گر در آمیزند عود و شکرش ** بر گزیند یک یک از یکدیگرش
If his (the druggist's) aloes-wood and sugar get mixed, he picks them out from each other, piece by piece.
طبلهها بشکست و جانها ریختند ** نیک و بد در همدگر آمیختند
The trays were broken and the souls were spilled: good and evil ones were mingled with each other.
حق فرستاد انبیا را با ورق ** تا گزید این دانه‌ها را بر طبق
God sent the prophets with scrolls (of Revelation), that He might pick out (and sort) these grains on the dish.
پیش از ایشان ما همه یکسان بدیم ** کس ندانستی که ما نیک و بدیم285
Before the, (the prophets) we were all alike, none knew whether we were good or bad.
قلب و نیکو در جهان بودی روان ** چون همه شب بود و ما چون شب روان
False coin and fine (both) were current in the world, since all was night, and we were as night-travellers,
تا بر آمد آفتاب انبیا ** گفت ای غش دور شو صافی بیا
Until the sun of the prophets rose and said, “Begone, O alloy! Come, O thou that art pure!”
چشم داند فرق کردن رنگ را ** چشم داند لعل را و سنگ را
The eye can distinguish colours, the eye knows ruby and (common) stone.
چشم داند گوهر و خاشاک را ** چشم را ز آن میخلد خاشاکها
The eye knows the jewel and the rubbish; hence bits of rubbish sting the eye.
دشمن روزند این قلابکان ** عاشق روزند آن زرهای کان290
These vile counterfeiters are enemies of day, those pieces of gold from the mine are lovers of day,
ز آن که روز است آینهی تعریف او ** تا ببیند اشرفی تشریف او
Because day is the mirror that makes it (the fine gold) known, so that the ashrafí (the coin of sterling gold) may see (receive) its (day's) gift of honour.