Rumi's Masnavi - That Bilál was devoting his body to the (scourge of) thorns: his master was flogging him by way of correction,

That Bilál was devoting his body to the (scourge of) thorns: his master was flogging him by way of correction,

تن فدای خار می‌کرد آن بلال ** خواجه‌اش می‌زد برای گوشمال

Saying, “Why dost thou celebrate Ahmad (Mohammed)? Wicked slave, thou disbelievest in my religion!”

که چرا تو یاد احمد می‌کنی ** بنده‌ی بد منکر دین منی

He was beating him in the sun with thorns (while) he (Bilál) cried vauntingly “One!” 890

می‌زد اندر آفتابش او به خار ** او احد می‌گفت بهر افتخار

Till (at last) those cries of “One!” reached the ears of the Siddíq (Abú Bakr), who was passing in that neighbourhood.

تا که صدیق آن طرف بر می‌گذشت ** آن احد گفتن به گوش او برفت

His eyes became filled with tears and his heart with trouble, (for) from that “One!” he caught the scent of a loving friend (of God).

چشم او پر آب شد دل پر عنا ** زان احد می‌یافت بوی آشنا

Afterwards he saw him (Bilál) in private and admonished him, saying, “Keep thy belief hidden from the Jews.

بعد از آن خلوت بدیدش پند داد ** کز جهودان خفیه می‌دار اعتقاد

He (God) knows (all) secrets: conceal thy desire.” He (Bilál) said, “I repent before thee, O prince.”

عالم السرست پنهان دار کام ** گفت کردم توبه پیشت ای همام

Early next day, (when) the Siddíq was going quickly in that district on account of some affair, 895

روز دیگر از پگه صدیق تفت ** آن طرف از بهر کاری می‌برفت

He again heard (cries of) “One!” and (the sound of) blows inflicted by the (scourge of) thorns: flames and sparks of fire were kindled in his heart.

باز احد بشنید و ضرب زخم خار ** برفروزید از دلش سوز و شرار

He admonished him once more, and once more he (Bilál) repented; (but) Love came and consumed his repentance.

باز پندش داد باز او توبه کرد ** عشق آمد توبه‌ی او را بخورد

There was much repenting of this sort, (till) at last he became quit of repentance,

توبه کردن زین نمط بسیار شد ** عاقبت از توبه او بیزار شد

And proclaimed (his faith) and yielded up his body to tribulation, crying, “O Mohammed, O enemy of vows of repentance,

فاش کرد اسپرد تن را در بلا ** کای محمد ای عدو توبه‌ها

O thou with whom my body and (all) my veins are filled—how should there be room therein for repentance?— 900

ای تن من وی رگ من پر ز تو ** توبه را گنجا کجا باشد درو

Henceforth I will banish repentance from this heart (of mine): how should I repent of the life everlasting?”

توبه را زین پس ز دل بیرون کنم ** از حیات خلد توبه چون کنم

Love is the All-subduer, and I am subdued by Love: by Love's bitterness I have been made sweet as sugar.

عشق قهارست و من مقهور عشق ** چون شکر شیرین شدم از شور عشق

O fierce Wind, before Thee I am (but) a straw: how can I know where I shall fall?

برگ کاهم پیش تو ای تند باد ** من چه دانم که کجا خواهم فتاد

Whether I am (stout as) Bilál or (thin as) the new moon (hilál), I am running on and following the course of Thy sun.

گر هلالم گر بلالم می‌دوم ** مقتدی آفتابت می‌شوم

What has the moon to do with stoutness and thinness? She runs at the heels of the sun, like a shadow. 905

ماه را با زفتی و زاری چه کار ** در پی خورشید پوید سایه‌وار

Any one who offers to make a settlement with (the Divine) destiny is mocking at his own moustache.

با قضا هر کو قراری می‌دهد ** ریش‌خند سبلت خود می‌کند

A straw in the face of the wind, and then (the idea of) a settlement! A Resurrection (going on), and then the resolve to act (independently)!

کاه‌برگی پیش باد آنگه قرار ** رستخیزی وانگهانی عزم‌کار

In the hand of Love I am like a cat in a bag, now lifted high and now flung low by Love.

گربه در انبانم اندر دست عشق ** یک‌دمی بالا و یک‌دم پست عشق

He is whirling me round His head: I have no rest either below or aloft.

او همی‌گرداندم بر گرد سر ** نه به زیر آرام دارم نه زبر

The lovers (of God) have fallen into a fierce torrent: they have set their hearts on (resigned themselves to) the ordinance of Love. 910

عاشقان در سیل تند افتاده‌اند ** بر قضای عشق دل بنهاده‌اند

(They are) like the millstone turning, day and night, in (continual) revolution and moaning incessantly.

هم‌چو سنگ آسیا اندر مدار ** روز و شب گردان و نالان بی‌قرار

Its turning is evidence for those who seek the River, lest any one should say that the River is motionless.

گردشش بر جوی جویان شاهدست ** تا نگوید کس که آن جو راکدست

If thou seest not the hidden River, see the (perpetual) turning of the celestial water-wheel.

گر نمی‌بینی تو جو را در کمین ** گردش دولاب گردونی ببین

Since the heavens have no rest from (being moved by) Him (Love), (be) thou, O heart, like a star, (and) seek no rest.

چون قراری نیست گردون را ازو ** ای دل اختروار آرامی مجو

If thou lay hold of a branch, how should He let (thee cling to it)? Wherever thou makest an attachment, He will break it. 915

گر زنی در شاخ دستی کی هلد ** هر کجا پیوند سازی بسکلد

If thou seest not the revolutionary action of the (Divine) decree, look at the surging and whirling (that appears) in the (four) elements;

گر نمی‌بینی تو تدویر قدر ** در عناصر جوشش و گردش نگر

For the whirling of the sticks and straws and foam are caused by the boiling of the noble Sea (of Love).

زانک گردشهای آن خاشاک و کف ** باشد از غلیان بحر با شرف

See the giddy wind howling; see the billows surging at His command.

باد سرگردان ببین اندر خروش ** پیش امرش موج دریا بین بجوش

The sun and moon are two mill-oxen, going round and round and keeping watch (over the world).

آفتاب و ماه دو گاو خراس ** گرد می‌گردند و می‌دارند پاس

The stars likewise run from house to house (in the sky) and convey every good and evil fortune. 920

اختران هم خانه خانه می‌دوند ** مرکب هر سعد و نحسی می‌شوند

Hark, though the stars of heaven are far away and thy senses are (too) dull and slack (to apprehend their motions),

اختران چرخ گر دورند هی ** وین حواست کاهل‌اند و سست‌پی

(Yet ask thyself) where are our stars—eye, ear, and mind—at night, and where (are they) when we are awake?

اختران چشم و گوش و هوش ما ** شب کجااند و به بیداری کجا

Now (they are) in good luck and union and happiness; now in ill-luck and separation and insensibility.

گاه در سعد و وصال و دلخوشی ** گاه در نحس فراق و بیهشی

Since the moon of heaven is (engaged) in making this circuit, she is sometimes dark and sometimes bright.

ماه گردون چون درین گردیدنست ** گاه تاریک و زمانی روشنست

Sometimes ’tis spring and summer, (delicious) as honey and milk; sometimes (the world is) a place of punishment by snow and piercing cold. 925

گه بهار و صیف هم‌چون شهد و شیر ** گه سیاستگاه برف و زمهریر

Seeing that before Him (God) universals are like a ball, subject (to Him) and prostrating themselves before His bat,

چونک کلیات پیش او چو گوست ** سخره و سجده کن چوگان اوست

How shouldst thou, O heart, which art (but) one of these hundred thousand particulars, not be in restless movement at His decree?

تو که یک جزوی دلا زین صدهزار ** چون نباشی پیش حکمش بی‌قرار

Be at the disposal of the Prince, like a horse (or mule), now confined in the stable, now going (on the road).

چون ستوری باش در حکم امیر ** گه در آخر حبس گاهی در مسیر

When He fastens thee to a peg, be fastened (quiet and submissive); when He looses thee, go, be exultant (prance and bound).

چونک بر میخت ببندد بسته باش ** چونک بگشاید برو بر جسته باش

(But keep on the right road, for when) the sun in heaven jumps crookedly, He causes it to be eclipsed in black disgrace, 930

آفتاب اندر فلک کژ می‌جهد ** در سیه‌روزی خسوفش می‌دهد

Saying, “Avoid the (Dragon's) Tail: hark, take heed, lest thou become black of face like a cooking-pot.”

کز ذنب پرهیز کن هین هوش‌دار ** تا نگردی تو سیه‌رو دیگ‌وار

The cloud, too, is lashed with a whip of fire, (as through to say), “Go that way, do not go this way!

ابر را هم تازیانه‌ی آتشین ** می‌زنندش کانچنان رو نه چنین

Rain upon such and such a valley, do not rain in this quarter”: He reprimands it, saying, “Give ear!

بر فلان وادی ببار این سو مبار ** گوشمالش می‌دهد که گوش دار

Thy reason is not superior to a sun: do not stay in (dally with) a thought that has been forbidden.

عقل تو از آفتابی بیش نیست ** اندر آن فکری که نهی آمد مه‌ایست

O Reason, do not thou too step crookedly, lest that eclipse of (the bright) face befall (thee). 935

کژ منه ای عقل تو هم گام خویش ** تا نیاید آن خسوف رو به پیش

When (thy) sin is less, thou wilt see half the sun eclipsed and half radiant,

چون گنه کمتر بود نیم آفتاب ** منکسف بینی و نیمی نورتاب

For I punish thee in proportion to thy sin: this is the principle laid down for justice and retribution.

که به قدر جرم می‌گیرم ترا ** این بود تقریر در داد و جزا