From nearness to the sun let the dry bough get (if it can) anything besides withering sooner!
شاخ خشک از قربت آن آفتاب ** غیر زوتر خشک گشتن گو بیاب
O man without wisdom, do not be an inebriate of the sort that (when) he comes (back) to his wits he feels sorry;710
آنچنان مستی مباش ای بیخرد ** که به عقل آید پشیمانی خورد
Nay, be one of those inebriates on account of whom, whilst they are drinking the wine (of Divine Love), mature (strong) intellects suffer regret.
بلک از آن مستان که چون می میخورند ** عقلهای پخته حسرت میبرند
O thou who, like a cat, hast caught (nothing better than) an old mouse, if thou art pot-valiant with that wine (of Love), catch the Lion!
ای گرفته همچو گربه موش پیر ** گر از آن می شیرگیری شیر گیر
O thou who hast quaffed the cup of Naught from a phantom, do not reel like them that are intoxicated with the (Divine) realities.
ای بخورده از خیالی جام هیچ ** همچو مستان حقایق بر مپیچ
Thou art falling to this side and that, like the drunken: O thou (who art) on this side, there is no passage for thee on that side.
میفتی این سو و آن سو مستوار ** ای تو این سو نیستت زان سو گذار
If thou (ever) find the way to that side, thenceforth toss thy head now to this side, now to that!715
گر بدان سو راه یابی بعد از آن ** گه بدین سو گه بدان سو سر فشان
Thou art all on this side, (therefore) do not idly boast of that side: since thou hast not (died) the death (to self), do not agonise thyself in vain.
جمله این سویی از آن سو کپ مزن ** چون نداری مرگ هرزه جان مکن
He with the soul of Khadir, (he) that does not shrink from death—if he know not the created (world), ’tis fitting.
آن خضرجان کز اجل نهراسد او ** شاید ار مخلوق را نشناسد او
Thou sweetenest thy palate with the savour of false imagination; thou blowest into the bag of selfhood and fillest it:
کام از ذوق توهم خوش کنی ** در دمی در خیک خود پرش کنی
Then, at one prick of a needle thou art emptied of wind— may no intelligent man's body be fat (swollen) like this!
پس به یک سوزن تهی گردی ز باد ** این چنین فربه تن عاقل مباد
Thou makest pots of snow in winter: when they see the water how shall they maintain that (former) constancy?720
کوزهها سازی ز برف اندر شتا ** کی کند چون آب بیند آن وفا
How the jackal fell into the dyeing-vat and was dyed with many colours and pretended amongst the jackals that he was a peacock.
افتادن شغال در خم رنگ و رنگین شدن و دعوی طاوسی کردن میان شغالان
A certain jackal went into the dyeing-vat, stayed in the vat for a while,
آن شغالی رفت اندر خم رنگ ** اندر آن خم کرد یک ساعت درنگ
And then arose, his skin having become particoloured, saying, ‘I have become the Peacock of ‘Illiyyín.’’
پس بر آمد پوستش رنگین شده ** که منم طاووس علیین شده
His coloured fur had gained a charming brilliance, and the sun shone upon those colours.
پشم رنگین رونق خوش یافته ** آفتاب آن رنگها بر تافته
He beheld himself green and red and roan and yellow, (so) he presented himself (gleefully) to the jackals.
دید خود را سبز و سرخ و فور و زرد ** خویشتن را بر شغالان عرضه کرد
They all said, “O little jackal, what is the matter, that thou hast in thy head manifold exultation?725
جمله گفتند ای شغالک حال چیست ** که ترا در سر نشاطی ملتویست
Because of exultation thou hast turned aside from us (with disdain): whence hast thou brought this arrogance?”
از نشاط از ما کرانه کردهای ** این تکبر از کجا آوردهای
One of the jackals went to him and said, “O so-and-so, hast thou acted deceitfully or hast thou (really) become one of those whose hearts rejoice (in God)?
یک شغالی پیش او شد کای فلان ** شید کردی یا شدی از خوشدلان
Thou hast acted deceitfully to the end that thou mayest jump on to the pulpit and by thy palaver give this folk (the feeling of) regret.
شید کردی تا به منبر بر جهی ** تا ز لاف این خلق را حسرت دهی
Thou hast striven much, (but) thou hast not felt any (spiritual) ardour; hence from deceit thou hast exhibited a piece of impudence.”
بس بکوشیدی ندیدی گرمیی ** پس ز شید آوردهای بیشرمیی
(Spiritual) ardour belongs to the saints and prophets; on the other hand, impudence is the refuge of every impostor;730
گرمی آن اولیا و انبیاست ** باز بیشرمی پناه هر دغاست
For they draw the people's attention to themselves, saying, “We are happy (with God),” though within (at heart) they are exceedingly unhappy.
که التفات خلق سوی خود کشند ** که خوشیم و از درون بس ناخوشند
How a braggart greased his lips and moustache every morning with the skin of a fat sheep's tail and came amongst his companions, saying, “I have eaten such and such (viands).”
چرب کردن مرد لافی لب و سبلت خود را هر بامداد به پوست دنبه و بیرون آمدن میان حریفان کی من چنین خوردهام و چنان
A person, who (on account of his poverty) was lightly esteemed, used to grease his moustaches every morning
پوست دنبه یافت شخصی مستهان ** هر صباحی چرب کردی سبلتان
And go amongst the munificent (the rich), saying, “I have eaten some wellgreased food at the party.”
در میان منعمان رفتی که من ** لوت چربی خوردهام در انجمن