غیر آن که در گریزی در قضا ** هیچ حیله ندهدت از وی رها
Except that you take refuge with the Decree, no contrivance will give you release from it.
قصه‌ی اهل ضروان و حیلت کردن ایشان تا بی زحمت درویشان باغها را قطاف کنند
The Story of the people of Zarwán and how they contrived that they should pick the fruit in their orchards without being troubled by the poor.
قصه‌ی اصحاب ضروان خوانده‌ای ** پس چرا در حیله‌جویی مانده‌ای
You have read the story of the people of Zarwán: then why have you persisted in seeking expedients?
حیله می‌کردند کزدم‌نیش چند ** که برند از روزی درویش چند475
Several (noxious) men who stung like scorpions were contriving that they might cut off part of the daily bread of some poor folk.
شب همه شب می‌سگالیدند مکر ** روی در رو کرده چندین عمرو و بکر
During the night, the whole night, they were devising a plot; many a ‘Amr and Bakr had put their faces together.
خفیه می‌گفتند سرها آن بدان ** تا نباید که خدا در یابد آن
Those wicked men were speaking their inmost thoughts in secret, lest God should discover it.
با گل انداینده اسگالید گل ** دست کاری می‌کند پنهان ز دل
Did the clay devise (evil) against the Plasterer? Is the hand doing any work that is hidden from the heart?
گفت الا یعلم هواک من خلق ** ان فی نجواک صدقا ام ملق
He (God) hath said, “Doth not He who created (thee) know thy desire, (doth not He know) whether in thy secret conversation there is sincerity or cajolery?”
گفت یغفل عن ظعین قد غدا ** من یعاین این مثواه غدا480
He hath said, "Shall He be forgetful of a traveller who has set out at morn, One who sees plainly where shall be his lodging to-morrow?"
اینما قد هبطا او صعدا ** قد تولاه و احصی عددا
Wheresoever he has descended or mounted, He hath taken charge of it and reckoned (it) up by number.
گوش را اکنون ز غفلت پاک کن ** استماع هجر آن غمناک کن
Now purge your ear of forgetfulness and listen to the separation (forlorn plight) of the sorrowful one.