Rumi's Masnavi - To him it was anguish that he should give up his soul at one blow and that his soul should escape lightly from the hand of his fortitude.

حیفش آمد که به زخمی جان دهد ** جان ز دست صدق او آسان رهد
To him it was anguish that he should give up his soul at one blow and that his soul should escape lightly from the hand of his fortitude.

حکایت آن مجاهد کی از همیان سیم هر روز یک درم در خندق انداختی به تفاریق از بهر ستیزه‌ی حرص و آرزوی نفس و وسوسه‌ی نفس کی چون می‌اندازی به خندق باری به یک‌بار بینداز تا خلاص یابم کی الیاس احدی الراحتین او گفته کی این راحت نیز ندهم
Story of the (spiritual) warrior who every day used to take one dirhem separately from a purse containing (pieces of) silver and throw it into a ditch (full of water) for the purpose of thwarting the greed and cupidity of his fleshly soul; and how his soul tempted him, saying, “Since you are going to throw (this money) into the ditch, at least throw it away all at once, so that I may gain deliverance, for despair is one of the two (possible) reliefs”; and how he replied, “I will not give thee this relief either.”

آن یکی بودش به کف در چل درم ** هر شب افکندی یکی در آب یم 3815
A certain man had forty dirhems in his hand: every night he would throw one (of them) into the sea-water,

تا که گردد سخت بر نفس مجاز ** در تانی درد جان کندن دراز
In order that the long agony suffered in (the process of) deliberation might become grievous to the illusory soul.

با مسلمانان بکر او پیش رفت ** وقت فر او وا نگشت از خصم تفت
He (the valiant Súfí) advanced with the Moslems to attack (the infidels), (but) in the hour of retreat he did not fall back in haste before the enemy.

زخم دیگر خورد آن را هم ببست ** بیست کرت رمح و تیر از وی شکست
He was wounded again, (but) he bound up those (wounds) too: twenty times were the spears and arrows (of the enemy) broken by him.

بعد از آن قوت نماند افتاد پیش ** مقعد صدق او ز صدق عشق خویش
After that no strength remained (in him): his fell forward (and expired in) the seat of truth because his love was true.

صدق جان دادن بود هین سابقوا ** از نبی برخوان رجال صدقوا 3820
Truth consists in giving up the soul (to God). Hark, try to outstrip (the others) in the race! Recite from the Qur’án (the words) men who have been true.

این همه مردن نه مرگ صورتست ** این بدن مر روح را چون آلتست
All this dying is not the death of the (physical) form: this body is (only) like an instrument for the spirit.

ای بسا خامی که ظاهر خونش ریخت ** لیک نفس زنده آن جانب گریخت
Oh, there is many a raw (imperfect) one whose blood was shed externally, but whose living fleshly soul escaped to yonder side.

آلتش بشکست و ره‌زن زنده ماند ** نفس زنده‌ست ارچه مرکب خون فشاند
Its instrument was shattered, but the brigand was left alive: the fleshly soul is living though that on which it rode has bled to death.

اسپ کشت و راه او رفته نشد ** جز که خام و زشت و آشفته نشد
His (the rider's) horse was killed before his road was traversed: he became naught but ignorant and wicked and miserable.

گر بهر خون ریزیی گشتی شهید ** کافری کشته بدی هم بوسعید 3825
If a martyr were made by every (mortal) bloodshed, an infidel killed (in battle) also would be a Bú Sa‘íd.

ای بسا نفس شهید معتمد ** مرده در دنیا چو زنده می‌رود
Oh, there is many a trusty martyred soul that has died (to self) in this world, (though) it is going about like the living.

روح ره‌زن مرد و تن که تیغ اوست ** هست باقی در کف آن غزوجوست
The brigand (animal) spirit has died, though the body, which is its sword, survives: it (the sword) is (still) in the hand of that eager warrior.

تیغ آن تیغست مرد آن مرد نیست ** لیک این صورت ترا حیران کنیست
The sword is that (same) sword, the man is not that (same) man; but this appearance (of identity) is a cause of bewilderment to you.

نفس چون مبدل شود این تیغ تن ** باشد اندر دست صنع ذوالمنن
When the soul is transformed, this sword, namely, the body, remains in the hand of (is wielded by) the action of the Beneficent (God).

آن یکی مردیست قوتش جمله درد ** این دگر مردی میان‌تی هم‌چو گرد 3830
The one (whose fleshly soul is dead) is a man whose food is entirely (Divine) love; the other is a man hollow as dust.

صفت کردن مرد غماز و نمودن صورت کنیزک مصور در کاغذ و عاشق شدن خلیفه‌ی مصر بر آن صورت و فرستادن خلیفه امیری را با سپاه گران بدر موصل و قتل و ویرانی بسیار کردن بهر این غرض
How an informer described a girl and exhibited the picture of her on paper, and how the Caliph of Egypt fell in love with it and sent an Amír with a mighty army to the gates of Mawsil (Mosul) and made great slaughter and devastation for the purpose (of obtaining the girl).

مر خلیفه‌ی مصر را غماز گفت ** که شه موصل به حوری گشت جفت
An informer said to the Caliph of Egypt, “The King of Mawsil is wedded to a houri.

در بیان ناید که حسنش بی‌حدست ** نقش او اینست که اندر کاغذست
She does not admit of description, for her loveliness is beyond (all) limits: here is her portrait on paper.”

نقش در کاغذ چو دید آن کیقباد ** خیره گشت و جام از دستش فتاد
When the Emperor saw the portrait on the paper, he became distraught and the cup dropped from his hand.

که اگر ندهد به تو آن ماه را ** برکن از بن آن در و درگاه را
Saying, “If he will not give up that moon (beauty) to thee, rase his court and palace to the ground;

ور دهد ترکش کن و مه را بیار ** تا کشم من بر زمین مه در کنار
But if he give her up, leave him alone and bring the moon (hither), that on the earth I may embrace the moon.”

پهلوان شد سوی موصل با حشم ** با هزاران رستم و طبل و علم
The captain set out towards Mawsil with his retinue and with thousands of heroes and drums and banners.