اینکه بر کار است بیکار است و پوست ** و انکه پنهان است مغز و اصل اوست
This, which is busy (in appearance), is (really) idle and (superficial, like) a husk; and that which is hidden is its core and origin.
خاک همچون آلتی در دست باد ** باد را دان عالی و عالی نژاد
The dust is as a tool in the hand of the wind: deem the wind high and of high descent.
چشم خاکی را به خاک افتد نظر ** باد بین چشمی بود نوعی دگر
The gaze of the eye of dust falls on the dust; an eye that sees the wind is of another sort.
اسب داند اسب را کاو هست یار ** هم سواری داند احوال سوار1285
A horse knows a horse, because it (one horse) is associated (homogeneous with other horses); likewise (only) a rider knows the things appertaining to a rider.
چشم حس اسب است و نور حق سوار ** بیسواره اسب خود ناید به کار
The sensuous eye is the horse, and the Light of God is the rider: without the rider the horse itself is useless.
پس ادب کن اسب را از خوی بد ** ور نه پیش شاه باشد اسب رد
Therefore train the horse (so as to cure it) of bad habits; else the horse will be rejected before the King.
چشم اسب از چشم شه رهبر بود ** چشم او بیچشم شه مضطر بود
The horse's eye finds the way from the King's eye: without the King's eye its eye is in desperate plight.
چشم اسبان جز گیاه و جز چرا ** هر کجا خوانی بگوید نه چرا
The eye of horses, whithersoever you call it except to grass and pasture, says, “Nay, why (should we go)?”
نور حق بر نور حس راکب شود ** آن گهی جان سوی حق راغب شود1290
The Light of God mounts (as a rider) on the sensuous eye, and then the soul yearns after God.
اسب بیراکب چه داند رسم راه ** شاه باید تا بداند شاه راه
How should the riderless horse know the marks of the road? The King is needed (to ride it) in order that it may know the King's road.
سوی حسی رو که نورش راکب است ** حس را آن نور نیکو صاحب است
Go towards a sense on which the Light is riding: that Light is a good companion for the sense.
نور حس را نور حق تزیین بود ** معنی نور علی نور این بود
The Light of God is an ornament to the light of sense: this is the meaning of light upon light.
نور حسی میکشد سوی ثری ** نور حقش میبرد سوی علی
The light of sense draws (a man) towards earth; the Light of God bears him aloft,
ز انکه محسوسات دونتر عالمی است ** نور حق دریا و حس چون شبنمی است1295
Because sensible things are a lower world: the Light of God is (as) the sea, and the sense as a dew-drop.
لیک پیدا نیست آن راکب بر او ** جز به آثار و به گفتار نکو
But that which rides on it (on the sense) is not manifested save by good effects and words.
نور حسی کاو غلیظ است و گران ** هست پنهان در سواد دیدهگان
The sensuous light, which is gross and heavy, is hidden in the black of the eyes.
چون که نور حس نمیبینی ز چشم ** چون ببینی نور آن دینی ز چشم
Inasmuch as you are not seeing the light of sense with (your) eye, how should you see the light of that religious one (the saint) with (your) eye?
نور حس با این غلیظی مختفی است ** چون خفی نبود ضیایی کان صفی است
The light of sense is hidden notwithstanding this grossness: how (then) should not that radiance be hidden which is pure (and subtle)?
این جهان چون خس به دست باد غیب ** عاجزی پیش گرفت و داد غیب1300
This world, like straws in the hand (control) of the wind (which is) the (world) unseen, is a helpless object before the power and sway of the Unseen
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.