوا
Nay, from Thine eye come (wondrous) alchemies (transmutations): they turn the evil eye into the good eye.
بل ز چشمت کیمیاها میرسد ** چشم بد را چشم نیکو میکند
The King's eye hath smitten the eye of the falcon-heart, and its falcon-eye hath become mightily aspiring,
چشم شه بر چشم باز دل زدست ** چشم بازش سخت با همت شدست
So that, because of the great aspiration which it has gained from the (King's) look, the royal falcon will (now) catch (hunt) nothing but the fierce lion.
تا ز بس همت که یابید از نظر ** مینگیرد باز شه جز شیر نر
What (of the) lion? The spiritual royal falcon is Thy quarry and at the same time Thou art its prey.2810
شیر چه کان شاهباز معنوی ** هم شکار تست و هم صیدش توی
The call uttered by the falcon-soul in the meadow of devotion is cries of “I love not them that set.”
شد صفیر باز جان در مرج دین ** نعرههای لا احب الافلین
From Thy infinite bounty there came an (inward) eye to the falcon-soul that was flying for Thy sake.
باز دل را که پی تو میپرید ** از عطای بیحدت چشمی رسید