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
Do thou once more adopt the practice of earthiness (self-abasement), that I may make thee prince over all princes.”
حملهی دیگر تو خاکی پیشه گیر ** تا کنم بر جمله میرانت امیر