The repentance they show is like that of the moth: (soon) forgetfulness draws them back again to the (same) work.345
توبه می‌آرند هم پروانه‌وار ** باز نسیان می‌کشدشان سوی کار
Like the moth, he (such a one) deems the fire (seen) from a distance to be light, and packs off (sets out) towards it.
هم‌چو پروانه ز دور آن نار را ** نور دید و بست آن سو بار را
As soon as he comes (to the fire), it burns his wings, and he flees; and (then) again he falls, like (greedy) children (in a hurry), and spills the salt.
چون بیامد سوخت پرش را گریخت ** باز چون طفلان فتاد و ملح ریخت
Once more, thinking and hoping to profit, he quickly dashes himself on the fire of that candle.
بار دیگر بر گمان طمع سود ** خویش زد بر آتش آن شمع زود
Once more he is scorched and recoils; (then) again the greed of his heart makes him forgetful and intoxicated.
بار دیگر سوخت هم واپس بجست ** باز کردش حرص دل ناسی و مست
At the moment when he recoils on being scorched, he gives the ten (fingers), like the Hindú (slave), to the candle,350
آن زمان کز سوختن وا می‌جهد ** هم‌چو هندو شمع را ده می‌دهد
Saying, “Oh, thy face is splendid as the night-illuming moon, but oh, in (actual) intercourse thou art false and destructive to him that is duped (by thee).”
که ای رخت تابان چون ماه شب‌فروز ** وی به صحبت کاذب و مغرورسوز
(Then) again his repentance and moaning go out of his memory, for God hath made the stratagems of the liars to be feeble.
باز از یادش رود توبه و انین ** کاوهن الرحمن کید الکاذبین
Concerning the interpretation, in a general sense, of the Verse: “as often as they kindle a fire for war.”
در عموم تاویل این آیت کی کلما اوقدوا نارا للحرب
As often as they kindle the fire of (spiritual) warfare, God quenches their fire so that it is put out (entirely).
کلما هم اوقدوا نار الوغی ** اطفاء الله نارهم حتی انطفا
He (such an one) makes a resolution, saying, “O (my) heart, do not stay there!” (but soon) he becomes forgetful, for he is not (really) resolute.
عزم کرده که دلا آنجا مه‌ایست ** گشته ناسی زانک اهل عزم نیست
Since there was no seed of sincerity sown by him, God has caused him to forget that (resolution).355
چون نبودش تخم صدقی کاشته ** حق برو نسیان آن بگماشته
Though he strikes the match of his heart, the Hand of God is always extinguishing the star (spark).
گرچه بر آتش‌زنه‌ی دل می‌زند ** آن ستاره‌ش را کف حق می‌کشد
A Story in further exposition of this.
قصه‌ای هم در تقریر این
A man of trust heard a sound of footsteps (in his house) during the night: he took up the fire-lighter to strike a flame.
شرفه‌ای بشنید در شب معتمد ** برگرفت آتش‌زنه که آتش زند
At that (same) moment the thief came and sat down beside him, and whenever the tinder caught (fire) he put it out,
دزد آمد آن زمان پیشش نشست ** چون گرفت آن سوخته می‌کرد پست
Laying the tip of his finger on the place, in order that the fiery star (spark) might vanish.
می‌نهاد آنجا سر انگشت را ** تا شود استاره‌ی آتش فنا
The Khwája thought it was dying of itself: he didn't see that the thief was extinguishing it.360
خواجه می‌پنداشت کز خود می‌مرد ** این نمی‌دید او که دزدش می‌کشد
The Khwája said, “This tinder was moist: on account of its wetness the star (spark) is dying at once.”
خواجه گفت این سوخته نمناک بود ** می‌مرد استاره از تریش زود
As there was great mirk and darkness in front (of him), he didn't see a fire-extinguisher beside him.
بس که ظلمت بود و تاریکی ز پیش ** می‌ندید آتش‌کشی را پیش خویش
(So) the infidel's eye, because of (its) dimness, does not see a similar fire-extinguisher in his heart.
این چنین آتش‌کشی اندر دلش ** دیده‌ی کافر نبیند از عمش
How is the heart of any knowing person ignorant (that) with the moving (object) there is (necessarily) a mover?
چون نمی‌داند دل داننده‌ای ** هست با گردنده گرداننده‌ای
Why don't you say (to yourself), “How should day and night come and go of themselves without a Lord?”365
چون نمی‌گویی که روز و شب به خود ** بی‌خداوندی کی آید کی رود
You are conversant with intelligibles; (but) see what a lack of intelligence is shown by you (in this matter), O despicable man!
گرد معقولات می‌گردی ببین ** این چنین بی‌عقلی خود ای مهین
Is a house more intelligible with a builder or without a builder? Answer, O man of little knowledge!
خانه با بنا بود معقول‌تر ** یا که بی‌بنا بگو ای کم‌هنر
Is writing more intelligible with a writer or without a writer? Think, O son!
خط با کاتب بود معقول‌تر ** یا که بی‌کاتب بیندیش ای پسر
How should the jím of the ear and the ‘ayn of the eye and the mím of the mouth be (formed) without a Writer, O suspect?
جیم گوش و عین چشم و میم فم ** چون بود بی‌کاتبی ای متهم
Is the bright (lighted) candle without one who lights it or with a skilful lighter?370
شمع روشن بی‌ز گیراننده‌ای ** یا بگیراننده‌ی داننده‌ای
Is it more reasonable to expect good craftsmanship from the hand of one who is palsied and blind or from one who has control (of his hands) and can see?
صنعت خوب از کف شل ضریر ** باشد اولی یا بگیرایی بصیر
Since, therefore, you have apprehended (the fact) that He (God) will overpower you and beat the mace of tribulation on your head,
پس چو دانستی که قهرت می‌کند ** بر سرت دبوس محنت می‌زند
Like a Nimrod, repel Him by war (if you can)! Launch an arrow of (hard) poplar-wood into the air against Him!
پس بکن دفعش چو نمرودی به جنگ ** سوی او کش در هوا تیری خدنگ
Like the Mongol soldiery, shoot an arrow at Heaven to prevent your soul being torn (from your body)!
هم‌چو اسپاه مغل بر آسمان ** تیر می‌انداز دفع نزع جان
Or flee from Him, if you can, and go (your way); (but) how can you go, since you are a pawn in His hand?375
یا گریز از وی اگر توانی برو ** چون روی چون در کف اویی گرو
(When) you were in non-existence, you did not escape from His hand: how will you escape from His hand (now), O helpless one?
در عدم بودی نرستی از کفش ** از کف او چون رهی ای دست‌خوش
To seek (one's own) desire is to flee (from God) and shed the blood of piety in the presence of His justice.
آرزو جستن بود بگریختن ** پیش عدلش خون تقوی ریختن
This world is a trap, and desire is its bait: flee from the traps, quickly turn your face (towards God).
این جهان دامست و دانه‌آرزو ** در گریز از دامها روی آر زو
When you have gone this way, you have enjoyed a hundred (spiritual) blessings; when you have gone the opposite way, you have fared ill.
چون چنین رفتی بدیدی صد گشاد ** چون شدی در ضد آن دیدی فساد
Therefore the Prophet said, “Consult your hearts, though the mufti outside gives you advice in (worldly) affairs.”380
پس پیمبر گفت استفتوا القلوب ** گر چه مفتیتان برون گوید خطوب
Abandon desire, in order that He may have mercy (on you): you have found by experience that such (renunciation) is required by Him.
آرزو بگذار تا رحم آیدش ** آزمودی که چنین می‌بایدش
Since you cannot escape, do service to Him, that you may go from His prison into His rose-garden.
چون نتانی جست پس خدمت کنش ** تا روی از حبس او در گلشنش
When you keep watch (over your thoughts and actions) continually, you are always seeing the (Divine) justice and the (Divine) Judge, O misguided man;
دم به دم چون تو مراقب می‌شوی ** داد می‌بینی و داور ای غوی
And if you shut your eyes because you have veiled yourself (in heedlessness), (yet) how should the sun relinquish its work?
ور ببندی چشم خود را ز احتجاب ** کار خود را کی گذارد آفتاب
How the King (Mahmúd) revealed to the Amírs and those who were intriguing against Ayáz the reason of his superiority to them in rank and favour and salary, (explaining it) in such a manner that no argument or objection was left for them (to bring forward).
وا نمودن پادشاه به امرا و متعصبان در راه ایاز سبب فضیلت و مرتبت و قربت و جامگی او بریشان بر وجهی کی ایشان را حجت و اعتراض نماند
When the Amírs boiled over with envy (of Ayáz), at last they taunted their King,385
چون امیران از حسد جوشان شدند ** عاقبت بر شاه خود طعنه زدند
Saying, “This Ayáz of thine has not thirty intellects: how should he consume the salary of thirty Amírs?”
کین ایاز تو ندارد سی خرد ** جامگی سی امیر او چون خورد
The King, accompanied by the thirty Amírs, went out to hunt in the desert and mountain-land.
شاه بیرون رفت با آن سی امیر ** سوی صحرا و کهستان صیدگیر
The monarch descried a caravan in the distance: he said to an Amír, “Go, man of weak judgement,
کاروانی دید از دور آن ملک ** گفت امیری را برو ای متفک
Go and ask that caravan at the custom-house from what city they are arriving.”
رو بپرس آن کاروان را بر رصد ** کز کدامین شهر اندر می‌رسد
He went and asked and returned, saying, “From Rayy.” “Whither bound?” asked the King. He (the Amír) was unable (to reply).390
رفت و پرسید و بیامد که ز ری ** گفت عزمش تا کجا درماند وی
(Then) he said to another (Amír), “Go, noble lord, and ask whither the caravan is bound.”
دیگری را گفت رو ای بوالعلا ** باز پرس از کاروان که تا کجا
He went and returned and said, “For Yemen.” “Ha,” said the King, “what is their merchandise, O trusty one?”
رفت و آمد گفت تا سوی یمن ** گفت رختش چیست هان ای موتمن
He (the Amír) remained (silent) in perplexity. (Then) the King said to another Amír, “Go and inquire (what is) the merchandise of those people.”
ماند حیران گفت با میری دگر ** که برو وا پرس رخت آن نفر
He came back and said, “It is of every sort; the greater part consists of cups made in Rayy.”
باز آمد گفت از هر جنس هست ** اغلب آن کاسه‌های رازیست