What, then, is other than the present world? The next world, (the knowledge of) which will take you away from here and be your guide (to God).
غیر دنیا پس چه باشد آخرت ** کت کند زینجا و باشد رهبرت
How the three princes discussed the (best) plan to adopt in view of what had occurred.
بحث کردن آن سه شه‌زاده در تدبیر آن واقعه
The three afflicted ones put their heads together: all three felt the same grief and pain and sorrow.
رو به هم کردند هر سه مفتتن ** هر سه را یک رنج و یک درد و حزن
All three were comrades in one meditation and one passion; all three were sick with one disease and one malady.
هر سه در یک فکر و یک سودا ندیم ** هر سه از یک رنج و یک علت سقیم
At the time of silence all three had one thought; at the time of speech, too, all three had one argument.
در خموشی هر سه را خطرت یکی ** در سخن هم هر سه را حجت یکی
At one moment they all were shedding tears and weeping blood on the dining-table of calamity;3890
یک زمانی اشک‌ریزان جمله‌شان ** بر سر خوان مصیبت خون‌فشان
At another moment all three, from the fire in their hearts, heaved burning sighs as (hot as) a chafing-pan.
یک زمان از آتش دل هر سه کس ** بر زده با سوز چون مجمر نفس
The discourse of the eldest brother.
مقالت برادر بزرگین
The eldest said, “O men of probity, were not we masculine (vigorous and bold) in giving counsel to others?
آن بزرگین گفت ای اخوان خیر ** ما نه نر بودیم اندر نصح غیر
Whenever one of the (King's) retainers complained to us of affliction and poverty and fear and agitation,
از حشم هر که به ما کردی گله ** از بلا و فقر و خوف و زلزله
We used to say, ‘Do not bewail thy hardships: be patient, for patience (fortitude) is the key to relief from pain.’
ما همی‌گفتیم کم نال از حرج ** صبر کن کالصبر مفتاح الفرج
What has become now of this key, (namely) fortitude? Wonderful! The rule (which we laid down for others) is null and void (for us): what has become of it?3895
این کلید صبر را اکنون چه شد ** ای عجب منسوخ شد قانون چه شد
Did not we always say, ‘In the (hour of) struggle laugh happily like gold in the fire’?
ما نمی‌گفتیم که اندر کش مکش ** اندر آتش هم‌چو زر خندید خوش
We said to the soldiers at the time of conflict in battle, ‘Hark, do not change colour (lose courage)!’
مر سپه را وقت تنگاتنگ جنگ ** گفته ما که هین مگردانید رنگ
At the time when the ground trodden underfoot by the horses was entirely (composed of) severed heads,
آن زمان که بود اسپان را وطا ** جمله سرهای بریده زیر پا
We were shouting to our troops, ‘On, on! Advance irresistibly like the spearpoint!’
ما سپاه خویش را هی هی کنان ** که به پیش آیید قاهر چون سنان
We preached fortitude to all the world, because fortitude (we said) is a lamp and light in the breast.3900
جمله عالم را نشان داده به صبر ** زانک صبر آمد چراغ و نور صدر
Now it is our turn. Why have we become distracted and gone under the chádar (veil) like cowardly women?”
نوبت ما شد چه خیره‌سر شدیم ** چون زنان زشت در چادر شدیم
O heart that didst inspire all (others) with ardour, inspire thyself with ardour and be ashamed of thyself!
ای دلی که جمله را کردی تو گرم ** گرم کن خود را و از خود دار شرم
O tongue that wert a mentor to all (others), now ’tis thy turn: why art thou silent?
ای زبان که جمله را ناصح بدی ** نوبت تو گشت از چه تن زدی
O reason, where is thy eloquent and persuasive counsel? Now ’tis thy turn: what has become of thy (former) admonitions?
ای خرد کو پند شکرخای تو ** دور تست این دم چه شد هیهای تو
O thou who hast removed a hundred anxieties from (other) hearts, now ’tis thy turn: wag thy beard!3905
ای ز دلها برده صد تشویش را ** نوبت تو شد بجنبان ریش را
If now, in thy vile poltroonery, thou hast (only) stolen a beard (art devoid of real manhood), formerly thou must have been laughing at thy beard (making a mock display of manly virtue).
از غری ریش ار کنون دزدیده‌ای ** پیش ازین بر ریش خود خندیده‌ای
When thou exhortest others, (thy cry is), “Come on! come on!” In thine own anguish (thou criest), “Alas, alas!” like women.
وقت پند دیگرانی های های ** در غم خود چون زنانی وای وای
Since thou wert a cure for others' pain, (how is it that) thou art silent when pain has become thy guest?
چون به درد دیگران درمان بدی ** درد مهمان تو آمد تن زدی
’Twas thy fashion to shout at the soldiers (to encourage them): (now) shout (at thyself): why is thy voice choked?
بانگ بر لشکر زدن بد ساز تو ** بانگ بر زن چه گرفت آواز تو
For fifty years thou hast woven on (the loom of) thy intelligence: (now) put on an undervest of the fabric which thou thyself hast woven.3910
آنچ پنجه سال بافیدی به هوش ** زان نسیج خود بغلتانی بپوش
The ears of thy friends were delighted by thy song: (now) put forth thy hand and pull thine own ear.
از نوایت گوش یاران بود خوش ** دست بیرون آر و گوش خود بکش
(Formerly) thou wert always a head (leader): do not make thyself a tail, do not lose thy feet and hands and beard and moustache.
سر بدی پیوسته خود را دم مکن ** پا و دست و ریش و سبلت گم مکن
(Now) ’tis for thee to make a move on the (chess-) board: restore thyself to thy normal state (of spiritual health) and thy (natural) vigour.
بازی آن تست بر روی بساط ** خویش را در طبع آر و در نشاط
Anecdote of a king who brought a learned doctor into his banquet-hall by force and made him sit down. (When) the cup-bearer offered him wine and held out the goblet to him, the doctor averted his face and began to look sour and behave rudely. The king said to the cup-bearer, “Come, put him in a good humour.” The cup-bearer beat him on the head several times and made him drink the wine, etc.
ذکر آن پادشاه که آن دانشمند را به اکراه در مجلس آورد و بنشاند ساقی شراب بر دانشمند عرضه کرد ساغر پیش او داشت رو بگردانید و ترشی و تندی آغاز کرد شاه ساقی را گفت کی هین در طبعش آر ساقی چندی بر سرش کوفت و شرابش در خورد داد الی آخره
(Whilst) a drunken king was feasting merrily, a certain jurist passed by his gate.
پادشاهی مست اندر بزم خوش ** می‌گذشت آن یک فقیهی بر درش
He gave directions, saying, “Bring him into this hall and give him a drink of the ruby wine.”3915
کرد اشارت کش درین مجلس کشید ** وان شراب لعل را با او چشید
So they brought him to the king, (for) he had no choice (power to resist): he sat down in the hall, (looking) sour as poison and snakes.
پس کشیدندش به شه بی‌اختیار ** شست در مجلس ترش چون زهر و مار
(When) he (the cup-bearer) offered him wine, he angrily refused it and averted his eyes from the king and the cup-bearer,
عرضه کردش می نپذرفت او به خشم ** از شه و ساقی بگردانید چشم
Saying, “I have never drunk wine in my life: rank poison would please me better than wine.
که به عمر خود نخوردستم شراب ** خوشتر آید از شرابم زهر ناب
Hey, give me some poison instead of the wine, that I may be delivered from myself and ye from this (impoliteness).”
هین به جای می به من زهری دهید ** تا من از خویش و شما زین وا رهید
Without having drunk wine, he began to make a row and became as disagreeable to the company as death and (its) pangs.3920
می نخورده عربده آغاز کرد ** گشته در مجلس گران چون مرگ و درد
(This is) like (the behaviour of) carnal earthly-minded people in the world when they sit (associate) with spiritual folk.
هم‌چو اهل نفس و اهل آب و گل ** در جهان بنشسته با اصحاب دل
God keeps His elect (ever) drinking secretly the wine of the free.
حق ندارد خاصگان را در کمون ** از می احرار جز در یشربون
They offer the cup to one who is veiled (uninitiated), (but his) perception apprehends naught thereof except the (literal) words.
عرضه می‌دارند بر محجوب جام ** حس نمی‌یابد از آن غیر کلام
He averts his face from their guidance because he does not see their gift with his eye.
رو همی گرداند از ارشادشان ** که نمی‌بیند به دیده دادشان
If there were a passage from his ear to his throat, the hidden meaning of their admonition would have entered his inward parts.3925
گر ز گوشش تا به حلقش ره بدی ** سر نصح اندر درونشان در شدی
Inasmuch as his spirit is wholly fire, not light, who would throw anything but husks into a blazing fire?
چون همه نارست جانش نیست نور ** که افکند در نار سوزان جز قشور
The kernel remains outside and the husk, (consisting of mere) words, goes (in): how should the stomach be made warm and stout by husks?
مغز بیرون ماند و قشر گفت رفت ** کی شود از قشر معده گرم و زفت
The Fire of Hell torments only the husks: the Fire has nothing to do with any kernel;
نار دوزخ جز که قشر افشار نیست ** نار را با هیچ مغزی کار نیست
And if a fire should dart its flames at the kernel, know that ’tis in order to cook it, not to burn it.
ور بود بر مغز ناری شعله‌زن ** بهر پختن دان نه بهر سوختن
So long as God is the Wise, know that this law is perpetual (both) in the past and in the time that has not (yet) come.3930
تا که باشد حق حکیم این قاعده ** مستمر دان در گذشته و نامده
The pure kernels and (also) the husks are pardoned by Him: how, then, should He burn the kernel? Far (be it) from Him!
مغز نغز و قشرها مغفور ازو ** مغز را پس چون بسوزد دور ازو
If in His grace He beat the head of him (who resembles the husk), he (such an one) will feel an eager desire for the red wine;
از عنایت گر بکوبد بر سرش ** اشتها آید شراب احمرش
And if He do not beat him, he will remain, like the jurist, with his mouth closed against the potations and festivity of these (spiritual) kings.
ور نکوبد ماند او بسته‌دهان ** چون فقیه از شرب و بزم این شهان
The king said to his cup-bearer, “O well-conducted (youth), why art thou silent? Give (it him) and put him in good humour.”
گفت شه با ساقیش ای نیک‌پی ** چه خموشی ده به طبعش آر هی
Over every mind there is a hidden Ruler, (who) cunningly diverts from his purpose whomsoever He will.3935
هست پنهان حاکمی بر هر خرد ** هرکه را خواهد به فن از سر برد