هم بداند هم نداند دل فنش ** موم گردد بهر آن مهر آهنش
The heart knows and yet knows not its (Destiny's) artfulness: its (hard) iron becomes (soft) as wax for the seal.
گوییی دل گویدی که میل او ** چون درین شد هرچه افتد باش گو
’Tis as though the heart should say (to itself), “Since its (Destiny's) inclination is turned to (bringing) this (to pass), whatever may happen, let it come!”
خویش را زین هم مغفل می‌کند ** در عقالش جان معقل می‌کند
Accordingly it makes itself heedless of this (happening) and binds its soul fast in the shackle thereof.
گر شود مات اندرین آن بوالعلا ** آن نباشد مات باشد ابتلا
If that exalted one (the prophet or saint) is checkmated (worsted) in this (matter), ’tis not (really) checkmate, ’tis tribulation.
یک بلا از صد بلااش وا خرد ** یک هبوطش بر معارجها برد 2765
A single tribulation redeems him from a hundred tribulations, a single fall takes him (high) up on the ladders (of spiritual ascent).
خام شوخی که رهانیدش مدام ** از خمار صد هزاران زشت خام
The half-baked saucy fellow, whom the wine (of Love) has relieved from the surfeit of intoxication with a hundred thousand wicked half-baked (persons like himself),
عاقبت او پخته و استاد شد ** جست از رق جهان و آزاد شد
Finally becomes mature and adept: he escapes from enslavement to this world and is made free.
از شراب لایزالی گشت مست ** شد ممیز از خلایق باز رست
He is made drunken with the everlasting wine, he becomes (spiritually) discerning, and is delivered from created beings,
ز اعتقاد سست پر تقلیدشان ** وز خیال دیده‌ی بی‌دیدشان
From their weak conventional faith and from the illusions of their unseeing eyes.
ای عجب چه فن زند ادراکشان ** پیش جزر و مد بحر بی‌نشان 2770
Oh, what device can their mental perception employ, I wonder, against the ebb and flow of the trackless Sea?