بانگ و صیتی جو که آن خامل نشد ** تاب خورشیدی که آن آفل نشد
Seek the applause and renown that does not die away, the splendour of the sun that does not sink.
آن هنرهای دقیق و قال و قیل ** قوم فرعون‌اند اجل چون آب نیل1660
Those abstruse sciences and disputations are (like) the people of Pharaoh: Death is like the water of the Nile.
رونق و طاق و طرنب و سحرشان ** گرچه خلقان را کشد گردن کشان
Although their brilliance and pomp and show and enchantment drag the people along by the scruff of the neck,
سحرهای ساحران دان جمله را ** مرگ چوبی دان که آن گشت اژدها
Know that all (that) is (like) the enchantments of the magicians; know that Death is (like) the rod (of Moses) which became a dragon.
جادویها را همه یک لقمه کرد ** یک جهان پر شب بد آن را صبح خورد
It made one mouthful of all (their) sorceries. There was a world filled with night: the dawn devoured it.
نور از آن خوردن نشد افزون و بیش ** بل همان سانست کو بودست پیش
The light is not made greater and more by that (act of) devouring; nay, it is just the same as it has (always) been before.
در اثر افزون شد و در ذات نی ** ذات را افزونی و آفات نی1665
It is increased in respect of the effect (which it has produced), but not in respect of its essence: the essence hath (suffers) no increase or diminution.
حق ز ایجاد جهان افزون نشد ** آنچ اول آن نبود اکنون نشد
God was not increased by (His) bringing the world into existence: that which He was not formerly He has not become now;
لیک افزون گشت اثر ز ایجاد خلق ** در میان این دو افزونیست فرق
But the effect (phenomenal being) was increased by (His) bringing created things into existence: there is (a great) difference between these two increases.
هست افزونی اثر اظهار او ** تا پدید آید صفات و کار او
The increase of the effect is His manifestation, in order that His attributes and action may be made visible.