Thy fear and love are the noose to catch My favour: beneath every ‘O Lord’ (of thine) is many a ‘Here am I’ (from Me).”
ترس و عشق تو کمند لطف ماست ** زیر هر یا رب تو لبیکهاست
Far from this prayer is the soul of the fool, because to him it is not permitted to cry “O Lord.”
جان جاهل زین دعا جز دور نیست ** زانک یا رب گفتنش دستور نیست
On his mouth and heart are lock and bolt, to the end that he may not moan unto God in the hour of bale.
بر دهان و بر دلش قفلست و بند ** تا ننالد با خدا وقت گزند
He (God) gave to Pharaoh hundredfold possessions and riches, so that he claimed (Divine) might and majesty.200
داد مر فرعون را صد ملک و مال ** تا بکرد او دعوی عز و جلال
In his whole life that man of evil nature felt no (spiritual) headache, lest he should moan unto God.
در همه عمرش ندید او درد سر ** تا ننالد سوی حق آن بدگهر
God gave him all the empire of this world, (but) He did not give him grief and pain and sorrows.
داد او را جمله ملک این جهان ** حق ندادش درد و رنج و اندهان
Grief is better than the empire of the world, so that you may call unto God in secret.
درد آمد بهتر از ملک جهان ** تا بخوانی مر خدا را در نهان
The call of the griefless is from a frozen heart, the call of the grieving one is from rapture:
خواندن بی درد از افسردگیست ** خواندن با درد از دلبردگیست
(’Tis) to withdraw the voice under the lips, to bear in mind (one's) origin and beginning;205
آن کشیدن زیر لب آواز را ** یاد کردن مبدا و آغاز را
(’Tis) the voice become pure and sad, (crying) “O God!” and “O Thou whose help is besought!” and “O Helper!”
آن شده آواز صافی و حزین ** ای خدا وی مستغاث و ای معین
(Even) the moan of a dog for His sake is not void of (Divine) attraction, because every one who desires (Him) is a brigand's captive—
نالهی سگ در رهش بی جذبه نیست ** زانک هر راغب اسیر رهزنیست
As (for example) the dog of the Cave, which was freed from (eating) carrion and sat at the table of the (spiritual) emperors:
چون سگ کهفی که از مردار رست ** بر سر خوان شهنشاهان نشست
Until the Resurrection, before the Cave it is drinking in gnostic wise without (any) pot the water of (Divine) mercy.
تا قیامت میخورد او پیش غار ** آب رحمت عارفانه بی تغار
Oh, there is many a one in a dog's skin, who hath no name (and fame), yet is not without that cup (of Divine knowledge) in secret.210
ای بسا سگپوست کو را نام نیست ** لیک اندر پرده بی آن جام نیست
Give thy life for this cup, O son: how may victory be (won) without (spiritual) warfare and patience?
جان بده از بهر این جام ای پسر ** بی جهاد و صبر کی باشد ظفر
To show patience for the sake of this is no hardship: show patience, for patience is the key to joy.
صبر کردن بهر این نبود حرج ** صبر کن کالصبر مفتاح الفرج
From this ambush none escaped without some patience and prudence: to prudence, indeed, patience is the foot and hand.
زین کمین بی صبر و حزمی کس نرست ** حزم را خود صبر آمد پا و دست
Exercise prudence in eating (and drinking), for this (food and drink) is poisonous herbage: to exercise prudence is the strength and light of the prophets.
حزم کن از خورد کین زهرین گیاست ** حزم کردن زور و نور انبیاست
He that jumps at every breath of wind is (like) straw, (but) how should the mountain attach any weight to the wind?215
کاه باشد کو به هر بادی جهد ** کوه کی مر باد را وزنی نهد
On every side a ghoul is calling you—“Hark, O brother, (if) you wish (to find) the way, come (hither).
هر طرف غولی همیخواند ترا ** کای برادر راه خواهی هین بیا
I will show (you) the way, I will be your kind fellow-traveller, I am the guide (for you) on this intricate path.”
ره نمایم همرهت باشم رفیق ** من قلاووزم درین راه دقیق
She (the ghoul) is not the guide, and she does not know the way. O Joseph, do not go towards that wolfish one!
نه قلاوزست و نه ره داند او ** یوسفا کم رو سوی آن گرگخو
Prudence is this, that you be not beguiled by the fat things and sweets and snares of the World;
حزم این باشد که نفریبد ترا ** چرب و نوش و دامهای این سرا
For she hath neither fat nor sweet: she chants spells of magic and breathes (them) into your ear,220
که نه چربش دارد و نه نوش او ** سحر خواند میدمد در گوش او
Saying, “Come in as my guest, O light (of my eyes): the house is yours, and you are mine.”
که بیا مهمان ما ای روشنی ** خانه آن تست و تو آن منی