بخش 116 - رفتن این شیخ در خانهٔ امیری بهر کدیه روزی چهار بار به زنبیل به اشارت غیب و عتاب کردن امیر او را بدان وقاحت و عذر گفتن او امیر را

One day the Shaykh went four times to the palace of an Amír, in order to beg like a dervish,

(With) a basket in his hand, crying, “Something for God's sake! The Creator of the soul is seeking a piece of bread.”

’Tis preposterous, O son: it makes even Universal Reason giddy-headed (astounded).

When the Amír saw him, he said to him, “O impudent man, I will tell you something, (but) do not fasten on me the name of niggard.

What callousness and effrontery and (insolent) behaviour is this, that you come in (here) four times in one day?

Who here is attached to you, Shaykh? Never have I seen a sturdy beggar like you.

You have brought (all) beggars into contempt and disgrace: what abominable importunity, worthy of ‘Abbás (himself), is this that you have shown!

‘Abbás (the seller) of date-syrup is (merely) your groom: may no freethinker (mulhid) have such an ill- starred soul!”

He replied, “O Amír, I am devoted to the (Divine) command. Be silent! Thou art not acquainted with my (inward) fire: do not boil (rage) so much!

Had I found in myself any greed for bread, I would have ripped my bread craving belly.

During seven years, (inspired) by the ardour of Love that cooks the body, I have eaten (nothing but) vine- leaves in the wilderness,

So that, from my eating withered and fresh leaves, this bodily colour of mine had turned green.”

So long as thou art in the veil of the Father of mankind (Adam), do not look slightingly on the lovers (of God).

The acute men who have split hairs (in profound investigation) and with (all) their soul have (studied and) apprehended the science of astronomy,

And the sciences of sorcery and magic and (natural) philosophy, and, though they do not know (these sciences) with real knowledge,

Yet have endeavoured (to know them) as far as they possibly can, and have surpassed all their rivals—

Love was jealous and withdrew from them: such a (manifest) Sun became invisible to them.

(I marvel), how did such a Sun withdraw its face from the light of an eye that observed a star in the daytime?

Abandon this (revilement); hark, accept my counsel: regard the lovers (of God) with the eye of love.

(Their) time is precious and their souls are on the watch (for the Beloved): at that moment they cannot excuse themselves to thee.

Apprehend (their real state), do not be dependent on their words, do not wound the breasts (hearts) of the lovers.

Hast not thou formed a bad opinion of this enthusiasm (of theirs)? (Thou hast done so from prudence): do not abandon prudence, always act with caution;

(But) it (prudence) is either necessary or allowable or absurd: take this middle course in prudence, O interferer.