بخش 23 - حکایت آن اعرابی کی سگ او از گرسنگی می‌مرد و انبان او پر نان و بر سگ نوحه می‌کرد و شعر می‌گفت و می‌گریست و سر و رو می‌زد و دریغش می‌آمد لقمه‌ای از انبان به سگ دادن

The dog was dying, and the Arab sobbing, shedding tears, and crying, “Oh, sorrow!”

A beggar passed by and asked, “What is this sobbing? For whom is thy mourning and lamentation?”

He replied, “There was in my possession a dog of excellent disposition. Look, he is dying on the road.

He hunted for me by day and kept watch by night; (he was) keen-eyed and (good at) catching the prey and driving off thieves.”

He (the beggar) asked, “What ails him? Has he been wounded?” The Arab replied, “Ravenous hunger has made him (so) lamentable.”

“Show some patience,” said he, “in (bearing) this pain and anguish: the grace of God bestows a recompense on those who are patient.”

Afterwards he said to him, “O noble chief, what is this full wallet in your hand?”

He replied, “My bread and provender and food left over from last night, (which) I am taking along (with me) to nourish my body.”

“Why don't you give (some) bread and provender to the dog?” he asked. He replied, “I have not love and liberality to this extent.

Bread cannot be obtained (by a traveller) on the road without money, but water from the eyes costs nothing.”

He (the beggar) said, “Earth be on your head, O water-skin full of wind! for in your opinion a crust of bread is better than tears.”

Tears are (originally) blood and have been turned by grief into water: idle tears have not the value of earth.

He (the Arab) made the whole of himself despicable, like Iblís: a piece of this whole is naught but vile.

I am the (devoted) slave of him who will not sell his existence save to that bounteous and munificent Sovereign,

(So that) when he weeps, heaven begins to weep, and when he moans (in supplication), the celestial sphere begins to cry, “O Lord!”

I am the (devoted) slave of that high-aspiring copper which humbles itself to naught but the Elixir.

Lift up in prayer a broken hand: the loving kindness of God flies towards the broken.

If thou hast need of deliverance from this narrow dungeon (the world), O brother, go without delay (and cast thyself) on the fire.

Regard God's contrivance and abandon thine own contrivance: oh, by His contrivance (all) the contrivance of contrivers is put to shame.

When thy contrivance is naughted in the contrivance of the Lord, thou wilt open a most marvellous hiding- place,

Of which hiding-place the least (treasure) is everlasting life (occupied) in ascending and mounting higher.