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
The sun in the East and his radiance are bound like captives in His chain.
آفتاب مشرق و تنویر او ** چون اسیران بسته در زنجیر او
He causes the (celestial) sphere to revolve immediately when He chants half of a cunning spell in its brain.
چرخ را چرخ اندر آرد در زمن ** چون بخواند در دماغش نیم فن
The mind which dominates another mind has (obtains) the dice (of victory) from Him: He is the Master-player.
عقل کو عقل دگر را سخره کرد ** مهره زو دارد ویست استاد نرد
He (the cup-bearer) gave him (the jurist) several cuffs on the head, saying, “Take (the cup)!” The tormented man drained it in dread of (receiving further) blows.
چند سیلی بر سرش زد گفت گیر ** در کشید از بیم سیلی آن زحیر
He became tipsy and merry and smiling (gay) as a garden: he began to act like a boon-companion and tell ridiculous stories and make jokes.3940
مست گشت و شاد و خندان شد چو باغ ** در ندیمی و مضاحک رفت و لاغ
He became pot-valiant and jolly and snapped his fingers: in latrinam ivit ut mingeret. [He became pot-valiant and jolly and snapped his fingers: he went to the latrine in order to urinate.]
شیرگیر و خوش شد انگشتک بزد ** سوی مبرز رفت تا میزک کند
Erat in latrina puella lunae similis, venustissima, una de regis ancillis. [A maiden as (lovely as) the (full) moon was in the latrine, very beautiful and one of the maidservants of the king.]
یک کنیزک بود در مبرز چو ماه ** سخت زیبا و ز قرناقان شاه
When he espied her, his mouth gaped in amazement, his reason fled and his body was ready for violence.
چون بدید او را دهانش باز ماند ** عقل رفت و تن ستم‌پرداز ماند
Per aeva coelebs vixerat: extemplo cupidine et furore accensus puellae manus injecit. [He had been a bachelor (for) ages: passionate and drunk (with lust), he immediately grabbed the maidservant (with his) two hands.]
عمرها بوده عزب مشتاق و مست ** بر کنیزک در زمان در زد دو دست
Valde trepidavit puella et clamorem sustulit: ei non poterat resistere, operam perdidit. [The maiden trembled greatly and raised a clamor: she could not oppose him and (her resistance) had no benefit.]3945
بس طپید آن دختر و نعره فراشت ** بر نیامد با وی و سودی نداشت
Femina viro in manus tempore congressus tradita is like dough in the hands of a baker. [A woman in the hands of a man at the moment of (such an) encounter is like dough in the hands of a baker.]
زن به دست مرد در وقت لقا ** چون خمیر آمد به دست نانبا
He kneads it now gently, now roughly, and makes it groan under (the thumps of) his fist;
بسرشد گاهیش نرم و گه درشت ** زو بر آرد چاق چاقی زیر مشت
Now he draws it out flat on a board (rolling-pin), now for a bit he rolls it up;
گاه پهنش واکشد بر تخته‌ای ** درهمش آرد گهی یک لخته‌ای
Now he pours water on it and now salt: he puts it to the ordeal of oven and fire.
گاه در وی ریزد آب و گه نمک ** از تنور و آتشش سازد محک
Thus are the sought and the seeker intertwined: (both) the conquered and the conqueror are (engaged) in this sport. 3950
این چنین پیچند مطلوب و طلوب ** اندرین لعبند مغلوب و غلوب
This sport is not between husband and wife only: this is the practice of everything that is loved and loves.
این لعب تنها نه شو را با زنست ** هر عشیق و عاشقی را این فنست
A mutual embracing, like (that of) Wís and Rámín, is obligatory (Divinely ordained) between eternal and non-eternal and between substance and accident;
از قدیم و حادث و عین و عرض ** پیچشی چون ویس و رامین مفترض
But the sport is of a different character in each case: the embracing is for a different reason in each instance.
لیک لعب هر یکی رنگی دگر ** پیچش هر یک ز فرهنگی دگر
This is said as a parable for husband and wife, meaning, “O husband, do not dismiss thy wife unkindly.
شوی و زن را گفته شد بهر مثال ** که مکن ای شوی زن را بد گسیل
On thy wedding-night did not the bridesmaid place her (the wife's) hand in thy hand as a goodly trust?3955
آن شب گردک نه ینگا دست او ** خوش امانت داد اندر دست تو
For the evil or good which thou doest unto her, O man worthy of confidence, God will do (the same) unto thee.”
کانچ با او تو کنی ای معتمد ** از بد و نیکی خدا با تو کند
To resume, on this occasion this jurist was so beside himself that neither continence nor asceticism remained to him.
حاصل این‌جا این فقیه از بی‌خودی ** نه عفیفی ماندش و نه زاهدی
The jurist threw himself on the nymph: his fire caught hold of her cotton.
آن فقیه افتاد بر آن حورزاد ** آتش او اندر آن پنبه فتاد
Anima cum anima conjuncta est, corpora mutuo amplexu implicata tanquam duae aves abscissis capitibus tremebant. [Soul was joined to soul and (their) bodies strove (in mutual embrace), trembling like two decapitated birds.]
جان به جان پیوست و قالب‌ها چخید ** چون دو مرغ سربریده می‌طپید
What (to them) was the wine-party or the king or Arslán (the Turkish slave)? What (to them) was modesty or religion or fear and dread of (losing) their lives?3960
چه سقایه چه ملک چه ارسلان ** چه حیا چه دین چه بیم و خوف جان
Their eyes were contorted like (the letters) ‘ayn and ghayn: here neither Hasan nor Husayn is seen distinctly.
چشمشان افتاده اندر عین و غین ** نه حسن پیداست این‌جا نه حسین
It (the jurist's absence) became protracted, and how could he return (to the party)? The king's expectancy too passed beyond (all) bounds.
شد دراز و کو طریق بازگشت ** انتظار شاه هم از حد گذشت
The king came to see what had happened: he beheld there (what resembled) the commotion (on the Day) of Calamity.
شاه آمد تا ببیند واقعه ** دید آن‌جا زلزله‌ی القارعه
The jurist sprang up in terror and fled to the banquet-hall and hastily seized the wine-cup.
آن فقیه از بیم برجست و برفت ** سوی مجلس جام را بربود تفت
The king, full of fire and fury like Hell, was thirsting for the blood of the guilty pair.3965
شه چون دوزخ پر شرار و پر نکال ** تشنه‌ی خون دو جفت بدفعال
When the jurist saw his enraged and wrathful countenance, which had become bitter and murderous as a cup of poison,
چون فقیهش دید رخ پر خشم و قهر ** تلخ و خونی گشته هم‌چون جام زهر
He shouted to his cup-bearer, “O solicitous (attendant), why do you sit (there) dumbfounded? Give (him wine) and put him in good humour!”
بانگ زد بر ساقیش که ای گرم‌دار ** چه نشستی خیره ده در طبعش آر
The king laughed and said, “O sir, I am restored to my good humour: the girl is thine.
خنده آمد شاه را گفت ای کیا ** آمدم با طبع آن دختر ترا
I am the king: my business is (to show) justice and bounty: I drink of that which my munificence bestowed on my friend.
پادشاهم کار من عدلست و داد ** زان خورم که یار را جودم بداد
How should I give friend and kinsman for food and drink what I (myself) would not (eat and) drink as (gladly as) honey?3970
آنچ آن را من ننوشم هم‌چو نوش ** کی دهم در خورد یار و خویش و توش
I let my pages eat and drink of that which I eat and drink at my own private table.
زان خورانم من غلامان را که من ** می‌خورم بر خوان خاص خویشتن
I give my slaves the same food, cooked or raw, as I eat myself.
زان خورانم بندگان را از طعام ** که خورم من خود ز پخته یا ز خام
When I put on a robe of silk or satin, I clothe my retainers in the same (fabric), not in coarse woollen garments.
من چو پوشم از خز و اطلس لباس ** زان بپوشانم حشم را نه پلاس
I feel reverence for the all-accomplished Prophet, who said, ‘Clothe them in that wherewith ye clothe yourselves.’
شرم دارم از نبی ذو فنون ** البسوهم گفت مما تلبسون
Mustafá (Mohammed) gave his (spiritual) sons this injunction —Feed your dependents with what ye eat (yourselves).’”3975
مصطفی کرد این وصیت با بنون ** اطعموا الاذناب مما تاکلون
You have often restored others to a good disposition: you have made them ready and willing to show fortitude.
دیگران را بس به طبع آورده‌ای ** در صبوری چست و راغب کرده‌ای
(Now) manfully restore yourself too to (that) disposition: take the reason that meditates on fortitude as your guide.
هم به طبع‌آور بمردی خویش را ** پیشوا کن عقل صبراندیش را
When the guidance of fortitude becomes a wing for you, your spirit will soar to the zenith of the (Divine) Throne and Footstool.
چون قلاووزی صبرت پر شود ** جان به اوج عرش و کرسی بر شود