For the sake of wheat thou hast become parted from Him who hath sent the wheat from Heaven.
از پی گندم جدا گشتی از آن ** که فرستادست گندم ز آسمان
How the falcon invited the ducks to come from the water to the plain.
دعوت باز بطان را از آب به صحرا
Says the falcon to the duck, “Arise from the water, that thou mayst see the plains diffusing sweetness,”
باز گوید بط را کز آب خیز ** تا ببینی دشتها را قندریز
(But) the wise duck says to him, “Away, O falcon! The water is our stronghold and safety and joy.”
بط عاقل گویدش ای باز دور ** آب ما را حصن و امنست و سرور
The Devil is like the falcon. O ducks, make haste (to guard yourselves)! Beware, do not come out of your stronghold, the water.
دیو چون باز آمد ای بطان شتاب ** هین به بیرون کم روید از حصن آب
They (the ducks) say to the falcon, “Begone, begone! Turn back and keep the hand off our heads, O kind friend!435
باز را گویند رو رو باز گرد ** از سر ما دست دار ای پایمرد
We are quit of thy invitation: (keep) the invitation for thyself: we will not listen to these words of thine, O infidel!
ما بری از دعوتت دعوت ترا ** ما ننوشیم این دم تو کافرا
The stronghold (the water) is (enough) for us: let the sugar and sugar-fields be thine! I do not desire thy gift: take it for thyself!
حصن ما را قند و قندستان ترا ** من نخواهم هدیهات بستان ترا
Whilst there is life (in the body), food will not fail; when there is an army, banners will not fail.”
چونک جان باشد نیاید لوت کم ** چونک لشکر هست کم ناید علم
The prudent Khwája offered many an excuse and made many a pretext to the (countryman who resembled the) obstinate Devil.
خواجهی حازم بسی عذر آورید ** بس بهانه کرد با دیو مرید
“At this moment,” said he, “I have serious matters (in hand); if I come (to visit you), they will not be set in order.440
گفت این دم کارها دارم مهم ** گر بیایم آن نگردد منتظم
The King has charged me with a delicate affair, and because of (anxiously) expecting me he has not slept during the night.
شاه کار نازکم فرموده است ** ز انتظارم شاه شب نغنوده است
I dare not neglect the King's command, I cannot fall into disgrace with the King.
من نیارم ترک امر شاه کرد ** من نتانم شد بر شه رویزرد
Every morning and evening a special officer arrives and requests of me (desires me to provide) a means of escape (from the difficulty).
هر صباح و هر مسا سرهنگ خاص ** میرسد از من همیجوید مناص
Do you deem it right that I should go into the country, with the result that the King would knit his brows (in wrath)?
تو روا داری که آیم سوی ده ** تا در ابرو افکند سلطان گره
How should I heal (assuage) his anger after that? Surely, by this (offence) I should bury myself alive.”445
بعد از آن درمان خشمش چون کنم ** زنده خود را زین مگر مدفون کنم
He related a hundred pretexts of this sort, (but his) expedients did not coincide with God's decree.
زین نمط او صد بهانه باز گفت ** حیلهها با حکم حق نفتاد جفت
If (all) the atoms of the world contrive expedients, they are naught, naught, against the ordinance of Heaven.
گر شود ذرات عالم حیلهپیچ ** با قضای آسمان هیچند هیچ
How shall this earth flee from Heaven, how shall it conceal itself from it?
چون گریزد این زمین از آسمان ** چون کند او خویش را از وی نهان
Whatsoever may come from Heaven to the earth, it (the earth) has no refuge or device or hiding-place.
هرچه آید ز آسمان سوی زمین ** نه مفر دارد نه چاره نه کمین
Is fire from the sun raining upon it, it has laid its face (low) before his fire;450
آتش ار خورشید میبارد برو ** او بپیش آتشش بنهاده رو
And if the rain is making a flood upon it and devastating the cities upon it,
ور همی طوفان کند باران برو ** شهرها را میکند ویران برو
It (the earth) has become resigned to it (Heaven), like Job, saying, “I am captive: bring (on me) whatever thou wilt.”
او شده تسلیم او ایوبوار ** که اسیرم هرچه میخواهی ببار
O thou who art a part of this earth, do not lift up thy head (in rebellion); when thou seest the decree of God, do not withdraw (from it disobediently).
ای که جزو این زمینی سر مکش ** چونک بینی حکم یزدان در مکش
Since thou hast heard “We created thee of dust,” (know that) He (God) hath required thee to be (humble and submissive as) dust: do not avert thy face (from Him).
چون خلقناکم شنودی من تراب ** خاک باشی جست از تو رو متاب
(God saith), “Mark how I have sown a seed in the earth: thou art dust of the earth, and I have raised it aloft.455
بین که اندر خاک تخمی کاشتم ** کرد خاکی و منش افراشتم