(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
Whether (thou art) good or bad or open or secret, I am He that overheareth and overseeth all things.”
خواه نیک و خواه بد فاش و ستیر ** بر همه اشیا سمیعیم و بصیر
Leave this topic, O father: New Year's Day is come: the creatures have had their mouths made sweet by the Creator.
زین گذر کن ای پدر نوروز شد ** خلق از خلاق خوش پدفوز شد
The spiritual Water (of Life) has returned into our river-bed, our King has returned into our street.940
باز آمد آب جان در جوی ما ** باز آمد شاه ما در کوی ما
Fortune is strutting and (proudly) trailing her skirt and beating the drums (as a signal) to break vows of repentance.
می‌خرامد بخت و دامن می‌کشد ** نوبت توبه شکستن می‌زند
Once more the flood-water has swept repentance away: the opportunity has arrived, the watchman is overcome by sleep.
توبه را بار دگر سیلاب برد ** فرصت آمد پاسبان را خواب برد
Every toper has drunk the wine and is intoxicated: to-night we will pawn all our belongings.
هر خماری مست گشت و باده خورد ** رخت را امشب گرو خواهیم کرد
From (drinking) the ruby wine of the life-increasing Spirit we are ruby within ruby within ruby.
زان شراب لعل جان جان‌فزا ** لعل اندر لعل اندر لعل ما
Once more the assembly-place has become flourishing and heart-illuminating: arise and burn rue-seed to keep off the evil eye.945
باز خرم گشت مجلس دلفروز ** خیز دفع چشم بد اسپند سوز
The cries of the joyous drunken (lovers) are coming to me: O Beloved, I want it (to continue) like this unto everlasting.
نعره‌ی مستان خوش می‌آیدم ** تا ابد جانا چنین می‌بایدم
Lo, a new moon (hilálí) has been united with a Bilál: the blows of the (scourge of) thorns have become (delightful) to him (as) roses and pomegranate-flowers.
نک هلالی با بلالی یار شد ** زخم خار او را گل و گلزار شد
(Bilál said), “If my body is (full of holes, like) a sieve from the blows of the (scourge of) thorns, (yet) my soul and body are a rose-garden of felicity.
گر ز زخم خار تن غربال شد ** جان و جسمم گلشن اقبال شد
My body is exposed to the blows of the Jew's (scourge of) thorns, (but) my spirit is intoxicated and enravished by that Loving One.
تن به پیش زخم خار آن جهود ** جان من مست و خراب آن و دود
The scent of a (beloved) Soul is coming towards my soul: the scent of my loving Friend is coming to me.”950
بوی جانی سوی جانم می‌رسد ** بوی یار مهربانم می‌رسد
(When) Mustafá (Mohammed) came (to earth) from the Ascension, (he pronounced) on his Bilál (the blessing), “How dear to me (art thou), how dear!”