مینماید موج خونش تل مشک ** مینماید قعر دریا خاک خشک
He makes the wave of blood seem to him a mound of musk: He makes the bottom of the sea seem dry land.
خشک دید آن بحر را فرعون کور ** تا در او راند از سر مردی و زور
Blind Pharaoh deemed that sea dry, so that in (the pride of his) manhood and strength he drave into it.
چون در آید در تگ دریا بود ** دیدهی فرعون کی بینا بود
When he enters (it), he is at the bottom of the sea: how should the eye of Pharaoh be seeing?
دیده بینا از لقای حق شود ** حق کجا هم راز هر احمق شود
The eye is made seeing by meeting with God: how should God become the confidant of every fool?
قند بیند خود شود زهر قتول ** راه بیند خود بود آن بانگ غول2310
He (the fool) sees (what he thinks is) candy: it is, in sooth, deadly poison; he sees (what he thinks is) the road: it is, in sooth, the cry of the ghoul (luring him to destruction).
ای فلک در فتنهی آخر زمان ** تیز میگردی بده آخر زمان
O sky, in the tribulation of (these) latter days thou art revolving swiftly; pray, give (us) time (respite and relief).
خنجر تیزی تو اندر قصد ما ** نیش زهر آلودهای در فصد ما
Thou art a keen dagger to assail us; thou art a poisoned lancet to bleed us.
ای فلک از رحم حق آموز رحم ** بر دل موران مزن چون مار زخم
O sky, learn mercy from the Mercy of God: do not, like a snake, inflict wounds on the hearts of ants.
حق آن که چرخهی چرخ ترا ** کرد گردان بر فراز این سرا
By the truth of Him who hath set the wheel of thy sphere turning above this (earthly) abode,
که دگرگون گردی و رحمت کنی ** پیش از آن که بیخ ما را بر کنی2315
(We beseech thee to) revolve in another wise and show mercy, ere thou uproot us.
حق آن که دایگی کردی نخست ** تا نهال ما ز آب و خاک رست
(We beseech thee by) the truth of thy having fostered us at first, so that our (young) shoot grew up from (the nurture given by) water and earth;
حق آن شه که ترا صاف آفرید ** کرد چندان مشعله در تو پدید
By the truth of that King who created thee pure and displayed so many cressets in thee,
آن چنان معمور و باقی داشتت ** تا که دهری از ازل پنداشتت
Who hath kept thee so flourishing and lasting that the materialist hath thought thee (existent) from eternity.
شکر دانستیم آغاز ترا ** انبیا گفتند آن راز ترا
Thanks (to God), we have come to know thy beginning: the prophets have told that secret of thine.
آدمی داند که خانه حادث است ** عنکبوتی نه که در وی عابث است2320
A man knows that a house is made (at some time or other); the spider which plays idly in it (knows) not (this).
پشه کی داند که این باغ از کی است ** کاو بهاران زاد و مرگش در دی است
How should the gnat know of what date this garden is?––for ‘twas born in spring, and its death is in the (following) winter.
کرم کاندر چوب زاید سست حال ** کی بداند چوب را وقت نهال
The worm that is born miserably in (dry) wood––how should it know the wood at the time when it was a (sappy) shoot?
ور بداند کرم از ماهیتش ** عقل باشد کرم باشد صورتش
And if the worm should know (this), it would be intellect in its essential substance; the worm would be (only) its (outward) form.
عقل خود را مینماید رنگها ** چون پری دور است از آن فرسنگها
Intellect shows itself (in many) guises, (but) like the Jinn is leagues removed from them (in its real nature).
از ملک بالاست چه جای پری ** تو مگس پری به پستی میپری2325
It is above the angels––what occasion is there for (comparing it with) the Jinn? (But) you have the wings of a gnat, you are flying downwards.
گر چه عقلت سوی بالا میپرد ** مرغ تقلیدت به پستی میچرد
Although your intellect is flying upward, the bird of your conventional notions is feeding below.
علم تقلیدی وبال جان ماست ** عاریه ست و ما نشسته کان ماست
Conventional knowledge is the bane of our souls; it is a borrowed thing, but we rest (at ease in the belief) that it is ours.
زین خرد جاهل همی باید شدن ** دست در دیوانگی باید زدن
It behoves us to become ignorant of this (worldly) wisdom; (rather) must we clutch at madness.
هر چه بینی سود خود ز آن میگریز ** زهر نوش و آب حیوان را بریز
Always flee from whatever you deem profitable to your (lower) self: drink poison and spill the water of life.
هر که بستاند ترا دشنام ده ** سود و سرمایه به مفلس وام ده2330
Revile any one that praises you: lend (both) interest and capital to the destitute.