And if the necessity exists, yet ’tis better to abstain; or if you do eat, at any rate give a guarantee for (payment of) it.”
ور ضرورت هست هم پرهیز به ** ور خوری باری ضمان آن بده
Thereupon the bird pondered deeply, (but) its restive steed took its head (recoiled) from the pull of the rein.
مرغ پس در خود فرو رفت آن زمان ** توسنش سر بستد از جذب عنان
When it had eaten the wheat, it remained in the trap: it recited several times (the chapters of the Qur’án entitled) Yásín and al-An‘ám.
چون بخورد آن گندم اندر فخ بماند ** چند او یاسین و الانعام خواند
What is (the use of crying) “Alas” and “Ah me” after being left helpless? This black smoke ought to have been (exhaled) before that (calamity).
بعد در ماندن چه افسوس و چه آه ** پیش از آن بایست این دود سیاه
At the time when greed and desire have stirred (in the heart), at that time keep saying, “(Help me), O Thou who comest at the cry for help!”535
آن زمان که حرص جنبید و هوس ** آن زمان می‌گو کای فریادرس
For that time is prior to the devastation of Basra, and it may be that Basra will still be saved from that overthrow.
کان زمان پیش از خرابی بصره است ** بوک بصره وا رهد هم زان شکست
O thou that wilt weep for me, O thou that wilt be bereft of me, weep for me before the demolition of Basra and Mawsil (Mosul).
ابک لی یا باکیی یا ثاکلی ** قبل هدم البصرة و الموصل
Mourn for me and smear thyself with dust before my death; do not mourn for me after my death, but bear (the loss of me) with patience.
نح علی قبل موتی واغتفر ** لا تنح لی بعد موتی واصطبر
Weep for me before my destruction in (the flood of) decease: after the flood of decease leave off weeping.
ابک لی قبل ثبوری فی‌النوی ** بعد طوفان النوی خل البکا
At the time when the Devil was waylaying (you), at that time you ought to have recited (the Súra entitled) Yásín.540
آن زمان که دیو می‌شد راه‌زن ** آن زمان بایست یاسین خواندن
O watchman, use your rattle before the caravan is ruined (by the robbers).
پیش از آنک اشکسته گردد کاروان ** آن زمان چوبک بزن ای پاسبان
Story of the watchman who kept silence till the robbers had carried off the entire stock of the merchants, but afterwards made an outcry and did the duty of a watchman.
حکایت پاسبان کی خاموش کرد تا دزدان رخت تاجران بردند به کلی بعد از آن هیهای و پاسبانی می‌کرد
A certain watchman fell asleep. The robbers carried off the goods and secreted the (various) articles under any piece of earth.
پاسبانی خفت و دزد اسباب برد ** رختها را زیر هر خاکی فشرد
(When) it was day, the caravaneers awoke: they saw that stock and money and camels were gone.
روز شد بیدار شد آن کاروان ** دید رفته رخت و سیم و اشتران
Then they said to him, “O watchman, tell (us) what has happened. Where are this stock and these goods?”
پس بدو گفتند ای حارس بگو ** که چه شد این رخت و این اسباب کو
He replied, “The robbers came unexpectedly, and hastily carried off the stock from before me.”545
The party (of merchants) said to him, “O man (weak) as a sandhill, what were you doing, then? Who are you, O recreant?”
قوم گفتندش که ای چو تل ریگ ** پس چه می‌کردی کیی ای مردریگ
“I was (only one,” said he, “and they were a band, armed and brave and formidable.”
گفت من یک کس بدم ایشان گروه ** با سلاح و با شجاعت با شکوه
He (the spokesman of the merchants) said, “If you had no hope (of overcoming them) in battle, (why didn't you) shout, ‘Gentlemen, spring up (from your beds)?’”
گفت اگر در جنگ کم بودت امید ** نعره‌ای زن کای کریمان برجهید
He replied, “At that moment they produced knives and swords, crying, ‘Silence! or we will kill you ruthlessly.’
گفت آن دم کارد بنمودند و تیغ ** که خمش ورنه کشیمت بی‌دریغ
At that time I shut my mouth in terror; at this time (I can utter) screams and calls for help and cries of distress.550
آن زمان از ترس بستم من دهان ** این زمان هیهای و فریاد و فغان
At that time my breath was stopped from breathing a word: at this time I will scream as much as you please.”
آن زمان بست آن دمم که دم زنم ** این زمان چندانک خواهی هی کنم
After the Devil who exposes (sinners) to disgrace has carried off your life, it is foolish (to cry) “I take refuge (with God)” and (to recite) the Fátiha;
چونک عمرت برد دیو فاضحه ** بی‌نمک باشد اعوذ و فاتحه
(But) though ’tis foolish to moan now, (yet) assuredly heedlessness is (even) more foolish than that (tardy supplication).
گرچه باشد بی‌نمک اکنون حنین ** هست غفلت بی‌نمک‌تر زان یقین
Continue to sob thus, even foolishly, crying, “Regard the base (sinners), O Almighty One!
هم‌چنین هم بی‌نمک می‌نال نیز ** که ذلیلان را نظر کن ای عزیز
Whether it be late or early, Thou art omnipotent: when did anything escape Thee, O God?”555
قادری بی‌گاه باشد یا به گاه ** از تو چیزی فوت کی شد ای اله
The King of (that ye) may not grieve for what hath escaped you —how should the object of (your) desire vanish from (the range of) His power?
شاه لا تاسوا علی ما فاتکم ** کی شود از قدرتش مطلوب گم
How the bird attributed its being caught in the trap to the artifice and cunning and hypocrisy of the ascetic; and how the ascetic answered the bird.
حواله کردن مرغ گرفتاری خود را در دام به فعل و مکر و زرق زاهد و جواب زاهد مرغ را
The bird said, “This is a fit punishment for one who listens to the beguiling talk of ascetics.”
گفت آن مرغ این سزای او بود ** که فسون زاهدان را بشنود
“Nay,” said the ascetic; “it is a fit punishment for the greedy wretch who incontinently devours the property of orphans.”
گفت زاهد نه سزای آن نشاف ** کو خورد مال یتیمان از گزاف
Afterwards it (the bird) began to lament in such wise that the trap and the fowler trembled at the grief (which it displayed),
بعد از آن نوحه‌گری آغاز کرد ** که فخ و صیاد لرزان شد ز درد
Crying, “My back is broken by the contradictions (conflicting motives) in my heart: come, O Beloved, rub Thy hand on my head.560
کز تناقضهای دل پشتم شکست ** بر سرم جانا بیا می‌مال دست
Under Thy hand my head hath a (great) relief (from pain): Thy hand is a miracle in bestowing favour.
زیر دست تو سرم را راحتیست ** دست تو در شکربخشی آیتیست
Do not take away Thy shadow (protection) from my head: I am restless, restless, restless.
سایه‌ی خود از سر من برمدار ** بی‌قرارم بی‌قرارم بی‌قرار
(All) sorts of sleep have quitted mine eye in my passion for Thee, O Thou who art envied by the cypress and the jasmine.
خوابها بیزار شد از چشم من ** در غمت ای رشک سرو و یاسمن
Though I am not deserving (of Thy favour), what matter if for a moment Thou ask after an unworthy one (who is) in a (great) anguish?”
گر نیم لایق چه باشد گر دمی ** ناسزایی را بپرسی در غمی
What right (to Thy favour), forsooth, had Not-being, to which Thy grace opened such doors?565
مر عدم را خود چه استحقاق بود ** که برو لطفت چنین درها گشود
(Thy) bounty touched (embraced) the mangy earth and put in its bosom ten pearls of the light of sensation—
خاک گرگین را کرم آسیب کرد ** ده گهر از نور حس در جیب کرد
Five outward senses and five inward senses—whereby the dead semen was made Man.
پنج حس ظاهر و پنج نهان ** که بشر شد نطفه‌ی مرده از آن
Repentance without Thy blessing, O sublime Light, what is it but to laugh at the beard of repentance?
توبه بی توفیقت ای نور بلند ** چیست جز بر ریش توبه ریش‌خند
Thou dost tear the moustaches of repentance piecemeal: repentance is the shadow and Thou art the shining moon.
سبلتان توبه یک یک بر کنی ** توبه سایه‌ست و تو ماه روشنی
O Thou by whom my shop and dwelling is ruined, how shall not I wail when Thou rackest my heart?570
ای ز تو ویران دکان و منزلم ** چون ننالم چون بیفشاری دلم
How shall I flee (from Thee), since without Thee none liveth, and without Thy lordship no slave hath existence?
چون گریزم زانک بی تو زنده نیست ** بی خداوندیت بود بنده نیست
Take my life, O Source of my life, for without Thee I have become weary of my life.
جان من بستان تو ای جان را اصول ** زانک بی‌تو گشته‌ام از جان ملول
I am in love with the art of madness, I am surfeited with wisdom and sagacity.
عاشقم من بر فن دیوانگی ** سیرم از فرهنگی و فرزانگی
When (the veil of) shame is rent asunder, I will publicly declare the mystery: how much (more) of this self-restraint and griping pain and tremor?
چون بدرد شرم گویم راز فاش ** چند ازین صبر و زحیر و ارتعاش
I have become concealed in shame, like the fringe (sewn on the inside of a garment): I will spring forth of a sudden from beneath this coverlet.575
در حیا پنهان شدم هم‌چون سجاف ** ناگهان بجهم ازین زیر لحاف
O comrades, the Beloved has barred the ways: we are lame deer and He a hunting lion.
ای رفیقان راهها را بست یار ** آهوی لنگیم و او شیر شکار