گر دو پا گر چار پا ره را برد ** همچو مقراض دو تا یکتا برد
Whether the feet be two or four, they traverse the road, like the double shears (which) makes (but) one cut.
آن دو همبازان گازر را ببین ** هست در ظاهر خلافی ز آن و ز این
Look at those two fellow-washermen: there is apparently a difference between that one and this:
آن یکی کرباس را در آب زد ** و آن دگر همباز خشکش می‌‌کند
The one has thrown the cotton garments into the water, while the other partner is drying them.
باز او آن خشک را تر می‌‌کند ** گوییا ز استیزه ضد بر می‌‌تند
Again the former makes the dry clothes wet: ’tis as though he were spitefully thwarting his opposite;
لیک این دو ضد استیزه نما ** یکدل و یک کار باشد در رضا3085
Yet these two opposites, who seem to be at strife, are of one mind and acting together in agreement.
هر نبی و هر ولی را مسلکی است ** لیک تا حق می‌‌برد جمله یکی است
Every prophet and every saint hath a way (of religious doctrine and practice), but it leads to God: all (the ways) are (really) one.
چون که جمع مستمع را خواب برد ** سنگهای آسیا را آب برد
When slumber (heedlessness) overtook the concentration (attention) of the listener, the water carried the millstones away.
رفتن این آب فوق آسیاست ** رفتنش در آسیا بهر شماست
The course of this water is above the mill: its going into the mill is for your sakes.
چون شما را حاجت طاحون نماند ** آب را در جوی اصلی باز راند
Since ye had no further need of the mill, he (the prophet or saint) made the water flow back into the original stream.
ناطقه سوی دهان تعلیم راست ** ور نه خود آن نطق را جویی جداست3090
The rational spirit (the Logos) is (coming) to the mouth for the purpose of teaching: else (it would not come, for) truly that speech hath a channel apart: