بخش 65 - بقیهٔ نوشتن آن غلام رقعه به طلب اجری

Before (writing) the letter he went to the kitchen-stewerd and said, “O niggard of the kitchen of the generous king,

‘Tis far from him and from his magnanimity that this (small) amount (matter) of my allowance should come into his consideration.”

He (the steward) said, “He has ordered (so) for a good object, not on account of stinginess or close-fistedness.”

“By God,” he replied, “this is a canard: even old gold is as dust in the king’s eyes.”

The steward raised up manifold arguments: he rejected them all because of the greed which he had (in him).

When, at the time of the forenoon meal, his (usual) allowance was reduced, he uttered much revilement, (but) it was of no avail.

He said, “Ye are doing these things on purpose.” “Nay,” said the other, “we obey the (royal) command.

Do not regard this (as proceeding) from the branch (sub ordinate): regard it (as proceeding) from the root (principal); do not strike at the bow, for the arrow is (really) from the arm.

(The words) thou didst not throw when thou threwest are a trial (of men’s

understandings): do not lay the fault on the Prophet, for that (throwing) is (an act which proceeded) from God. The water is turbid from the source: O thou who art angry in vain, look farther on, open thine eye once!”

(Moved) by anger and resentment he went into a certain place and wrote an angry letter to the king.

In that letter he lauded the king and threaded the pearl of (descanted e on) the king’s munificence and generosity,

Saying, “O thou whose hand exceeds the sea and the clouds in (liberally) fulfilling the want of the suitor,

Because that which the cloud gives, it gives with tears, (while) thy hand incessantly lays the dish (of bounty) with smiles.”

Though the outward form of the letter was praise, from (amidst) the praise the scent of anger was showing traces (betraying itself).

All your actions are devoid of light and ugly because you are far, far from the light of your original nature.

The splendour of the actions of the vile becomes unsaleable (fades away), just as fresh fruit soon becomes rotten.

The splendour of the present life soon produces unsaleableness (becomes of no account), inasmuch as it belongs to the world of generation and corruption.

Breasts are not gladdened by an encomium when there are feelings of enmity in the encomiast.

O heart, become purged of enmity and repugnance, and then chant “Glory to God” and be busy (in serving Him).

(To have) “Glory to God” on your tongue and repugnance within is hypocrisy or guile on the tongue’s part;

And moreover God hath said, “I do not look to the exterior, I am regarding the interior.”