(The eldest prince said), “My union with the Beloved will be achieved either by this effort or by some means outside of bodily effort.
یا وصال یار زین سعیم رسد ** یا ز راهی خارج از سعی جسد
I do not assert that my object will be gained in this (particular) way: I am palpitating (restlessly seeking) to ascertain from what quarter it will appear.
من نگویم زین طریق آید مراد ** می‌طپم تا از کجا خواهد گشاد
The decapitated bird tumbles in every direction to see in what direction its (vital) spirit may escape from its body.
سربریده مرغ هر سو می‌فتد ** تا کدامین سو رهد جان از جسد
My desire will be attained either by this going forth (in quest of it) or through (the opening of) some other gateway by (the hand of) Heaven.”4205
یا مراد من برآید زین خروج ** یا ز برجی دیگر از ذات البروج
Story of the person who dreamed that his hopes of opulence would be fulfilled in Cairo, and that there was a treasure (buried) in a certain house in a certain quarter of that city. When he came to Cairo, some one said to him, “I have dreamed of a treasure in such and such a quarter and such and such a house in Baghdád”; and he named the quarter and house in which this person lived. The latter perceived, however, that the information concerning the treasure in Cairo had been given to him (in his dream) in order to make him realise that, (although) he must not seek anywhere but in his own house, this treasure would really and truly be gained only in Cairo.
حکایت آن شخص کی خواب دید کی آنچ می‌طلبی از یسار به مصر وفا شود آنجا گنجیست در فلان محله در فلان خانه چون به مصر آمد کسی گفت من خواب دیده‌ایم کی گنجیست به بغداد در فلان محله در فلان خانه نام محله و خانه‌ی این شخص بگفت آن شخص فهم کرد کی آن گنج در مصر گفتن جهت آن بود کی مرا یقین کنند کی در غیر خانه‌ی خود نمی‌باید جستن ولیکن این گنج یقین و محقق جز در مصر حاصل نشود
There was (once) a man who inherited money and estates: he squandered all and was left destitute and miserable.
بود یک میراثی مال و عقار ** جمله را خورد و بماند او عور و زار
Inherited wealth indeed does not remain constant (to its new owner), since it was parted against its will from the deceased one.
مال میراثی ندارد خود وفا ** چون بناکام از گذشته شد جدا
Just because he (the heir) got it easily, he does not know its value; for he never made haste to work and toil and earn it.
او نداند قدر هم کاسان بیافت ** کو بکد و رنج و کسبش کم شتاف
O such-and-such, you know not the value of your soul because God bountifully gave it to you for nothing.
قدر جان زان می‌ندانی ای فلان ** که بدادت حق به بخشش رایگان
His ready money went and his furniture and houses went: he was left (alone) like owls in the deserts.4210
نقد رفت و کاله رفته و خانه‌ها ** ماند چون چغدان در آن ویرانه‌ها
He cried, “O Lord, Thou gavest (me) provision: the provision is gone: either give (me) some provision or send death.”
گفت یا رب برگ دادی رفت برگ ** یا بده برگی و یا بفرست مرگ
When he became empty, he began to call unto God: he started the tune of “O Lord!” and “O Lord, protect me!”
چون تهی شد یاد حق آغاز کرد ** یا رب و یا رب اجرنی ساز کرد
Since the Prophet has said that the true believer is (like) a lute (mizhar), (which) makes music (only) at the time when it is empty—
چون پیمبر گفته مومن مزهرست ** در زمان خالیی ناله گرست
(For) as soon as it is filled, the minstrel lays it down—do not become full, for sweet is the touch of His hand.
چون شود پر مطربش بنهد ز دست ** پر مشو که آسیب دست او خوشست
Become empty and stay happily between (His) two fingers, for “where” is intoxicated with the wine of “nowhere.”4215
تی شو و خوش باش بین اصبعین ** کز می لا این سرمستست این
Frowardness departed (from him) and released the water (tears) from his eye: his tears watered (revived) the crops of devotion.
رفت طغیان آب از چشمش گشاد ** آب چشمش زرع دین را آب داد
The reason why the answer to the true believer's prayer is delayed.
سبب تاخیر اجابت دعای مومن
Oh, how many a sincere (worshipper) moans in prayer, so that the smoke of his sincerity ascends to Heaven,
ای بسا مخلص که نالد در دعا ** تا رود دود خلوصش بر سما
And from the lamentation of the sinful the perfume of the censer floats up beyond this lofty roof!
تا رود بالای این سقف برین ** بوی مجمر از انین المذنبین
Then the angels beseech God piteously, saying, “O Thou who answerest every prayer and O Thou whose protection is invoked,
پس ملایک با خدا نالند زار ** کای مجیب هر دعا وی مستجار
A faithful slave (of Thine) is making humble entreaty: he knows none but Thee on whom to rely.4220
بنده‌ی مومن تضرع می‌کند ** او نمی‌داند به جز تو مستند
Thou bestowest Thy bounty (even) on strangers: every ardent wisher gains his desire from Thee.”
تو عطا بیگانگان را می‌دهی ** از تو دارد آرزو هر مشتهی
God saith, “’Tis not that he is despicable (in My sight); (nay), the very deferment of the bounty is (for the sake of) helping him.
حق بفرماید که نه از خواری اوست ** عین تاخیر عطا یاری اوست
Need caused him to turn towards Me from his (former state of) forgetfulness: it dragged him by the hair into My presence.
حاجت آوردش ز غفلت سوی من ** آن کشیدش مو کشان در کوی من
If I satisfy his need, he will go back and (again) become absorbed in that idle play.
گر بر آرم حاجتش او وا رود ** هم در آن بازیچه مستغرق شود
Although he is (now) crying with (all) his soul, ‘O Thou whose protection is invoked,’ let him (continue to) moan with broken heart and wounded breast!4225
گرچه می‌نالد به جان یا مستجار ** دل شکسته سینه‌خسته گو بزار
It pleases Me (to hear) his (piteous) voice and his cries of ‘O Lord’ and his secret (prayer),
خوش همی‌آید مرا آواز او ** وآن خدایا گفتن و آن راز او
And how in supplication and pleading (with Me) he would fain beguile Me with every sort (of persuasion).”
وانک اندر لابه و در ماجرا ** می‌فریباند بهر نوعی مرا
Parrots and nightingales are put into cages because they give pleasure by their sweet song;
طوطیان و بلبلان را از پسند ** از خوش آوازی قفس در می‌کنند
(But) how should crows and owls be caged? This has never been recorded in story.
زاغ را و چغد را اندر قفس ** کی کنند این خود نیامد در قصص
When two persons, one of them a decrepit old man and the other a fair-chinned (youth), come to (a baker who is) an admirer of handsome boys,4230
پیش شاهد باز چون آید دو تن ** آن یکی کمپیر و دیگر خوش‌ذقن
And both ask for bread, he will at once fetch the unleavened bread and bid the old man take it;
هر دو نان خواهند او زوتر فطیر ** آرد و کمپیر را گوید که گیر
But how should he (immediately) give bread to the other, by whose figure and cheeks (countenance) he is pleased? Nay, he will delay him
وآن دگر را که خوشستش قد و خد ** کی دهد نان بل به تاخیر افکند
And say to him, “Sit down a (little) while, ’twill do (thee) no harm; for the new bread is baking in the house”;
گویدش بنشین زمانی بی‌گزند ** که به خانه نان تازه می‌پزند
And when, after the work (of baking is finished), the hot bread is brought to him (the youth), he (the baker) will say to him, “Sit down, for halwá (sweetmeat) is coming.”
چون رسد آن نان گرمش بعد کد ** گویدش بنشین که حلوا می‌رسد
In this same fashion he is always detaining him and seeking covertly to make him his prey,4235
هم برین فن داردارش می‌کند ** وز ره پنهان شکارش می‌کند
Saying, “I have some (important) business to do with thee: wait a moment, O beauty of the world!”
که مرا کاریست با تو یک زمان ** منتظر می‌باش ای خوب جهان
Know for sure that this is the reason why the true believers suffer disappointment (whether) in (seeking) good or (in avoiding) evil.
بی‌مرادی مومنان از نیک و بد ** تو یقین می‌دان که بهر این بود
Returning to the Story of the person who was given a clue to the treasure (buried) at Cairo, and setting forth his supplication to God on account of his poverty.
رجوع کردن به قصه‌ی آن شخص کی به او گنج نشان دادند به مصر و بیان تضرع او از درویشی به حضرت حق
When the man who received the inheritance had squandered it and become a pauper, he began to cry “O Lord!” and weep and lament.
مرد میراثی چو خورد و شد فقیر ** آمد اندر یا رب و گریه و نفیر
Verily, who shall knock at this Door, from which mercy is showered, without gaining in response a hundred springs (seasons of spiritual refreshment)?
خود کی کوبد این در رحمت‌نثار ** که نیابد در اجابت صد بهار
He dreamed that he heard a Voice from heaven saying, “Thy fortune will be found in Cairo;4240
خواب دید او هاتفی گفت او شنید ** که غنای تو به مصر آید پدید
Go to Cairo: there thy affair will be set right. He (God) hath accepted thy humble petition: He is the (only) Object of hope.
رو به مصر آنجا شود کار تو راست ** کرد کدیت را قبول او مرتجاست
In such-and-such a spot is a great treasure: thou must go to Cairo in quest of it.
در فلان موضع یکی گنجی است زفت ** در پی آن بایدت تا مصر رفت
Hark, O wretched man, go without any delay from Baghdád to Cairo and the home of sugar-candy.”
بی‌درنگی هین ز بغداد ای نژند ** رو به سوی مصر و منبت‌گاه قند
When he departed from Baghdád (and came) to Cairo, at the sight of Cairo his courage was restored,
چون ز بغداد آمد او تا سوی مصر ** گرم شد پشتش چو دید او روی مصر
(For he was) in hope of (the fulfilment of) the promise given by the heavenly Voice that he would find in Cairo the treasure to remove his trouble—4245
بر امید وعده‌ی هاتف که گنج ** یابد اندر مصر بهر دفع رنج
“In such and such a quarter and such and such a spot there is a buried treasure exceedingly rare and very choice.”
در فلان کوی و فلان موضع دفین ** هست گنجی سخت نادر بس گزین
But of money for expenses, great or small, he had nothing left; and he was about to go and beg from the common folk,
لیک نفقه‌ش بیش و کم چیزی نماند ** خواست دقی بر عوام‌الناس راند
But (feelings of) shame and honour held him back, (so that) he began to plant himself firmly on fortitude.
لیک شرم و همتش دامن گرفت ** خویش را در صبر افشردن گرفت
(Meanwhile), however, his soul fluttered (in distress) on account of hunger: he saw no means of escape from foraging and begging.
باز نفسش از مجاعت بر طپید ** ز انتجاع و خواستن چاره ندید
“At nightfall,” he said (to himself), “I will slip out very quietly, in order that I may beg in the dark without feeling ashamed.4250
گفت شب بیرون روم من نرم نرم ** تا ز ظلمت نایدم در کدیه شرم
At night I will chant (litanies) and bawl like a night-mendicant, that half a dáng may come to me from the roofs.”
هم‌چو شبکوکی کنم شب ذکر و بانگ ** تا رسد از بامهاام نیم دانگ