Now carries it to the right, now to the left; now makes it roses, now thorns.
دست پنهان و قلم بین خط گزار ** اسب در جولان و ناپیدا سوار
See (how) the Hand (is) hidden, while the pen is writing; the horse careering, while the Rider is invisible.
تیر پران بین و ناپیدا کمان ** جانها پیدا و پنهان جان جان
See the arrow flying, and the Bow not in sight; the (individual) souls manifest, and the Soul of souls hidden.
تیر را مشکن که این تیر شهی است ** تیر پرتابی ز شصت آگهی است1305
Do not break the arrow, for it is the arrow of a King; it is not shot at long range (at random), it is from the thumb-stall of One who knows (how to hit the target).
ما رمیت إذ رمیت گفت حق ** کار حق بر کارها دارد سبق
God said, “Thou didst not throw when thou threwest”: the action of God has precedence over (our) actions.
خشم خود بشکن تو مشکن تیر را ** چشم خشمت خون شمارد شیر را
Break your own anger, do not break the arrow: the eye of your anger reckons milk (to be) blood.
بوسه ده بر تیر و پیش شاه بر ** تیر خون آلود از خون تو تر
Give the arrow a kiss and bring it to the King—the blood-stained arrow, wet with your blood.
آن چه پیدا عاجز و بسته و زبون ** و آن چه ناپیدا چنان تند و حرون
That which is seen is helpless and confined and feeble; and that which is unseen is so fierce and uncontrollable.
ما شکاریم این چنین دامی کراست ** گوی چوگانیم چوگانی کجاست1310
We are the (hunted) prey: to whom belongs such a (fearful) snare? We are the ball (for the blows) of the polo-bat—and where is the Batsman?
میدرد میدوزد این خیاط کو ** میدمد میسوزد این نفاط کو
He tears, He sews: where is this Tailor? He blows, He burns: where is this Fire-kindler?