Rumi's Masnavi - When the sucking babe is born, at first it keeps silence for a while, it is all ear.

When the sucking babe is born, at first it keeps silence for a while, it is all ear.

کودک اول چون بزاید شیر نوش ** مدتی خامش بود او جمله گوش‌‌

For a while it must close its lips (and refrain) from speech, until it learns to speak;

مدتی می‌‌بایدش لب دوختن ** از سخن تا او سخن آموختن‌‌

And if it is not (silent like) an ear but makes babbling sounds, it makes itself the dumbest creature in the world. 1625

ور نباشد گوش و تی‌‌تی می‌‌کند ** خویشتن را گنگ گیتی می‌‌کند

He that is deaf by nature, he that had no ear at the beginning, is dumb: how should he burst into speech?

کر اصلی کش نبود آغاز گوش ** لال باشد کی کند در نطق جوش‌‌

Since, in order to speak, one must first hear, do thou come to speech by the way of hearing.

ز آن که اول سمع باید نطق را ** سوی منطق از ره سمع اندر آ

And enter ye the houses by their doors, and seek ye the ends in their causes.

ادخلوا الأبیات من أبوابها ** و اطلبوا الأغراض فی أسبابها

There is no speech independent of the way of hearing except the speech of the Creator who is without want.

نطق کان موقوف راه سمع نیست ** جز که نطق خالق بی‌‌طمع نیست‌‌

He is the Originator, He follows no master; He is the support of all things, He hath no support, 1630

مبدع است او تابع استاد نی ** مسند جمله و را اسناد نی‌‌

(While) the rest, (engaged) in handicrafts and talk, follow a master and have need of a pattern.

باقیان هم در حرف هم در مقال ** تابع استاد و محتاج مثال‌‌

If thou art not alien to (unfit to hear) this discourse, assume the frock of a dervish and (take to shedding) tears in some deserted place,

زین سخن گر نیستی بیگانه‌‌ای ** دلق و اشکی گیر در ویرانه‌‌ای‌‌

Because Adam by means of tears escaped from that reproof: moist tears are the breath (speech) of the penitent.

ز آن که آدم ز آن عتاب از اشک رست ** اشک تر باشد دم توبه پرست‌‌

For weeping's sake Adam came (down) to the earth, that he might be weeping and moaning and sorrowful.

بهر گریه آمد آدم بر زمین ** تا بود گریان و نالان و حزین‌‌

Adam, (cast out) from Paradise and from above the Seven (Heavens), went to the “shoe-row” for the purpose of excusing himself. 1635

آدم از فردوس و از بالای هفت ** پای ماچان از برای عذر رفت‌‌

If thou art from the back of Adam and from his loins, be constant in seeking (forgiveness) amongst his company.

گر ز پشت آدمی وز صلب او ** در طلب می‌‌باش هم در طلب او

Prepare a dessert of heart-fire (burning grief) and eye-water (tears): the garden is made open (blooming) by cloud and sun.

ز آتش دل و آب دیده نقل ساز ** بوستان از ابر و خورشید است باز

What dost thou know of the taste of the water of the eyes? Thou art a lover of bread, like the blind (beggars).

تو چه دانی قدر آب دیده‌‌گان ** عاشق نانی تو چون نادیدگان‌‌

If thou make this wallet empty of bread, thou wilt make it full of glorious jewels.

گر تو این انبان ز نان خالی کنی ** پر ز گوهرهای اجلالی کنی‌‌

Wean the babe, thy soul, from the Devil's milk, and after that make it consort with the Angel. 1640

طفل جان از شیر شیطان باز کن ** بعد از آنش با ملک انباز کن‌‌

Whilst thou art dark and vexed and gloomy, know that thou art sucking from the same breast as the accursed Devil.

تا تو تاریک و ملول و تیره‌‌ای ** دان که با دیو لعین همشیره‌‌ای‌‌

The mouthful that gave increase of light and perfection is obtained from lawful earnings.

لقمه‌‌ای کان نور افزود و کمال ** آن بود آورده از کسب حلال‌‌

The oil that comes and quenches our lamp—when it quenches a lamp, call it water.

روغنی کاید چراغ ما کشد ** آب خوانش چون چراغی را کشد

From the lawful morsel are born knowledge and wisdom; from the lawful morsel come love and tenderness.

علم و حکمت زاید از لقمه‌‌ی حلال ** عشق و رقت آید از لقمه‌‌ی حلال‌‌

When from a morsel thou seest (arise) envy and guile, (and when) ignorance and heedlessness are born (of it), know that it is unlawful. 1645

چون ز لقمه تو حسد بینی و دام ** جهل و غفلت زاید آن را دان حرام‌‌

Wilt thou sow wheat and will it produce barley? Hast thou seen a mare bring forth an ass's colt?

هیچ گندم کاری و جو بر دهد ** دیده‌‌ای اسبی که کره‌‌ی خر دهد

The morsel is seed, and thoughts are its fruit; the morsel is the sea, and thoughts are its pearls.

لقمه تخم است و برش اندیشه‌‌ها ** لقمه بحر و گوهرش اندیشه‌‌ها