Nay, (the Divine) destiny is a fact and the slave's (man's) exertion (of power) is a fact: beware, do not be blind of one eye, like the tatterdemalion Iblís.
بل قضا حقست و جهد بنده حق ** هین مباش اعور چو ابلیس خلق
We are left vacillating between two (alternative) actions: how should this vacillation be without (unaccompanied by) free-will?
در تردد مانده‌ایم اندر دو کار ** این تردد کی بود بی‌اختیار
How should he whose hands and feet are chained say, “Shall I do this or shall I do that?”
این کنم یا آن کنم او کی گود ** که دو دست و پای او بسته بود
Can there ever be in my head such a dilemma as this, (namely), “Shall I walk on the sea or shall I fly aloft?”410
هیچ باشد این تردد بر سرم ** که روم در بحر یا بالا پرم
(No); there is (only) this (kind of) vacillation, (namely), “Shall I go toMosul (for trade) or shall I go to Babylon for (the study of) magic?”
این تردد هست که موصل روم ** یا برای سحر تا بابل روم
Vacillation, then, must have (in connexion with it) a power to act; otherwise, it would be a (mere) mockery.
پس تردد را بباید قدرتی ** ورنه آن خنده بود بر سبلتی
Do not put the blame on Destiny, O youth: how can you lay upon others (responsibility for) your own sin?
بر قضا کم نه بهانه ای جوان ** جرم خود را چون نهی بر دیگران
Does Zayd commit murder, and the retaliation for which he is liable fall upon ‘Amr? Does ‘Amr drink wine, and the penalty for wine(-drinking) fall upon Ahmad?
خون کند زید و قصاص او به عمر ** می خورد عمرو و بر احمد حد خمر
Circle round yourself and perceive your sin: perceive that the movement proceeds from the sun and do not regard it as proceeding from the shadow;415
گرد خود برگرد و جرم خود ببین ** جنبش از خود بین و از سایه مبین
For the Lord's retribution will not err: that sagacious Lord knows the guilty one.
که نخواهد شد غلط پاداش میر ** خصم را می‌داند آن میر بصیر
When you have eaten (too much) honey, the fever (caused by it) does not come to (does not attack) another; your day's wages do not come at nightfall to another.
چون عسل خوردی نیامد تب به غیر ** مزد روز تو نیامد شب به غیر
In what (work) have you exerted yourself without its returning to you (in some form) What have you sown without the produce of the seed coming (back to you)?
در چه کردی جهد کان وا تو نگشت ** تو چه کاریدی که نامد ریع کشت
Your action that is born of your soul and body clings to your skirt, like your (own) child.
فعل تو که زاید از جان و تنت ** هم‌چو فرزندت بگیرد دامنت
In the Unseen World the action is given a form (corresponding to its nature): is not a gallows erected (in retribution) for the act of robbery?420
فعل را در غیب صورت می‌کنند ** فعل دزدی را نه داری می‌زنند
How should the gallows resemble robbery? But that is the form given (to robbery) by God who knoweth things unseen,
دار کی ماند به دزدی لیک آن ** هست تصویر خدای غیب‌دان
Since God inspired the prefect's heart to make such a form for justice' sake.
در دل شحنه چو حق الهام داد ** که چنین صورت بساز از بهر داد
So long as you are wise and just, how should Destiny deal justice and give retribution not in accordance (with your actions)?
تا تو عالم باشی و عادل قضا ** نامناسب چون دهد داد و سزا
Since a judge does this in the case of a virtuous man, how (then) will the most Just of these judges give judgement?
چونک حاکم این کند اندر گزین ** چون کند حکم احکم این حاکمین
When you sow barley nothing except barley will grow up: (if) you have borrowed, from whom (but yourself) will you require the security?425
چون بکاری جو نروید غیر جو ** قرض تو کردی ز که خواهد گرو
Do not lay (responsibility for) your sin upon any one else: give your mind and ear to this retribution.
جرم خود را بر کسی دیگر منه ** هوش و گوش خود بدین پاداش ده
Lay the sin upon yourself, for you yourself sowed (the seed): make peace with the recompense and justice of God.
جرم بر خود نه که تو خود کاشتی ** با جزا و عدل حق کن آشتی
The cause of (your) affliction is some evil deed: acknowledge that evil is done by you, not by Fate.
رنج را باشد سبب بد کردنی ** بد ز فعل خود شناس از بخت نی
To look at Fate (alone) makes the eye asquint: it makes the dog be attached to the kennel and lazy.
آن نظر در بخت چشم احوال کند ** کلب را کهدانی و کاهل کند
Suspect yourself, O youth; do not suspect the recompense of (Divine) justice.430
متهم کن نفس خود را ای فتی ** متهم کم کن جزای عدل را
Repent like a man, turn your head into the (right) Way, for whoso doeth a mote's weight (of good or evil) shall see it.
توبه کن مردانه سر آور به ره ** که فمن یعمل بمثقال یره
Do not be duped by the wiles of the carnal soul, for the Divine Sun will not conceal a single mote.
در فسون نفس کم شو غره‌ای ** که آفتاب حق نپوشد ذره‌ای
These material motes, O profitable man, are visible in the presence of this material sun.
هست این ذرات جسمی ای مفید ** پیش این خورشید جسمانی پدید
(So too) the motes consisting of ideas and thought are manifest in the presence of the Sun of Realities.
هست ذرات خواطر و افتکار ** پیش خورشید حقایق آشکار
Story of the fowler who had wrapped himself in grass and drawn over his head a handful of roses and red anemones, like a cap, in order that the birds might think he was grass. The clever bird had some little notion that he was (really) a man, and said (to itself), “I have never seen grass of this shape”; but it did not wholly apprehend (the truth) and was deceived by his guile, because at the first view it had no decisive argument, (whereas) on its second view of the trick it had a decisive argument, namely, cupidity and greed, (which are) especially (potent) at the time of excessive want and poverty. The Prophet—God bless and save him!—has said that poverty is almost infidelity.
حکایت آن صیادی کی خویشتن در گیاه پیچیده بود و دسته‌ی گل و لاله را کله‌وار به سر فرو کشیده تا مرغان او را گیاه پندارند و آن مرغ زیرک بوی برد اندکی کی این آدمیست کی برین شکل گیاه ندیدم اما هم تمام بوی نبرد به افسون او مغرور شد زیرا در ادراک اول قاطعی نداشت در ادراک مکر دوم قاطعی داشت و هو الحرص و الطمع لا سیما عند فرط الحاجة و الفقر قال النبی صلی الله علیه و سلم کاد الفقر ان یکون کفرا
A bird went into a meadow: there was a trap (set) for the purpose of fowling.435
رفت مرغی در میان مرغزار ** بود آنجا دام از بهر شکار
Some grain had been placed on the ground, and the fowler was ensconced there in ambush.
دانه‌ی چندی نهاده بر زمین ** وآن صیاد آنجا نشسته در کمین
He had wrapped himself in leaves and grass, that the wretched prey might slip off from the path (of safety).
خویشتن پیچیده در برگ و گیاه ** تا در افتد صید بیچاره ز راه
A little bird approached him in ignorance (of his disguise): then it hopped round and ran up to the man,
مرغک آمد سوی او از ناشناخت ** پس طوافی کرد و پیش مرد تاخت
And said to him, “Who are you, clad in green in the desert amidst (all) these wild animals?”
گفت او را کیستی تو سبزپوش ** در بیابان در میان این وحوش
He replied, “I am an ascetic severed (from mankind): I have become content (to live) here with some grass.440
گفت مرد زاهدم من منقطع ** با گیاهی گشتم اینجا مقتنع
I adopted asceticism and piety as my religion and practice because I saw before me the appointed end of my life.
زهد و تقوی را گزیدم دین و کیش ** زانک می‌دیدم اجل را پیش خویش
My neighbour's death had given me warning and upset my (worldly) business and shop.
مرگ همسایه مرا واعظ شده ** کسب و دکان مرا برهم زده
Since I shall be left alone at the last, it behoves me not to become friendly with every man and woman.
چون به آخر فرد خواهم ماندن ** خو نباید کرد با هر مرد و زن
I shall turn my face to the grave at the last: ’tis better that I should make friends with the One (God).
رو بخواهم کرد آخر در لحد ** آن به آید که کنم خو با احد
Since my jaw will (ultimately) be bound up, O worshipful one, ’tis better that I should jaw little (now).445
چو زنخ را بست خواهند ای صنم ** آن به آید که زنخ کمتر زنم
O thou who hast learned to wear a gold-embroidered robe and a belt, at the last there is (only) the unsewn garment for thee (to wear).
ای بزربفت و کمر آموخته ** آخرستت جامه‌ی نادوخته
We shall turn our faces to the earth whence we have sprung: why (then) have we fixed our hearts on creatures devoid of constancy (permanence)?
رو به خاک آریم کز وی رسته‌ایم ** دل چرا در بی‌وفایان بسته‌ایم
The four ‘natures’ are our ancestors and kinsfolk from of old, (yet) we have fixed our hopes on a borrowed (temporary) kinship.
جد و خویشانمان قدیمی چار طبع ** ما به خویشی عاریت بستیم طمع
During (many) years the body of Man had companionship and intimacy with the elements.
سالها هم‌صحبتی و هم‌دمی ** با عناصر داشت جسم آدمی
His spirit, indeed, is from the (world of) souls and intelligences, (but) the spirit has forsaken its origins.450
روح او خود از نفوس و از عقول ** روح اصول خویش را کرده نکول
From the pure souls and intelligences there is coming to the spirit a letter, saying, ‘O faithless one,
از عقول و از نفوس پر صفا ** نامه می‌آید به جان کای بی‌وفا
Thou hast found (some) miserable five-day friends and hast turned thy face away from thy friends of old.’
یارکان پنج روزه یافتی ** رو ز یاران کهن بر تافتی
Although the children are happy in their play, (yet) at nightfall they are dragged off and taken home.
کودکان گرچه که در بازی خوشند ** شب کشانشان سوی خانه می‌کشند
At play-time the little child strips: suddenly the thief carries off his coat and shoes.
شد برهنه وقت بازی طفل خرد ** دزد از ناگه قبا و کفش برد
He is so hotly engaged in play that his cap and shirt are forgotten.455
آن چنان گرم او به بازی در فتاد ** کان کلاه و پیرهن رفتش ز یاد
Night falls, and his play becomes helpless (impossible): he has not the face to go home.
شد شب و بازی او شد بی‌مدد ** رو ندارد کو سوی خانه رود