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,
زاو ابدان را مناسب ساخته ** قصرهای منتقل پرداخته
(With) balconies in them and cisterns (distributing water) from this (part of the palace) to that;
در میان قصرها تخریج‌ها ** از سوی این سوی آن صهریج‌ها
And within them an infinite world: all this (vast) expanse (is contained) in a single tent.3510
وز درونشان عالمی بی‌منتها ** در میان خرگهی چندین فضا
Now He causes (one beautiful as) the moon to seem like an incubus (nightmare), now He causes the bottom of a well to have the semblance of a garden.
گه چو کابوسی نماید ماه را ** گه نماید روضه قعر چاه را
Inasmuch as the closing and opening of the eye of the heart by the Almighty is continually working lawful magic,
قبض و بسط چشم دل از ذوالجلال ** دم به دم چون می‌کند سحر حلال
For this reason Mustafá (Mohammed) entreated God, saying, “Let the false appear as false and the true as true,
زین سبب درخواست از حق مصطفی ** زشت را هم زشت و حق را حق‌نما
So that at last, when Thou turnest the leaf, I may not (be stricken) by sorrow (and) fall into agitation.”
تا به آخر چون بگردانی ورق ** از پشیمانی نه افتم در قلق
(’Twas) the Lord of the Kingdom (that) guided the peerless ‘Imádu ’l- Mulk to the deception which he practised.3515
مکر که کرد آن عماد الملک فرد ** مالک الملکش بدان ارشاد کرد
God's deception is the fountainhead of (all) these deceptions: the heart is between the two fingers of the (Divine) Majesty.
مکر حق سرچشمه‌ی این مکرهاست ** قلب بین اصبعین کبریاست
He who creates deception and (false) analogy in your heart can (also) set the sackcloth (of deception) on fire.
آنک سازد در دلت مکر و قیاس ** آتشی داند زدن اندر پلاس
Return to the Story of the bailiff and the poor debtor: how they turned back from the Khwája's grave, and how the bailiff saw the Khwája in a dream, etc.
رجوع کردن به قصه‌ی آن پای‌مرد و آن غریب وام‌دار و بازگشتن ایشان از سر گور خواجه و خواب دیدن پای‌مرد خواجه را الی آخره
This goodly episode is endless (too long to relate in full). When the poor stranger turned back from the Khwája's grave,
بی‌نهایت آمد این خوش سرگذشت ** چون غریب از گور خواجه باز گشت
The bailiff took him to his house and handed over to him the purse of a hundred dinars.
پای مردش سوی خانه‌ی خویش برد ** مهر صد دینار را فا او سپرد
He fetched viands for him and told him stories, so that from the (feeling of) hope (with which the bailiff inspired him) a hundred roses blossomed in his heart.3520
لوتش آورد و حکایت‌هاش گفت ** کز امید اندر دلش صد گل شکفت
He (the bailiff) opened his lips to relate the ease (prosperity) which he had experienced after difficulty (adversity).
آنچ بعد العسر یسر او دیده بود ** با غریب از قصه‌ی آن لب گشود
Midnight passed, and (he was still) narrating: (then) sleep transported them to the meadow where the spirit feeds.
نیم‌شب بگذشت و افسانه کنان ** خوابشان انداخت تا مرعای جان
On that night the bailiff dreamed that he saw the blessed Khwája (seated) on the high-seat in the (heavenly) palace.
دید پامرد آن همایون خواجه را ** اندر آن شب خواب بر صدر سرا
The Khwája said, “O excellent bailiff, I have heard what you said, point by point,
خواجه گفت ای پای‌مرد با نمک ** آنچ گفتی من شنیدم یک به یک
But I was not commanded to answer, and I durst not open my lips without being directed.3525