تخم باطل را از آن میکاشتند ** کان که آن جان نیست جان پنداشتند525
Thereby they were sowing the seed of falsehood, for they deemed soul that which is not soul.
و آن مسافر نیز از راه دراز ** خسته بود و دید آن اقبال و ناز
And the traveller, too, was tired by the long journey and (gladly) saw that favour and fondness (with which they regarded him).
صوفیانش یک به یک بنواختند ** نرد خدمتهای خوش میباختند
The Súfís, one by one, caressed him: they were playing the game of (bestowing) pleasant attentions (on him).
گفت چون میدید میلانشان به وی ** گر طرب امشب نخواهم کرد کی
When he saw their affection towards him, he said, “If I don't make merry to-night, when (shall I do so)?”
لوت خوردند و سماع آغاز کرد ** خانقه تا سقف شد پر دود و گرد
They ate the viands and began the samá‘ (musical dance); the monastery was filled with smoke and dust up to the roof—
دود مطبخ گرد آن پا کوفتن ** ز اشتیاق و وجد جان آشوفتن530
The smoke of the kitchen, the dust of (raised by) beating the feet (dancing), the tumult (caused) by longing and ecstasy of spirit.
گاه دست افشان قدم میکوفتند ** گه به سجده صفه را میروفتند
Now, waving their hands, they would beat (the ground with) their feet; now, in (religious) prostration, they would sweep the dais (with their foreheads).
دیر یابد صوفی آز از روزگار ** ز آن سبب صوفی بود بسیار خوار
(Only) after long (waiting) does the Súfí gain his desire (the satisfaction of his appetite) from Fortune: for that reason the Súfí is a great eater;
جز مگر آن صوفیی کز نور حق ** سیر خورد او فارغ است از ننگ دق
Except, to be sure, the Súfí who has eaten his fill of the Light of God: he is free from the shame of beggary;
از هزاران اندکی زین صوفیند ** باقیان در دولت او میزیند
(But) of these Súfís there are (only) a few among thousands; the rest are living in (under the protection of) his (the perfect Súfí's spiritual) empire.