Till a third part of the night was gone, (he kept putting) one foot forward and one foot backward (hesitating and asking himself), “Shall I beg or shall I lie down to sleep with my lips dry?”
پای پیش و پای پس تا ثلث شب ** که بخواهم یا بخسپم خشک‌لب
How that person arrived at Cairo and at night came out into the street to play the mendicant and beg, and how he was arrested by the night-patrol and after having been soundly beaten succeeded through him in gaining his object. “And it may be that ye loathe a thing though it is better for you”; and as God most High hath (also) said, “God will surely vouchsafe after hardship ease”; and as God most High hath said, “Lo, with hardship goeth ease”; and as he (the Prophet), on whom be peace, hath said, “O year of drought, become severe, and then thou wilt pass away.” And the whole of the Qur’án and all the Revealed Books confirm this.
رسیدن آن شخص به مصر و شب بیرون آمدن به کوی از بهر شبکوکی و گدایی و گرفتن عسس او را و مراد اوحاصل شدن از عسس بعد از خوردن زخم بسیار و عسی ان تکرهوا شیا و هو خیر لکم و قوله تعالی سیجعل الله بعد عسر یسرا و قوله علیه‌السلام اشتدی ازمة تنفرجی و جمیع القرآن و الکتب المنزلة فی تقریر هذا
Suddenly the night-patrol seized him and, unable to restrain his anger, beat him with fist and cudgel.4255
ناگهانی خود عسس او را گرفت ** مشت و چوبش زد ز صفرا تا شکفت
As it happened, the people (of the city) had suffered losses in those dark nights from (the depredations of) night-thieves.
اتفاقا اندر آن شب‌های تار ** دیده بد مردم ز شب‌دزدان ضرار
They were nights of alarm and disaster, and the police were searching for the thieves with all their might,
بود شب‌های مخوف و منتحس ** پس به جد می‌جست دزدان را عسس
(So much so) that the Khalífa said, “Cut off the hand of any one who roams about by night, even if he is a kinsman of mine.”
تا خلیفه گفت که ببرید دست ** هر که شب گردد وگر خویش منست
The king had terrified the police with threats, saying, “Why are you (so) merciful to the thieves?
بر عسس کرده ملک تهدید و بیم ** که چرا باشید بر دزدان رحیم
For what reason do you believe their blarney or why do you accept gold (bribes) from them?”4260
عشوه‌شان را از چه رو باور کنید ** یا چرا زیشان قبول زر کنید
To show mercy to thieves and any sinister-handed (noxious) person is to inflict blows and have no mercy on the weak.
رحم بر دزدان و هر منحوس‌دست ** بر ضعیفان ضربت و بی‌رحمیست
Beware, from sympathy with a particular (offender) do not let him go unpunished: do not consider his sufferings, consider the sufferings of the public.
هین ز رنج خاص مسکل ز انتقام ** رنج او کم بین ببین تو رنج عام
Amputate the snake-bitten finger to prevent (worse) mischief: keep in view the infection and (consequent) destruction of the (whole) body.
اصبع ملدوغ بر در دفع شر ** در تعدی و هلاک تن نگر
In those days, as it happened, the thieves, both expert and unskilled, had become numerous.
اتفاقا اندر آن ایام دزد ** گشته بود انبوه پخته و خام دزد
He (the night-patrol) saw him (in the street) at such a time and gave him a sound drubbing and blows without number.4265
در چنین وقتش بدید و سخت زد ** چوب‌ها و زخمهای بی‌عدد
Shrieks and cries for mercy arose from the poor wretch: “Don't strike! let me tell the truth about it all!”
نعره و فریاد زان درویش خاست ** که مزن تا من بگویم حال راست
He replied, “Look now, I will give you time: speak, that I may learn how you came out into the streets by night.
گفت اینک دادمت مهلت بگو ** تا به شب چون آمدی بیرون به کو
You do not belong to this place, you are a stranger and unknown (to me): tell me truly what you are plotting (here).
تو نه‌ای زینجا غریب و منکری ** راستی گو تا بچه مکر اندری
The government officials have attacked the police, asking why there is now such a great number of thieves (in the city).
اهل دیوان بر عسس طعنه زدند ** که چرا دزدان کنون انبه شدند
It is owing to you and the likes of you that they are so numerous: first disclose (the names of) your wicked associates;4270
انبهی از تست و از امثال تست ** وا نما یاران زشتت را نخست
Otherwise I will exact from you the vengeance incurred by all of them, in order that every respectable person's money may be safe.”
ورنه کین جمله را از تو کشم ** تا شود آمن زر هر محتشم
After taking many oaths he replied, “I am not a housebreaker or cutpurse.
گفت او از بعد سوگندان پر ** که نیم من خانه‌سوز و کیسه‌بر
I am no thief and criminal: I am a stranger in Cairo, I belong to Baghdád.”
من نه مرد دزدی و بیدادیم ** من غریب مصرم و بغدادیم
Explaining the Tradition (of the Prophet), “Falsehood causes suspicion, while veracity inspires confidence.”
بیان این خبر کی الکذب ریبة والصدق طمانینة
He related the story of his dream and the treasure of gold, and from (under the influence of) his veracity the man's heart expanded (like a flower).
قصه‌ی آن خواب و گنج زر بگفت ** پس ز صدق او دل آن کس شکفت
From his (the treasure-seeker's) oaths (protestations) he scented the truth: in him (both) the combustion and the rue-seed were evident.4275
بوی صدقش آمد از سوگند او ** سوز او پیدا شد و اسپند او
The heart is comforted by true words, just as a thirsty man is comforted by water—
دل بیارامد به گفتار صواب ** آنچنان که تشنه آرامد به آب
Except the heart of one who is veiled (deprived of discernment) and suffers from a (spiritual) malady, (so that) he cannot distinguish between a prophet and a dolt;
جز دل محجوب کو را علتیست ** از نبیش تا غبی تمییز نیست
Or else, (if) the message that is (brought) from the place (of truth) were to descend upon the moon, it (the moon) would be split asunder.
ورنه آن پیغام کز موضع بود ** بر زند بر مه شکافیده شود
The moon would be split, but not the heart of him who is veiled; for he is rejected (by God), he is not beloved.
مه شکافد وان دل محجوب نی ** زانک مردودست او محبوب نی
The night-patrol's eye became (like) a fountain with wetting tears, not from the dry words, nay, but from the fragrance (of truth) in the heart.4280
چشمه شد چشم عسس ز اشک مبل ** نی ز گفت خشک بل از بوی دل
One word comes to the lips from Hell, one word (comes) into the region of the lips from the Spiritual City.
یک سخن از دوزخ آید سوی لب ** یک سخن از شهر جان در کوی لب
There is the spirit-increasing sea and the distressful sea: these lips are where the two seas meet (but do not mingle).
بحر جان‌افزا و بحر پر حرج ** در میان هر دو بحر این لب مرج
(’Tis) like a great mart (situated) between towns: thither come goods from all directions:
چون یپنلو در میان شهرها ** از نواحی آید آن‌جا بهرها
Damaged, spurious, and swindling commodities (and also) lucrative commodities highly esteemed, like pearls.
کاله‌ی معیوب قلب کیسه‌بر ** کاله‌ی پر سود مستشرف چو در
The shrewdest traders in this mart (carefully) inspect the genuine and spurious wares.4285
زین یپنلو هر که بازرگان‌ترست ** بر سره و بر قلب‌ها دیده‌ورست
To him (such an one) the mart is a place of gain, while to others in their blindness it is a place of loss.
شد یپنلو مر ورا دار الرباح ** وآن گر را از عمی دار الجناح
Every particle of the world, one by one, is a fetter for the fool and a means of deliverance for the wise.
هر یکی ز اجزای عالم یک به یک ** بر غبی بندست و بر استاد فک
It is (sweet as) candy for one and (bitter) as poison for another: it is (beautiful as) mercy for one and (terrible) as wrath for another.
بر یکی قندست و بر دیگر چو زهر ** بر یکی لطفست و بر دیگر چو قهر
Every inanimate thing tells a tale to the Prophet: the Ka‘ba testifies to the pilgrim and is eloquent (on his behalf).
هر جمادی با نبی افسانه‌گو ** کعبه با حاجی گواه و نطق‌خو
The mosque, too, bears witness to him who performs the ritual prayer, saying, “He came a long way to (visit) me.”4290
بر مصلی مسجد آمد هم گواه ** کو همی‌آمد به من از دور راه
The fire is (like) flowers and sweet basils and roses to (one like) Khalíl (Abraham); to those like Nimrod, on the contrary, it is death and anguish.
با خلیل آتش گل و ریحان و ورد ** باز بر نمرودیان مرگست و درد
We have said this many a time, O Hasan: I will never be weary of setting it forth.
بارها گفتیم این را ای حسن ** می‌نگردم از بیانش سیر من
Many a time have you eaten bread to prevent (yourself from) getting thin: ’tis the same bread: why are not you surfeited?
بارها خوردی تو نان دفع ذبول ** این همان نانست چون نبوی ملول
(Because), in normal health, a new hunger comes to you, by which indigestion and satiety are consumed.
در تو جوعی می‌رسد تو ز اعتلال ** که همی‌سوزد ازو تخمه و ملال
When one actually feels the pangs of hunger, a (sense of) refreshment is associated with every part (of the body).4295
هرکه را درد مجاعت نقد شد ** نو شدن با جزو جزوش عقد شد
The pleasure (of eating) is (derived) from hunger, not from new dessert (viands): hunger makes barley-bread more delicious than sugar.
لذت از جوعست نه از نقل نو ** با مجاعت از شکر به نان جو
That weariness, then, is caused by lack of hunger (ardour) and complete (spiritual) indigestion, not by repetition of the discourse.
پس ز بی‌جوعیست وز تخمه‌ی تمام ** آن ملالت نه ز تکرار کلام
How is it that you are not weary of your shop and of haggling and disputing in order to cheat people?
چون ز دکان و مکاس و قیل و قال ** در فریب مردمت ناید ملال
How is it that you have not been surfeited by speaking ill of men in their absence and backbiting them for sixty years?
چون ز غیبت و اکل لحم مردمان ** شصت سالت سیریی نامد از آن
Time after time, without wearying, you have gaily spoken false words of flattery in pursuit of a vile woman; [Time after time, without wearying, you have gaily spoken false words of flattery in pursuit of a ruptured (deflowered) vulva;]4300
عشوه‌ها در صید شله‌ی کفته تو ** بی ملولی بارها خوش گفته تو
And the last time you utter them with fire and energy, a hundred times more ardently than the first time.
بار آخر گوییش سوزان و چست ** گرم‌تر صد بار از بار نخست
Passion makes the old medicine new; passion lops every bough of weariness.
درد داروی کهن را نو کند ** درد هر شاخ ملولی خو کند
Passion is the elixir that makes (things) new: how (can there be) weariness where passion has arisen?
کیمیای نو کننده دردهاست ** کو ملولی آن طرف که درد خاست