The head is a blemish in its (elegant) form: you might say that its head is like the head of an ox.”
هست ناقص آن سر اندر پیکرش ** چون سر گاوست گویی آن سرش
These words worked on the heart of the Khwárizmsháh and caused the horse to be cheap in the king's sight.3460
در دل خوارمشه این دم کار کرد ** اسپ را در منظر شه خوار کرد
When prejudice becomes a go-between and describer (of beauty), you may get (buy) a Joseph for three ells of linen.
چون غرض دلاله گشت و واصفی ** از سه گز کرباس یابی یوسفی
When the hour arrives for the spirit's parting (from the body), the Devil becomes a broker (depreciator) of the pearl of Faith,
چونک هنگام فراق جان شود ** دیو دلال در ایمان شود
And then in that (moment of) sore distress the fool hastily sells his faith for a jug of water;
پس فروشد ابله ایمان را شتاب ** اندر آن تنگی به یک ابریق آب
But ’tis a (mere) phantom and not (really) a jug: the aim of the broker (the Devil) is naught but trickery.
وان خیالی باشد و ابریق نی ** قصد آن دلال جز تخریق نی
At this (present) time, when you are healthy and fat, you are giving up the Truth for a phantom.3465
این زمان که تو صحیح و فربهی ** صدق را بهر خیالی میدهی
You are constantly selling the pearls of the (spiritual) mine and taking walnuts (in exchange), like a child;
میفروشی هر زمانی در کان ** همچو طفلی میستانی گردگان
Therefore it is no wonder if you act in this (same) way in the (mortal) sickness of your day of doom (death).
پس در آن رنجوری روز اجل ** نیست نادر گر بود اینت عمل
You have concocted an idea (a vain notion) in your fancy: when you are rattled (tested) like a walnut, you are (proved to be) rotten.
در خیالت صورتی جوشیدهای ** همچو جوزی وقت دق پوسیدهای
In the beginning that phantom resembles the full-moon, but in the end it will become like the new-moon.
هست از آغاز چون بدر آن خیال ** لیک آخر میشود همچون هلال
If you regard its first (state) as being (really) like its last (state), you will be quit of its feeble deception.3470
گر تو اول بنگری چون آخرش ** فارغ آیی از فریب فاترش
This world is a rotten walnut: O man of trust, do not make trial of it, (but) behold it from afar.
جوز پوسیدهست دنیا ای امین ** امتحانش کم کن از دورش ببین
The king viewed the horse with regard to the present, while the ‘Imádu ’l- Mulk (viewed it) with regard to the future.
شاه دید آن اسپ را با چشم حال ** وآن عمادالملک با چشم مل
The king's eye, because of (its) distortion, saw (only) two ells, (but) the eye of him who regarded the end saw fifty ells.
چشم شه دو گز همی دید از لغز ** چشم آن پایاننگر پنجاه گز
What a (wondrous) collyrium is that which God applies (to the spiritual eye), so that the spirit discerns the truth behind a hundred curtains!
آن چه سرمهست آنک یزدان میکشد ** کز پس صد پرده بیند جان رشد
Since the Chief's (the Prophet's) eye was ever fixed on the end, by reason of (seeing with) that eye he called the world a carcase.3475
چشم مهتر چون به آخر بود جفت ** پس بدان دیده جهان را جیفه گفت
On hearing only this single (word of) blame from him (the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk), the love (that was) in the king's heart for the horse became chilled.
زین یکی ذمش که بشنود او وحسپ ** پس فسرد اندر دل شه مهر اسپ
He abandoned his own eye and preferred his (the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk's) eye: he abandoned his own intelligence and hearkened to his (the other's) words.
چشم خود بگذاشت و چشم او گزید ** هوش خود بگذاشت و قول او شنید
This (speech of the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk) was (only) the pretext, and (in reality) at (his) entreaty the unique Judge caused it (the horse) to be cold (despicable) in the king's heart.
این بهانه بود و آن دیان فرد ** از نیاز آن در دل شه سرد کرد
He (God) shut the door on its beauty (made its beauty invisible) to the eye (of the king): those words (of the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk) intervened (between the king's eye and the horse) like the sound of the door.
در ببست از حسن او پیش بصر ** آن سخن بد در میان چون بانگ در
He (God) made that cryptic saying a veil over the king's eye, a veil through which the moon appears to be black.3480
پرده کرد آن نکته را بر چشم شه ** که از آن پرده نماید مه سیه
Pure (transcendent) is the Builder who in the unseen world constructs castles of speech and beguiling talk.
پاک بنایی که بر سازد حصون ** در جهان غیب از گفت و فسون
Know that speech is the sound of the door (coming) from the palace of mystery: consider whether it is the sound of opening or shutting.
بانگ در دان گفت را از قصر راز ** تا که بانگ وا شدست این یا فراز
The sound of the door is perceptible, but the door (itself) is beyond perception: ye see (are aware of) this sound, but the door ye see not.
بانگ در محسوس و در از حس برون ** تبصرون این بانگ و در لا تبصرون
When the harp of wisdom breaks into melody, (bethink yourself) what door of the Garden of Paradise has been opened.
چنگ حکمت چونک خوشآواز شد ** تا چه در از روض جنت باز شد
When the sound of evil speech becomes loud, (bethink yourself) what door of Hell is being opened.3485
بانگ گفت بد چو دروا میشود ** از سقر تا خود چه در وا میشود
Since you are far from its door, hearken to the sound of the door: oh, blest is he whose eye has been opened (so that he can recognise the wicked).
بانگ در بشنو چو دوری از درش ** ای خنک او را که وا شد منظرش
When you are aware of doing a good action, you obtain a (feeling of spiritual) life and joy;
چون تو میبینی که نیکی میکنی ** بر حیات و راحتی بر میزنی
And when a fault and evil deed issues (from you), that (feeling of) life and rapture disappears.
چونک تقصیر و فسادی میرود ** آن حیات و ذوق پنهان میشود
Do not abandon your own eye (judgement) from regard for the vile, for these vultures will lead you to the carcase.
دید خود مگذار از دید خسان ** که به مردارت کشند این کرکسان
You close your narcissus-like eye, saying, “What (is it)? Hey, sir, take my stick (and show me the way), for I am blind”;3490
چشم چون نرگس فروبندی که چی ** هین عصاام کش که کورم ای اچی
But if you would only look, (you would see that) the guide whom you have chosen for the journey is (even) blinder than you.
وان عصاکش که گزیدی در سفر ** خود ببینی باشد از تو کورتر
Grasp in a blind man's fashion the rope of Allah: do not cling to aught but the Divine commandments and prohibitions.
دست کورانه به حبل الله زن ** جز بر امر و نهی یزدانی متن
What is the rope of Allah? To renounce self-will, for this self-will was a roaring wind (of destruction) to (the people of) ‘Ád.
چیست حبلالله رها کردن هوا ** کین هوا شد صرصری مر عاد را
’Tis from self-will that folk are sitting in gaol, ’tis from self-will that the (trapped) bird's wings are tied.
خلق در زندان نشسته از هواست ** مرغ را پرها ببسته از هواست
’Tis from self-will that the fish is (cooked) in a hot pan, ’tis from self-will that shame (bashfulness) is gone from the modest.3495
ماهی اندر تابهی گرم از هواست ** رفته از مستوریان شرم از هواست
The anger of the police magistrate is a fiery spark from self-will; crucifixion and the awfulness of the gallows are (the consequence) of self-will.
خشم شحنه شعلهی نار از هواست ** چارمیخ و هیبت دار از هواست
You have seen the magistrate (who carries out the punishment) of bodies on the earth: (now) see also the magistrate who executes judgements against the soul.
شحنهی اجسام دیدی بر زمین ** شحنهی احکام جان را هم ببین
Verily tortures are inflicted on the soul in the world invisible, but until you escape (from self-will) the torture is concealed (from view).
روح را در غیب خود اشکنجههاست ** لیک تا نجهی شکنجه در خفاست
When you are freed you will behold the torture and perdition (of the soul), because contrary is made manifest by contrary.
چون رهیدی بینی اشکنجه و دمار ** زانک ضد از ضد گردد آشکار
He that was born in the well (of the material world) and the black water, how should he know the pleasantness of the open country and (distinguish it from) the pain of (being in) the well?3500
آنک در چه زاد و در آب سیاه ** او چه داند لطف دشت و رنج چاه
When, from fear of God, you have relinquished self-will, the goblet (of drink) from God's Tasním will arrive.
چون رها کردی هوا از بیم حق ** در رسد سغراق از تسنیم حق
Do not in your self-will make a way: ask of God's Majesty the way to Salsabíl.
لا تطرق فی هواک سل سبیل ** من جناب الله نحو السلسبیل
Be not submissive to self-will (and yielding) like hay: in sooth the shade of the Divine Throne is better than the summer-house (of the world).
لا تکن طوع الهوی مثل الحشیش ** ان ظل العرش اولی من عریش
The Sultan said, “Take the horse back (to the Amír) and with all speed redeem (deliver) me from (committing) this wrong.”
گفت سلطان اسپ را وا پس برید ** زودتر زین مظلمه بازم خرید
The King did not say in his heart, “Do not (seek to) deceive the lion so greatly by means of the head of an ox.3505
با دل خود شه نفرمود این قدر ** شیر را مفریب زین راس البقر
You (the ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk) drag in the ox in order to cheat (me): begone, God does not stick the horns of an ox upon a horse.”
پای گاو اندر میان آری ز داو ** رو ندوزد حق بر اسپی شاخ گاو
This renowned Master-builder observes great congruity in His workmanship: how should He attach to a horse's body part of (the body of) an ox?
بس مناسب صنعتست این شهره زاو ** کی نهد بر جسم اسپ او عضو گاو
The Master-builder has made (all) bodies congruously: He has constructed moving palaces,